TecSolut: Providing Product Development Services for Startups and Industrial Companies

When industrial companies discover that they lack a critical element, the X factor that would help them turn a project into a real product, they turn to TecSolut to fill the gap between the academic-research level and industrial-applicative stage. The company, founded by Dr. Oleg Palchik in 2008, provides product development services and solves technological problems in areas such as polymers, coatings, chemistry, composites, food packaging and research and development of consumables.

"TecSolut is a kind of R&D unit for the customer with a very fast learning curve," says Dr. Palchik, who also serves as the CEO of the company. "We work according to work plans and milestones that we define together with the clients, providing them with detailed reports on the progress, and fully involve them in the process without taking up their time."

- How do you fill the gaps that customers haven't been able to?
"Our team contains technologists in the fields of chemistry and materials, with academic backgrounds and extensive experience in R&D processes. Using their extensive knowledge and experience, and with the help of literature reviews, patents, and focused technology surveys we know how to find a range of technological ways to deal with the challenges. We also have a wide range of equipment that allows us to perform measurements and various analyses, as well as mechanical and process equipment that enables rapid testing and laboratory production to obtain results in a short time. We do quickly what may take large companies a long time."

- What's your customers profile?
"We're usually approached by medium-large companies. We also work with startups, which often need proof of concept and prototype development. Industrial companies account for about 70% of our business. They come to us when they need to outsource development projects. In these cases, we work closely with their development departments. As part of the process, we often analyze competitors, look at existing patents in the field, and review the professional literature. The fact that we are naturally flexible and exposed to many industries is a significant advantage, which enables broad and original thinking and the ability to improvise and respond to what's happening in the field. We have a strong international network of partners that includes professionals in Israel and abroad, and global suppliers—and these also help us execute projects efficiently and quickly."

Between academia and industry
Dr. Palchik immigrated to Israel from Ukraine in 1990. He completed his higher education at Bar-Ilan University and from there continued his postdoc in the US, at the University of Michigan. During his academic career, he published about 40 scientific papers. Before founding TecSolut, he worked in scientific research and development in various technologies in Israel and abroad. Among others, he worked for General Motors and the US Department of Defense studying energy production from heat (research of thermoelectric materials).

His work as the chief technologist of an international company that manufactures additives for plastic products exposed him to other aspects of the profession, including purchasing, business development, consulting, technical services, and as part ot his all - working successfully with clients. "All these gave me an understanding of how the industry thinks, works, and what its needs are," he says. "I learned a lot and took a leap into the real world, which allowed me to found and manage TecSolut. My first clients were startups that I assisted in managing technological projects in a variety of fields: antibacterial coatings, materials for 3D printing, surgical sutures, medical adhesives. Gradually, more customers came along, so that a year later our lab was too small to accommodate our needs and we moved to the building we occupy today, with a 400 sq m lab that contains a lot of equipment. Academia also uses our services, as it usually has limited industrial experience. Because my resume puts me with one foot in academia and the other in the industry, I communicate well with academia and understand its needs. You could say that we're in the middle, between academia and industry. Often we're a kind of mediator."

Sample projects
Mor Plastic Industries, which specializes in polymer sheets for food packaging, had a problem with quantities of unused factory waste. TecSolut analyzed the different types of waste and identified products in the company catalog where it was possible to incorporate a large quantity of recycled material. Mor currently uses 40 tons of recycled material per month and the company's products contain a high percentage of recycled material.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Innovation Authority issued a call for technological solutions to help deal with the pandemic. Avgol, a manufacturer of nonwoven polypropylene fabrics, responded by initiating a project to develop face masks with antibacterial and antiviral properties. TecSolut conducted a technological survey to identify potential materials and developed a formulation that can be easily carried out with the existing equipment of the company. The fabrics developed exhibited excellent antibacterial and antiviral properties, killing over 99.9% of bacteria and viruses.

Still during the COVID-19 pandemic, HP Indigo asked TecSolut to develop a coating that would prevent vapor from accumulating on the protective glasses of medical teams. Using its existing knowledge, TecSolut developed a coating that uses available materials to prevent the accumulation of vapor with high efficiency.

In collaboration with TecSolut