Chief Executive Officer, ray Gibbs, discusses the potential of graphene:
1. Where we are with graphene?
Graphene is a relatively new technology, which needs commercialisation. The market needs to grow and that is something I am passionate about. It needs collaborations with end users, which we are already starting to see. Haydale are working with Huntsman Araldite resin (glue to you and I) and other organisations such as Directa Plus are working with Vittoria Tyres (bikes) and AGM with Sherwin-Williams on anti corrosion paint. We are hugely excited by the possibilities of graphene.
2. Is the UK (and Manchester in particular) cashing in or are others overtaking us?
“The UK knowledge on the research and development in Graphene is (in my view) world class. In Manchester we have the National Graphene Institute (NGI) which was set up to do research into graphene, but not to commercialise it. It is the job of private companies to get the material to market. In the UK we often take too long at doing this – the Far East moves at light speed compared to the UK. I believe this is a systematic issue and we need to address it and it is beholden on the UK Graphene industry to pull together and make sure we continue to lead the world. The NGI has a massive worldwide profile that we all, in the UK, need to help to promote as it attracts significant industrial interest that we can convert to sales. We have the material understanding and in key areas such as inks/coatings and composites, the processing ability to provide materials enhancements. The potential from this is huge.”
