KINGSTON, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 12, 2014) - Grafoid Inc. is pleased and honoured to announce its recent win of the 2014 New Business of the Year by the Kingston Chamber of Commerce. The Award was presented at the Chamber's 19th annual Business Achievement Awards Gala.
Nominations were solicited from members of the Kingston business community and a judging panel of community partners and Chamber volunteers select the award winners.
Grafoid, a complete solutions graphene company, held the official opening of its 225,000 square foot Global Technology Centre (GTC) in Kingston, on August 20, 2014 and in doing so, began the consolidation of its diverse scientific, engineering, production and operating entities under one roof.
The GTC is home to an array of Grafoid's innovative developments including next generation graphene automotive batteries and supercapacitors; graphene-infused polymers and metal powders (additive materials) for industrial-scale 3D printing; graphene coatings and paints; bulletproof and fireproof protective clothing; sports equipment; wiring and cabling; graphene foils and other graphene ventures and joint ventures.
The GTC's centerpiece, however, is Grafoid's MesoGraf™ graphene and MesoGraf™ derivatives production centre.
"This year has been one of remarkable achievements for Grafoid and our staff, our science and especially our advances towards graphene's commercialization," said Founding Partner and Chief Executive Officer Gary Economo.
"We were deeply honoured to have been nominated as New Business of the Year by the Kingston Chamber of Commerce, and now, even more so after winning this prestigious award," Mr. Economo said.
The business award was the first of two significant achievements. Grafoid's subsidiary, Braille Battery, Inc. of Sarasota, Florida won the Global Media Award for Best Product at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) convention in Las Vegas for its GreenLite G20 lithium starting battery.
Braille Battery, acquired by Grafoid to develop a first-to-market high performance graphene li-ion automotive battery, developed the first lithium starter battery. It continues to be the global market leader in ultra-lightweight high performance batteries for the racing industry.
It was Braille's fourth consecutive SEMA win in the Best New Product category because of the company's ongoing development of new products for street and track.
SEMA's membership includes more than 6,300 companies worldwide including original and aftermarket equipment manufacturers, distributors and automotive specialists serving a $30 billion annual market.
Mr. Economo, in congratulating Braille on its SEMA award said: "This latest win underscores Grafoid's decision to pair its MesoGraf™ graphene with Braille's innovative lithium battery materials, manufacturing capabilities and its global market penetration.
"In commercial terms, the competitive advantages of a wholly-owned, vertically integrated graphene supply chain are significant. They lead to R&D cost efficiencies and hold the potential ultimately, to maintain wide margins while reducing costs to consumers," Mr. Economo said.
Braille Battery, Inc. was acquired by Grafoid on September 2, 2014.
About Braille Battery, Inc.
Founded in 2002 by Mr. Blake Fuller, Braille Battery is a pioneering battery manufacturing and energy storage solutions company with a complete line of lightweight high powered battery systems for the transportation market. Braille developed the world's first commercially available automotive lithium starting battery and has grown to become the highest volume producer of automotive lithium starting batteries.
With a rich history dominating motorsports from NASCAR to IndyCar, Braille has developed solutions that are applicable to the demanding, highly profitable specialty automotive, marine, defense, medical, and aerospace markets. With international patents pending on over 20 core technologies, Braille brings superior performing products to market with a simplified manufacturing process with exclusive designs. With over 500 international resellers, 100 web domains, and trademarks and copyrights on 25 attractive branding elements, Braille's experienced marketing team has continued to fast track growth to become a global market leader in niche, high performance batteries.
Braille's ISO compliant, GSA/CCR registered design, engineering and manufacturing facility in Sarasota, Florida forms a global distribution and contract manufacturing hub extending to the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Japan, China and Singapore.
Braille Battery was adopted as the official business name to reflect that electrical performance and lightweight benefits are often only felt and not seen. The company's focus is to produce products that are lighter, stronger and faster.
For additional company information please visit: www.braillebattery.com
About Grafoid Inc.
Incorporated in Ottawa, in September 2011, Grafoid is a graphene development and investment company partnered with Focus Graphite Inc., owner of the high-grade Lac Knife, Quebec graphite deposit, and; graphene producer Graphite Zero Pte Ltd. and the National University of Singapore's Graphene Research Center -- one of the premier graphene R&D institutes in the world -- all of whom are now represented at Grafoid's Innovation Park facilities in Kingston, Ontario.
Grafoid's leading investment results in a game-changing process that sets a global standard for economically scalable graphene products, universally trademarked as MesoGraf™.
Grafoid Inc. is a privately held Canadian corporation investing in MesoGraf™ high-energy density graphene applications and economically scalable production processes for pristine bilayer and trilayer graphene and MesoGraf™ derivatives from raw, unprocessed, graphite ore.
Contact Information:
Mr. Gary Economo
Chief Executive Officer
geconomo@grafoid.com
www.grafoid.com