Franz Hoffmann

Establishing and growing start-up company for the design, production and sales of custom power electronics solutions for vehicle applications.

Established private equity funded Procorp Enterprises LLC in February 2007 to provide sustainable water treatment solutions utilizing nanoscale reactions on the solid-liquid phase boundary in fluidized bed reactors. Company earned the distinction of being the first in North America to install reactors for salt-free water softening and phosphate removal in the form of solid, reusable pellets in California, Minnesota, and Wisconsin turning profitable in second year.

Identified/assessed green technology investment opportunities, including pursuing suitable acquisition targets for developing a sustainable technologies portfolio of recycling solutions, water, and biofuels. Founded Procorp Enterprises as first portfolio addition.

Developed the privately owned startup company Stegmann Inc.into one of the top three North American encoder manufacturers within 8 years. Forged powerful alliances with customers and competitors, including Kodak, Allen-Bradley, Rockwell Automation, DuPont, and Brooks Automation. Negotiated an exclusive private label agreement with Allen-Bradley and subsequently took over the complete production of all their encoder lines. Guided company through acquisition by SICK AG in 2002.

Electronic properties of semiconductors in highly quantizing fields. Two dimensional electron systems, Quantum Hall effect, high temperature superconductivity