November 3, 2011 -- Vadxx Energy LLC has engaged Rockwell Automation and its Global Solutions team to provide process engineering solutions and services to help Vadxx refine its proprietary process to manufacture synthetic crude oil and natural gas using petroleum-based raw material feedstock wastes at its demonstration plant in Akron, Ohio. Under the agreement with Vadxx, Rockwell Automation will complete the front-end engineering and design work necessary to commercialize Vadxx’s proprietary processes by the end of 2011.
Both companies then expect to enter into an engineering, procurement, and construction contract that enables Rockwell Automation to manufacture Vadxx’s commercial production units in modular fashion to accelerate Vadxx's market implementation and refine the quality of Vadxx’s synthetic crude oil. “Vadxx’s objective is to implement over 100 commercial oil production units in the next five years. Partnering with such a credible company as Rockwell Automation is a significant step toward meeting this goal,” said Jim Garrett, CEO Vadxx Energy. “With sustainable solutions being a key focus for our business worldwide, we are pleased to work with an innovative company such as Vadxx,” said Terry Gebert, vice president and general manager, Rockwell Automation Global Solutions.
“Our Global Solutions team will help Vadxx reduce risk while getting their waste-to-energy process to market sooner, and leverage our global operations as Vadxx expands its offering to other regions of the world." Vadxx has signed memorandums of understanding to form joint ventures with various feedstock providers for its first three commercial production units in Northeast Ohio. Vadxx expects the first commercial unit to begin producing crude oil in late 2012.
About Vadxx
Vadxx has developed proprietary processes that transform discarded petroleum-based wastes, including plastics and other polymer-based wastes, into synthetic crude oil and gas. The oil is sold through an energy marketer who sells the crude to oil refiners to produce gasoline and other products. The gas is utilized to generate electricity. Vadxx operates a crude oil production demonstration plant at its Akron, OH facility.
About Rockwell Automation Global Solutions
The thousands of professionals on the Rockwell Automation Global Solutions team design, build and upgrade power, control, safety and information solutions. Working in tandem with a scalable PartnerNetwork, Global Solutions can address a wide range of projects including challenging multi-million dollar enterprise projects that span multiple countries. Clients include oil and gas, petrochemicals, consumer industries, life sciences, automotive, tire and heavy industries such as cement, metals, mining, pulp and paper, and water and power utilities.
About Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation, Inc. the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and information, makes its customers more productive and the world more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., Rockwell Automation employs about 20,000 people serving customers in more than 80 countries.