VoltaXplore, a 50/50 joint venture between Martinrea International and NanoXplore aimed at commercializing the production of graphene-enhanced lithium-ion batteries for the electric vehicle market, recently announced the commissioning of its one megawatt-hour demonstration facility in Montreal, Quebec.

The facility is producing batteries, which are currently being optimized. The company expects graphene-enhanced batteries will have several advantages over existing products in the market today, such as greater capacity, increased battery life, faster charging speeds, and improved safety. Tests aimed at validating these benefits are ongoing, with reportedly encouraging results to date.

Graphene producer NanoXplore announced that it is raising $30 million CAD, selling shares to a syndicate of underwriters led by National Bank Financial Inc. and Canaccord Genuity Corp.

NanoXplore says it will use the funds for general corpoate purposes - which may include potential acquisitions. A few months ago the company announced it has acquired Canuck Compounders, a privately held plastic recycling compounder that provides sustainable and engineered recycled plastic compounds.

NanoXplore announced that it has acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Canuck Compounders, a privately held plastic recycling compounder that provides sustainable and engineered recycled plastic compounds for use in transportation, building and construction, agriculture and packaging markets. Canuck's manufacturing facility, based in Cambridge, Ontario, has a production capacity of approximately 40 million pounds annually.

"I am very pleased with this acquisition and would like to welcome Canuck's team to the NanoXplore family," said Dr. Soroush Nazarpour, Chief Executive Officer of NanoXplore. "This acquisition is strategically aligned with our growth initiatives and significantly increases our graphene compounding capability, especially in recycled plastics and will enable us to form strategic partnerships with end customers. In addition, Canuck has a strong relationship with recycled plastic suppliers that ensures a smooth and reliable supply of post-consumer and post-industrial recycled plastics. This transaction will enhance our technical expertise in recycled plastic compounds and bolster our top-line by approximately $20 million annually, without considering revenues derived from graphene inclusion."

Graphene producer NanoXplore announced that the Corporation's common shares are starting to trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). The shares will delist from the TSX Venture Exchange. The ticker symbol will remain GRA. This stock graduation will hopefully mean further exposure and and enhanced profile for NanoXplore.

NanoXplore recently announced announced a joint venture with its partner Martinrea International called VoltaXplore Inc., formed to develop electric vehicle (EV) batteries enhanced with graphene. Last month NanoXplore announced that it has entered into a multiyear agreement to supply GrapheneBlack grade of products to Techmer PM, a large U.S-based plastic compounder specializing in modifying and fine-tuning the properties of technical polymers.

The graphene industry seems to be flourishing, at least when looking at the valuations of public companies. As we reported earlier this year, graphene stocks have risen nicely towards the end of 2020, and the trend continues in 2021 for most companies.

The total market value of graphene companies now reaches $1.8 billion USD for the 13 leading graphene public companies we track. It is important to note that not all this value is directly related to graphene - some of the companies have other activities, mainly graphite mining and supply. But for all these companies, graphene is a major part of the business, and most of the companies are pure-play graphene companies.

NanoXplore has announced that it has entered into a multiyear agreement to supply GrapheneBlack grade of products to Techmer PM, a large U.S-based plastic compounder specializing in modifying and fine-tuning the properties of technical polymers. Techmer PM will market its graphene-enhanced plastic compounds to a variety of industries in a number of diverse end uses and applications.

Techmer PM’s aim is to provide the highest performance properties possible across a wide spectrum of compounds and end products.

Graphene producer NanoXplore and its partner, Martinrea International, have announced a joint venture, VoltaXplore Inc., formed to develop electric vehicle (EV) batteries enhanced with graphene.

A VoltaXplore demonstration facility is scheduled to be opened in Montreal, Canada, within the next year for the development and production of EV batteries enhanced with graphene. The Companies stated that a successful demonstration of improved battery performance using graphene, along with positive feedback from customers, will support the business case for the construction of a battery production facility in Canada.

Following recent concerns surrounding the use of graphene in face masks and Health Canada's warnings of "a potential that wearers could inhale graphene particles from some masks, which may pose health risks", several companies involved in the production of such masks released their comments on the matter.

Zen Graphene Solutions, which developed a graphene-based virucidal ink and reported that it has a 99% effectiveness against COVID-19, released a statement saying that it is aware of the recent claims, and "is aligned and supportive of the steps taken to regulate the use of graphene and remove products that are unsafe for the public". It went on to state that its own products have been found safe in various "comprehensive testing". Later on, Zen also submitted various data requested by Health Canada - including final results received from Nucro-Technics on skin irritation and sensitivity that confirmed ZENGuardâ„¢ did not lead to any irritation or sensitivity.

NanoXplore recently announced that it has entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters co-led by Echelon Wealth Partners and National Bank Financial to raise, on a bought deal public offering basis, approximately CAD$40 million (around USD$31.4 million).

The Company intends to use the net proceeds for battery initiatives, debt reduction, sales and marketing of graphene and for general corporate purposes.

NanoXplore recently reported that it received a blanket purchase order from Martinrea International to supply graphene for fuel and brake lines for passenger vehicles produced by North American automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM).

These graphene-enhanced products were tested and approved by OEMs and reportedly demonstrate significant lifetime improvements in comparison with existing solutions in the market. These parts will be supplied to OEMs by Martinrea within already-awarded multi-year fuel and brake line supply programs.