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UVBusinessQ Profile: US Synthetic
Valuing human life is a strong foundation in business and in life. US Synthetic, a father-son global enterprise, is based on this culture where employees thrive on learning and experience and use it to bless others around the globe.
In 1978, Bill Pope, a former BYU chemical engineering professor, and his son Louis founded the Orem-based company. US Synthetic is known for manufacturing PCDs (polycrystalline diamond cutters) for oil and gas exploration. But really, the business stretches into much more.
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Orem home to one of nation’s largest diamond manufacturers
OREM — There are thousands of carats of diamonds flowing through Utah County, but the majority don’t end up on anyone’s finger.
US Synthetic in Orem is the nation’s largest manufacturer of polycrystalline diamond. The company makes long-lasting diamond inserts for tools used in mining, energy production, and exploration and other manufacturing fields. It was started more than 30 years ago by Louis Pope.
According to company president Rob Galloway, 50 percent of all drilling globally is done with US Synthetic equipment.
US Synthetic takes carbon-based synthetic diamond grit and applies heat and pressure to create the diamonds for manufacturing use. It puts about 10 carats of synthetic diamond in every product it makes.
“Synthetic diamond is a super material and we’re constantly looking for new applications for it,” Galloway said.