Company Interview / The wonder material comes of age

Michael Bell, chief executive of First Graphene (ASX:FGR), outlines how the company is working to turn graphene, long described as a "wonder material", into a genuine commercial business. Bell explains that First Graphene is a graphene producer, making a carbon-based additive that is put into other materials to enhance their strength and conductivity, and can be used in cement and concrete to reduce CO2 emissions. He states the applications are very broad, spanning swimming pools, concrete, printed electronic circuitry, drilling components, rocket-fuel liners and anti-corrosion coatings.

Bell says First Graphene's key point of difference is that it built manufacturing capacity early, at its Henderson facility in Western Australia, and now focuses solely on winning commercial clients, which he claims puts it three to five years ahead of competitors still chasing their first revenue. He points to a base of around 38 clients buying on a regular production basis, with a further 50 to 60 in marketing, regulatory approval or launch phases, and says the company's intellectual property lies in making graphene, selecting the right grade for a given performance need, and helping clients disperse it into their products.

Bell describes a recent US acquisition as a way to establish a presence in the large American defence and aerospace market, expand the product portfolio, and bring on an existing client base and pipeline. He says First Graphene has made its first US commercial hire and is moving to sell direct rather than through a distributor, and states the company does not need to raise capital immediately, noting spare manufacturing capacity in Western Australia, though US-based manufacturing would be a larger question down the track.

Looking ahead, Bell says a key catalyst is a newly signed memorandum of understanding with a Chinese partner targeting the cement and concrete market, which he frames as a potentially vast opportunity given China's position as the world's largest cement user and its focus on cutting emissions. He adds that First Graphene (ASX:FGR) expects revenue to accelerate as it converts its pipeline, and argues the market may be underestimating the company's head start, its combination of installed capacity and paying clients, and its selective, IP driven approach.

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