OCSiAl opens graphene nanotube production plant in Serbia

Luxembourg – OCSiAl has opened its first European facility for the production of graphene nanotubes, the Luxembourg-based company announced 29 Oct.

Located in Serbia, the unit is slated to produce 60 tonnes of graphene nanotubes per year – with plans to double production through the addition of a second synthesis unit within the next year.

The facility, at Stara Pazova near Belgrade, will produce OCSiAl’s Tuball branded nanotubes and related products towards advancing the adption of nanomaterials across various industries.

Housed within the 10,000-square-metre factory are a graphene nanotube synthesis unit, dispersion and concentrate production lines, a research hub, and quality control laboratories.

“This facility’s strategic location in Serbia will enhance the supply of cutting-edge nanotube solutions across Europe, Asia, and the US,” said OCSiAl group CEO Konstantin Notman.

According to the company statement, its investment will support sales of nanotube concentrates, which have tripled over the last five years.

More than 1,500 companies worldwide, including leading rubber and plastic manufacturers, already use graphene nanotubes in their production lines, OCSiAl stated.

“A capacity of up to 200 tonnes of easy-to-apply nanotube concentrates,” it noted, “is enough to enhance up to 20 thousand tonnes of plastics or up to 4 thousand tonnes of rubbers.”

To meet demand, OCSiAl operates a global network of 10 licensed production partners and 25 distributors in more than 50 countries.

OCSiAl is planning further production expansions across the globe, with the construction of a production facility in Luxembourg as the next step.