The feasibility study consisted of four tasks.
1. ComVac 2015
Tamturbo participated in the ComVac 2015 exhibition in Hannover, Germany, April 2015, to meet potential end users, distribution partners and suppliers. Invaluable feedback to revise the business plan according to partner and end user needs was acquired.
2. Marketing strategy
The study confirmed that Tamturbo´s approach for fast international growth by partnering with other medium size compressor manufacturers as Private Label or OEM partners is feasible. The details of the marketing strategy including product and service portfolio as well as the commercialization schedules were refined and updated.
After successful field testing, Tamturbo is planning to launch one to two new products annually during the next five years.
3. Field testing sites
Field testing sites have been discussed with potential partners and five sites have been short listed. The sites are in 4 different countries and each site is for different end user sector including e.g. general manufacturing, food & beverages, pharmaceuticals, electronics and pulp & paper.
The actual compressor testing will be a central part of a H2020 SME Phase 2 proposal.
4. IPR strategy
The freedom to operate analysis has been updated. Over 200 competitor patents were reviewed, a part of them in greater detail. Tamturbo´s design is not infringing any of these patents. Also selected components, technology or solutions do not have legislative limitations in target countries. Tamturbo is in a process to be registered as trademark in the key market. The same applies to web domains.
Tamturbo has ongoing IPR-process to secure the competitive edge. Implementation of new technologies, innovative thinking and new system concepts offers opportunities for continuous improvements, which secures Tamturbo’s competitiveness. The first patent ”A solution for controlling a turbo compressor” has been granted in Finland (FI20105800) and Europe (EP2593648B1), and is in national patent approval process in ten key countries. Several other innovative concepts to improve the efficiency, control, and mechanical structure are at concept verifying stage.
