February 23rd, 2022

OCSiAl has been granted approval by the Luxembourg authorities for a production plant, together with an associated R&D center, in Differdange, Luxembourg. The facility will further cement OCSiAl’s strategic advantage as the leading supplier of the supermaterial and enhance the geographic accessibility of graphene nanotubes to a wide range of industries, including construction, automotive, and oil and gas.

A graphene nanotube is a unique form of carbon that can be imagined as a graphene sheet, with a thickness of one atom, rolled into a tube. One of the best electrical conductors on earth, graphene nanotubes are 100 times stronger than steel but lighter than aluminum. When added to a material, nanotubes create a strong, conductive skeleton inside the material that results in a substantial improvement in the material’s targeted properties.

Permanent and stable conductivity, color flexibility, enhanced strength, and improved durability of coatings—these properties are enabled by a nanotube loading starting from 0.01 wt.%. Among other products on the market, graphene nanotubes show their competitive advantage in mold coats and gelcoats, PVC and polyurethane coatings, lining coatings, anti-static flooring and printing roller coatings, acrylic primers for vehicles, and powder coatings. The new center will allow OCSiAl to further improve its technical support for customers and accelerate joint projects. 

“Our state-of-the-art graphene nanotube facility in Luxembourg will be positioned between Belgium, France, and Germany, and will allow us to reduce logistics costs and work closely with leading automakers, the largest chemical producers, and polymer manufacturers across Europe,” said Konstantin Notman, Chief Executive Officer of OCSiAl Group.

OCSiAl plans to invest $300 million in the development of the cutting-edge facility, which was designed to minimize the usage of energy and resources as well as to protect the population and the biodiversity in the surrounding environment from any negative impact. Moreover, graphene nanotubes contribute to sustainable development by giving industries the ability to create next-generation products with previously unachievable properties and with less raw material required.

OCSiAl’s headquarters and one of the company’s three graphene nanotube development centers are already located in Luxembourg. The new facility will expand the company’s global footprint and increase its headcount by 300 across research and production. OCSiAl works with 1,500 companies in more than 50 countries. Seven of the ten largest global coatings producers are conducting advanced industrial trials. According to third-party analysis, the total addressable market for OCSiAl’s graphene nanotube products and technology is expected to surpass $400 billion by 2035.

Quick Facts:

OCSiAl’s graphene nanotube synthesis facility, expected to be the largest of its kind, is scheduled to begin production in 2025.

The new production facility is expected to increase OCSiAl’s current production capacity of nanotubes, which among other applications will accelerate the development of more durable, safer coatings with a wider color range.

OCSiAl’s state-of-the-art technology center will contribute to the development of advanced materials for the automotive, construction, oil and gas, electronics, and other industries across Europe.

For more information, visit https://ocsial.com/