What They Do
Americhanvre Cast Hemp specializes in hemp-based building materials and installation for residential and commercial construction. Hempcrete is a lightweight, carbon-storing building material made from hemp and a lime-based binder that provides insulation and helps regulate moisture in buildings. Americhanvre is the exclusive U.S. licensee of the EREASY system, a specialized spray-applied hempcrete method.
The Challenge
Despite growing demand for lower-carbon, energy-efficient construction, hempcrete remains unfamiliar to many U.S. builders and homebuyers. Greater awareness and real-world demonstrations are helping show that hempcrete can provide a practical alternative to traditional insulation materials and help reduce the carbon footprint of new construction.
Americhanvre is using the EREASY system on residential projects across the country, most recently in Rochester, Minnesota, while continuing to expand industry knowledge of the technology through EREASY technician training in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.
How Ben Franklin Helped
Ben Franklin Technology Partners Northeastern Pennsylvania provided ongoing guidance, advising, encouragement, and support as Americhanvre navigated the challenges of growing its business and introducing an emerging building technology to the U.S. market.
“Our relationship with Ben Franklin Technology Partners can best be described as fully empowering. Any entrepreneurial journey is punctuated with ecstatic highs and gut-wrenching lows — the difference for Americhanvre in the last three years is that we have had BFTP in our corner. This team, and specifically our advisors Marisa and Wayne, have been there when we needed them the most. Financial assistance is greatly appreciated, but the moral support and encouragement we received while facing our challenges has had the greatest impact on our business. Ben Franklin is a family, and this team truly exemplifies the values of the man for whom the organization is named.”
— Cameron McIntosh, Founder, President and Principal Owner, Americhanvre Cast Hemp
