Black Swan Graphene (TSX-V:SWAN) and Nationwide Engineering Research and Development (NERD) announced a development agreement with Roger Bullivant Limited, a part of VINCI, to establish a Concretene pilot manufacturing plant in the UK.
Concretene, a graphene-enhanced concrete admixture developed in collaboration with The University of Manchester, significantly enhances concrete performance while reducing its environmental impact—a crucial step in addressing the construction industry's urgent need for sustainable solutions.
Black Swan estimates that the initial pilot production will require about half of its graphene production capacity, with potential rapid growth upon successful commercial rollout.
This strategic initiative targets commercial deliveries by Q4 2024.
The pre-cast project, valued at £1.21 million, will commence immediately with funding provided by Innovate UK under its SMART grant, supporting SMEs and industrial partners in developing disruptive innovations with the potential for rapid economic return to the UK, according to a statement from Black Swan.
Black Swan CEO Simon Marcotte explained that, due to the size of the market, utilizing graphene in concrete is considered the “holy grail” of graphene applications. However, very few have been successful at mastering the intricate process.
“We are extremely excited to have NERD as a partner which has, time and time again, demonstrated the functionality, effectiveness and desirability of its concrete admixture,” Marcotte said.
Black Swan is focused on the large-scale production and commercialization of patented high-performance and low-cost graphene products aimed at several industrial sectors, including concrete, polymers, Li-ion batteries, and others, which are expected to require large volumes of graphene.