Client Story: Soldier Systems D-Mil
Client Names: John Solomonides and Rob Winkler
Business Name: Soldier Systems D-Mil
Business Website: ssdmil.com
Industry: Strategic Material Recycling/Manufacturing
Location: Gilsum, NH
SBDC Advisor's Name: Victor Horodincu
SBDC Client: 1 Year
From their anonymous, unassuming building at the edge of Gilsum, NH, John Solomonides and Rob Winkler are onto something so impactful that it caused a Congresswoman to make the trek during mud season to see it for herself.
Soldier Systems is a veteran-owned, SBA-certified LLC changing the way we reclaim and recycle an essential material called “Germanium”.
German-i-what?
Discovered by Clemens Winkler in 1886 and named after his country of birth (Germany), Germanium is a hard, brittle, semi-precious, non-native element. In case you didn’t do so well in Chemistry, “non-native” means it’s not mined directly and is instead a byproduct of other mined materials.
Germanium has a wide range of impactful applications, including:
- Infrared and thermal imaging systems, including night vision and spectroscopy
- Optical equipment, such as telescopes and lenses
- Semiconductors and fiber optics (think transistors and integrated circuits)
Germanium is a key component of soldiers’ optical devices, lenses, satellites, sensors, and other equipment. Used for our armed forces, medical technology, and commercial products, Germanium is vital for spaceships, submarines, and everything in between.
A Growing National Crisis: Where has all the Germanium gone?
John and Rob were introduced by a mutual friend in 2018. John, in the beekeeping business at the time, was looking to design a woodworking machine that could increase their capacity. Because of Rob’s mechanical engineering background, the two met to discuss potential solutions for John’s bees. They quickly realized there was a much larger issue to solve…
Soldier Systems' Rob Winkler showing thermal imaging equipment containing Germanium.
With a 45+ year career in mechanical engineering for the defense industry, Rob has experience designing and manufacturing optical systems that utilize Germanium for the US military and our national defense.
He was aware of the unprecedented rate at which Germanium stores in the US were being depleted. Furthermore, China and Russia own about 96% of the means to refine and extract it, leaving the US in a vulnerable position.
Looking to reclaim our resources from China, Rob presented the idea to John to help solve this high-stakes, urgent issue. Together, they founded Soldier Systems to extract and recycle Germanium from decommissioned military equipment.
Veteran-Owned, SBA-Certified, State-of-the-Art Manufacturing
There are two facilities in the United States where zone refining and pulling of Germanium are taking place. Which means, Soldier Systems is one of just two companies providing this service, and it’s taking place right in the tiny (think population <800) town of Gilsum, NH.
John and Rob started Soldier Systems with their own investments. In addition to being veteran-owned, SBA-certified, and ITAR-compliant, they’re also the only company in the Germanium recycling industry to create a technology that’s 100% green.
But wait, there’s more!
While most technology like theirs wastes 30% of the material during the refinement process, Soldier Systems has created a state-of-the-art, efficient process that loses only .5% resulting in a sustainable and cost-effective process.
Seeking the SBDC’s Support for Increased Impact
Rob and John originally reached out to the SBDC to help locate state and federal resources and developmental funding opportunities. Through several strategic introductions and opportunities, they’ve gained exceptional visibility within the thermal optics industry in NH and captured the attention of vital leaders.
The SBDC has also introduced Soldier Systems to the APEX Accelerator Program, the NH Tech Alliance, NH Aerospace and Defense Consortium, the Keene Area Manufacturing Consortium, and Keene State College's newly established Advanced Optics training program.
“The exposure gained and connections we’ve made thus far have been nothing short of extraordinary.”
- John Solomonides
In addition, Rob and John have been asked by NH’s Congressional delegation to provide input contributing to the National Defense Authorization Act.
Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander and Soldier Systems' John Solomonides
With the guidance and support of their SBDC advisor, Victor Horodincu, Rob and John are actively looking for opportunities to further partner with agencies in the Department of Defense as they work to solve the US Germanium crisis.
The exposure gained and connections made thus far have been nothing short of extraordinary.
Rob and John both appreciate Victor’s objective eye and helpful guidance as an indispensable part of their growth. They meet with Victor regularly to refine their many ideas and package a clear presentation of their selling points. They need a strong message to back the incredible impact they can make in our national defense and global positioning.
It’s Certainly No Episode of Shark Tank!
“Entrepreneurship isn’t like playing Powerball. And it’s certainly not like an episode of Shark Tank!” - Rob Winkler
Both Rob and John acknowledge their many wins and successes, and still, they know there’s more to do. Obtaining government contracts doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s not as simple as entrepreneurship on TV makes it appear. There’s never a moment when they aren’t working on or thinking about their business and solutions to keep them moving forward.
While profitability is what keeps the lights on, they’re doing this for a much bigger reason. A responsibility to our country and the protection of our people is what keeps them persevering and working as hard and efficiently as possible.
Their driving force is to bring this process back to American soil, so we no longer need to comply with foreign powers to save lives with this valuable resource.
They’re not taking the issue or its implications lightly and are grateful for the SBDC’s support every step of the way as they work towards a big mission.