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Gwinnett's
first high-technology firm,
Micromeritics, marks its 40th birthday
By Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com
JUNE 21, 2002 -- The first high-tech company in Gwinnett, now
marking its 40th year of operation, was recognized this week. The
firm is Micromeritics, located near Norcross overlooking I-85, just
off Oakbrook Parkway. Its two founders, Dr. Clyde Orr, 84, and Warren
Hendrix, 70, were honored at the anniversary of their company Tuesday
at Flint Hill. Dr. Orr is chairman and Hendrix is president of the
firm.
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Norcross Mayor Lillian Webb was on hand to present
proclamations to the two founders, and give them keys to the city,
as most of the 240 employees of Micromeritics looked on and applauded.
The firm is a leader in particulate technology, that is, "measuring
small particles." Orr and Hendrix were instrument pioneers
in a field that had not developed back in the late 1950's. Dr. Orr
led a research laboratory of the Georgia Tech Engineering Experiment
Station, and Hendrix, a grad students, was his assistant.
Dr. Orr remembers that kaolin firms, in particular, were sending
measurement requests to the Experiment Station. "They wanted
to know the surface area of powders, and we got a dozen or so a
week. We would run the surface area for them, and in effect, found
that we had a market for a device to measure it."
 Yet
the technique was slow, and came out of a cumbersome machine. Their
first instrument measured about 6 feet high and wide, and was made
out of glass. Dr. Orr remembers: "The trouble with it was that
it was big. We couldn't move it. And janitors at night cleaning
would nick it with their brooms and mops. We wanted to build one
out of metal."
Hendrix says: "We thought we might sell a half dozen a year.
But we sold nearly 30 the first year. We simplified and speeded
the process and gave firms information about their products that
they needed to know."
It was breakthrough technology. Hendrix adds: "An oil company
may spend billions of dollars for catalysts in refining oil. If
they can make it more efficient and not use so much material, it
would save them money and that is important."
That first unit cost about $10,000. Today's device, only the size
of a computer, has versions that sell up to $50,000.
Soon the pair, plus two full time and a few part time workers, found
themselves setting up operations in the new home for Hendrix and
his family, on Highway 29, near what is today Sugarloaf Parkway.
"We were in the basement, then the garage, and finally upstairs,
and pretty soon, my wife wanted her house back," Hendrix says.
That's when the firm moved to their current site in Norcross.
Over the years, Hendrix has handled the business side, "and
I work on development and technology," Dr. Orr says.
The firm has branched into making other measuring devices, developing
automation for the field, and reducing the cost of the technology.
Micromeritics has also developed markets internationally, and led
the way to doing business even in China. "Today China is one
of our better markets," Hendrix says. The privately-held firm
today has sales of approximately $30 million a year.
Who uses the firm?
* Chain saw manufacturers determining the particle size of pumice
debris for air filters.
* Chocolate manufacturers enhancing taste.
* Space shuttle tile producers, correcting a buckling problem.
* Paper manufacturers improving sheen and gloss.
* Drug manufacturers improving absorption of laxatives.
It's been a long way from a lab at the Experiment Station, to make-shift
quarters in a new house on Highway 29, to sales and service all
over the world. It's been a solid 40 year relationship between Gwinnett
County and super-successful Micromeritics, the county's first high-tech
company.
FEEDBACK
6/21: Lots of us sit in traffic and wonder, "What if?"
Editor, the Forum:
Your info on the Northern Arc makes a lot of sense.
Dallas Texas has already gone through and continues to go through
a tremendous amount of growth on its main highways and in the northern
parts surrounding "BIG D". They began with loop 12 around
Dallas just like 285. During the past 10 years they have added two
more highways looping around Dallas, that has taken a tremendous
load off the main highways.
They were also considering double decking the northern highway
out of downtown to Richardson, Plano, and further north. Instead
they went
with the two loops that have helped.
Just like Atlanta, Dallas will never catch up to the growth needs
with roads. Having lived in both cities during these years of growth,
I would rather drive in Dallas than Atlanta because of the new highways
up north that make access around and to the city much easier, although
the traffic is still terrible.
Until we get transportation systems with rail as in most European
cities, we will always be sitting in traffic wondering, "What
if?"
-- Randy Brown, Daytona Beach, Fla.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
What can happen from
reading health books
"Be careful about reading health books-you might die from
a misprint"
----Mark Twain, American author.
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