Concretene, a pioneering technology firm from Manchester, has secured significant funding to revolutionise the concrete industry. The firm aims to reduce carbon emissions through its unique graphene-enhanced concrete. The investment will aid in product certification and scaling operations. Strategic partnerships with industry leaders are pivotal to this venture. The advancement promises a substantial impact on an essential sector.
Concretene, a forward-thinking nanomaterial technology company, is set to transform the concrete industry with its innovative graphene-enhanced concrete. By securing a remarkable £3 million in venture capital investment, the Manchester-based firm is poised to introduce a promising solution to decarbonise one of the world’s most carbon-intense industries.
This financial boost is led by Molten Ventures, a technology-focused venture capital fund, and backed by LocalGlobe, a prominent supporter of tech startups. Their combined efforts reflect strong confidence in Concretene’s potential to improve the mechanical performance of concrete, thereby reducing the need for excess cement and lowering its environmental footprint.
With this investment, Concretene will progress towards obtaining necessary product certifications and scaling up its operations to generate increased revenue. Their collaboration with UK-based pre-cast manufacturer Roger Bullivant and global cement leader Cemex is crucial. Together, they work on developing low-carbon cement formulations, supported by a £1.2 million grant from Innovate UK.
The company’s efforts are also strengthened by a partnership with engineering consultancy Arup, focusing on extensive material testing programmes. Founded by civil engineers Rob Hibberd and Alex McDermott, Concretene has emerged from groundbreaking research at The University of Manchester’s Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre.
As the founding tenant of Manchester’s innovative district known as Sister, Concretene continues to build on its robust capabilities. Mike Harrison, their COO, highlights the team’s unique blend of expertise in construction and nanomaterial science as key to driving this project forward.
George Chalmers from Molten Ventures speaks to the company’s potential impact: ‘Concretene has made tremendous strides in getting its technology out of the lab and into meaningful real-world projects and applications.’
The £3m investment positions Concretene at the forefront of sustainable building solutions, promising significant contributions to reducing industrial carbon emissions.
