December – Innovator
Arc Suppression Technologies is a VirtualOffiCenters client at International Plaza, and our Innovator this month. They design, manufacture, and market the NOsparc®family of contact arc suppressors that protect relays or contactors from the destructive arc energy created in power switching. Arc Suppression Technologies is a Minnesota (USA) company, growing and supporting the local economy, selling worldwide, and solving a problem that has plagued the electricity industry since its earliest days. Below, Patrick McKinney, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, shares more about Arc Suppression Technologies.
Every business has a story, tell us yours.
What began as something of a hobby, meeting and discussing business ideas, turned into a passion to resolve a problem that has existed in the electrical switching market for the last 150 years. Arc Suppression Technologies has invented, developed, and patented technology, which brings unprecedented levels of reliability to the electromechanical electric power-switching marketplace. Like many new technology businesses, we have faced many ups and downs. Within the last year we have expanded from a single product to a family of products for both AC and DC electrical systems. We have received our initial patents, and have begun to penetrate a variety of new markets with our technology. We are poised to see significant growth in the next coming years and plan to rewrite the textbooks on efficient and reliable electric power switching.
You were chosen as this month’s Innovator Client. What does being an Innovator mean to you?
The classical definition of an innovator is a person that creates new ideas, methods, or products. More importantly, an innovator is willing to take on the status quo, challenge conventional thought and method, and fuels that with an unquenchable passion to see one’s efforts come to fruition. Arc Suppression Technologies turns on its head conventional thought and belief with regards to electrical switching. We are very excited by the opportunities in front of us in plan continued innovation in a foundational industry that drives much of todays economy.
No one likes to brag about their business, but if you HAD TO . . .
Arc Suppression Technologies is breaking new ground in an intellectual property whitespace. Meaning, no one has addressed the problem of arc in electrical power switching as we have – worldwide. We have developed our technology to be scalable, meaning we can handle unprecedented current and voltage levels, in both alternating current and direct current. Arc Suppression Technologies will change the paradigm for reliability and safety.
We learn from our mistakes, especially in business.
Give us some words of wisdom. Never be afraid of your mistakes. Plan on making them, and quickly rectify those mistakes made in your business without fear.
Share the best advice you ever received.
Make a decision, any decision, and move forward quickly. You can always rectify that decision later when you have more information.
Describe your perfect day off.
What is a day off? Seriously, when building a startup, when are you not working?
Together we are stronger. Tell us something you like about being our client.
VirtualOffiCenters offers us incredible flexibility. We have meetings all across this Twin Cities. Being virtual, when we need to present a more formal image, or all work together in a brainstorming session, it works out very well for us to have the ability to move to one of the many different sites around the Twin Cities making those meetings more productive and comfortable.
If you could work anywhere under the sun, where would you choose?
The North coast of Kauai in Hawaii, but then, who would be working?
How can people CONNECT with you?
pmckinney@arcsuppressiontechnologies.com
