Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has visited the Teesside manufacturer of a ‘super material’ which is distributing its innovative work across the globe.
Applied Graphene Materials, (AGM) based at The Wilton Centre in Redcar, is a leading innovator in the manufacture and application of graphene powder, a form of carbon, which can have transformational performance when added to other materials.
During his visit, Mayor Houchen was able to see first-hand the manufacturing of high-performance graphene materials which are being produced here in the region, and he also learnt more about some of the commercial projects the firm is pursuing.
As well as the UK the company also has sales teams in Kentucky and Oklahoma and has recently secured several new distributors, signing agreements with firms in Italy, Japan, China and South Africa.
AGM uses the materials it manufactures to assist customers across a range of sectors who are producing graphene enhanced products. The Company has a primary focus on anti-corrosion primers and coatings, such as a recently customer-launched liquid coating roofing system for the construction industry to enable substantially longer lasting asset life.
Making best use of its unique properties, graphene can be used in paints, coatings, lubricants, adhesives and batteries amongst an ever-growing number of applications.
The company was founded by Professor Karl Coleman in 2010 with operations and processes he initially developed at Durham University. In 2013, the firm was listed on the Alternative Investment Market, the London Stock Exchange market for smaller companies and expanded its infrastructure to go global.
Mayor Houchen said: “There is some truly amazing ground-breaking work going on right here in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool that is attracting attention right across the world with our highly-skilled workers using their expertise in a range of sectors, and Applied Graphene Materials is a great example of that.
“It was brilliant to learn all about their work and their interesting opportunities in our region. They are an example of a firm creating the products of the future in sectors we need to support, and we as a region are leading the way.”
Adrian Potts, AGM’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “It was a real pleasure to have Mayor Houchen visit today to see what we do and to understand more about graphene materials and the potential they offer in real world applications.
“To enable the Mayor’s team to see this technology right here in the Teesside area is important in gaining an appreciation of the breadth of opportunity that it could represent.
“Applications are apparent in a wide range of sectors for the local area including steel, wind turbines, and industrial coatings and other adjacent advanced technologies such as composite materials. We look forward to much stronger links with local companies and the Mayor’s office as a result of this visit.”
