Alan Burgess, P. Eng.

Alan Burgess is President and founder of SprayWerx Technologies Inc.  Alan is a Professional Engineer who has more than 20 years experience in the thermal spray and advanced materials processing.  After graduating from Metallurgical Engineering in 1986, Alan founded  Northwest Mettech Corp. and subsequently  co-developed , and lead commercialization of the first industial axial injection plasma torch, the “Axial III”.

Using the Axial III as a platform technology,  Alan developed advanced coating solutions to meet the high quality and rigorous production needs of the aerospace, oil and gas, automotive, printing, pulp and paper, energy, fuel cell and electronics industries.

Alan is the lead inventor or named on numerous patents in the area of plasma torch design, thermal spray coatings, and nanomaterials.  A key innovation championed by Alan is the Axial Suspension Plasma Spray Technology, which is currently being introduced on commercial aerospace jet engines.

Alan has authored numerous papers and has led many collaborative research programs involving leading Canadian Universities and the National Research Council’s Industrial Materials Institute and Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation.  Alan has served on the Board of Directors for Nanotech BC and as Chairman for the Scholarship Committee for the International Thermal Spray Association.

Alan is a member of the Private Sector Advisory Board (PSAB) of the Government of Canada’s Networks of Centres of Excellence.  PSAB evaluates and provides funding recommendations for the Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR) program.  PSAB members also advises  the Centres regarding issues relating to commercialization of new technologies and sustainability.

Accomplishments include:

  • Founder of Northwest Mettech Corp. in 1990
  • President Northwest Mettech Corp:  March 1990 – May 2010
  • Numerous patents involving plasma spray technology, coatings and nanotechnology
  • Managed IP Patent portfolio though PCT and international filings
  • License of Suspension Plasma Spray Technology from National Research Council of Canada
  • Raised of equity financing
  • Oversaw commercialization and introduction Plasma Spray Suspension Technology into GE for turbine coatings.
  • Established distribution networks in Asia and Europe.
  • Developed nanopowder development strategy for Mettech
  • Developed fuel cell technology  with UBC and University of Toronto
  • Developed strategic relationship with Rutgers University in New Jersey for the development of Armor Ceramics
  • Turnkey Plasma Spray System Sale to US Air Force and project management and system commissioning lead.

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