Carol and Eddie Sturman
Sturman Industries, Woodland Park, Colorado

Sturman Industries is recognized as a leader in the development of digital hydraulic controls and advanced engine management systems enabling ultra efficient and clean use of biofuels such as methane and biogas for both mobility and stationary power. The company was founded in 1989 by Carol Sturman, based on the digital control technologies invented by Eddie Sturman, Chief Engineer, who became a partner with Carol in Sturman Industries in 1990.  Its new electro-hydraulic valvetrain — or “camless” engine — was tested recently through the California Energy Commission’s PIER program. Sturman Industries’ technology helped meet California’s ultra-low emission standards while enabling natural gas engines to run reliably and efficiently on varying qualities of biomethane. Sturman's engine and hydraulic controls are built around the revolutionary digital valve technology, which achieves ultra-fast switching speeds and dramatically reduces the size and energy consumption of fluid control valves.

As the founder and President, Carol Sturman was responsible for the company start up, corporate business culture development, contract negotiation and facility location and design. In the first six years, Carol helped lead the company’s business growth at a rate of approximately 100% annually.  Sturman Industries is a multimillion dollar company with 45 employees, and enjoys successful relationships with major customers in North America, Europe and Asia. In 2008, Carol was the winner of the Society of Automotive Engineers prestigious J. Cordell Breed Award for women mobility leaders.

Eddie Sturman’s first inventions to go into production were solar-powered, sensor-controlled irrigation systems. Eddie is a world leader in the development of “digital” valves, which bring the advantages of digital controls to the mechanical world. In the 1960s, his digitally controlled energy-saver valve was used on the Apollo 13 space mission. In the 1980's, Eddie began applying his revolutionary technology to high-pressure fuel injection.  In 2003, Eddie was inducted into the National Space Foundation’s Hall of Fame for bringing space technology to planet earth. Regarding the recent testing of Sturman Industries’ camless engine, Eddie notes, “With modern adaptive controls we can make engines clean and affordable. We’ve come such a long way. When I see these systems running, I’m amazed at the performance we see. It’s a significant step toward our ultimate goal of achieving maximum efficiency with alternative fuels.”

BioCycle is honored to have Carol and Eddie Sturman as the Keynote Speakers at BioCycle’s 11th Annual Renewable Energy Conference.