Elon University alumni R.J. Yozwiak ’08 and Ian Baltutis ‘08 have been recognized for their company’s invention, “Silent Feet,” with Design News’ Golden Mousetrap Award for Materials Processing.
The Vibration Solution, LLC, originally developed two years ago through the Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, produces the vibration-dampening coasters that sit under the feet of washing machines. Vibration Solution was the first operational company to emerge from the Doherty Center.
“It’s exciting,” Baltutis said. “The award came as a surprise. It’s not every day that you get an award for being recognized as a top, innovative product. It’s going to be a great publicity spur for our company.”
The coasters use a patented material called Sorbothane to reduce vibrations. Tests prove that in most applications, approximately 80 to 90 percent of the vibration caused by unbalanced loads is eliminated by Silent Feet.
“The company’s been doing well,” Baltutis said. “We’ve had excellent sales. We’ve been profitable since our second month of operation. We’re expanding into the international market as well as developing the domestic market. Despite the recession, we’re seeing significantly high growth trends.”
In 2008, “Silent Feet” nabbed first place at the New Venture Creation Competition.
Encouraged by the success and recognition of Silent Feet, Vibration Solution is working on a new product called shock tape.
“It’s vibration absorbing tape for sporting sticks or bicycle grips,” Baltutis said. “It has seen amazing success in the test labs.”
– Daniel Koehler, Office of University Relations