GENERAL COMPANY NEWS
• Cnano, US, has received $6 m in venture funding to commercialize carbon nanotubes. The firm claims that its novel hybrid technology results in significantly reduced manufacturing costs compared to any other carbon nanotube production methods to date.
"Cnano's unique technology and manufacturing in China will enable it to compete effectively in the global market place," said Peter Liu, chairman of WI Harper Group, an investor in Cnano. "Cnano is expected to target several large, high-growth carbon nanotubes applications [cleantech, speciality material and electronics]."
• FEI, a provider of nanoscale imaging products, has announced record sales for the second quarter of 2007. Net sales of $148.6 m were up 33% compared to the same period last year.
"In the second quarter, we formally introduced the PhenomTM, our exciting low-cost imaging device that opens new markets for us," said Don Kania, president and CEO of FEI. "We expect it to begin contributing meaningfully to our results in 2008."
• Chemicals giant BASF has announced that its nanostructured self-cleaning surface treatment – Mincor TX TT – is now undergoing trials on sunshades and sails. The product made the transition from the lab to practical applications last year and the firm expects treated fabrics to be launched "shortly".
• The Centre of Excellence in Metrology for Micro and Nano Technologies (CEMMNT) has expanded its measurement, characterization and design capabilities to provide extensive calibration and test services through its UKAS accredited partners, which include the National Physical Laboratory and Ametek Taylor Hobson. According to the centre, new standard samples are now available for verifying the performance of stylus, optical, scanning probe and co-ordinate measuring machines, and similar instruments.
ELECTRONICS AND DISPLAYS
• Unidym has teamed up with an unnamed liquid crystal display manufacturer to integrate its carbon nanotube technology into display applications. Unidym has developed what it claims is a robust and low-cost alternative to indium tin oxide (ITO) transparent electrodes found in electronic displays, solar cells and OLED lighting. The firm describes the existing market for ITO as being worth around $1 bn for the material alone, not including its deposition.
• Enable IPC has announced better-than-expected preliminary performance results from its ultracapacitor technology and is making "significant progress" on a nanowire-based microbattery. Applications include consumer electronics, healthcare products, RFID tags and smart cards. The company will be showcasing its technology at this month's NanoTX'07 event.
• Lumera, a developer of polymer materials for electro-optic devices and bioscience products, has announced revenues totalling $934,000 for the three months ended 30 June 2007, compared with $665,000 for the same period in 2006 – a 40% increase year-on-year.
"At the six month mark, the company is on track to meet our 2007 revenue and programme objectives for the year," said Lumera CEO Tom Mino. "We have also positioned the company's balance sheet to properly fund our business over the next 12–18 months."