July 2009

TES International offers advanced engineering solutions to companies wrestling with thermal design and packaging challenges.  The company provides software and engineering consulting services, specializing in electronics cooling and thermal and structural analysis for the aerospace, automotive, electronics and defense industries.  Companies hire TES to conduct reliability assessments of complex pieces of equipment such as gas turbines or transmissions. 

Founded in 1994 by Ben Zandi, currently chairman and chief technology officer, the company's first software version was developed for Zandis doctoral dissertation as a tool to predict temperature and flow fields with particular application to the cooling of television receivers.  Since that time, the company has expanded its customer base from one primary customer to become a solid niche player in a number of industry sectors. This diversification effort began in 2001 with the addition of Jeffrey Lewis, now the company's president.  Lewis, a former engineering professor at Edinburgh University in Scotland, was recruited to the United States to run the product development operation of a company in West Virginia.  While seeking Michigan automotive markets for the company's products he hooked up with Zandi.  "I saw the enormous potential of the TES system to manage heat generation within electronic devices and wanted to be a part of the company," Lewis related. 

"We are surrounded by electronics.  Just about everything we use is packed with electronics - vehicles, computers, entertainment devices, weapons, phones, even the new running shoes  and our dependence on electronics is increasing," says Lewis. Since Lewis joined TES, the company has been involved in a wide range of projects in thermal and structural/vibrational analysis with some of the largest companies in the world, including Delphi, United Technologies, Bosch, Alcoa and General Electric.  Although a small company, TES has customers in Mexico, Europe and the Far East, bringing export dollars into Michigan.

It was the company's interest in gaining a foothold in the defense industry that led TES to the Michigan Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC).  Seeking an Army/Department of Defense Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant, Lewis approached a partner to the SBTDC, the Michigan Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC).  The Mi-PTAC network helps small companies that are interested in obtaining government contracts and, after meeting with PTAC staff at Schoolcraft College, Lewis was encouraged to contact Anna Bier, the SBTDC technology consultant whose expertise and experience focuses on guiding companies through the SBIR process.  At the time, TES had submitted an unsuccessful SBIR application.  "We were focused solely on the technology of the application.  Anna gave us templates, helped us understand how the SBIR process worked and led us by the hand though the entire application process.  Very soon after we were awarded our first phase 1 SBIR," Lewis stated.  With the help of the SBTDC, the company went on to win a SBIR phase 2 product development grant as well as other SBIR grants relating to the company's electronic cooling software.  The U.S. Army contracts with TES to analyze the electronics systems in its tanks and other vehicles.  TES continues to seek SBTDC guidance in broadening its reach in the defense industry. 

Unlike many small companies, TES has been a solid revenue generator, even when that meant that the company's two principals at times went without salaries to ensure cash flow.  The company's vision for the future is to realize 50% of its revenue from software sales, 25% from consulting work and 25% from product development.  Lewis is convinced that TES' electronic cooling software package is the most fully featured, stand alone product available.  "While there are other products on the market, there are none with all the features of our software," Lewis states. "Our product is a tool for designers; 'if I do this, here's what will happen'.  Working in the virtual development world is cheaper and faster than mechanical analysis," relates Lewis.

TES currently employs eight employees and has recently brought on board two new agents to focus on software sales and new market development – one on the west coast and one in Michigan.

TES is a recent recipient of the Michigan Emerging Technology Fund (MI-ETF), a state effort aimed at expanding funding opportunities for Michigan technology companies in the federal innovation research and development arena.  The fund was created to support commercialization of SBIR projects and with this award TES is establishing a testing and training facility at its new Troy location.  Obtaining third party funding was necessary for receiving a MI-ETF award and TES is proud that their local community bank, Fidelity Bank, stepped in and provided the required match.  "This was a clear case of local people bending over backwards to help other local people," Lewis relates. 

The company also has been recognized as one of Michigan's 50 Companies to Watch, an annual competition celebrating the contribution, innovation and energy of 50 Michigan companies.  Companies are judged on a number of factors that identify those exhibiting high performance in the marketplace, have an innovative product or unique processes.  TES appears to have all three.

Contact the SBTDC.