Date: Wednesday, March 14, 2001 at the Cynwyd Club, Bala Cynwyd, PA
Time: Mixer, 5:30 PM; Dinner, 6:30 PM; Workshop and Business Session, 7:30 PM

An "Old Economy" Chemical Startup: Successes, failures, and growing pains.

Abstract:

"We make money the old fashioned way, with an excess of risk adjusted returns"

PTC Value Recovery started as a joint venture between two members of the the CCN, Dr. Marc Halpern of PTC Organics and Peter J. Joyce. Dr. Halpern is recognized worldwide as the leader in commercializing PTC technology. The company is engaged in converting byproducts from aqueous, solid and air streams and converting them under license into saleable specialty chemicals using Phase Transfer Catalysis or PTC. PTC has been applied mainly in the areas of high value added synthesis of pharmaceutical and agricultural chemicals. No one, until now, has attempted to use the phase transfer catalysis technology in a more classical chemical engineering sense as a precision separation tool.

This talk will focus on how the company got started, its unique blend of technology and value added licensing, current status with respect to technology development and piloting and its future plans. The company is building a demonstration pilot plant in its new location in Bridgeton, New Jersey. If you have ever dreamed of starting a new chemical business, you may want to hear what Mr. Joyce has to say.

Biography:

Peter Joyce: is the CEO of PCT Value Recovery, Inc. and President of his own consulting company, Specialty Chemical Services, Inc. He has recently raised over $1.1 million to fund PTC Value Recovery. His background is as an experienced engineering manager and worked for Johnson Matthey for 7 years and Hercules for 11 years. He has installed or managed the installation of over 200 capital projects in the $100K to $1 million range typical of small specialty chemical operations. His expertise is in the installation of new technology in manufacturing plants and has done numerous projects in the areas of converting batch to continuous processes, process instrumentation and control, flavor and fragrance fine distillations and extractions, and in the recovery and purification of precious metals. For Johnson Matthey he was responsible for a complete overhaul of their precious metal refinery and wastewater treatment plant that contributed to that plants ROI increasing from 0 to 50% through the mid 90's. He is a registered Professional Engineer and has a BS in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University, a MS in Chemical Engineering from U. Cal. Berkeley, and an MBA from Columbia University and is a strong advocate of EVA->, Economic Value Added management methods.

Location: The Cynwyd Club, 332 Trevor Lane, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004. From I-76 drive S on City Line Ave. (US Rte. 1). Turn right on Conshohocken State Rd. (Rte. 23); stay in right lane. After second light watch for white left-turn arrows painted on street (about .14 mi/750 ft). Do not follow Rte. 23 left at turn but instead go straight ahead onto Llandrillo Rd. (passing to right of Valley Press printing). In one block bear left onto Trevor Lane at stop sign. Clubhouse and parking are on the left. Please park in lot if space is available; otherwise park on Trevor Lane. If lost, call the club at 610-667-4524.

Reservation:  To make a dinner reservation, leave an E-Mail: Phila ACS or call the ACS office at 215-382-1589 no later than noon, March 13. Meeting fee is $20 by reservation or $25 at the door. Leave a message on the machine if necessary. No call needed if attending the talk only. If you need to cancel your reservation, please inform the Philadelphia ACS office no latter than noon, March 13, 2001.