We had the pleasure to interview Brian Harris, Vice President of Sales at NanoXplore, who shared how NanoXplore continues to lead the way in making graphene both affordable and available at industrial scale. In this discussion, Brian highlights the company’s breakthrough in developing new high-surface-area GrapheneBlack xGnP™ grades, its strategic approach to overcoming market challenges, and its vision for accelerating graphene adoption across the plastics industry.

What makes your company stand out?

NanoXplore stands out by making graphene both affordable and available at industrial scale. Our graphene is produced at volumes and prices unmatched in the industry, with costs up to ten times lower than competitors. We operate the world’s largest graphene powder production facility*, with an annual capacity of 4,000 metric tons, representing around 40% of global supply. We have also achieved regulatory approval across the US, EU, and Canada, making NanoXplore the only large-scale graphene company with global certification. These factors allow us to deliver high-performance graphene solutions that are both cost-effective and fully compliant with international standards.

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What’s the next big thing you’re working on?

NanoXplore is launching a new line of commercial high-surface-area graphene grades under our xGnP trademark: GrapheneBlack xGnPTM D-300, D-500, and D-750. Produced using a novel dry manufacturing process, commercial production is expected to begin in early 2026. These additives enhance a wide range of thermoplastics. D-300 and D-500 have proven performance in recycled plastics, improving mechanical strength, resin compatibility, and resistance to UV light, particularly in recycled polypropylene PP and TPO, with or without mineral fillers. Independent testing across industries has confirmed significant performance improvements at very low loadings. D-300 also shows promise in insulation, improving R-values while maintaining strength and processability. D-500 delivers reliable electrical performance and easier processing than carbon blacks and CNTs. . Finally, D-750 provides extremely high surface area, making it a cost-competitive option for applications requiring electromagnetic absorption, UV protection, and IR blocking.

What’s the biggest challenge in the industry right now—and how are you tackling it?

The industry currently faces demand uncertainty across sectors such as automotive, heavy-duty trucks, building & construction, and plastic packaging. These unpredictable forecasts affect operations, supply chain stability, and growth planning. NanoXplore is well-positioned financially to overcome these fluctuations and sees them as short-term challenges that will level out in due course.

Fast forward 10 years—how do you see the industry evolving?

We anticipate a significant increase in graphene adoption across the plastics industry, driven by cost reductions through lightweighting, enhanced use of recycled content, and improved processing efficiency. NanoXplore’scompetitively priced graphene enables the replacement of carbon black in key industrial applications, including plastic piping, geomembranes, and other plastics products, allowing customers to reduce costs, boost performance, and achieve sustainability goals. Sustainability will continue to be a key focus, with companies aiming to lower their carbon footprint and reduce overall plastic use.

What excites you most about this year’s expo?

We are excited to showcase our new GrapheneBlack xGnPTM product grades and to reconnect face-to-face with both existing and potential customers. Over the years, the expo has provided strong opportunities to strengthen industry relationships, and we expect 2026 to be no different. We look forward to engaging with the community and sharing our latest innovations our new GrapheneBlack xGnPTM product grades.