Insulation maker gets OK to move into Grafton factory

A small insulation manufacturer will replace Microbrush  International at a facility at 550 Beech St. in Grafton.

Aerogel Technologies received Plan Commission approval last week to move into 14,000 square feet of the Grafton Self Storage building.

Through a process involving methanol, acetone and an alcohol solvent, the company produces a material called Aerogel that owner Stephen Steiner claims is two to three times more insulating than fiberglass or Styrofoam.

Aerogel is used in a variety of products including electric aircraft, bulletproof vests and appliances, he said.

Steiner said he will work with residents across the street from his planned facility to prevent many of the issues caused by the previous tenant.

Microbrush, which is based at 1376 Cheyenne Ave., rented the Beech Street facility for two years to produce Covid-19 nasal test wipes.

Neighbors complained that semi-trucks frequently drove on their yards and driveways when making deliveries and that Microbrush employees were loud at night and often parked on the street instead of in the parking lot.

Steiner said the parking issue will be moot, since he anticipates only five to 10 employees will work at the facility. Initially, there will be only one to two other employees.

“And I bike — so that’s one car down,” he said.

Aerogel is restricted to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.   operations.

Given the number of employees and quiet production process, excessive noise should not be an issue, Steiner said.

“I am not a big fan of loud music blasting out of cars,” Steiner said, adding his employees will all be college educated and go through a selective hiring process.

Steiner said he doesn’t have control over whether a box truck or a semi is used for chemical deliveries, but he will work with residents if issues arise.

Aerogel expects daily mail truck deliveries, weekly to monthly deliveries from chemical vendors and waste pickup.

Additionally, Community Development Director Jessica Wolff said, Microbrush did not complete several projects required by its permit before vacating the property last year. Those included lighting and repaving the west parking lot and adding a sidewalk along the north side of the property.

The commission did not require Steiner to complete the repairs neglected by Microbrush because of Aerogel’s small size.

“I am very committed to the community, but we don’t have the resources to do that redevelopment around the building,” Steiner said.

The Beech St. facility will be used primarily for research and development, with a small-scale manufacturing line. Steiner said it is a stepping stone to opening a larger manufacturing facility in the next two years somewhere else in Wisconsin.

Steiner said the chemical process used  in production is relatively benign. The facility will only require a ventilation  capacity similar to Grafton High School’s chemistry lab.

The vapors will not produce an odor, Steiner said, and are “released in such small proportions and mixed to infinite dilution with the atmosphere that it should not be a concern to residents.”

“For what it’s worth, our current facility is attached to a charter school,” Steiner said.

He said Aerogel is moving from its current facility in Boston to Grafton because of the area’s lower overhead costs and better technical labor job market. Steiner plans to open the facility next month.