Newark, DE | December 14, 2006 - Delaware Senator Tom Carper and Congressman Mike Castle, along with a representative from Senator Biden's office today announced $4 million in federal funding that the delegation secured for the Newark-based company, Micropore to increase their reactive plastic CO2 absorbent production, which will provide the U.S. military and first responders with superior life support products.  After the announcement, Carper and Castle toured the manufacturing facility. 

"The federal government's continued investment in Delaware companies is a testament to the ground-breaking work being done in the First State.  The rebreathing technology being advanced at Micropore will help save lives by extending the amount of time that people - including mineworkers, submarine crews and firefighters - can survive in low-oxygen environments," said Senator Carper.

ExtendAir CO2 absorbent is a revolutionary technology that solves the safety, storage and loading problems associated with traditional granular CO2 absorbents used in rebreathing and life support applications.  ExtendAir technology can result in 40 percent lower breathing effort and 50 percent longer life support than was previously possible.  The funds will be used to establish a continuous manufacturing process in the U.S., which would lower product costs by 25%.  

"This $4 million in federal funding will go towards the manufacturing of equipment such as military scuba, submarine, and medical oxygen, as well as smoke hoods and first responder breathers -- equipment that is critical to our fight against terror and in our ability to respond to disasters at home.  It is rewarding to see a company like Micropore based in Delaware providing innovative products that will be used all over the world in critical situations," said Congressman Castle.

Micropore was founded in March 1997 and has over 20 employees.  The Delegation secured the $4 million in federal funding as part of the final FY 07 Defense Appropriations Conference which was signed into law on September 29, 2006.