The official opening of a unique 225,000 square foot Innovation Park technology research centre sees the new home of Graphene specialist Grafoid Inc’s pipeline including MesoGraf research and development laboratories, production facilities, graphene material testing, engineering and product development departments. Grafoid’s mission is to become a dominant global player with graphene-related material for a broad range of sectors including materials for additive manufacturing and 3D printing.
Grafoid Inc. was established in late 2011 as a private company. In May 2013, the company launched a unique global commercial platform comprised of Grafoid Inc., Focus Graphite Inc. (TSX VENTURE: FMS; OTCQX: FCSMF; FRANKFURT: FKC), 50% owned subsidiary Graphite Zero Pte Ltd., and the National University of Singapore’s Graphene Research Centre — the Intellectual Property holder of the graphite-to-MesoGraf production process, which is also one of the foremost graphene R&D institutions in the world.
Since 2013, the Grafoid-Focus Graphite partnership is no longer unique on the graphene scene as Lomiko Metals and Graphene Laboratories have created a close partnership, which has brought Lomiko much closer to the graphene industry, and 3D printing, with a further share purchase in Graphene Laboratories completed just this month.
Now, Grafoid has marked the official opening of its new Kingston, Ontario production facilities, in a ceremony attended by civic and federal representatives. The Innovation Park technology centre is now the new home to Grafoid’s strategic partner, Graphite Zero Pte Ltd., which has been producing MesoGraf and derivatives since spring this year.
Grafoid’s Chief Executive Officer and Founding Partner Gary Economo told the news conference that the company is aiming to create “some 160 high-value technical positions at the Innovation Park complex during the next 12 – 24 months, and we expect that number to grow as we expand in subsequent years… The technologies we develop here in Kingston with our institutional and corporate partners could lead to graphene’s broad commercialization.”
“This year we have embarked on another round of funding to meet our ambitious development objectives and acquisition plans. We have plans to raise US$50m and will be announcing further details on our progress in the coming months. This level of funding enables growth and supports our immediate goals of creating some 160 plus professional jobs in this facility – some of whom are already here today.”
Grafoid is aiming to impact a broad range of sectors including: applications for next gen graphene lithium batteries; additive materials for 3D printing; biomedicine; water purification and oil spill remediation; polymers and composite materials; fibre science; coatings and lubricants and more. The company is currently moving to expand its global platform through the establishment of subsidiary companies to advance the commercialisation of its MesoGraf-based applications.
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