HydroTec® Mission:
Provide the paintball industry with revolutionary and innovative products that enhance the playing experience, foster growth, and promote the sport in a safe and responsible manner.

HydroTec® History:
HydroTec® is a U.S. Patent Number 7,905,181 and International Patents Pending paintball formulation and process that was invented by Paul Ciesiun and Ronnie Bayless. However, what it represents to the industry and sport is much more significant…

In 2004, while working on the development of a new glow-in-the-dark paintball formulation that required water as the primary fill material, Paul developed several new concepts to manufacture paintballs. His goal to encapsulate water as the main component in the fill was a monumental task, one that required the assistance of an expert. That same year, ideas in hand, Paul approached Ronnie to help him with the technical aspects of the project. Since gelatin is hyper sensitive to water, a new process and paintball formula needed to be created.

Considerations for the new formula included a ball that could withstand the rigors of the game and the outdoor arena in which it is typically played. With Ronnie’s assistance, ideas evolved into practical concepts. Paul and Ronnie spent four years attempting to reduce these concepts to actual practice. Initial progress was slow and as each challenge was answered a new one arose. For a time it even appeared an impossible goal. Replacing an inadequate yet familiar gelatin paintball demanded an inordinate amount of vision, focus, and drive.

The innovation required several key challenges to be addressed including the use of a suitable shell material, a way to encapsulate the “paint”, and sealing shell halves together to create a round paintball. As an undergraduate, Paul worked with Illinois State University’s Department of Technology to prove out a method to seal the paintballs. After several years of relentless research and perseverance, they were able to make significant progress in identifying raw materials and solving the most difficult challenge of creating a seal between two shell halves.

In 2008 Paul and Ronnie set to take their ideas to the next level. In order to make progress they needed funding for a prototype phase of HydroTec®. This would enable them to build a small machine to make one paintball at a time. This meant they could refine the materials, process, and parameters for mass production. Prototyping a machine meant that a team of skilled engineers would be needed to help bring HydroTec® out of the lab and into extensive development. To help them find interested investors in paintball, they sought the help of industry expert Chuck Hendsch.

Paul met with Chuck in mid 2008 and he immediately recognized the opportunity and agreed to help HydroTec® acquire prototype funding. Although it was no easy task to find an investor, since the cost and risk involved was high, an investor was quickly on board and in late 2008 the project was moving forward. It would take only six months to build a prototype machine and generate enough samples to set out and raise the capital to get into production. Having these samples meant that the risk of investment was greatly reduced, and in late 2009 the team was able to get funding to start the multi-million dollar venture.

Thus, HydroTec® was born, not just as a revolutionary new paintball and manufacturing technology, but as a brand, and the company that would bring years of hard work and dedication to the paintball industry. HydroTec® represents an innovation of such magnitude that it is poised to change the sport as we know it. Every component is environmentally friendly from shell to fill. Several key features of HydroTec include temperature resistance, immunity to the effects of water/humidity, easy to clean up, and uses 98% water as the fill. Finally, players and business owners alike have a paintball designed specifically to meet their needs and will function without fear in any playing condition.

We are avid players, field owners, and paintball technology experts who love the game just as you do. HydroTec® is the manifestation of years of our hardwork, dedication, and sacrifice for you, the players and field owners who truly make the game what it is.