- First repeat production orders of PureGRAPH® fulfilled
- Aquatic Leisure Technologies launches PureGRAPH® enhanced Graphene Nano-Tech Pool range
- Steel Blue launches PureGRAPH® enhanced GraphTEC™ work boots
- Ascent Shipwrights launches first PureGRAPH® enhanced boat
- newGen Group moves to production of ArmourGRAPH™ wear liners
- Katana Surf completes collaboration on PureGRAPH® enhanced surfboards
First Graphene Limited (ASX:FGR; “First Graphene” or “the Company”) is pleased to provide an update on its continued progress with early adopters of the PureGRAPH® product line, and master supply agreement partners.
In line with the commercialisation progress and product launches from Aquatic Leisure Technologies, Steel Blue, Ascent Shipwrights, newGen Group and Katana Surf, First Graphene confirms the processing of production orders and a positive development in its work in growing the demand for PureGRAPH®.
First Graphene Chief Executive Officer Michael Bell said it was pleasing to see multiple early adopters now moving towards broad-scale commercialisation of a range of different products.
Mr Bell said: “We are very happy to see our customers completing the processes they need to have in place to fully utilise the PureGRAPH® products to which they have committed, and now moving into a production phase enabling a forecasted demand for PureGRAPH®. We are continuing to assist in accelerating their commercialisation efforts and to grow the overall demand for PureGRAPH®. Although the learning curve and ultimately sales cycle time for these early adopters has been considerably longer than expected, not to mention spanning a global pandemic, we are confident that we can accelerate the sales process for future opportunities. The broad range of product types and industries shown in these product launches is a testament to the true diversity of PureGRAPH®.”
With these new product lines now all being in a production phase, First Graphene is now able to look to extend sales opportunities in adjacent industries and applications to further build demand for the PureGRAPH® product line.
Aquatic Leisure Technologies Pty Ltd (ALT)
ALT has launched its new range of pools under well-known Australia brand Aqua Technics that utilise a PureGRAPH® enhanced laminate system. The resulting Graphene Nano-Tech Pool range provides significant strength improvement, weight saving and improved blister resistance due to ground water ingress compared to traditional pools.
The new laminate system required ALT to upgrade equipment and processes to implement commercial-scale production, and PureGRAPH® is now standard in all new Aqua Technics pools. Due to heavy demand for pools and pre-sales, production is scheduled to commence from July 2021.
ALT Managing Director Lynley Papineau said it was a major milestone to get the next generation in pool technology into the market.
Ms Papineau said: “We are thrilled to launch the Aqua Technics Graphene Nano-Tech Pool range, and to leverage the benefits that PureGRAPH® brings to our clients. This is our strongest pool ever. The PureGRAPH® technology allows us to raise the bar in quality, innovation and further differentiate from our competitors, both in Australia and globally.”
Figure 1 – The Aqua Technics Avellino 6m x 4m Graphene Nano-Tech pool.
Steel Blue Boots
Steel Blue has completed their first production run of PureGRAPH® enhanced safety boots and will be launching these into the Australian safety footwear market in June 2021. The first range of boots under the product name GraphTEC™, will feature a PureGRAPH® enhanced outsole and scuff cap, providing significant improvements in tear strength and abrasion resistance.
Steel Blue is continuing to raise the bar on safety with ongoing research to extend the use of PureGRAPH® to enhance a number of other components targeted for future generations of its safety footwear range.
The PureGRAPH® enhanced boots have been tested against multiple global safety standards and passed all requirements for distribution in Australia, Europe, Asia and the USA.
Steel Blue Chief Executive Officer Gary Johnson said it was exciting to finally get the product ready for launch, adding that Steel Blue was committed to extending the use of PureGRAPH® in its product line.
Mr Johnson said: “Steel Blue will continue to progress research and development with First Graphene on further enhancing various components of safety footwear and we look forward to bringing these to the market to supplement the GraphTEC™ range of PureGRAPH® enhanced boots.”
Figure 2 – The Steel Blue Southern Cross ® GraphTEC™ safety boots.
Ascent Shipwrights has launched its first PureGRAPH® enhanced Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) pleasure boat. The 23ft centre console is the first of Ascent Shipwrights newbuilds to include PureGRAPH® to strengthen, lighten and create greater resistance to water absorption.
On completion of sea trials in June, Ascent Shipwrights confirmed this was a successful first project, and that the use of PureGRAPH® will become a standard additive to all its future GRP boats.
Ascent Shipwrights Managing Director Daniel Roberts said the addition of PureGRAPH® into the wet lay-up GRP process provided an easy path to include this new technology and provide a more robust product for his clients.
Mr Roberts said: “Having successfully added PureGRAPH® into our manufacturing process and having seen the benefits in real world sea trials, we are committed to continuing the use of PureGRAPH® in all our GRP boats.”
Figure 3 – The Ascent Shipwright 23ft centre console pleasure boat.
newGen Group Pty Ltd
newGen Group has launched its ArmourGRAPHTM range of PureGRAPH® enhanced polyurethane wear liners.
Trials comparing the PureGRAPH® enhanced liners to standard polyurethane liners demonstrated up to six times reduction in wear rates in hard rock bulk material handling applications.
Following the 62-week live trial, coupled with an independent assessment of results by a NATA accredited provider, clients are now changing asset management processes and supply chains to utilise ArmourGRAPHTM wear liner materials.
newGen Group Managing Director Ben Walker said the completion of live trials, and the demonstration of a six-fold improvement in wear rates, was a true testament to the benefits of ArmourGRAPHTM and PureGRAPH®.
Mr Walker said: “The results achieved in our comprehensive 62-week live trial confirm the real-world benefits that ArmourGRAPHTM and PureGRAPH® bring, and clearly set a new standard in Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for critical assets. We are now offering a TCO modelling service to our clients as trial comparison against legacy materials, and ultimately how our clients can net a positive financial result with the inclusion of ArmourGRAPHTM materials”.
Figure 4 – The newGen Group ArmourGRAPH Bucket Reclaimer wear liner.
Katana Surf, a Western Australian company specialising in custom surfboard shaping, has completed a collaboration with First Graphene developing the first PureGRAPH® enhanced surfboard line aimed at boosting the boards durability.
The addition of PureGRAPH® within the GRP layer of board production has demonstrated an increased impact resistance and compressive strength which leads to a longer life expectancy. With this improvement, Katana Surf will now offer the inclusion of PureGRAPH® into its custom surfboards.
Katana Surf Owner Dave Smith said the inclusion of PureGRAPH® into the build process was simple and provided a great improvement to the overall robustness of his surfboards.
Mr Smith said: “PureGRAPH® was easily integrated within our existing production process and resulted in improved durability and overall longer life expectancy. Further to this, the feedback from the local surf community that have tested the boards, suggest an improved response on water”.
Figure 5 – The Graphene enhanced Katana Surfboard during manufacture.
| Investors Michael Bell Chief Executive Officer First Graphene Limited michael.bell@firstgraphene.net + 61 1300 660 448 |
| Media Simon Shepherdson General Manager Media Spoke Corporate simon@spokecorporate.com + 61 413 809 404 |
About First Graphene Ltd (ASX: FGR)
First Graphene Ltd. is the leading supplier of high-performing, graphene products. The company has a robust manufacturing platform based upon captive supply of high-purity raw materials and an established 100 tonne/year graphene production capacity. Commercial applications are now being progressed in composites, elastomers, fire retardancy, construction and energy storage.
First Graphene Ltd. is publicly listed in Australia (ASX:FGR) and has a primary manufacturing base in Henderson, near Perth, WA. The company is incorporated in the UK as First Graphene (UK) Ltd. and is a Tier 1 partner at the Graphene Engineering and Innovation Centre (GEIC), Manchester, UK.
PureGRAPH® Range of Products
PureGRAPH® graphene powders and PureGRAPH® AQUA pastes with lateral platelet sizes of 50μm, 20μm, 10μm and 5μm, as well as PureGRAPH® MB-LDPE 20-30 masterbatch for thermoplastics, are available in tonnage volumes. The products are high performing additives, characterised by their high quality and ease of use.
| First Graphene Limited ABN 50 007 870 760 1 Sepia CloseHenderson WA 6166 T: +61 1300 660 448 E: info@firstgraphene.net W: firstgraphene.net | Directors: Warwick Grigor Michael Quinert Dr Andy Goodwin | Trading Symbols Australia: FGR FGROC Frankfurt: FSE:M11 USA OTCQB: FGPHF |
With authority of the board, this announcement has been authorised for release by Aditya Asthana, Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary.
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