Directa Plus was established in 2005 in Italy to develop innovative nanomaterial production processes. The company developed its own exfoliation process (which they call G+) that can be used to produce super-expanded graphite, pristine GNPs, water-dispersed GNPs and fine nanographite powder (all of them marketed under the G+ brand).
In 2014, the company inaugurated its 30-ton graphene plant in Lomazzo, Como. In April 2015 Directa Plus received a grant of €5.5 million. The company is involved with several projects and is providing its materials for textile makers, 3D printing, bicycle wheels and environmental applications.
Directa Plus is a public company that trades in the UK AIM (DCTA:L).
The latest Directa Plus graphene news:
Skanska on its way to trial graphene-enhanced asphalt on the M25
Earlier this month, it was reported that Directa Plus and Skanska are getting ready a trial of re-surfacing a section of a UK road in Curbridge, Oxfordshire with materials containing G+ graphene substance. Now, Skanska has mentioned that it is also in talks to trial the graphene-enhanced asphalt on the UK's M25.
The Curbridge works, which were delivered by subcontractor Aggregate Industries, involved removal and reinstatement of the existing carriageway to a depth of 150mm over a 750m-long section. One lane was replaced using conventional materials, while the opposite ‘trial’ lane was resurfaced using the asphalt enhanced by the innovative asphalt modifier.
Directa Plus and Skanska launch trial of graphene-enhanced asphalt
Directa Plus announced the start of a trial of re-surfacing a section of a UK road in Curbridge, Oxfordshire with materials containing its G+ graphene substance. The trial will be in collaboration with Skanska, the leading Sweden-based project development and construction group. Directa Plus partnered with Iterchimica, an Italy-based leader in products that enhance asphalt performance, to carry out the trial.
For the trial, the companies will refurbish the two upper layers of a 750m-long section of road, comparing asphalt concrete containing the graphene super modifier. New technologies such as the super modifier had the potential to vastly improve the quality of road surfaces throughout Europe and the wider world, according to Directa Plus.
Directa Plus completes fundraising
Directa Plus has raised gross proceeds of roughly £0.2 million (almost $260,000 USD) through an open offer and £7.4 million (around $9.6 million USD) through the placing and open offer, before expenses.
The graphene specialist last month agreed to buy a majority stake in one of its oil services partners, Romanian firm Setcar, which Directa's CEO called "a transformational acquisition".
Directa Plus to buy 51% of commercial partner Setcar and raise new funds
Directa Plus recently reported a broadly unchanged interim loss, despite a 56% year-on-year rise in revenue, and said that it plans to acquire a majority stake in a Romanian waste management and decontamination services business for EUR4.1 million.
Directa Plus also said it will raise up to GBP8.2 million to fund the Romanian stake acquisition.
Directa Plus signs contract to use graphene product to recover crude oil from European wells
Directa Plus recently announced that it has been awarded a supply and service contract from an unnamed international oil and gas company. The contract will involve treating and recovering crude oil from producing wells onshore across Europe.
Specifically, Directa Plus will be paid EUR150,000 to use its graphene-based Grafysorber technology, a product that is used to treat water contaminated by hydrocarbons, to treat several thousand cubic meters of sludges and by-products over the next six months.