Profile: Northern Technologies International Corporation (NTIC.O)

Northern Technologies International Corp. (NTIC) develops and markets environmentally beneficial products and technical services either directly or via a network of joint ventures and independent distributors in over 50 countries. NTIC’s primary business is corrosion prevention. In addition, NTIC has three businesses: corrosion prevention technology designed for the oil and gas industry; a product line of compounds and finished products based on a portfolio of bio-plastic technologies marketed under the Natur-Tec brand, and technology and equipment that converts plastic waste into diesel, gasoline and heavy fractions. NTIC also sells ZERUST and EXCOR rust and corrosion inhibiting products and services to the automotive, electronics, electrical, mechanical, military and retail consumer markets. NTIC participates, either directly or indirectly through holding companies, in 27 active corporate joint venture arrangements in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

NTIC develops and markets a portfolio of bio-based and/or biodegradable (compostable) polymer resin compounds and finished products under the Natur-Tec brand. The Natur-Tec bioplastics portfolio includes flexible film, foam, rigid injection molded materials and engineered plastics. Natur-Tec biodegradable and compostable finished products include shopping and grocery bags, lawn and leaf bags, can liners, pet waste collection bags, cutlery, packaging foam and coated paper products and are engineered to be biodegradable in a composting environment. NTIC’s Polymer Energy LLC joint venture markets and sells a system that uses catalytic pyrolysis to convert plastic waste (primarily polyolefins) into hydrocarbons (primarily a mix of diesels, gasoline and heavy fractions).

Corrosion Prevention

NTIC’s ZERUST packaging products contain nontoxic chemical systems (primarily using food additives) that passivate metal surfaces and thereby inhibit rust and corrosion. The corrosion-inhibiting protection is maintained as long as the metal products to be protected remain enclosed within the ZERUST packaging. NTIC’s corrosion prevention products also include a range of several diffusers, such as ZERUST ICT Vapor Capsules, ZERUST ICT Plastabs and ZERUST ICT Cor-Tabs. NTIC also has developed additives in liquid form to imbue corrugated cardboard, solid fiber and chipboard packaging materials with corrosion protection properties. In addition, NTIC provides a range of metal surface treatment liquids, which are oil, water and bio-solvent based marketed under the Axxatec and Axxanol brand names.

Corrosion Prevention for the Oil and Gas Industry

NTIC has developed corrosion inhibiting technologies for use in the mitigation of corrosion in capital assets used in the petroleum and process chemical industry. In addition, NTIC focuses to market its technology to other targeted potential customers in the oil and gas industry across several countries through NTIC’s joint venture partners and other strategic partners.

Bio-Plastics

NTIC manufactures and sells a range of bio-based and biodegradable (compostable) polymer resin compounds and products under the Natur-Tec brand. Natur-Tec biopolymer resins are produced using NTIC’s pending ReX Process. In this process, biodegradable polymers, natural polymers made from renewable resources, and organic and inorganic materials are reactively blended in the presence of compatibilizers and polymer modifiers to produce bio-based/biodegradable polymer resin formulations that exhibit stable morphology.

Natur-Tec biopolymer resins are available in several grades tailored for a range of applications, such as blown-film extrusion, extrusion coating, injection molding and rigid engineered plastics. In addition, NTIC offers a range of renewable resource based resin compounds for durable engineering plastics applications, such as automotive and industrial plastics.

Conversion of Plastic Waste to Fuel.

The Polymer Energy system is modular by design and is suited for distributed processing of plastic waste. The Polymer Energy process can handle plastic that is contaminated with other types of waste, such as metals, glass, dirt and water. NTIC, through Polymer Energy LLC, a joint venture in which NTIC has a 62.5% ownership interest has an exclusive license to market the technology in countries in Asia and North America.

Electronic Measuring Instruments

NTIC’s Mütec GmbH joint venture develops, manufactures and sells electronics components. These components include signal converters, input-output interfaces, bulk goods property measurement instruments and process sensor technologies.