Danville Fiber-Optic Company Lands R&D Money

A local startup attained a $2 million grant and more than $2.5 million in federal contracts for research and development of fiber optic devices.

Now, IRflex Corp. finishes setting up its manufacturing pilot plant in the Dan River Business Development Center and hopes to produce its first quality spool of mid-infrared fiber by the end of November.

“I’m very happy,” said President François Chenard. “Finally, we can move full speed ahead.”

IRflex and the Dan River Business Development Center applied to the Virginia Tobacco Commission for$2 million for the venture. That money was awarded earlier this year.

Chenard also told attendees of the Southern Piedmont Technology Council’s “Tech Bunch for Lunch” on Tuesday that IRflex landed more than $2.5 millionworth of several research and development contracts through the U.S. Department of Defense and federal contractors.

The company’s initial market is the military, as the mid-infrared fiber technology can be used to detect explosives or harmful chemicals and protect aircraft from missiles.

Basically, the mid-infrared fiber can shoot lasers to blind shoulder-fired missiles, giving aircraft time to get away.

IRflex has a license to use this technology developed at the Naval Research Laboratory, Chenard said.

Most of the contract funding will be used to develop fiber optic devices, like a switch that shifts lasers from one route of fiber to another. IRflex’s research also involves developing “next generation fiber” to transmit stronger lasers.

Eventually, Chenard hopes to move into commercial markets for chemical, gas or pollution detection and medical applications.

“It’s an open field right now and we’re looking to fill as much as we can,” Chenard said.

IRflex already received orders from private companies, too.

“Customers are asking and waiting for the products right now,” he said.

The Tobacco Commission money will help IRflex finish setting up the pilot plant and will also help Danville Community College develop curriculum for fiber and clean room training.

IRflex already set up a Class 100 clean room and fiber draw tower to purify and melt glass to produce and spool the plastic-coated fiber.

Chenard said he hopes to have 30 employees by 2013. Most of those will be technicians for assembly of devices.

Jerry Franklin, director of manufacturing and technical services at DCC’s Regional Center for Applied Technology and Training, said DCC is working with IRflex and would need to find a skilled instructor.

In a few years, IRflex would move out of the incubator and into a larger facility in the Danville area, Chenard said.

“That’s my goal,” he said. “I’m committed to stay here.”