Company Website: https://in-mat-lab.eu
Company Email: a.ekonomakou@in-mat-lab.eu
Employees: 4
Funding State: Bootstrapped
Industries
- Environment & Energy (GreenTech, CleanTech)
Technology
- Cleantech
- Other
Business Model
- B2B
Revenue Model
- Commission Fee
- Licencing
- Other
- Price per Item
- Price per Use
Funding Sources
- Grant
- Self
About
in.mat-Lab was founded in 2016 with headquarters in Lavrion Technological Cultural Park by an experienced team of Greek Mining Engineers/Metallurgists of NTUA, aiming to cover a set of innovative services in the neuralgic sector of industrial minerals and their applications worldwide. With long experience in minerals, such as perlite and bentonite, as well as vermiculite, zeolite etc., it transfers knowledge and analytical methodologies to the next level of industrial evaluation in the fields of mining research and exploration as well as laboratory and commercial development of new products up to recycling and minimization of waste. in.mat-Lab is aiming at a most precise Value-to-Client Analysis based on market-oriented laboratory protocols. With results verified on industrial scale by its clients, the company offers critical information for smart mining and furthermore on targeted features regarding end products and their applications. The response was almost immediate, mainly from abroad (Europe, America, Asia) and with significant assignments (B2B) from important companies in the field. Even more interesting, however, is the collaboration of in.mat-Lab services with relatively small companies in the field around the world, which do not have the ability to facilitate their own corresponding department, thus contributing to their development and their next steps in a highly competitive market.
Solution & Product
The services offered, concern the holistic approach of industrial minerals. Standard methodologies have been developed for the simulation of manufacturing processes and the use of final products, in which industrial minerals are used. There are different methodologies for different applications, such as construction, agriculture, environment, functional fillers of high added value etc. In this way it is possible to quantify the effect of the use of an industrial mineral and consequently to determine its economic value for a specific application and market. Among the positive consequences are the "smart" characterization and exploitation of deposits based on end uses and markets, the ability to produce final products with adapted or optimized properties and the saving of raw materials and resources for both the producer and the user of the industrial mineral.
Innovation & Scalability
The company is currently the only independent laboratory in the world with a holistic approach to industrial minerals. Business innovation is related to the quantification of the value of raw materials in relation to markets. “Smart Mining” activities are strengthened and directly related to end uses and markets. Appropriate raw materials are selected for specific applications. Incorrect estimates, which could lead to significant losses of time, money and resources, are avoided to the highest possible degree. So far, evaluation protocols have been completed for perlite and validated by industrial trials. The short-term development plans include: 1. Introduction of these protocols in AI (Artificial Intelligence) programs for the "smart" characterization of deposits in situ and selective mining (Smart Mining). 2. Enrichment of the portfolio of standard methodologies for other industrial minerals, such as vermiculite and sepiolite. The development of such methodologies is on-going. 3. Research and development of new products with high added value in new advanced markets. A research program has already been approved and launched, which includes the development of products in various markets and applications, structural - environmental - fillers - cosmetics, etc.
Traction & achievements
July 2016: Foundation in Lavrion Technological Cultural Park. May 2017: A laboratory expansion furnace is put into operation, with the ability of industrial processes simulation. The designs of the multi-task furnace are owned by the company. With the present device it is possible to expand fractions of perlite (from 75 μm to 3.5 mm) and vermiculite (from 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm). February 2018: Completion of innovative perlite evaluation protocols based on end uses and markets. January 2019: Accepted as Associate Member to Perlite Institute. Members of the Perlite Institute work together to learn the most efficient and effective ways to produce market-ready perlite, to build awareness among target industries of perlite’s incredible potential, and to research and then communicate the mineral’s properties to end-users. May 2019: Completion of full designation of perlite deposit in the USA based on end uses (B2B for an exploration company). Industrial tests in the US confirm laboratory results. As an outcome, our client has initiated investments and already started a first step for smart mining and processing (2020). June 2020: A new device for expanding ultra-fine perlite fractions ( less than 75 μm) is put into operation, achieving our targets for R&D and clients’ support. July 2020: Commencement of a research program in the Action "RESEARCH - CREATE - INNOVATE B 'Cycle" of the ESPA program with code T2EDK-02398 and acronym LiCom-Perl.
Team & Why Us
In.mat-Lab was founded by Dr. Antonia Ekonomakou 5 years ago in Lavrion Technological & Cultural Park, Greece. As a Greek startup and although operating in Greece, in.mat-Lab is focusing on international markets for commercializing its products, helping in that way the growth of the local ecosystem of startups but also the global recognition in the field of industrial minerals. The core team consists of highly experienced engineers with long occupation in a variety of industrial minerals and their markets. Currently 2 Engineers, 1 Geologist and 1 Lab Technician are employed in the firm. Additionally, practicing positions for students, from Greek Universities, are provided every year. In.mat-Lab’s growth short and mid-term strategy is focused on the commercial development of a plug-in application for “market-oriented smart mining” of industrial minerals and the exploitation of high added value mineral products with optimized characteristics for specific applications. Company’s growth will add at least 1 or two positions for engineers and lab technicians. Our long-term strategy includes possible collaborations with established producers for the commercialization of our R&D findings (running projects) and/or the possibility of a B2C positioning in the market of minerals.
Funding Needs
The company was initially privately funded followed by additional co-funding from the National Program “Start-up Entrepreneurship” (EPAnEK 2014-2020 Operational Programme Competitiveness-Entrepreneurship-Innovation). Based on the mid-term strategy, in.mat-Lab is willing to invest in technology and AI products related to mining and industrial minerals. Its investment plan for the next two years is in the range of 200,000 Euros on the product development and infrastructure. The funds should be available via three routes a) organically from the profits of the company, b) from investors and c) from government granting for R&D and infrastructure.
Innovative simulation protocols for industrial minerals evaluation and new products development