Richard M. Formato is a Subject Matter Expert on macroencapsulation, gelation and shape stability of organic Phase Change Materials (PCMs). He has expertise in packaging PCMs using vertical/horizontal form fill and seal (VFFS/HFFS) machinery, which includes the flexible films needed to manufacture PCM filled pouches as well as required destructive and non-destructive test methods. At Microtek Laboratories, Mr. Formato led the development and launch of multiple new products including a +3°C PCM, a +4°C PCM (PT4 replacement) and a +24°C PCM for the Adaptek 365 CRT product line. He leads the development activities of a +7°C PCM which allows a refrigerated shipper that can be pre-conditioning temperature of +5°C. Mr. Formato developed compostable PCM/water based refrigerants pouches for thermal packaging including degradable PCMs in fully compostable films which meet shelf life requirements. Mr. Formato invented and patented a formulation/method to gel organic PCMs using UV radiation in situ; this technique works w/n-alkanes, fatty acid methyl esters fatty alcohols and fatty acids. The 2nd generation refrigerants passed syneresis (< 1%wt loss) after 1000 freeze/thaw cycles. Mr. Formato led the scale-up for Shift Gen2 at HQ including pre-mix, final mix, and VFFS & UV cure at 20 BPM.
Previously, at Cold Chain Technologies, Mr. Formato was the company’s lead R&D/technical resource, whose contributions (simulation, liquid PCM and Gelled PCM) continue to be the driving force behind the Company's double digit sales growth year over year; Mr. Formato introduced all n-alkane PCMs into CCTs product line which comprised >33% of sales by the end of 2017; Mr. Formato invented novel formulations/processing methods (5 Issued US Patents) to gel CCT’s n-alkane PCMs so overall performance was significantly improved over liquid PCMs (won the 2016 Cold Chain Global Forum award for “Most Innovative New Cold Chain Technology.”). The scale-up and commercialization of Gelled PCM enabled the release of new products including ECOFLEX return/reuse thermal shippers and ENSHIELD pallet covers (8 patents / 1 pending).
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