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Congratulations to Detroit-based SurClean winner of the 4th Annual Brinks Innovation Competition. Chicago-based Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technologies (HEVT) and ARID Technologies were runners-up in the competition.

The Brinks Innovation Competition is an annual juried contest that helps emerging and venture-ready clean and green tech companies in the Midwest gain visibility for their technology and make connections with early-stage investors, researchers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and financiers. Each entry in the Competition is evaluated by a panel of experts from regional universities, venture capitalists and business executives familiar with clean and green technologies.

SurClean’s laser-based products incorporate a disruptive technology to replace the use of harmful chemicals, media blasting and other abrasives typically used in the removal of paint and other coatings from aircraft, vessels and bridges undergoing maintenance. The company’s system uses a laser beam to disintegrate and remove paint and other coatings like rust from substrate in a cost-effective, safe, energy-efficient, and earth-friendly way. SurClean addresses safety concerns, environmental issues and hazards associated with the control and use of chemicals used in coating stripping, and eliminates the production of contaminated waste products in most cases.

The first runner-up, Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technologies (HEVT), provides the transportation industry with high-performance, efficient and cost-effective components and integrated systems that foster the adoption of electrified transport and yield significant savings in fuel economy.

Second runner-up ARID Technologies, based in Wheaton, Ill., uses innovative membrane separation technology to reduce evaporation and harmful hydrocarbon emissions at gasoline stations. The company currently offers four primary products, including PERMEATOR, for gasoline stations; Membrane CRU for retrofit of carbon adsorption systems at bulk loading terminals; ARIDAS 150, a stand-alone monitoring and data acquisition system that measures fueling station vent emissions and pressure profiles; and the Integrated On-Spot railcar loading and fuel-vapor recovery system.

Application information for the 5th annual Brinks Innovation Competition will be posted in January 2013.