BREMBATE, Italy (BRAIN) — Vittoria Group and UK technology and materials company Haydale will begin collaborating on innovation and graphene supply.
Since 2015, Vittoria has used graphene in the production of its bike tires, saying the nanomaterial improves grip, rolling and puncture resistance, and durability. For the past 10 years, Haydale has advanced the ability to produce graphene and other nanomaterials for other industries and applications, Vittoria said in a news release.
Vittoria and Haydale also are investigating starting production of functionalized graphene in Thailand, near the Vittoria Group factories.
"Our unique know-how of graphene helps us make the most advanced bicycle tires on the planet," said Stijn Vriends, Vittoria Group president and CEO. "We are very pleased to partner with Haydale to further innovate in this field and have local production of graphene in Thailand as a common goal."
Using its new high-capacity HT1400 plasma reactor, Haydale is able to meet Vittoria's production requirements and quality standards. In a first step in the collaboration, Vittoria and Haydale have co-developed improved rubber compounds, with Vittoria saying laboratory and field tests have proved they improve tire performance.
"We are excited to be working with Vittoria on their graphene enhanced cycling tires, which demonstrates the impact that our HD Plas functionalization technology can have on the tire and wider elastomer market," said Keith Broadbent, Haydale CEO. "We are also looking forward to working more closely with graphene creations and to leveraging our technical expertise with their business development skills."
Vittoria announced recently tire insert supplier Deaneasy will integrate into the Vittoria Group and begin production in Brembate to develop accessories quicker with research into sustainable materials and processes being a focus.
