Nanoco chief unfazed by talk of cadmium laws relaxation
THE chief executive of hi-tech manufacturer Nanoco is refusing to panic over the possible relaxing of EU legislation which could allow harmful cadmium back into TVs.
Michael Edelman said that the AIM-listed group based in Manchester had ploughed £33m into developing its cadmium-free quantum dot technology.
Quantum dots are microscopic, fluorescent semi-conductor nanoparticles with a diameter about 1/1000th the width of a human hair. They are used in a LCD displays, lighting and biomedical appliances.
Edelman told TheBusinessDesk that many ustomers using the technology had already decided to be cadmium free, but the EU was acting under pressure from American companies working with Chinese manufacturers looking to import into Europe.
“They have already decided to remain cadmium free because it is the responsible thing to do,” he said.
“TVs containing cadmium are not commercially available in Europe, but if the EU relaxes its restrictions it will create a market for something harmful where there was not previously one available.”
The European Commission has been considering an extension of exemption to allow the use of cadmium-containing quantum dots for a limited period until June 30 2018.
“This conflicts with our view and is conflict of the stated objectives of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances,” said Edelman. “We have invested $50m (£33m) into R&D to create cadmium free quantum dots and it would wrong in our view for there to be any relaxation.
“Should MEPs vote to enact the extension, there is a right to an immediate appeal which we would use if necessary.”
Edelman’s comments came on the back of encouraging half year results for the company which also has a manufacturing facility at The Heath in Runcorn, helped by the commercialisation of its cadmium-free quantum dot technology.
He added the company was looking to expand in the North West “pretty aggressively”.
“We currently employ 20 people at Runcorn and 80 in Manchester and we are looking to expand the total workforce by up to 20 or 30 within the next 12 months,” he said.
Meanwhile, South Korean electronics group LG has said it will launch large-screen LCD TVs incorporating Nanoco’s quantum dots – the first commercially available display products to use Nanoco’s technology.
And The Dow Chemical Company, which is Nanoco’s worldwide licensing partner for the display industry, is beginning construction of the world’s first large-scale, cadmium-free quantum dot manufacturing plant in Cheonan, South Korea. Production at this plant is expected to begin in mid-2015.
