Nanocomp Technologies (Merrimack, New Hampshire / USA; www.nanocomptech.com), a manufacturer of carbon nanotube (CNT) materials, has opened its new headquarters and production plant in Merrimack. The plant produces conductive CNT-based products for customers including NASA, the US Department of Defense and commercial companies.

"This first in the nation advanced nanotube manufacturing facility enables us to meet accelerating market demand for high performance CNT-based sheet, tape and conductor products for military and commercial industrial markets,” said president and CEO Peter Antoinette. “Being located in the greater Boston region provides us broader access to the talent and skills needed to enable our continued growth."

Nanocomp has already attracted the attention of DuPont (Wilmington, Delaware / USA; www.dupont.com), which signed a financial and strategic development alliance with the company in June. Under the agreement, DuPont is working with Nanocomp to develop products using its CNT sheet and yarn materials for ballistics protection and other applications.

Nanocomp’s products are also used in applications such as smartphone cases with embedded antennae, aeroplane wings featuring a de-icing exterior layer and non-metallic electrodes for lithium and other batteries.

The company intends to expand its employee base by 50, across production, technical, marketing and sales functions, at its technology research centre in Concord, New Hampshire, and the new Merrimack headquarters.