By Charles Michael Ray | South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
RAPID CITY, SD (April 23, 2018) – South Dakota School of Mines & Technology associate professor Christian Widener, Ph.D., was awarded Entrepreneur of Year at the 2018 South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) annual conference in Sioux Falls, SD.
Widener is the Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of VRC Metal Systems. The company was started in 2013, with the help of CEO and co-founder Robert Hrabe. VRC designs and manufactures cold spray equipment and advanced manufacturing systems.
“A nationally recognized expert in cold spray technology, Dr. Widener has more than 60 publications and multiple patents because of his research and development work in advanced materials processing technologies,” said Gov. Dennis Daugaard. “VRC’s successful strategy sets the precedent for all Giant Vision competitors, making Dr. Widener an ideal choice for Entrepreneur of the Year.”
In addition to his associate professor duties at SD Mines, he is director of the Arbegast Materials and Processing (AMP) Laboratory, a cutting-edge research facility for advanced metals processing, joining, cladding and other materials development applications. Widener has led the technology development for seven patent applications and co-authored more than 60 publications since joining SD Mines in 2010, covering topics in friction stir welding, cold spray, advanced manufacturing and nanomaterials.
“This is well-deserved recognition for Christian Widener. The South Dakota Entrepreneur of the Year award not only highlights his achievements as the co-founder of this very successful high-tech company, it also showcases the vast potential for other start-up businesses that are spinning off from innovation fostered at the School of Mines,” says SD Mines President Jim Rankin.
VRC Metal Systems is in the process of relocating its headquarters to the Vandenberg Elementary School building in Box Elder
About VRC Metal Systems
VRC designs and manufactures cold spray equipment and advanced manufacturing systems. The company seeks to provide innovative, reliable metals deposition and automation technologies and manufactured components to give our customers market leading capabilities.
About SD Mines
Founded in 1885, the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is a science and engineering research university located in Rapid City, S.D., offering bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. The university enrolls 2,778 students with a student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1. The SD School of Mines placement rate for graduates is 96 percent, with an average starting salary of $63,000. Find us online at www.sdsmt.edu and on Facebook and Twitter.
Source: SD Mines
