"I've told our people that this award is validation of what we've been trying to accomplish collectively," said ENCAP President and Chief Executive Officer Mike Krysiak. "When you look at the impressive list of entrepreneurs we were included with, it's quite humbling." ENCAP developed and patented products that provide erosion control and soil management while protecting new grass or tree seedlings. Among those using its products are homeowners, farmers, highway departments and golf course operators. And ENCAP's success is expanding beyond Wisconsin. Krysiak said the company recently signed an agreement to use ENCAP technology to convert mountains of organic sugar cane waste into products that can be used in Colombia and Brazil. "We are in the stages of finalizing the agreement with the five major sugar cane manufacturers and paper companies in Colombia," Krysiak said. The ENCAP story is one of those build–a–better-mousetrap tales that began in 1999 in Krysiak's backyard. An above-ground swimming pool set up for the summer had left a brown patch of dead grass, so Krysiak spread grass seed on the bare spot and turned on the sprinklers. When he returned to the yard a while later he found that most of the grass seed had floated down the gently sloped yard, gathering in a corner of the brown patch. A few weeks later he had a postage stamp of lush green grass surrounded by the still brown, still dead, outline of the pool. It was then that an idea began to germinate in Krysiak's mind. Using his studies in industrial engineering and his years as quality assurance manager at FEECO International, Krysiak contemplated a product that could promote seed growth while reducing soil erosion. In partnership with FEECO and with the assistance of a $5,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Krysiak was able to use FEECO's test lab to advance his theory and the company's know-how to produce equipment for the plant he built next door. Another grant from the state Department of Commerce helped Krysiak develop a business plan that allowed him to move forward and obtain financial backing. Krysiak launched ENCAP LLC in March 1999. Its 20,000-square-foot building opened in April 2000 and production began a month later. Recycled office paper converted into granules is used to deliver ENCAP's proprietary Advanced Soil Technology, which has been shown to hold seeds in place, reduce time for emergence, improve survival and growth of plants, improve root growth and improve the soil's ability to absorb water while holding nutrients. Five years ago the company had five employees. Now it has a work force of 25, with more to come. ENCAP recently earned praise from the U.S. Forest Service for a product that is valuable in helping to restore areas damaged by forest fire. "We're not huge today, but we have that potential," Krysiak said. "It's a fun time. The reality is that this has been a long hard process that is producing rewards." |