VAST Enterprises, LLC Named a Finalist for Tenth Annual Tekne Awards in Minnesota

Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) has named VAST Enterprises, LLC as a finalist for the 2009 Tekne Awards, which go to Minnesota companies that demonstrate superior innovation and leadership in technology. VAST is a finalist for the Cleantech Award, honoring manufacturers of environmentally sound products that reduce costs, inputs, energy consumption, waste or pollution. In partnership with Fabcon, Inc., VAST is also competing for the Innovative Collaboration of the Year Award.

“Selection as a Tekne Awards finalist in not one but two categories puts VAST among the preeminent technology companies in Minnesota,” said Andy Vander Woude, chief executive officer, VAST Enterprises, LLC. “Green building has continued to grow in the midst of the construction market slump. And as the economy works its way out of recession, the future is bright for green building products based on inventive technologies.”

“For ten years the Tekne Awards have recognized those making groundbreaking contributions to the growth of technology in Minnesota,” said Kate Rubin, president, Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA). “VAST and all of this year’s finalists help Minnesota excel at producing cutting-edge technology and demonstrate that our state is a great place to do business.”

VAST Enterprises uses its patented material science technology to turn post-consumer recycled rubber and plastics into a new green building material: composite masonry. “All VAST composite masonry products are cradle-to-cradle green,” said Vander Woude. “VAST’s manufacturing process starts with recycled car tires and plastic containers and emits minimal greenhouse gases, does not generate volatile organic compounds, yields zero scrap, and creates products that are 100 percent recyclable.”

VAST achieved a scientific breakthrough by engineering the world’s first composite material to have up to 95 percent recycled content and offer the strength, durability and aesthetics essential for landscaping and hardscaping. VAST composite masonry products include VAST Composite Landscape Pavers, VAST Permeable Composite Pavers for stormwater management and VAST Composite Deck Pavers.

In August 2009, VAST Permeable Composite Pavers won an EcoHome Editors’ Choice Award as one of the year’s ten best green building products. The VAST pavers were the only hardscape and landscape honored this year.

VAST and Fabcon have partnered to launch the first precast wall panel with a composite thin brick. To reduce the environmental impact associated with bricks without sacrificing the appearance of masonry, many builders now turn to thin brick. Manufacturing thin brick in VAST’s composite material increases the environmental advantage. Working together on the new composite thin brick panel, Fabcon and VAST expect to divert approximately 350 million pounds of recyclable materials from landfills over the next five years.

Presented by the MHTA in partnership with LifeScience Alley and Enterprise Minnesota, the Tekne Awards annually recognize Minnesota’s best and brightest technology leaders in innovation, development, education, commercialization and management. Recipients of the 2009 Tekne Awards will be announced at an award ceremony on October 22, 2009. The event will begin with a VIP reception at 4:30 p.m., followed by general registration and reception at 5:00 p.m., dinner at 6:00 p.m., the awards ceremony at 7:00 p.m., and a post-Tekne party at 8:30 p.m. The event will be emceed by John Sweeney, author of “Innovation at the Speed of Laughter,” and owner of the Brave New Workshop, the nation’s oldest satirical comedy theatre. For more information and to register for the 2009 Tekne Awards ceremony, contact Lonni Ranallo at 952-230-4555.