Mar 10 2010
Leading manufacturer of carbon nanotubes Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd. has achieved commercial scale production to meet growing demand in the USA. This success has been marked by the company's announcement that it has issued a "Notice of Commencement of Manufacture or Import" (NOC) to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in relation to its Elicarb SW single-wall carbon nanotube products.
The announcement follows the granting of a Consent Order by the EPA in late 2008 for Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd. to supply small quantities of carbon nanotubes into the USA. Thomas Swan is required to issue a NOC to the EPA when it believes US sales have reached commercial quantities.
Following the issuing of the NOC, Thomas Swan - a UK company with a subsidiary in Lyndhurst NJ operating as Swan Chemical Inc. - must now fulfil all of the conditions of its Consent Order with the EPA to ensure the safe handling and use of its single-wall carbon nanotube product as it expands further into commercial production.
Chuck Van Fleet, President of Swan Chemical Inc. commented: "This announcement marks a significant achievement for Thomas Swan as we continue to work closely with the EPA to responsibly develop our nanotube business in the USA. We recognize that we are now selling significant quantities of our Elicarb SW single-wall carbon nanotubes to customers who are placing repeated and blanket orders several months out. These customers are also part of a structured supply chain all of which we feel represents true commercial sales."
Swan Chemical Inc. has been working with industry and governmental agencies and contractors on nanomaterial development projects in advanced composites including heat and electricity conducting plastics, high-strength composites and several electronics applications including memory systems and flat-screen display technology.
Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd. - the UK based parent company of Swan Chemical Inc. - is a European leader in setting standards in the chemical and related industries. The company was among the first to achieve the International Standards Organisation (ISO) 14001 accreditation for Environmental Management and was a pioneer of the Chemical Industries Association Responsible Care program.
Harry Swan, Managing Director of Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd. commented: "This announcement marks a significant step in the commercial development of our carbon nanotube business. We have established an excellent reputation in the USA and have a strong order book. We are keen to fulfil our regulatory responsibilities as a leading manufacturer of carbon nanotubes. Our pioneering work establishes a framework across the industry for the future development of nanotube technology in a safe and responsible manner."