Ultra-marathoner Jeff Vierling started Tailwind Nutrition, Durango, Colo., for himself and fellow runners, cyclists and triathletes who rely on nutritional supplements to sustain energy during long-distance races.
Vierling says the formulations in nutrition drinks, gels and bars were ineffective for him as an athlete, and so he set out to start his own line of supplements, composed of proprietary blends of dextrose, sucrose, fructose, electrolytes, amino acids, coconut milk proteins and caffeine. With sales the first half of 2018 doubling over the same period in 2017, Tailwind needed to boost production of its supplements while maintaining their potency by achieving blend uniformity and preventing material degradation.