- Appointment of an industry specialist to accelerate PureGRAPH® sales into the Marine Composites and Windfarm sectors
- Continuing to build the sales and marketing team to enhance penetration in global markets by employing personnel with strong credentials in a number of product verticals.
Pursuing the commercial development strategy of appointing specialist operators with detailed sector experience, First Graphene Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of Matt Curthoys as Commercial Manager for the First Graphene’s expansion into Marine Composites and Windfarm sectors.
With more than 25 years’ involvement in the Marine industry as a Chartered Naval Architect in Europe and Asia, Matt brings in depth knowledge and capability to First Graphene. Matt has a career of direct experience in design, engineering and production of composite structures ranging from small boats through to America’s Cup racing yachts and Superyachts along with custom infrastructure projects. Currently based in Hong Kong, Matt was previously with BMT Group, a leading engineering, and technology consultancy.
The addition of Matt as the specialist Maritime & Renewables Commercial Manager signifies the Company’s strong commitment to expanding into the Marine Composites and Renewables market opportunities.
The incorporation of PureGRAPH® into composites improve the mechanical properties, whilst also providing an additional barrier to moisture intake and hydrolysis attack.
First Graphene reported in 2020 that initial test work had been completed using a conventional composite material and system to evaluate the performance of increasing PureGRAPH® 20 concentrations compared to a control system.
Results showed a significant increase of 59.4% in flexural strength for a 1% addition rate of PureGRAPH® 20 within the laminate. This result demonstrates the enormous potential for PureGRAPH® enhanced composite structures within the Marine sector, leading into Wind Turbine opportunities whereby PureGRAPH® could be used to extend the lifecycle of blades.
CEO, Michael Bell said “I would like to welcome Matt to the First Graphene team. Matt joins us at a critical time where we take recent composite successes and leverage these into adjacent markets and opportunities. The global expansion of Windfarms, and ever-growing Marine Composite sectors are a great match for Matt’s experience, and he will be pivotal in generating growth in the demand for PureGRAPH®”.
Mr Curthoys commenced with the First Graphene this week