What started as an effort to develop better filtering systems to protect warfighters from airborne threats has been a springboard to commercial growth for a small business.

Tennessee-based eSpin Technologies has been adding jobs because its nanofiber-based air filtration products are gaining traction in a variety of industries. Most notably, the company’s “exceed with nanofibers” brand filters have significantly improved indoor air quality while lowering energy costs in several automotive plants in North America.

Conventional air filters employ a matrix of relatively large fibers to capture particles from passing air, which causes resistance to airflow and fills up relatively quickly. However, a network of much smaller nanofibers provides more capturing surface and volume at similar or lower flow resistance. The latter also translates to longer service life and the need for less fan power.