Paul Wood: Wired In: Gary Durack

March 31-- Mar. 31--Each week, staff writer Paul Wood chats with a high-tech difference-maker. This week, meet GARY DURACK, president of Tekmill and CEO of SIMnext, both of which were founded in the University of Illinois Research Park. An engineer who is veteran of academia and industry, Durack has spent decades helping people turn novel ideas into finished products. His newest initiative is Tekmill's 4,500-square-foot Shared Fabrication Center, where student interns and employees from some of the largest Research Park companies work alongside Tekmill's experienced machinists and engineers to test new design ideas and to create advanced prototypes. As part of the program, students can learn to safely use high-precision-machining, welding, laser-cutting, measurement and electronic-testing equipment.

Where did you start?

I began my career at the Coulter Corporation. After working four years in the Purdue University Cancer Center, I joined the University of Illinois in 1993 and led its flow-cytometry research facilities, until Tim Hoerr and I founded iCyt, an advanced-cell-sorting company. ICyt, which made equipment used for cancer and AIDS research, was sold to Sony in 2009. I led the Sony subsidiary for three more years.

Sony Biotechnology, formerly iCyt, moved away from the Research Park in late 2014 but is still prospering.

What happened then?

Tekmill was founded by myself, Bob Rauschenberger and Peter Fox with equipment we bought back from Sony. OSF Healthcare became an investor in 2016.

What does Tekmill do?

Tekmill designs and manufactures laboratory automation equipment, fixtures for assembly lines and precision parts for local companies, the university and clients across the country. We also have helped several startup companies and new entrepreneurs by providing them with affordable engineering, business services and professional mentoring.

Is the Tekmill a family operation?

Matt, my oldest son, recently joined me as general manager and vice president of engineering after six years at Caterpillar. Alex, my younger son and graduate of Parkland's media program, helps out everywhere in the company.

How does a company use your new Fab Center?

Companies buy annual memberships that allow their student interns and employees to use our shared equipment. Using a cool moveable-wall system, we can quickly configure private spaces for companies doing confidential work. Users receive safety training and instruction on the equipment.

How can you help the bigger companies?

Even large companies like John Deere or Brunswick may not have the industrial space or advanced equipment needed to make the most of being in the Research Park. They also may not be able to have experienced machinists, designers and engineers here to advise their student interns. By sharing the resources among multiple companies, we provide a cost-effective solution for them. Right now, we have about 20 student interns working in the center.

Is the machine shop part of the membership?

Yes. Vertical mills, lathes, saws, grinders, welders, sandblasting, etc. ... it's all accessible through the membership.

Anything else locally?

I've been honored to work with OSF Innovation to launch Health Scholars (www.healthscholars.com) out of the Research Park. I served as the CEO of Health Scholars until the company moved to Denver, Colo., in 2018. Health Scholars has developed amazing virtual-reality training experiences for physicians and nurses. This is truly one of the coolest things I have ever been a part of, and it is going to be transformative for healthcare.

Do you have any patents?

I have 34 U.S. patents as of now.

TECH TIDBITS ... from GARY DURACK

Most-used website? I'm on Zillow looking for a retirement home in western North Carolina.

Wearables? Only the AllTrails app in my phone to track my hikes in N.C.

Book or Kindle? I prefer a book, but I have a Kindle.

Do you have an entrepreneurial hero? Peter Fox and Clint Atkins. Peter taught me about everything I know about business. The Research Park exists due to the vision and capital provided by Clint and Peter.

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