Key objectives and commercial feasibility

The aim is to successfully commercialize a significant patent. The strategy is disclosed in the form of a table and Gantt chart in the next section, Center Research Plan.

■          Yousef, A.E. and Rodriguez-Romo, L. 2004. Methods for decontaminating shell eggs. US Patent # 6,800,315 B2.

*Step chart footers that provide requisite detail

Step #6: The proof of concept was accomplished with benchtop equipment. Claims in the patent effectively conceal levels required to achieve the required reduction in pathogen population. The pilot scale treatment chamber allows us to optimize the levels. ABIG support is needed for this phase of the work.

Step #7: The goal is to optimize production efficiency that will be incorporated into the design of the final system. Specifically, a standard egg packaging line produces 5,000 dozen eggs per hour, or 60,000 eggs. The laboratory experiments achieved sterilization, as represented by a 5-log base 10 reduction, within a 35-45 minute period. By varying ozone levels, air pressure, vacuum, or other parameters, the time can be shortened as suggested by diffusion models. Commercial application will require a continuous or semi-continuous operation. The data generated from this step will be a key design input for the subsequent production model. If, for example, the required cycle time is 10 minutes versus 40 minutes, the surge capacity of the machine would be one quarter smaller.

Step #8: A CIFT engineer will integrate data from Step #7 with standard egg handling systems to design a small-scale working system. The design uses modules to deliver the treatments necessary in Dr. Yousef's process, namely, moderate heat treatment, vacuum application, ultraviolet light, pressurized ozone, and diffusion time. The egg equipment industry is currently dominated by one domestic company, Diamond Equipment of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Thus, the material handling system in the sterilization equipment must be compatible with Diamond Equipment.

Step #9 and #10: ATECH will be consulted to develop a marketing plan involving major partners. A separate plan may be appropriate for the small and large scale devices. Each will consider activities in each level of the marketing mix, namely pricing, support activities, distribution, sales method, market definition, and channel management.

Step #11: The design from Step #8 will be made by a contract manufacturer, selected from the list below. There are four Ohio egg producers; Hemmelgarn Egg (Philothea), Hertzfeld Poultry Farms (Waterville), Fort Recovery Equity (Fort Recovery), and Weaver Brothers Poultry (Versailles), that comprise EggTech, LLC. A small scale production machine will be placed in each of their facilities. This will satisfy several needs:

(1) Nursing homes, many schools, and hospitals will not accept “wild” eggs that may be contaminated. These units will allow EggTech partners to win those markets (immediate economic benefits are discussed below);

(2) These sites will generate additional production data to optimize larger scale equipment design;

(3) These will be marketing demonstration sites, proving the technology to other potential buyers.

Step #12: EISC will produce a final design for full scale production equipment. This design will provide detail sufficient to manufacture. This design will be property of EISC and EggTech LLC.

Step #13: Discussions have begun with several Ohio-based equipment manufacturing companies. To-date, eight major manufacturers with the capability to produce the equipment have expressed interest, either as a contract manufacturer or equity partner. A list of these companies appears in the commercialization section. The best manufacturing facility will be selected by EISC, EggTech and this Center for Food Safety & Agrosecurity. At that time, a contractual arrangement will be entered into with the manufacturing partner.