PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – A historic breakthrough in clean technology is coming to Marianna, Florida. Pulse Industries is establishing the world’s first vertically integrated mass production facility for chemical-free electron beam technology, a scale once thought impossible.
The company is moving into a 278,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Jackson County, which will bring hundreds of skilled jobs to the area while revolutionizing the accessibility of linear accelerator systems for industries worldwide.
“I don’t know that people understand the gravity of it, but this will give the scale and impact of this radiation technology across the globe,” said Darwin Gilmore, director of the Jackson County Economic Development Office.
Electron beam technology accelerates electrons to nearly 99.998% of the speed of light to sterilize various products. Unlike traditional methods, it does not produce radioactive waste or hazardous chemicals.
“It’s a very clean, green process, and we shine these particles onto food and medical devices,” said Dr. Eric Burgett, president and chief technology officer of Pulse Industries. “What it’s doing is cleaning all the pathogens that happen to be on it.”
The new facility is the first fully integrated operation designed to develop, mass-produce, and deploy industrial linear accelerators on a commercial scale. It will focus on four key areas:
Water treatment – Removing contaminants, including “forever chemicals” like PFASMedical device sterilization – Providing a safer alternative to carcinogenic gas methodsOil modification – Enhancing petroleum processing efficiencyFood treatment – Extending shelf life and eliminating pests in produce
“We’re one of the only technologies capable of destroying and removing ‘forever chemicals’ like PFAS, and we do it with a clean, green energy source,” Burgett said.
With Jackson County’s economy heavily reliant on agriculture, the new technology could have a significant impact. It can extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables while making them safer and healthier to consume. Additionally, it can eliminate pests, allowing more products to enter the U.S. market without restrictions.
“It’s not been widely accepted because there just hasn’t been anybody that can manufacture enough machines to carry the volume,” Burgett said. “We’re really changing the game there.”
Pulse Industries’ expansion marks a significant milestone for both Jackson County and the global clean technology industry.
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