NEWS


Black Swan takes flight with plant expansion


Graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) producer Black Swan has completed an expansion at its facility in Consett, UK, more than tripling its production capacity. The new large-scale production unit, centred on a recently acquired 3160 Ariete System manufactured by GEA, has completed the calibration and commissioning process that enables continuous operation and is now capable of producing more than 140 tonnes/yr of GNP. “The completion of this capacity expansion marks a major inflection point for the company,” said Michael Edwards, Chief Operating Officer of Black Swan. “We have transitioned from pilot-scale development to full industrial-scale manufac- turing. With this facility fully operational, we are well positioned to meet growing global demand for consist- ent, scalable ‘Made with GEM [Graphene Enhanced Masterbatch]’ solutions ready for immediate commercial deployment.” Black Swan, which has


New


technology for Lubrizol


Speciality chemical producer Lubrizol has made a major advance- ment with the introduction of LED reactor technology at its plant in Louisville, Kentucky, US. This


Graphene nanoplatelet production capacity has increased to more than 140 tonnes/yr


established a global distribution network with various industry participants, has also entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Canadian injection moulder Falpaco for total consideration of C$12.6m. The acquisition is said to represent a key step in Black Swan’s ongoing commer- cialisation strategy of graphene products by vertically integrating downstream manufacturing capabilities and moving closer to end customers. Falpaco’s manufacturing


profile is particularly well aligned with Black Swan’s


product offering as it works with polymers in which Black Swan’s graphene solutions have demonstrated particu- larly strong performance benefits. Located near Montréal, Québec, Falpaco employs approximately 45 full-time personnel and serves a diversified base of customers across multiple industrial sectors. Falpaco traditionally


operates as a value-added partner to its customers, frequently contributing to product design, develop- ment, material selection, and performance. � www.blackswangraphene.com


next-generation manufac- turing approach delivers improvement in CPVC resin quality and process- ing efficiency, reinforcing Lubrizol’s market position. “This technology


represents a pivotal moment for our CPVC business,” said Griffin Rial, Vice President, Lubrizol TempRite. “LED chlorina- tion allows us to deliver meaningful performance improvements – greater thermal stability, faster customer process times, and improved sustainabil- ity, while enabling new levels of operational flexibility across our global manufacturing network.” The process provides


operational benefits to customers, including enabling longer produc- tion runs. �www.lubrizol.com


New carbon fibre production starts in France


Toray Carbon Fibers Europe, a subsidi- ary of the Japanese company Toray Industries, has announced the startup of a new carbon fibre production facility at its plant in South-West France, increasing the plant’s capacity to 6,000 tonnes/yr. The new produc- tion capacity, geared toward produc- ing T300 and high modulus (HM) carbon fibres, is expected to be fully


6 COMPOUNDING WORLD | April 2026


operational in the second half of 2026. Toray said the new capacity directly


addresses robust growth in demand across the aerospace, defence, energy, and premium automotive sectors, as manufacturers seek a reliable supply chain capable of responding to increases in production rates and boost European production capacity for T300 and HM carbon fibres.


By strengthening its production facilities in the EU, Toray said it is able to provide its customers with shorter lead times, enhanced industrial flexibility, and improved reliability for the most demanding programmes. In addition, the company will also be able to increase the availability of


intermediate-modulus carbon fibres. � https://toray-cfe.com


www.compoundingworld.com


IMAGE: BLACK SWAN


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