R&D Agreement with Slovenian Faculty

Graft Polymer (UK) PLC

11 September 2023

 

                                                                                                                                                                11 September 2023

Graft Polymer (UK) PLC

Graft Polymer signs R&D agreement with the Slovenian Faculty of Polymer Technology to research and produce pivotal vitrimer polymer products

Graft Polymer, (LSE:GPL) ('Graft' or the 'Company') a speciality multi-sector chemicals company offering modified and alloys polymers and bio-polymer solutions for refiners, compounders and processors, announces the signing of a research and development ('R&D') agreement with the Slovenian Faculty of Polymer Technology (FTPO) ¹. The Company will work with FTPO for a year in developing polymer matrices, leveraging its technological expertise to prepare product samples, test products and produce a R&D report on findings. Materials provided by Graft will enable FTPO to take part in a number of cornerstone EU R&D HORIZON projects, whilst acting as a springboard for the Company in consolidating its growing presence in a pivotal new polymer proposition - vitrimers.

Vitrimer technologies are the most dynamic innovation in the polymer industry and a clear step beyond the traditional division of polymers into thermoplastics and thermosets. Each of those two classes of polymer has drawbacks in terms of cost, flexibility, product degradation, emission of toxic by-products and inability to be recycled. Vitrimers, however, are used for the production of SMART polymers, boasting a remarkable set of attributes: they can reverse their properties with heat, are easily reparable, can be recycled, welded, can flow under mechanical stress and even remember their shape.

With vitrimer products gaining traction in the polymer market, Graft continues to be at the forefront of development, conducting ongoing client trials within its revolutionary GRAFTAMER product range. The significance of this progress is substantial, with potential applications for the aviation, automotive, electronic and sporting goods industries. Vitrimers also have value for practical applications including adhesives, liquid crystalline elastomers and advanced materials. This new R&D agreement is the perfect conduit for Graft to release its GRAFTAMER products onto the global polymer market. Graft believes it is well placed to capitalise on a growing new market segment, with 62.5% CAGR expected for the self-repairing materials market, rising from US$2.1 billion in 2021 to a phenomenal US$62.66 billion in 2028 ².

Commenting on the agreement, Graft CEO / CTO Victor Bolduev said: "This new agreement is further evidence of our market leading, pioneering technological edge in R&D in the polymer modification field and comes in the wake of a dynamic summer with several new agreements and contracts signed. It will allow us to leverage our recently commissioned bespoke production equipment site in Slovenia which is the engine room of our R&D proposition to customers".

Associate Professor Dr. Blaž Nardin, Dean of the Slovenian Faculty of Polymer Technology added: "We are seeing inexorable demand from multiple industries seeking more efficient, sustainable use of everyday products with more environmentally friendly processes. We see vitrimers playing an instrumental role in this evolution and Graft Polymer is ideally placed to provide us with optimal R&D insight and product development in this vital niche".

ENDS

For further information, visit www.graftpolymer.com, follow on Twitter @PolymerLtd or contact:

Graft Polymer (UK) Plc

Roby Zomer, Non-Executive Chairman                                       Via Flagstaff

Yifat Steuer, CFO and Executive Director

Turner Pope Investments                                                           Tel:[phone]

James Pope

Andy Thacker

Flagstaff Strategic and Investor Communications                   Tel + 44 (0) 207 129 1474

Tim Thompson                                                         [e-mail]        

Mark Edwards

Alison Allfrey

Anna Probert

About Graft Polymer

Graft Polymer is a London Stock Exchange listed company (GPL.L) with a cutting-edge, research and development (R&D) and manufacturing facility based in Slovenia which has already introduced more than 50 products to the market. The core business of the Group comprises polymer modification and drug delivery system developments. The Group has developed a proprietary set of polymer modification technologies which uses recycled raw materials and a closed loop system to reduce waste. Graft Polymer's technology can improve existing products and processing methodologies by enhancing performance, simplifying manufacturing, reducing material consumption, widening the choice of feedstocks, and reducing costs.

Graft Polymer has three divisions: polymer modification; IP for Bio/Pharma applications including a drug delivery system (Graft Bio) and the Group's food supplement division. A significant milestone was reached in May 2022 when the Slovenian manufacturing facility was granted a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Certificate. The HACCP Certificate allows it to enter the lucrative Business-to-Consumer market and commercialise its IP for bio/pharma applications, developing active pharmaceutical ingredients and drug delivery platforms for use in the food supplement market, thereby introducing a further revenue stream to its business.

Environment, Social and Governance is at the forefront of the Group's strategy and the facility in Slovenia has been granted ISO 14001 accreditation in recognition of the environmental management systems in place to reduce waste. Graft Polymer only uses REACH and ROHS certificated raw materials instead of toxic raw materials, and its extensive R&D programme has also developed specialised recycling polymer additives which increases the strength of recycled blends and plastic products whilst also reducing plastic waste by between 40 and 50 per cent.

For further information on FTPO:

https://www.ftpo.eu/en

For further information regarding vitrimers market:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/self-healing-materials-market-102947

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