MARINE OIL TECHNOLOGY BECOMES THE FIRST TENANT AT PortTechLA TECHNOLOGY INCUBATOR
SAN PEDRO, Calif. — June 10, 2010 — PortTechLA, a non-profit technology development center that was founded through a partnership formed between the Port of Los Angeles and the San Pedro Peninsula and Wilmington chambers of commerce, has announced that its first tenant has located business operations at PortTechLA’s temporary storefront location in downtown San Pedro.
Earlier this month,Marine Oil Technology (M.O.T.), a start-up manufacturer of hydraulic oil and engine oil cleansing products, opened shop at PortTechLA’s downtown San Pedro headquarters. The company is seeking financing to relocate the manufacturing of its products from Sweden and Utah to San Pedro. PortTechLA is also pursuing funding to support its move into larger facilities that could accommodate multiple technology start-ups in a business incubation environment. M.O.T., which has tested its products with local maritime businesses, reports that its oil cleansing system removes particles down to 1 micron and can save commercial trucks from as many as ten oil changes per year.
“One of our missions is to help start-up companies like Marine Oil Technology develop, test and market products that are environmentally beneficial to the maritime industry,” said Jeff Milanette, executive director of PortTechLA. “We’re looking forward to partnering with Marine Oil and other prospective tenants as we continue to build the foundation for PortTechLA.”
PortTechLA is a public benefit, non-profit technology center and business incubator founded by the San Pedro and Wilmington Chambers of Commerce in collaboration with the Port of Los Angeles and the City of Los Angeles. Its mission is to attract technology companies to the Los Angeles Harbor Area that will create new, well-paid “green collar” jobs by developing, testing, commercializing, manufacturing and marketing products for port-related environmental, security and logistics challenges.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has identified PortTechLA as an official CleanTech center, getting support from business and academic institutions working with the City’s CleanTech initiative. Under the leadership of Milanette, PortTechLA works closely with the Port of Los Angeles, particularly the Port’s Technology Advancement Program (TAP), which tests and supports emerging technologies to help meet the goals of the Port’s Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP).