Grolltex

Grolltex, a name derived from 'graphene-rolling-technologies', is a San Diego-based advanced materials company founded in 2014 by Aliaksandr Zaretski. The company's genesis is rooted in patented research from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), aimed at solving critical manufacturing challenges for graphene. Grolltex operates with exclusive rights to these patents, which address the cost, scalability, and environmental impact of producing high-quality, single-layer graphene.

The company's core business involves manufacturing and selling electronics-grade, single-layer graphene sheets produced via Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). A key differentiator is its proprietary, sustainable roll-to-roll transfer methodology. This process overcomes the significant 'transfer issue' that has historically hindered mass production by enabling the non-destructive movement of graphene from its growth substrate, which also allows for the reuse of the copper substrate, thereby reducing costs and waste. In addition to graphene, Grolltex produces hexagonal Boron Nitride (hBN), an insulating 2D material often called 'white graphene' that can significantly enhance the performance of graphene-based devices.

Grolltex serves a diverse client base, including research labs, and companies in the life sciences, biotech, and advanced electronics sectors. Its business model encompasses selling graphene and hBN materials on various substrates, providing foundry and contract manufacturing services, and developing its own graphene-based products. The product applications are extensive, ranging from flexible transparent conductive electrodes for touchscreens and displays to highly sensitive biosensors for medical diagnostics like glucose monitoring, membranes for water desalination and gas separation, and components for perovskite solar cells. By 2019, the company had expanded its manufacturing facility to a capacity of 30,000 eight-inch wafer equivalents per year, making it the largest plant of its kind in the U.S. at the time.

Financially, Grolltex is a seed-stage company that has secured $600,000 in funding over four rounds. A notable Seed B round in September 2017 raised $600,000 from existing shareholders at a $10 million valuation, indicating strong investor confidence. The company has been supported by institutional investors such as EvoNexus, Triton Partners, and Caltech.

Keywords: graphene manufacturing, CVD graphene, single-layer graphene, hexagonal Boron Nitride, 2D materials, advanced materials, nanotechnology, graphene transfer, roll-to-roll manufacturing, biosensors, transparent conductive electrodes, flexible electronics, water desalination membranes, graphene sensors, electronics grade graphene, UCSD spinoff, Aliaksandr Zaretski, sustainable materials, nanomaterials, advanced sensors