Battelle, NW

Battelle (Memorial Institute), which began operations in 1929, was established in Columbus, Ohio, by Gordon Battelle and serves as a memorial to his family-leaders in America's early steel industry. Battelle serves industry and government by developing new technologies, products, and solutions. We develop the technology behind the products of some of the world's most successful companies. We develop high-quality products and reduce time-to-market for our clients.

We insert technology into products and processes for companies in the agrochemical, automotive, chemicals, energy, medical products, and pharmaceutical industries. We also support over 800 government agencies in the areas of energy, environment, health, national security, transportation, and the commercialization of public technology.

Battelle has a staff of 7000 scientists, engineers, and support specialists at more than 60 locations worldwide. Each year, thousands of technology projects are in progress at Battelle's various business operations. These projects are performed for nearly 1400 companies and government clients. Battelle' business volume is nearly $1 billion annually. Typically, this work results in between 50 and 100 patented inventions each year.

Following are a few examples of Battelle projects:
· A crucial role in developing the office copier machine (Xerox).
· Studies for the U.S. Treasury that led to the adoption of the "sandwich" coin now used for dimes, quarters, and silver dollars.
· Recommended the bar code symbol now used on grocery packaging that enables automated check-out and inventory control at supermarkets and other retail outlets.
· Invented and developed the hot isostatic process now used worldwide to manufacture ceramics and advanced alloys and to fabricate complex-shaped parts, link jet engine turbines, and produce cutting tools.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Battelle has operated Pacific Northwest for the Department of Energy in Richland, Washington, since 1965. Pacific Northwest is one of nine multiprogram national laboratories. With an annual budget of more than $500 million and about 3400 employees, Pacific Northwest applies its advanced capabilities to meet environmental, energy, health, and national security needs, as well as to contribute to the education of future scientists and engineers.

Pacific Northwest scientists create fundamental knowledge of natural, engineered, and social systems and deliver technologies to solve environmental problems. For example, the Laboratory is applying its capabilities to technologies such as smart water-treatment methods, renewable energy storage, environmentally friendly manufacturing and recycling, and lightweight automobiles.

Energy Division

Pacific Northwest advances efforts by the U.S. Department of Energy to ensure the efficient and productive use of energy and the availability of clean and affordable power. Activities target areas where the science and technology base of the Laboratory and its industrial relationships can add distinctive value to achieving the energy goals of government and industry.

Following are some of the research projects being conducted by the Energy Division:

Smart Building Technology. The goal of an intelligent or smart building system is to operate facilities cost effectively by using advanced sensor systems to provide a comfortable, productive, healthy environment for building occupants. Pacific Northwest is working with its peers and with industry to define research needs, development needs, priorities, and investments in areas such as advanced controls and system operability; low-cost, highly reliable, long-lived sensors; automated diagnostics; and advanced micro-scale heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technology.

Fuel Cell Technology. We are establishing a system engineering framework to define the essential technology barriers and to continue working on specific innovations for advanced fuel cells. A 1999 R&D 100 Award recently recognized the progress of Pacific Northwest researchers in developing new fuel cell technologies.

Virtual Manufacturing and Simulation. Pacific Northwest is combining high-performance computing with advanced simulation and modeling software to create a world-class virtual prototyping and advanced manufacturing capability.

Light-Weight Materials for Transportation Applications. Developing the processes for manufacturing materials is essential to ensuring the successful transition of new materials from the laboratory to production. We are developing processes to manufacture aluminum, ceramics, and composites that will reduce the weight for vehicles.

Running through each of these technical focus areas is a commitment to address challenges associated with managing carbon in the atmosphere and reducing greenhouse gases.

Public and Private Energy Customers

In the public energy sector, Pacific Northwest performs key services for the Department of Energy's offices of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Fossil Energy, and Policy; power marketing agencies, and state energy offices. The Laboratory also serves many customers outside the public energy sector, such as the DOE Office of Environmental Management, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Department of Defense, private energy-sector clients, such as Southern California Edison, and the Western Area Power Administration. The Laboratory is helping several Department of Defense facilities improve the operation of energy production systems.

Supplier and Partnering Relationships

Commercializing technology through partnerships with others is a key component of the Pacific Northwest work scope. These strategic relationships help bring technology to market and meet expectations that industry share research costs.

One such strategic partnership is the Northwest Alliance for Transportation Technology (NATT). This unique partnership of noncompetitive entities draws on expertise from the big three automotive companies, lightweight metal producers, electric power suppliers, state universities, and the DOE Office of Transportation Technologies, Advanced Automotive Technologies. The purpose is to research and develop energy solutions in the area of lightweight, fuel-efficient vehicles for the next century.