PISCATAWAY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Solidia Technologies® today named construction materials industry entrepreneur and manufacturing leader Fred Dunand as vice president of Engineering. Dunand brings to Solidia over 20 years of international experience in ceramics design, project management, plant construction, engineering, and the manufacture of low-carbon concrete products.
“Ceramics are in my blood,” said Dunand. “I embrace innovation daily, and I am passionately committed to advancing excellence, efficiency, sustainability, and workplace safety. I am excited to join a team whose goal is to fundamentally disrupt and modernize the building materials industry.”
Starting in France in the ceramics industry, Dunand’s career has taken him to four countries and 13 states, most recently to Mississippi as an entrepreneur pushing the green envelope with the production of highly specialized products for the concrete masonry industry. Launched in 2017, Saturn Materials’ product line used a high content of fly ash, a by-product of coal-fired power plants, achieving a nearly 70% reduction in the cradle-to-gate carbon footprint while meeting ASTM standards. The ecologically friendly manufacturing process only expelled water vapor and reduced energy consumption compared to traditional concrete production.
Previously, as director of operations and special project manager at CalStar Products, Dunand helped prove the market suitability of a new technology platform and strengthened the manufacturing organization, increasing flexibility in the production model. He also previously coordinated a variety of production units as a site superintendent for projects at Keyria, Inc. (formerly Ceric Inc.), including on-site coordination of a new production unit making bricks, pavers, and blocks with 100% fly ash for Calstar, and commissioning the handling equipment, dryers, and kiln and training operators at a General Shale Brick plant, as well as plant construction and equipment installations at a Brampton Brick plant and another General Shale Brick plant – all with 100 million annual production capacities.
“Fred Dunand is a natural leader and consummate innovator intimately familiar with concrete manufacturing operations,” said Solidia interim CEO Russell Hill. “We are thrilled to have him on our team to facilitate workplace excellence, help expand our business with new production capacity, and to help advance the commercial viability of our technologies based on his vast industry experience and history delivering improved efficiency, safety, and sustainability in materials manufacturing operations.”
Dunand studied at the Ceramics Collège in Vierzon, France, and was educated as a materials specialist at the Lycée Dorian in Paris. In addition to English, he speaks and writes in French, Italian, Spanish, and some Czech. He is an active member of the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA), a mentor at the Mississippi State Architectural School, and active in many local business and charitable organization in the Columbus, Miss. area.
About Solidia Technologies
Based in Piscataway, N.J. (USA), Solidia Technologies® is a leading provider of decarbonization technologies and sustainable solutions to the construction and building materials industries. Investors include Imperative Ventures, Zero Carbon Partners, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Prelude Ventures, PIVA Capital, John Doerr, BP, OGCI Climate Investments, Bill Joy, Kleiner Perkins, BASF Venture Capital, LafargeHolcim, Total Carbon Neutrality Ventures, Air Liquide Venture Capital (ALIAD), and other private investors. Recognition includes: Fast Company 2021 World Changing Idea; Solar Impulse 1000 Efficient Solution; Global Cleantech 100; Inc.'s Top Start-Up to Watch 2020; Best Place to Work in NJ; BP Advancing Low Carbon accreditation; ERA Grand Challenge finalist; Sustainia 100; NJBiz Business of the Year; and R&D Top 100. Follow Solidia on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
