Fullerex manages innovation projects for our customers that connect inventors, manufacturers, co-developers, applicators, distributors and end-users together in a consortium-led approach. We build these often complex supply chains to address the needs of industry with regard to nanomaterial utilisation. 

Nanomaterial producers and end-users alike require several key components in the value chain to be met before successful and sustainable use of nanomaterials can occur. It has become clear that incorporating nanomaterials into readily useable formats (such as concentrates, masterbatches and dispersions) is one of the most important steps in this regard. Producing these 'intermediate' products often requires enabling technologies and processes to modify the format of the material to suit a target application. However, these advanced processing methods for nanomaterials are widely underdeveloped across the industrial end-user base.

Therefore, in additional to a catalogue of “off the shelf products” (see “traded products” page) Fullerex has ensured we have the right partnerships in place to offer producers and end-users with new product development and delivery programmes. Depending on the estimated TRL (technology readiness level) of the technologies needed for the project, Fullerex will either manage directly or recommend the services of one of our contract R&D partners.

Project management services for our customers can be split into two distinct parts, of which either one or both can be selected: 

• • 1. The "build" component
  The build component aims to create ready-to-use intermediates that can be seamlessly integrated into existing manufacturing processes by working with suppliers to produce prototype materials for internal evaluation with the customer. These solutions can be tailored to suit a wide array of end-user requirements. Improving the compatibility of nanomaterials with current industrial processes is an essential part of proving the commercial value before significant investment can be made.

•  

  2. The "referral" component

Fullerex also offers a referral service for intermediate producers to kick start industrial trials in their materials. Fullerex engage with pre-agreed commercial end users to perform testing and provide feedback to the customer regarding prototype materials. This might include multiple phases of testing as the intermediate product undergoes various iterative improvements. End users involved in these trials often look to put supply agreements in place once testing moves beyond pilot scale.

 

The following list outlines some of the technologies available to Fullerex in coordinating these innovation projects: