A TECHNOLOGY firm developing a so-called wonder material has expanded its global reach by securing a further South African deal.

Applied Graphene Materials, originally spun out of Durham University and now based in Redcar, produces speciality graphene materials.

The company has signed a distribution agreement with Carst & Walker (C&W) that will extend Applied Graphene Materials' commercial reach into the South African chemical markets.

Bosses say C&W is the market leading supplier of key additives to the South African paints and coatings industry, providing proprietary technical expertise to this well-established customer base.

AGM and C&W have an exclusive agreement that will see the two companies collaborate on opportunities in the South African market and introduce AGM’s proprietary Genable product into the South African coatings market.

Adrian Potts, chief executive of Applied Graphene Materials, said: “AGM’s Genable anti-corrosion dispersion technologies are achieving growing industry recognition and commercial traction, and it is important that we establish a highly credible, robust and technically reactive distribution network as we focus on expansion into international markets.

" Carst & Walker are a great partner for AGM as we enter new geographic territories and the relationship provides an excellent route to market for our products.

"In particular, as we are introducing a new technology, it is essential that our distribution partners are well trusted by their customer base and have a proactive and knowledgeable sales team to support new products. Carst & Walker meet this requirement and we look forward to exciting developments over the coming months in this territory.”

Phil Hinton, director and international business manager, added: “We have been tracking the technology development of AGM’s graphene and Genable dispersion and having seen first-hand the outstanding results they are achieving, particularly the area of anti-corrosion performance, we are very excited by the opportunity to support their ambitious growth plans.

"In the build up to signing the agreement we have made extensive market soundings with our customer base and have already engaged with several key players in the South African market."

Applied Graphene Materials was founded in 2010 with its operations and processes based on technology that Professor Karl Coleman initially developed at Durham University.

C&W have offices and warehousing facilities in South Africa, Kenya and Australia.