Zhijun Jia, PhD
CEO and Founder
Zhijun has over 30 years of experience developing and commercializing new compact processes and products. Zhijun was previously the Reactor Development Manager for Chart Energy and Chemicals. In 2014, Zhijun founded CompRex and its sister company, BGTL, INC. to further commercialize these technologies. Under Zhijun’s leadership, CompRex has partnered and worked with leading players in both industry and academia such as Arkema, SABIC, Shell, Air Products, RTI, Naval Nuclear Laboratory, Sandia/Argonne National Labs, University of Kentucky’s Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Southwest Research Institute, and Gas Technology Institute.
Steven Verrall, PhD
Business Manager & Technical Advisor
Steven started managing R&D projects 26 years ago as a postdoc at the University of Connecticut under Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor Bahram Javidi’s leadership. Prior to joining CompRex, he was a teaching professor at the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse (UWL). He designed ten initial capstone projects for the Engineering Physics Degree. He has served as a peer reviewer for various Journals in engineering and processing fields. He is a world leading expert on proposing and developing 3D vortex models. He has worked closely with the CompRex team proposing and designing novel concepts and applications for compact heat exchangers, reactors, and waste-to-energy systems. He has collaborated with industry experts at organizations including Amogy, Obeo Biogas, Verne, Fotofab, Westinghouse, Fermilab, and Sandia National Labs. He has also developed several new manufacturing protocols for CompRex.
Elias De Haro
Mechanical Engineer
Elias holds a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Guadalajara. He has extensive experience in HVAC system design, CFD, CAD modeling, and advanced manufacturing techniques. At CompRex, Elias has contributed to the development of diffusion-bonded printed circuit heat exchangers (PCHEs) for energy, chemical, and aerospace applications, leveraging software such as AspenTech EDR and Compress for ASME compliance. His work includes CFD modeling, thermal/hydraulic analysis, and the automation of design processes through VBA scripting. He has also introduced several new manufacturing protocols at CompRex to enhance production efficiency.
Jay Thaldorf
Bonding and Shop Technician
Jay has over 30 years’ experience in a manufacturing environment as an electrician and machinist. During his time working manufacturing, he has 25 plus years of bonding furnace experience with brazing and diffusion bonding of aluminum and stainless steels materials.
Network of Partners with Complementary Expertise
Investor Partners
Robinson Metal, Inc. is a premier custom metal fabricator based in De Pere, Wisconsin with decades of experience in machining, pipe and vessel, custom enclosures and the ability to provide ASME-code stamped systems. It also has an advanced 185,000-square-foot manufacturing facility with 8 overhead crane bays, dedicated equipment areas, a large paint booth, a stainless steel blasting booth, and many more features.
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) leads economic development efforts for the state by advancing and maximizing opportunities in Wisconsin for businesses, communities and people to thrive in a globally competitive environment. Working with more than 600 regional and local partners, WEDC develops and delivers solutions representative of a highly responsive and coordinated economic development network.
The La Crosse Area Development Corporation (LADCO) is a private, nonprofit organization that leads the development and diversification of the La Crosse County regional economy through the location and expansion of quality employers and job producing investments, including foreign direct investment, increasing exporting and finding real estate solutions. LADCO is supported by its partners (municipalities in La Crosse County and Minnesota, and La Crosse County) and more than 110 private sector investors. Since 1972, LADCO has assisted companies with their location and/or expansion plans, creating thousands of jobs for Coulee region residents.
Commercialization Partner
The Center for Technology Commercialization is a unit in the University of Wisconsin System Administration’s Institute for Business and Entrepreneurship. CTC provides one-on-one expert consulting to early-stage emerging technology businesses throughout Wisconsin. CTC has collaborated in acquiring more than $100 million in federal and other funding for clients.
R&D Partners
BGTL, INC. is CompRex’s sister company focused on the commercialization of industrial systems that utilizes heat exchanger and reactor components produced by CompRex.
University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Thermal Hydraulics Laboratory (THL) conducts research covering a wide breadth of fundamental physics and applications relating to advanced energy utilization, energy extraction and energy production with the main focus on experimental thermal hydraulics for advanced nuclear, solar and waste heat recovery energy sources.
University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy (CAER) is a world class research center focusing on the development of technologies relating to coal cleaning, beneficiation, utilization, and conversion processes. Environmental issues relating to fuel use and coal combustion by-products constitute a major effort, along with the derivation of high added-value materials and chemicals from energy resources.