Global climate innovator Trane Technologies now has a noncontrolling minority stake in Lenexa-based Synexis LLC.
The investment enables Synexis to ramp up manufacturing capabilities to keep up with demand and accelerate research and development for its microbial reduction systems, Synexis CEO Eric Schlote told the Kansas City Business Journal.
“Trane’s a world leader in air quality and HVAC, so strategically, we think it brings a lot of credibility to our company,” he said. “It allows us to reach more customers with their commercial channel that they have, which is very robust.”
Synexis already has experienced impressive growth. Last year, it added roughly 50 employees and employs just more than 100. It plans to add about 50 more this year or early next year in roles to support R&D and commercial growth.
“We grew almost 10 times from the previous year in revenue. We expect to more than triple that in 2021,” he said.
Synexis is building out a larger R&D facility in Overland Park.
The company offers several versions of its patented microbial reduction systems, which convert a space's ambient humidity and oxygen into a dry hydrogen peroxide molecule that's evenly spread throughout the air. It transforms the air into a disinfectant to provide microbial reduction of viruses, pathogens, mold and volatile organic compounds. In addition to offices and schools, its technology has been used in the food supply chain to slow the ripening process of fresh fruits and vegetables and preserve their freshness. Last year, local restaurateur Gregg Johnson bought the systems to use at his Minsky's Pizza, Osteria IL Centro and Eggtc. locations.
Synexis' relationship with Trane kicked off in October with a pilot that included validating efficacy data. Now Trane has expanded its relationship and become the exclusive provider in the HVAC space of Synexis’ dry hydrogen peroxide systems in the U.S. and Canada.
In the future, Synexis plans to launch additional products, including ones for industrial applications and covering more square footage.
“The demand for our products is very high,” Schlote said. “What the pandemic has done is it made people aware of the need for indoor air quality products like Synexis, but it’s also educated the market.”
Consumers want data-driven products that don’t release harmful byproducts or produce ozone, he said. And Synexis fits that criteria. In addition to in-house lab data, Synexis is backed with real-world and third-party efficacy research, including peer-reviewed publications.
