CASE & RPI Researchers Awarded Fuzehub Manufacturing Grant

July 20th, 2026

A new CASE project funded by FuzeHub focuses on sustainable building materials RPI and CASE’s Josh Draper, Lecturer, Ed Palermo, Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, and Dr. Daniel Walczyk, Co-Director of the RPI New York Fashion Innovation Center and principal investigator in this fund were awarded a a 2026 Manufacturing Grant. Working with the Cottrell Paper Company (Rock City Falls, NY), they will develop a new product called ‘HempWrap’ as a direct replacement for synthetic house/building wrap used extensively as a weather-resistant and air barrier in modern construction.

HempWrap will consist of specially formulated and durable hemp paper that is treated with chemically modified plant oils. If successful, the product will be price competitive with synthetics and completely compostable at the end of life and have similar performance to Tyvek, the industry-leading product. RPI is responsible for the polymer chemistry behind the surface treatment, the process for applying it to the hemp paper, and product performance testing, while Cottrell is responsible for optimizing paper characteristics.

Fuzehub Manufacturing Grants are designed to encourage collaboration between organizations and small to medium-sized manufacturing companies in New York State. Selected projects serve as a pathway to technology transfer, adoption and implementation of new manufacturing processes, as well as the creation of enhanced products and services.

You can full the full grant announcement here.

Media Contact:

Kathie Brill, Program Manager

Brillk@rpi.edu