Dal start‑up helps make global shipping industry green, one coat of paint at a time

Gaier co-founded along with Mo AlGermozi , was established at Dal and has become a leading Canadian materials engineering firm focused on delivering disruptive uses for graphene and graphite ingredients.

“Congratulations to Dr.

Gaier was conducting his PhD under the direction of Kevin Plucknett and Zoheir Farhat, both professors of Mechanical Engineering in Dal’s Faculty of Engineering — tackles the most pressing environmental challenges facing the global shipping industry, which is responsible for transporting roughly 80 per cent of the world’s goods.

What sets both products apart in the industry is the use of nanoparticles, which have a larger surface area and yet a fraction of the weight of traditional versions of raw materials, meaning it takes a very small amount to achieve an effective coating, Dr.

Gaier, noting that a ship with a heavy coating of slime can require up to 38 per cent more energy to maintain the same speed as a vessel with a clean hull.

Last year, GIT was awarded a $2.4-million Transport Canada contract to pilot its prototype smart coating system on fishing boats, with a focus on reducing underwater noise and greenhouse gas emissions.

Despite the challenges of finding and recruiting top talent during COVID-19, GIT has grown from two to nine employees since launching in 2017 and aims to hire an additional five employees by the end of 2021 as it works to scale its product line.

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