May 2009

For much of his professional career, Alain Piette could be characterized as an 'intrepreneur' or someone who works within a company and uses entrepreneurial skills to seek innovations and opportunities which benefit that organization.  He led technology teams within major corporations which developed new products and systems that expanded and diversified the company's customer base.  "Taking what I learned, I then went into the market to apply these skills, focusing on medium-sized companies that required turn-around assistance.  My approach was based on using technology as a differentiating factor; helping to develop a technology that created a unique solution for that company," Piette relates.  It was during this time that Piette made the decision to enter Wayne State University graduate school to pursue an MBA.  He certainly never considered getting into the welding business.

"Grad school was a great experience for me.  I got involved with the tech transfer office at Wayne State and was asked to take on a project at Delphi Automotive Corporation with Delphi's wholly owned subsidiary, Delphi Technologies, Inc. (DTI).  DTI was created to develop, commercialize and license patented technologies," Piette relates.  That project was SpaceForm which was already established as a legal entity at Delphi and in 2006 ready to become a spinout company with the help of seed money from Automation Alley as well as significant support from NASA and the Michigan Research Institute. "Automation Alley's commitment to SpaceForm Inc. was outstanding and instrumental in our obtaining a 21^st Century Jobs Fund award from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation,"  acknowledges Piette.  SpaceForm's patented technology, Deformation Resistance Welding (DRW), allows for welds on metals and shapes that previously couldn't be welded and at significantly lower cost than conventional welding solutions.  DRW forms a near instantaneous, full strength, leak-tight weld.

Piette became the new company's President and operated the business in Detroit's Tech Town business incubator, a research and technology park that helps entrepreneurs who are starting up and creating jobs in emerging and innovative industries.  Using his entrepreneurial acumen, he transformed the company from a R&D venture trying to commercialize its technology, to a manufacturer offering both licenses for the technology and the welding equipment to use it.

Piette credits the Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC) tech consultants for helping him realign SpaceForm’s strategic direction.  "I think we were one of the first Tech Town companies to seek out SBTDC assistance.  The SBTDC's tech consultant, Dave Grossman, led SpaceForm in a series of strategic roadmapping sessions.  The process was focused and challenged all conventional ways of doing business.  The outcome has become a blueprint for the success of the company and its growth.  With SBTDC help and guidance, I was able to develop a new business model and convince Delphi that the value proposition of becoming a welding equipment supplier was the direction to take," says Piette.  "The SBTDC team actually became a sounding board for me and helped me determine how I wanted to position SpaceForm in the marketplace.  The roadmap became the tool that led to my decision to pursue a merger.  Their involvement helped me convince a potential partner that I was the company to acquire.  Frankly, the entire team is a strong resource that all companies should consider adding to their support structure," Piette continues.

In the fall of 2009, Madison Heights based Welding Solutions Inc. and SpaceForm merged to form a new joint venture, SpaceForm Welding Solutions Inc.  Welding Solutions is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Weldmation, Inc. a Madison Heights based equipment and systems integrator that manufacturers and tests welding assembly tools and equipment.  The new company, now also located in Madison Heights, combines SpaceForm's advanced DRW technology and Welding Solutions innovative Super-MIG robotic welding technology, a patented process that combines arc welding with metal inert gas welding. "SpaceForm Welding Solutions now has the ability to become a multi-solutions provider for customers rather than a single technology company.  We now have the ability to offer a full menu of services, from product development, welding development to product validation and equipment," states Piette.

Moving forward, Piette intends to expand SpaceForm Welding Solutions portfolio to include several additional emerging welding technologies.  He is actively scouting internationally for engineers who have developed innovative technologies that will provide even more creative solutions for SpaceForm customers. Integral to his business model is his intent to increase employment at SpaceForm.  "Currently SpaceForm employs 7 welding engineers and technicians, all of whom have degrees ranging from bachelors to PhDs.  Adding more of these high-tech jobs is important to Michigan's economic future and I want to do my part to contribute to that future," Piette acknowledges.

For additional information on SpaceForm Welding Solutions, please contact Alain Piette at 248.931.3886 or visit the website at www.spaceformtech.com. 

Contact the SBTDC.