Acceleware Ltd., (TSXV:AXE), has had what could be described as a very successful year, this past year. The company seized an opportunity to restructure itself, this following a dire period that caused many companies to fail. However, not only did Acceleware survive the massive downturn of the global economic recession that we are still struggling with, but Acceleware has gone from the restructuring in April, 2011 to cash flow positive by year end. Under the economic conditions that management faced, I believe it would be hard not to agree they have done an absolutely stellar job.
From the business side of things, Acceleware has worked diligently to continue to propel the company forward. They have tried to manoeuvre themselves into new markets, and into agreements with new companies, all the while maintaining the service that all their existing customers have come to expect. In 2011 Acceleware has released news that has shown the benefit of this dedicated and determined approach. If one is to go to their website and look at the news releases for the previous year, it helps to bring this into a much clearer perspective. http://acceleware.com/Press-Releases
Speaking of websites, it is reported that Acceleware is currently undertaking a major website renovation. This should be accomplished over the next month or two. There are multiple reasons for this re-working of the website. The company wants to update all the contained information for starters. This will in fact tie directly into the overall plan with initiating a marketing campaign which will bring Acceleware more directly into view for potential investors. I believe everyone would have to agree this approach will offer Acceleware the optimal benefit from the funds spent on a marketing campaign. Also of note, is the fact that management wants to have much more of the website designed so the language used is easier to read and understand. Currently the website works well for advertising to potential customers. It does however leave the average person who may be considering Acceleware as a potential investment choice struggling to understand many aspects of just what Acceleware offers from an investment standpoint. Again, I must say, this should be viewed as just another aspect of the dedication to unlock future potential shareholder value. This is of course no small undertaking, and the completion of this project is expected to be in the 1 to 2 month area, with the desire to have it done as quickly as possible, but done properly and effectively.
Acceleware is still a little ways off from the next financial reporting. My understanding is this can be expected most likely in the mid to late April timeframe. In talking with management, I was advised they are currently still going through their audit. This did not leave the door open to much discussion in this area, but I personally expect the numbers should be positive, given the increasing demand for the training sessions in both CUDA and OpenCL, not to mention the revenue that Acceleware can expect from both sales of software and the service commitments they currently have.
Recently, Acceleware has completed some hiring. This is always a good sign. The hiring that has been completed so far is expected to further enhance the ability of the company in terms of servicing the needs of potential and existing customers. According to management, they continue to look for a developer that will meet their expectations. This is a position they want to offer to someone who displays above average knowledge and skill in the specific field that the company deals with. Obviously Acceleware is continuing to prove their desire to continue the momentum they have, and to expand that momentum in a positive way. With this type of dedicated effort it is not difficult to see that Acceleware will in all likelihood begin to become much more noticed as a driving force within the super-computing circles with a focus on GPU technology. In a recent conversation with management, it was explained that Acceleware has added a couple of people to staff, but the one position they are passionate about is someone who meets a specific set of requirements as a developer. It is this type of forward thinking that will undoubtedly continue to propel Acceleware forward.
Looking at some of the recent conferences that Acceleware has attended and the immense interest garnered towards the technology they possess it will only be a matter of time before Acceleware comes to the attention of both the technological sector and investors. A prime example of this would be a report which lists Acceleware at the top of the list as an emerging company, even though Acceleware does not meet the usual requirements of a typical startup company. Here is a link to this report which I think clearly substantiates my view. http://www.hpcwire.com/hpcwire/2011-12-15/emerging_companies_ride_wave_of_gpu_computing.html What gives this report such credence in my opinion is the fact that the company which hosted this conference, Nvidia, were the ones to name Acceleware as the most promising emerging company. As is pointed out in this article, Acceleware, as well as other technological companies, have possessed very valuable technologies for quite some time now. However, it is only now with some of the recent breakthroughs and with the un-ending efforts to find markets which can utilize these technologies. This ties in with such synchronicity to the fact of who Acceleware has been hiring lately, and those they continue to look for in the future.
There are several upcoming events which hold much in the line of potential for Acceleware. Some of these events will have Acceleware as exhibitors, and others they will be presenting at as well. One event in particular that is considered to be a premiere event will be the Nvidia GPU Technology Conference. This will be held May 14-17, 2012, and is scheduled to be in San Jose, Ca, USA. http://www.gputechconf.com/page/home.html#source=pr
http://nvidianews.nvidia.com/Releases/NVIDIA-s-2012-GPU-Technology-Conference-One-of-the-World-s-Fastest-Growing-Computational-Science-Events-Opens-for-Registration-771.aspx
Acceleware will also be in attendance at the EuCAP 2012. http://acceleware.com/events/eucap-2012
http://www.eucap2012.org/
The date for EuCAP 2012 is March 26-30, 2012. This event will be held at the Congress Center in Prague, Czech Republic.
One that is of particular interest is the EAGE '12. This is quite likely one of the most prestigious events in terms of complete coverage of the oil and gas sector. This event offers one of the widest coverages possible in terms of the companies that are involved in the exploration and production of oil and gas. http://www.eage.org/events/index.php?eventid=520&Opendivs=s3
Acceleware will also be attending the International Supercomputing Conference. This event will be held from June 17-21, 2012, and will be held in Hamburg, Germany. http://www.isc-events.com/isc12/sponsor-exhibitor-listing.html
All of these events offer excellent potential for Acceleware to bring themselves more into view of the industries and companies that have a need for the technology and services that Acceleware has to offer. Add to this the steps being taken by the company in regards to revamping the company website, and the desire to bring the investor relations portion of the website more into a format that can be more easily understood, and then to initiate a marketing program geared towards the investment community. I find the grand sum of this to be favorable in terms of potentially starting Acceleware on changing trend. Of course I can make no guarantee, but the potential for Acceleware to begin a positive move in relation to both the share price and market cap is huge in my opinion.
If you find Acceleware as a company of interest as a choice for a possible investment into the early stages of a technological company, I strongly urge you to do your own due diligence. An excellent place to start is the company website which can be found at www.acceleware.com, and all publicly reported documents can be viewed at www.sedar.com.
For disclosure purposes, I have received no compensation of any kind for my opinions or this post. All opinions contained in this post are expressly my own. I own shares in Acceleware.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Focus Metals prepares to gain momentum as we start into a new year
Focus Metals (TSXV:FMS)(OTCQX:FCSMF) has been a very busy company over the last year and a bit. They have remained strong through all the criticism of not having a NI43-101 compliant resource estimate and not being able to provide any proof of interest by outside entities. http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/news/press-releases/2011-2/dec12011
http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/news/press-releases/2011-2/dec52011
In hindsight the management of Focus Metals has put to rest all of these issues, and as they progress forward from here, I believe we will see them continue to provide the "proof" that this is truly going to become the go-to company of the entire graphite and graphene sector globally. Management has stated several times that they have every intent of pursuing this position. They have claimed they were in the market to buy any claims that they believe hold value to further this drive of acquiring the goal they have set for the company. To date I think it is very difficult to argue that management has done anything but a superb job. They have managed to expand the company portfolio of graphite claims by a whopping 265 claims, all of which are reported to contain favorable indications that high quality graphite is present. http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/news/press-releases/2011-2/sept92011
http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/news/press-releases/2012-2/jan122012
Focus Metals started a joint venture for the research of graphene, a company known as Grafoid Inc. The purpose of Grafoid is to research graphene from a number of fronts. First, Grafoid has been researching to try and find a process that will allow the company to produce graphene at the lowest cost available, and it seems with overwhelming success. Although not much is being communicated on this issue, it seems the secrecy is more rooted in the fact that patents are being currently applied for. Another approach to the research is to attempt to discover processes and products that can be patented and licensed. With graphene being arguably the hottest product to grace virtually any research lab at the present time, it goes without saying just how much value Grafoid can potentially bring to the table. To bring this into terms that show the true impact both Focus Metals and Grafoid are having on the graphite and graphene space, I find the signing of the MOU between Grafoid and Rutgers University to hold tremendous weight. Rutgers University enjoys a reputation that states they are considered one of the most highly regarded institutions involved in the research of material science, specifically in the field of polymer and non-polymer research. http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/news/press-releases/2011-2/feb232011
http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/news/press-releases/2011-2/dec12011
It is reported that this research is being quite positive, however, the management is not releasing any details just yet. I have been told that these details will be forthcoming in the near future.
The actual demand for graphite will continue to rise I believe, and a major driving force of this demand will undoubtedly be the advent of the lithium-ion battery to be used in the upcoming shift towards the all-electric vehicles of the future. I would venture to say that the future on this front is no longer to be called the future, but rather the present. The number of companies that are building lithium-ion battery plants in North America, or are currently considering doing so, speaks to this end. http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2010/03/lg_chem_to_build_1st_north_ame.html
http://www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car/news/press-releases/nissan_progresses_construction_of_electric_vehicle_battery_plant_in_tennessee#/leaf-electric-car/news/press-releases/nissan_progresses_construction_of_electric_vehicle_battery_plant_in_tennessee
http://www.xconomy.com/detroit/2010/09/13/a123-opens-lithium-ion-battery-plant-in-michigan-wants-to-create-global-hub-for-electric-vehicles/
We also need to consider the fact that the worlds largest lithium-ion battery plant,which has started production of high-capacity lithium-ion batteries, will be another source that will require huge amounts of graphite. Although this plant is situated in Russia, it is reported that they expect to export into both the European and North American markets. http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/12/08/61812285.html
http://www.energytrend.com/node/2908
It is already a well known fact that the lithium-ion battery possesses a much higher quantity of graphite as opposed to lithium, thereby it is clear that graphite demand will only continue to grow.
While not just any graphite will suffice in the manufacturing of these batteries, Focus Metals has an abundant supply of the type of large flake graphite that will be required for this type of application. I fully expect that Focus Metals and Grafoid will both benefit immensely from the intense growth demand that will, with near certainty, develop as these battery plants begin production.
Many graphite companies are starting to emerge as of late. While it is true that their will be ample room in this sector for multiple companies to produce graphite, it should also be noted which companies are best positioned to withstand the rigors that face all industries at one point or another. In reality, there are times when prices and short-term demand trends can cause significant changes to a companies bottom line for profitability. Lac Knife is the flagship project of Focus Metals. What Lac Knife contains, in terms of the amount of graphite and the grade of this graphite, help us to see the tremendous advantage that Focus Metals has over competitors. As if that was not enough, it should be noted that, unlike many graphite deposits, the host rock is extremely soft. This all points to a cost of production figure that allows Focus Metals to truly take a comfortable lead ahead of virtually all competitors. Many of these points are discussed in the NI43-101 resource estimate which is effective as of December 5, 2011, and which was filed officially on January 18, 2012. http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/43-101Report_Lac-Knife.pdf
The Lac Knife deposit is open in all directions, and management has stated they want to drill deeper to help further delineate the potential depth of the deposit. All drilling thus far on Lac Knife has ended in mineralization. Focus Metals decided last year to do an expanded drill program to embrace this issue. Permits were applied for but some delays were experienced which held up the progress of drilling to such a degree that drilling had to be cancelled for last year. In talking with management, I have been told we can expect drilling to begin approximately the end of April to the beginning of May. Obviously this will be conditional on the local weather. It was also brought to my attention that there are 9 additional drill targets have been identified. These are over and above the previously planned expanded drilling program. The potential of all of these additional drill targets are great, based on the outcrop samples taken. According to management, the potential is such that if these newest drill targets do in fact intersect the expected mineralization, each hole could in fact become another pit, similar to the existing pit design. Here is a map showing the locations of the newest drill targets.
http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/LacKnifeGeology_Map11x17_f1.jpg
From my experience when I toured the Lac Knife property and saw the size of some of the large outcrops at surface, I have little difficulty expecting much less than the potential for a huge addition to the resources. I can not even begin to tell everyone what the potential is for this drilling program, but to describe it in terms of monumental would be a gross understatement in my opinion.
In some of the most recent news from the company, we find that they have announced a bought deal private placement of flow-through shares. http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/news/press-releases/2012-2/feb232012
The funds are intended to be used to explore and advance Focus Metals’ Lac Knife Graphite Project located in Québec.
An important issue that shareholders are waiting for word on currently, is word on an off-take agreement. While there has been no official news regarding an anouncement, it is just a matter of time before this announcement is undoubtedly made. Focus Metals CEO, Gary Economo has previously stated that the company has been actively pursuing this type of agreement, and that several companies are in possession of graphite samples that they can do testing on to ensure that the graphite will meet the necessary requirements for their specific use. I may be only speculating as to which companies may be involved in the testing of graphite from Lac Knife, but I fully expect that when this announcement is made it will not be surprising to find some of the largest consumers of graphite. I believe this since management has made no secret that they plan to move into a position of dominance in the graphite sector globally. This would indicate to me that we can expect some of the largest consumers of graphite to be numbered into our potential off-take partners.
As I mentioned previously there are a number of graphite companies cropping up recently. While I see the potential for some of these companies to progress towards production, it should be noted as to the importance of this testing process by the end-user of the graphite. Graphite is not like most other mined products, such as silver or gold etc., it is in fact very necessary for each company to test the graphite to ensure its suitability for a specific use. Focus Metals is ahead of most, if not all, competitors on this front. This will help Focus Metals to solidify their pursuit of becoming a leader in the graphite space.
Another topic that has been mentioned by management is the desire to change the company name from Focus Metals to Focus Graphite. This would help to bring attention to the core holding and value of the company. It is my understanding that this change should take place after the upcoming AGM. Considering all of the above it would seem there should be no shortage of news as Focus Metals progresses.
As we move on to take a look at what is new on the graphene research front, I believe there are a number of potentially important findings. For instance, in an article found in Science Daily, dated Feb.22, 2012, testing has found graphene to produce an anti-corrosion coating that would appear to be superior in nature. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120222133125.htm
One university in particular has come to the attention of those looking at highly regarded facilities or institutions that rank high in a global standing for graphene research. This would be the National University of Singapore, which ranked 2nd in the world for graphene research.
http://www.graphenecenter.org/content/glance-over-nus-research-landscape
http://www.graphenecenter.org/content/research
http://www.graphenecenter.org/content/graphene
For those who may have read every possible article regarding graphene and the myriad of potential uses, and have become dishearted with the decision that many years of research are needed to overcome one fault or another which researchers seem to continue to run into, I bring you this article. This article is from Manchester University. It contains the results from a project undertaken by a team lead by Nobel laureates Professor Andre Geim and Professor Konstantin Novoselov. I believe that this is the type and caliber of research we can expect to see on a more consistent basis, not only from this University, but from a host of other research labs around the globe. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-02/uom-gem013112.php
As we can see from these many links which confirm or explore the potential ahead for both graphite and graphene as research projects progress, there is beyond all doubt some very exciting times coming. I believe Focus Metals has positioned themselves superbly to gain maximum benefit from this, and I expect that as management continues to work diligently in this regard, we will continue to experience an ever-building growth that will catapult Focus Metals to the forefront of this entire graphite/graphene sector globally. I also believe we will see a growth of similar porportions, or greater for Grafoid. It has been less than 2 years since Focus Metals has started trading on the TSX Venture exchange, and the growth has been absolutely stunning to-date.
If what is presented here appeals to you as a worthwhile investment choice, I would urge you to do your own due diligence. If necessary seek the advice of a professional advisor. A great place to start in my opinion is at the company website which can be found at www.focusmetals.ca. All publicly filed reports and documentations can be found by visiting www.sedar.com and looking under Focus Metals.
For the purpose of disclosure, I wish to make known that I have received no compensation of any kind for this post or my opinions. All opinions stated herein are strictly my own. I own shares of Focus Metals.
http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/news/press-releases/2011-2/dec52011
In hindsight the management of Focus Metals has put to rest all of these issues, and as they progress forward from here, I believe we will see them continue to provide the "proof" that this is truly going to become the go-to company of the entire graphite and graphene sector globally. Management has stated several times that they have every intent of pursuing this position. They have claimed they were in the market to buy any claims that they believe hold value to further this drive of acquiring the goal they have set for the company. To date I think it is very difficult to argue that management has done anything but a superb job. They have managed to expand the company portfolio of graphite claims by a whopping 265 claims, all of which are reported to contain favorable indications that high quality graphite is present. http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/news/press-releases/2011-2/sept92011
http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/news/press-releases/2012-2/jan122012
Focus Metals started a joint venture for the research of graphene, a company known as Grafoid Inc. The purpose of Grafoid is to research graphene from a number of fronts. First, Grafoid has been researching to try and find a process that will allow the company to produce graphene at the lowest cost available, and it seems with overwhelming success. Although not much is being communicated on this issue, it seems the secrecy is more rooted in the fact that patents are being currently applied for. Another approach to the research is to attempt to discover processes and products that can be patented and licensed. With graphene being arguably the hottest product to grace virtually any research lab at the present time, it goes without saying just how much value Grafoid can potentially bring to the table. To bring this into terms that show the true impact both Focus Metals and Grafoid are having on the graphite and graphene space, I find the signing of the MOU between Grafoid and Rutgers University to hold tremendous weight. Rutgers University enjoys a reputation that states they are considered one of the most highly regarded institutions involved in the research of material science, specifically in the field of polymer and non-polymer research. http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/news/press-releases/2011-2/feb232011
http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/news/press-releases/2011-2/dec12011
It is reported that this research is being quite positive, however, the management is not releasing any details just yet. I have been told that these details will be forthcoming in the near future.
The actual demand for graphite will continue to rise I believe, and a major driving force of this demand will undoubtedly be the advent of the lithium-ion battery to be used in the upcoming shift towards the all-electric vehicles of the future. I would venture to say that the future on this front is no longer to be called the future, but rather the present. The number of companies that are building lithium-ion battery plants in North America, or are currently considering doing so, speaks to this end. http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2010/03/lg_chem_to_build_1st_north_ame.html
http://www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car/news/press-releases/nissan_progresses_construction_of_electric_vehicle_battery_plant_in_tennessee#/leaf-electric-car/news/press-releases/nissan_progresses_construction_of_electric_vehicle_battery_plant_in_tennessee
http://www.xconomy.com/detroit/2010/09/13/a123-opens-lithium-ion-battery-plant-in-michigan-wants-to-create-global-hub-for-electric-vehicles/
We also need to consider the fact that the worlds largest lithium-ion battery plant,which has started production of high-capacity lithium-ion batteries, will be another source that will require huge amounts of graphite. Although this plant is situated in Russia, it is reported that they expect to export into both the European and North American markets. http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/12/08/61812285.html
http://www.energytrend.com/node/2908
It is already a well known fact that the lithium-ion battery possesses a much higher quantity of graphite as opposed to lithium, thereby it is clear that graphite demand will only continue to grow.
While not just any graphite will suffice in the manufacturing of these batteries, Focus Metals has an abundant supply of the type of large flake graphite that will be required for this type of application. I fully expect that Focus Metals and Grafoid will both benefit immensely from the intense growth demand that will, with near certainty, develop as these battery plants begin production.
Many graphite companies are starting to emerge as of late. While it is true that their will be ample room in this sector for multiple companies to produce graphite, it should also be noted which companies are best positioned to withstand the rigors that face all industries at one point or another. In reality, there are times when prices and short-term demand trends can cause significant changes to a companies bottom line for profitability. Lac Knife is the flagship project of Focus Metals. What Lac Knife contains, in terms of the amount of graphite and the grade of this graphite, help us to see the tremendous advantage that Focus Metals has over competitors. As if that was not enough, it should be noted that, unlike many graphite deposits, the host rock is extremely soft. This all points to a cost of production figure that allows Focus Metals to truly take a comfortable lead ahead of virtually all competitors. Many of these points are discussed in the NI43-101 resource estimate which is effective as of December 5, 2011, and which was filed officially on January 18, 2012. http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/43-101Report_Lac-Knife.pdf
The Lac Knife deposit is open in all directions, and management has stated they want to drill deeper to help further delineate the potential depth of the deposit. All drilling thus far on Lac Knife has ended in mineralization. Focus Metals decided last year to do an expanded drill program to embrace this issue. Permits were applied for but some delays were experienced which held up the progress of drilling to such a degree that drilling had to be cancelled for last year. In talking with management, I have been told we can expect drilling to begin approximately the end of April to the beginning of May. Obviously this will be conditional on the local weather. It was also brought to my attention that there are 9 additional drill targets have been identified. These are over and above the previously planned expanded drilling program. The potential of all of these additional drill targets are great, based on the outcrop samples taken. According to management, the potential is such that if these newest drill targets do in fact intersect the expected mineralization, each hole could in fact become another pit, similar to the existing pit design. Here is a map showing the locations of the newest drill targets.
http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/LacKnifeGeology_Map11x17_f1.jpg
From my experience when I toured the Lac Knife property and saw the size of some of the large outcrops at surface, I have little difficulty expecting much less than the potential for a huge addition to the resources. I can not even begin to tell everyone what the potential is for this drilling program, but to describe it in terms of monumental would be a gross understatement in my opinion.
In some of the most recent news from the company, we find that they have announced a bought deal private placement of flow-through shares. http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/news/press-releases/2012-2/feb232012
The funds are intended to be used to explore and advance Focus Metals’ Lac Knife Graphite Project located in Québec.
An important issue that shareholders are waiting for word on currently, is word on an off-take agreement. While there has been no official news regarding an anouncement, it is just a matter of time before this announcement is undoubtedly made. Focus Metals CEO, Gary Economo has previously stated that the company has been actively pursuing this type of agreement, and that several companies are in possession of graphite samples that they can do testing on to ensure that the graphite will meet the necessary requirements for their specific use. I may be only speculating as to which companies may be involved in the testing of graphite from Lac Knife, but I fully expect that when this announcement is made it will not be surprising to find some of the largest consumers of graphite. I believe this since management has made no secret that they plan to move into a position of dominance in the graphite sector globally. This would indicate to me that we can expect some of the largest consumers of graphite to be numbered into our potential off-take partners.
As I mentioned previously there are a number of graphite companies cropping up recently. While I see the potential for some of these companies to progress towards production, it should be noted as to the importance of this testing process by the end-user of the graphite. Graphite is not like most other mined products, such as silver or gold etc., it is in fact very necessary for each company to test the graphite to ensure its suitability for a specific use. Focus Metals is ahead of most, if not all, competitors on this front. This will help Focus Metals to solidify their pursuit of becoming a leader in the graphite space.
Another topic that has been mentioned by management is the desire to change the company name from Focus Metals to Focus Graphite. This would help to bring attention to the core holding and value of the company. It is my understanding that this change should take place after the upcoming AGM. Considering all of the above it would seem there should be no shortage of news as Focus Metals progresses.
As we move on to take a look at what is new on the graphene research front, I believe there are a number of potentially important findings. For instance, in an article found in Science Daily, dated Feb.22, 2012, testing has found graphene to produce an anti-corrosion coating that would appear to be superior in nature. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120222133125.htm
One university in particular has come to the attention of those looking at highly regarded facilities or institutions that rank high in a global standing for graphene research. This would be the National University of Singapore, which ranked 2nd in the world for graphene research.
http://www.graphenecenter.org/content/glance-over-nus-research-landscape
http://www.graphenecenter.org/content/research
http://www.graphenecenter.org/content/graphene
For those who may have read every possible article regarding graphene and the myriad of potential uses, and have become dishearted with the decision that many years of research are needed to overcome one fault or another which researchers seem to continue to run into, I bring you this article. This article is from Manchester University. It contains the results from a project undertaken by a team lead by Nobel laureates Professor Andre Geim and Professor Konstantin Novoselov. I believe that this is the type and caliber of research we can expect to see on a more consistent basis, not only from this University, but from a host of other research labs around the globe. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-02/uom-gem013112.php
As we can see from these many links which confirm or explore the potential ahead for both graphite and graphene as research projects progress, there is beyond all doubt some very exciting times coming. I believe Focus Metals has positioned themselves superbly to gain maximum benefit from this, and I expect that as management continues to work diligently in this regard, we will continue to experience an ever-building growth that will catapult Focus Metals to the forefront of this entire graphite/graphene sector globally. I also believe we will see a growth of similar porportions, or greater for Grafoid. It has been less than 2 years since Focus Metals has started trading on the TSX Venture exchange, and the growth has been absolutely stunning to-date.
If what is presented here appeals to you as a worthwhile investment choice, I would urge you to do your own due diligence. If necessary seek the advice of a professional advisor. A great place to start in my opinion is at the company website which can be found at www.focusmetals.ca. All publicly filed reports and documentations can be found by visiting www.sedar.com and looking under Focus Metals.
For the purpose of disclosure, I wish to make known that I have received no compensation of any kind for this post or my opinions. All opinions stated herein are strictly my own. I own shares of Focus Metals.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Compliance Energy - An update on this most promising company
Compliance Energy (TSXV:CEC) is a company I have written about several times now, and it remains a company that I believe will make it to production. The company has performed testing well above and beyond what the prerequisites are for going forward, towards the environmental application process, in regards to their flagship project known as the Raven Underground Coal Project. For anyone who may not have knowledge of who Compliance Energy is, and what it is they are attempting, I will refer you to the company website which can be found at www.complianceenergy.com, and be sure to click on the link to the left side entitled "Corporate Fact Sheet - November 2011". This report has the latest NI43-101 compliant figures.
Compliance Energy has taken steps to ensure that they have left nothing untested in regards to the environmental requirements. They are currently progressing through the Environmental Application Process. This is an arduous task at best, and takes a considerable amount of time, as the government reviews all information concerning the project in its entirety. This includes of course, the environmental impact, as well as the impact it will have on the surrounding communities. Compliance Energy has submitted the pre-application portion, with the final application being completed and ready for submission over the coming months. This final application portion will potentially be ready by mid-year, with hopes that it may be ready sooner. To allow you to try and visualize just how intensive the paperwork is, for this type of application, I will tell you it is not necessarily uncommon for the papers to stack up to nearly a meter high. For anyone to think that this is not a very in-depth process to undertake, is to be grossly mistaken.
This does tend to be a tedious time of waiting, and a time of little news. There is other news that I find quite encouraging though. North Island College (NIC) has announced that they will be receiving funding from the Employment Skills Access Program, a federal-provincial program developed to provide unemployed workers with general employment or job-specific skills so they can transition to the workforce. This funding will cover many types of employment, varying from carpentry, woodland harvesting, integrated core resource skills training, leadership and capacity building for First Nations Communities. What there is truly a need for is trained mining personnel, and the government has added this to the list. With mining contributing nearly $9B to the BC economy, and the current shortage of people who have the required training for this type of work, this is most welcome news. http://www2.canada.com/courierislander/news/letters/story.html?id=e307d440-d8d3-4f9b-865e-472a03317fef
The shortage of skilled mining personnel is not something that is a local problem, but rather is much more widespread and its effects are felt virtually worldwide. This training will enrich many lives by allowing individuals to gain possible employment in a high income earning industry. It is reassuring to see that the government is doing their part, and offer people a means to gain the skills needed to better their lives, and the lives of their families.
Another open letter I came across recently is of particular interest. This is an open letter from the Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources. http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/media-room/news-release/2012/1/3520
In this letter, the Honourable Joe Oliver makes a statement that is extremely accurate in its attempt to hit directly to the root of the problem facing many industries today. Of course it drew massive amounts of protest from virtually all environmental groups. While the environment needs to be watched over, and very carefully I might add, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get any projects approved. This letter is a very blunt statement that I believe touches to the very core of the underlying issues. While the fact is that we need to protect and be conscious stewards of our environment, it is also necessary to harvest wood, minerals, metals, oil, and gas in order for our lives to continue as we know life. Short of expecting everyone to revert back to the days of cave dwelling, how can we drive cars, live in houses, build bridges, and produce the innumerable items that we have come to view as normal living. Environmental stewardship is something that Compliance Energy holds as highly important, which is the reason they have spent millions on the amount of testing they have performed to make every possible attempt to mitigate any environmental impact.
While the Raven Project is Compliance Energy's flagship operation, the company also owns several additional properties on Vancouver Island. http://www.complianceenergy.com/index.php?id=115
Compliance Energy has received permits to drill on 2 of these properties. http://www.complianceenergy.com/index.php?id=107
http://www.complianceenergy.com/all_news/110907_CEC_Press%20Release.pdf
The company has stated that all planned drilling has been completed, with the results expected towards the end of Jan. 2012 - beginning of Feb., 2012. This timeline is approximate, and it is of course ultimately dependent upon the labs schedule. Both of these properties hold excellent potential. While some analysts consider that copper supply may not fall into a major shortfall as was previously thought, it is considered to potentially stay rather stable. Of course the next time the International Copper Study Group meets to discuss any changes to the forecast of copper going forward will be in April, 2012 in Lisbon, Portugal. There are others who have adjusted their forecasts also including Goldman-Sachs. Even with these latest adjustments, I think copper will remain strong through the long-term. http://www.commodityonline.com/news/goldman-sachs-cuts-2012-copper-forecast-by-over-5-45181-3-1.html
Copper is of course one of the products hoped to be found in both the NIC and the Camp Lake properties. However, in the case of the NIC property there is also the hope of proving up gold and silver as well, when looking at what the chip and grab samples were. In the case of the Camp Lake property there is the hope of finding molybdenum as well as copper.
All in all I believe that Compliance Energy will begin to show us that there are many avenues of value to this company as we start into 2012, and as the year progresses I think we can expect more momentum to the news we will receive. Another item of interest is the fact that Compliance Energy holds approximately 2.2 million shares of Copper Mountain Mining Corp. (TSX:CUM).
For those interested in considering Compliance Energy as a potential investment choice, I urge everyone to do their own due diligence and seek the advice of a professional advisor. A couple of links that will be useful as a starting point in conducting this research are included here, http://www.complianceenergy.com/index.php?id=27
http://www.theravenproject.ca/index.php
For disclosure purposes I have received no compensation of any kind for this post or for my opinions. All opinions contained herein are strictly my own. I own shares of Compliance Energy.
Compliance Energy has taken steps to ensure that they have left nothing untested in regards to the environmental requirements. They are currently progressing through the Environmental Application Process. This is an arduous task at best, and takes a considerable amount of time, as the government reviews all information concerning the project in its entirety. This includes of course, the environmental impact, as well as the impact it will have on the surrounding communities. Compliance Energy has submitted the pre-application portion, with the final application being completed and ready for submission over the coming months. This final application portion will potentially be ready by mid-year, with hopes that it may be ready sooner. To allow you to try and visualize just how intensive the paperwork is, for this type of application, I will tell you it is not necessarily uncommon for the papers to stack up to nearly a meter high. For anyone to think that this is not a very in-depth process to undertake, is to be grossly mistaken.
This does tend to be a tedious time of waiting, and a time of little news. There is other news that I find quite encouraging though. North Island College (NIC) has announced that they will be receiving funding from the Employment Skills Access Program, a federal-provincial program developed to provide unemployed workers with general employment or job-specific skills so they can transition to the workforce. This funding will cover many types of employment, varying from carpentry, woodland harvesting, integrated core resource skills training, leadership and capacity building for First Nations Communities. What there is truly a need for is trained mining personnel, and the government has added this to the list. With mining contributing nearly $9B to the BC economy, and the current shortage of people who have the required training for this type of work, this is most welcome news. http://www2.canada.com/courierislander/news/letters/story.html?id=e307d440-d8d3-4f9b-865e-472a03317fef
The shortage of skilled mining personnel is not something that is a local problem, but rather is much more widespread and its effects are felt virtually worldwide. This training will enrich many lives by allowing individuals to gain possible employment in a high income earning industry. It is reassuring to see that the government is doing their part, and offer people a means to gain the skills needed to better their lives, and the lives of their families.
Another open letter I came across recently is of particular interest. This is an open letter from the Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources. http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/media-room/news-release/2012/1/3520
In this letter, the Honourable Joe Oliver makes a statement that is extremely accurate in its attempt to hit directly to the root of the problem facing many industries today. Of course it drew massive amounts of protest from virtually all environmental groups. While the environment needs to be watched over, and very carefully I might add, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get any projects approved. This letter is a very blunt statement that I believe touches to the very core of the underlying issues. While the fact is that we need to protect and be conscious stewards of our environment, it is also necessary to harvest wood, minerals, metals, oil, and gas in order for our lives to continue as we know life. Short of expecting everyone to revert back to the days of cave dwelling, how can we drive cars, live in houses, build bridges, and produce the innumerable items that we have come to view as normal living. Environmental stewardship is something that Compliance Energy holds as highly important, which is the reason they have spent millions on the amount of testing they have performed to make every possible attempt to mitigate any environmental impact.
While the Raven Project is Compliance Energy's flagship operation, the company also owns several additional properties on Vancouver Island. http://www.complianceenergy.com/index.php?id=115
Compliance Energy has received permits to drill on 2 of these properties. http://www.complianceenergy.com/index.php?id=107
http://www.complianceenergy.com/all_news/110907_CEC_Press%20Release.pdf
The company has stated that all planned drilling has been completed, with the results expected towards the end of Jan. 2012 - beginning of Feb., 2012. This timeline is approximate, and it is of course ultimately dependent upon the labs schedule. Both of these properties hold excellent potential. While some analysts consider that copper supply may not fall into a major shortfall as was previously thought, it is considered to potentially stay rather stable. Of course the next time the International Copper Study Group meets to discuss any changes to the forecast of copper going forward will be in April, 2012 in Lisbon, Portugal. There are others who have adjusted their forecasts also including Goldman-Sachs. Even with these latest adjustments, I think copper will remain strong through the long-term. http://www.commodityonline.com/news/goldman-sachs-cuts-2012-copper-forecast-by-over-5-45181-3-1.html
Copper is of course one of the products hoped to be found in both the NIC and the Camp Lake properties. However, in the case of the NIC property there is also the hope of proving up gold and silver as well, when looking at what the chip and grab samples were. In the case of the Camp Lake property there is the hope of finding molybdenum as well as copper.
All in all I believe that Compliance Energy will begin to show us that there are many avenues of value to this company as we start into 2012, and as the year progresses I think we can expect more momentum to the news we will receive. Another item of interest is the fact that Compliance Energy holds approximately 2.2 million shares of Copper Mountain Mining Corp. (TSX:CUM).
For those interested in considering Compliance Energy as a potential investment choice, I urge everyone to do their own due diligence and seek the advice of a professional advisor. A couple of links that will be useful as a starting point in conducting this research are included here, http://www.complianceenergy.com/index.php?id=27
http://www.theravenproject.ca/index.php
For disclosure purposes I have received no compensation of any kind for this post or for my opinions. All opinions contained herein are strictly my own. I own shares of Compliance Energy.
Acceleware - This is a company with tremendous potential
Acceleware (TSXV:AXE) has a lot to celebrate as we usher in 2012. Over the last year the company has undergone some major changes, and as a result has moved into a cash-flow positive territory. I am certain this feat can be appreciated if we consider the economic environment that all business's have faced over the preceding year. To have taken the company this far in this short amount of time speaks volumes of the dedication and commitment by the entire management team, which is led by CEO, Geoff Clark. What this company can achieve over the coming year is not something I, nor anyone else, can guarantee. I do however, see virtually limitless potential, and feel that the current management team is not only well positioned, but has the vision to take advantage of all possibilities that present themselves, as well as to pursue all viable opportunities they feel would bring added value to this exciting company.
There are several ingredients required for any company to be successful. One of the things I like about Acceleware is their grasp on how important it is to align themselves with partners and customers who will be capable of aiding the management to continue to drive the company forward. The list of companies that Acceleware has, both in terms of partners and for customers, is quite impressive. While there are many examples to pick from, let's look at what the company produced working in conjunction with Paradigm Ltd., and what type of reception this product has seen. http://www.pdgm.com/getattachment/Resources-(2)/Press-Release/Paradigm-to-Highlight-Technological-Breakthroughs-/PR-2011-05-Paradigm-to-Highlight-Technological-Breakthroughs-Offered-in-the-Paradigm-2011-Release-at-EAGE-wpic.pdf.aspx
http://www.pdgm.com/getattachment/Resources-(2)/Press-Release/Fugro-Selects-Paradigm-Reverse-Time-Migration/PR-2011-08-24-Fugro-Selects-Paradigm-Reverse-Time-Migration.pdf.aspx
http://www.pdgm.com/getattachment/Resources-(2)/Press-Release/Paradigm-at-SEG/PR-2011-09-08-Paradigm-to-Feature-Key-Technological-Breakthroughs-Introduced-in-the-Paradigm-2011-Release-at-SEG.pdf.aspx
As you read through these reports I think you will begin to get a much broader understanding of just how powerful this technology is, and of course how it is being chosen by well established companies who are leaders in this sector. With this technology being released only this last year, I fully expect we will see enormous growth in its demand.
As I mentioned there are numerous companies that Acceleware has partnered with over the years. Here are a couple of links that will help to give you an understanding of just how in-depth Acceleware is, based on their business and solutions partners, who include the likes of Nvidia, Microsoft, and AMD, to name a few. http://www.acceleware.com/business-partners
http://www.acceleware.com/solution-partners
On Dec. 14-15, 2011, Acceleware attended the GTC Asia Conference in Beijing, China. This was truly a very valuable conference for Acceleware to have attended. The amount of interest was reported to be exceptionally strong, with many people and companies stopping at the Acceleware booth to express a sincere interest in all that Acceleware had to offer. While there was some interest shown by some companies towards the EM technologies, it was obviously the RTM technology that drew the most interest. Acceleware was not only well received at the conference, but was also the recipient of a very meaningful reference from Nvidia. http://www.hpcwire.com/hpcwire/2011-12-15/emerging_companies_ride_wave_of_gpu_computing.html
I find it quite compelling when I can read articles such as this, and to see the optimism being given towards Acceleware from a giant such as Nvidia. This in combination with the sincere showing of interest from any number of potential customers carries a lot of weight in my opinion. One point that comes to mind when I try to estimate the potential for Acceleware in the Asian market, and that is they have a very valuable technology which can be brought directly into the market by some of the companies associated with Acceleware. For example, we know that Paradigm Ltd. has a very close working relationship with Acceleware, as does Tsunami. Both of these companies have branch offices in Beijing, and are well respected by the customer base they serve in that area. Aside from the Asian market, both of these companies have excellent global representation. I believe the amount of interest being afforded Acceleware in terms of their RTM technology in the Asian area, is undoubtedly connected to the fact the geologies they are currently facing are becoming increasingly more complex. This seems to hold true for most exploration projects globally, and is due in large part to the necessity of moving into off-shore settings for further oil/gas exploration targets. It is in these complex geological settings that Acceleware's RTM technology can truly show its full value. Here are a couple of links to both Paradigm and Tsunami which I think you will find helpful in getting a sense for what these companies can contribute. http://www.pdgm.com/Home.aspx
http://www.tsunamidev.com/
Acceleware can potentially expect to gain some ground in another area where off-shore exploration seems to be building rapidly, and this would be off the shores of Africa. As with many, if not most off-shore projects, the geology is complex at best. What stood out in my mind was when I learned that a significant percentage of this exploration can be traced back to Asian origins. As China continues to experience massive growth, and the future need for energy continues to grow, we are currently witnessing a surge of Chinese investment into the energy sector. This all points to significant potential for Acceleware looking forward.
I believe that Acceleware stands to profit greatly from their RTM technology, and quite likely we could see a significant rise in the amount of companies who will decide that this technology holds the key to interpreting the data they have to work with from ever-increasingly complex geological settings. There are those who will argue that fossil fuels are going the way of the dinosaur, and while long-term this may hold some degree of truth, there is no realistic way that I can foresee the transformation to a world that is free from both oil and gas in the immediate future. The fact that the Chinese are avidly investing into numerous energy projects around the world helps to substantiate this view. We are being told by virtually all energy companies that any major new discoveries will be predominately from off-shore exploration. With this in mind, it becomes much easier to see the potential for Acceleware going forward. As with any business that realizes success, there are times and events that help to lift that specific company to the next level, and in the case of Acceleware, I believe there could quite possibly be some significant gains made from their RTM technology, beginning this year and continuing.
I feel it only proper that I should add, that although I concentrated mostly on the RTM technology in this post, there was no shortage of interest shown towards Acceleware in Beijing recently, and this would have included several of the technologies Acceleware possesses. I have no knowledge of any deals that may be in the works, but I do know that this much interest from large well established companies in this region, could have a very positive outcome for Acceleware. I think we will definitely be hearing and seeing a lot from Acceleware in 2012. Aside from RTM, Acceleware also continues to enjoy growth at virtually all of their CUDA training classes offered in conjunction with Microsoft. A similar set of training courses based on OpenCL are being offered in conjunction with AMD, and these too are enjoying great success.
The fact that Acceleware has 55.95M shares outstanding (approx. 60M fully diluted), and a market cap just shy of $4M CAD, with a move into cash-flow positive ground, I truly believe this is a company that will begin to be noticed, and quite likely sooner than later. Of the 55.95M shares, Nvidia holds 8M of them, and to me that speaks loudly of their belief in Acceleware.
For anyone who finds Acceleware as a potential investment choice, I recommend that you do your own due diligence. Acceleware has a website which can be found at www.acceleware.com, and I would suggest that as a good starting point, as well as all reports which can be viewed on Sedar. I think you will find many of the press releases quite informative also, http://www.acceleware.com/Press-Releases
For disclosure purposes, I have received no compensation of any kind for this post or my opinions. All opinions contained herein are strictly my own. I own shares of Acceleware.
There are several ingredients required for any company to be successful. One of the things I like about Acceleware is their grasp on how important it is to align themselves with partners and customers who will be capable of aiding the management to continue to drive the company forward. The list of companies that Acceleware has, both in terms of partners and for customers, is quite impressive. While there are many examples to pick from, let's look at what the company produced working in conjunction with Paradigm Ltd., and what type of reception this product has seen. http://www.pdgm.com/getattachment/Resources-(2)/Press-Release/Paradigm-to-Highlight-Technological-Breakthroughs-/PR-2011-05-Paradigm-to-Highlight-Technological-Breakthroughs-Offered-in-the-Paradigm-2011-Release-at-EAGE-wpic.pdf.aspx
http://www.pdgm.com/getattachment/Resources-(2)/Press-Release/Fugro-Selects-Paradigm-Reverse-Time-Migration/PR-2011-08-24-Fugro-Selects-Paradigm-Reverse-Time-Migration.pdf.aspx
http://www.pdgm.com/getattachment/Resources-(2)/Press-Release/Paradigm-at-SEG/PR-2011-09-08-Paradigm-to-Feature-Key-Technological-Breakthroughs-Introduced-in-the-Paradigm-2011-Release-at-SEG.pdf.aspx
As you read through these reports I think you will begin to get a much broader understanding of just how powerful this technology is, and of course how it is being chosen by well established companies who are leaders in this sector. With this technology being released only this last year, I fully expect we will see enormous growth in its demand.
As I mentioned there are numerous companies that Acceleware has partnered with over the years. Here are a couple of links that will help to give you an understanding of just how in-depth Acceleware is, based on their business and solutions partners, who include the likes of Nvidia, Microsoft, and AMD, to name a few. http://www.acceleware.com/business-partners
http://www.acceleware.com/solution-partners
On Dec. 14-15, 2011, Acceleware attended the GTC Asia Conference in Beijing, China. This was truly a very valuable conference for Acceleware to have attended. The amount of interest was reported to be exceptionally strong, with many people and companies stopping at the Acceleware booth to express a sincere interest in all that Acceleware had to offer. While there was some interest shown by some companies towards the EM technologies, it was obviously the RTM technology that drew the most interest. Acceleware was not only well received at the conference, but was also the recipient of a very meaningful reference from Nvidia. http://www.hpcwire.com/hpcwire/2011-12-15/emerging_companies_ride_wave_of_gpu_computing.html
I find it quite compelling when I can read articles such as this, and to see the optimism being given towards Acceleware from a giant such as Nvidia. This in combination with the sincere showing of interest from any number of potential customers carries a lot of weight in my opinion. One point that comes to mind when I try to estimate the potential for Acceleware in the Asian market, and that is they have a very valuable technology which can be brought directly into the market by some of the companies associated with Acceleware. For example, we know that Paradigm Ltd. has a very close working relationship with Acceleware, as does Tsunami. Both of these companies have branch offices in Beijing, and are well respected by the customer base they serve in that area. Aside from the Asian market, both of these companies have excellent global representation. I believe the amount of interest being afforded Acceleware in terms of their RTM technology in the Asian area, is undoubtedly connected to the fact the geologies they are currently facing are becoming increasingly more complex. This seems to hold true for most exploration projects globally, and is due in large part to the necessity of moving into off-shore settings for further oil/gas exploration targets. It is in these complex geological settings that Acceleware's RTM technology can truly show its full value. Here are a couple of links to both Paradigm and Tsunami which I think you will find helpful in getting a sense for what these companies can contribute. http://www.pdgm.com/Home.aspx
http://www.tsunamidev.com/
Acceleware can potentially expect to gain some ground in another area where off-shore exploration seems to be building rapidly, and this would be off the shores of Africa. As with many, if not most off-shore projects, the geology is complex at best. What stood out in my mind was when I learned that a significant percentage of this exploration can be traced back to Asian origins. As China continues to experience massive growth, and the future need for energy continues to grow, we are currently witnessing a surge of Chinese investment into the energy sector. This all points to significant potential for Acceleware looking forward.
I believe that Acceleware stands to profit greatly from their RTM technology, and quite likely we could see a significant rise in the amount of companies who will decide that this technology holds the key to interpreting the data they have to work with from ever-increasingly complex geological settings. There are those who will argue that fossil fuels are going the way of the dinosaur, and while long-term this may hold some degree of truth, there is no realistic way that I can foresee the transformation to a world that is free from both oil and gas in the immediate future. The fact that the Chinese are avidly investing into numerous energy projects around the world helps to substantiate this view. We are being told by virtually all energy companies that any major new discoveries will be predominately from off-shore exploration. With this in mind, it becomes much easier to see the potential for Acceleware going forward. As with any business that realizes success, there are times and events that help to lift that specific company to the next level, and in the case of Acceleware, I believe there could quite possibly be some significant gains made from their RTM technology, beginning this year and continuing.
I feel it only proper that I should add, that although I concentrated mostly on the RTM technology in this post, there was no shortage of interest shown towards Acceleware in Beijing recently, and this would have included several of the technologies Acceleware possesses. I have no knowledge of any deals that may be in the works, but I do know that this much interest from large well established companies in this region, could have a very positive outcome for Acceleware. I think we will definitely be hearing and seeing a lot from Acceleware in 2012. Aside from RTM, Acceleware also continues to enjoy growth at virtually all of their CUDA training classes offered in conjunction with Microsoft. A similar set of training courses based on OpenCL are being offered in conjunction with AMD, and these too are enjoying great success.
The fact that Acceleware has 55.95M shares outstanding (approx. 60M fully diluted), and a market cap just shy of $4M CAD, with a move into cash-flow positive ground, I truly believe this is a company that will begin to be noticed, and quite likely sooner than later. Of the 55.95M shares, Nvidia holds 8M of them, and to me that speaks loudly of their belief in Acceleware.
For anyone who finds Acceleware as a potential investment choice, I recommend that you do your own due diligence. Acceleware has a website which can be found at www.acceleware.com, and I would suggest that as a good starting point, as well as all reports which can be viewed on Sedar. I think you will find many of the press releases quite informative also, http://www.acceleware.com/Press-Releases
For disclosure purposes, I have received no compensation of any kind for this post or my opinions. All opinions contained herein are strictly my own. I own shares of Acceleware.
An Update To The World Of Graphene Research And The Potential It Holds For Focus Metals
As most people, who read the articles concerning graphite and graphene on my blog, you will be well versed on the amount of research currently being conducted on a global basis. This research seems to just keep accelerating both in terms of the amount of research projects being studied, and also the speed at which researchers are attempting to find the answers they so desperately are seeking. I have tried to keep up to date as best I can in my efforts to stay abreast of some of these projects, especially those that I view as having the potential to affect the possible demand for high quality graphite, and even more so, high quality graphene. In order for graphene to be considered for high-tech applications it is apparent that not just any graphene will suffice. High-tech applications are requiring some of the highest grades of graphene they can source. The one company that has a deposit which contains graphite that can produce graphene of this high caliber would be Focus Metals (TSXV:FMS)(OTCQX:FCSMF).
I recently found a few articles that will show just how sudden some possible breakthroughs can come. As the global pace for graphene research seems to recognize no limitations, it is almost overwhelming what these researchers are finding as they consider the results of the nearly endless research projects. The following is one such example and is an excerpt from the following report,Scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have used the capabilities of one of the world's most powerful university-based supercomputers, the Rensselaer Center for Nanotechnology Innovations (CCNI), to uncover the properties of a promising form of graphene, known as graphene nanowiggles. What they found was that graphitic nanoribbons can be segmented into several different surface structures called nanowiggles. Each of these structures produces highly different magnetic and conductive properties. The findings provide a blueprint that scientists can use to literally pick and choose a graphene nanostructure that is tuned and customized for a different task or device. The work provides an important base of knowledge on these highly useful nanomaterials. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/rpi-sd010412.php
Rice University is well known for the many graphene research projects they undertake. The Rice lab of materials scientist Pulickel Ajayan, in collaboration with colleagues in China, India, Japan and the Texas Medical Center, discovered a one-step chemical process that is markedly simpler than established techniques for making graphene quantum dots. The results were published online this month in the American Chemical Society's journal Nano Letters. The impact of this type of research is something that should not be taken lightly. This could potentially save numerous lives by allowing doctors to correctly diagnose some of the many maladies that we currently do not have the technology to diagnose in its earliest stages. The earlier a person can get a diagnosis the sooner treatment can begin, and this has been proven to be paramount in hoping for a successful treatment program. This research could also lead to a possible treatment method as well. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120112134357.htm
In recent months we have read of many research projects that are geared towards better understanding how the electrical conductivity of graphene can be useful in any number of applications. In yet another aspect of the current graphene research being conducted, we find that researchers at University of Texas Dallas have been busy studying the potential of graphene in electronics, but this more from the thermal aspect. Much of modern technology is based on silicon's use as a semiconductor material, but research recently published in the journal Nature Materials shows that graphene conducts heat about 20 times faster than silicon. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120109211557.htm
While the above information helps to lend a view to where some graphene research is heading, there is lots being pursued at Rutgers University. December 1, 2011, there was a news release issued which announced the signing of a MOU between Grafoid Inc., which is a graphene joint venture that is 40% held by Focus Metals, and Rutgers University. http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/news/press-releases/2011-2/dec12011. As is noted in this news release,
“The graphene research and development activities undertaken to date by Dr. Chiu are heading towards a new phase, leading ultimately, we believe, to industrial applications for our graphene,” Mr. Economo said.
“In time, and through further development in conjunction with Rutgers University we see Grafoid assuming its place as an industry leader not only in industrial and infrastructural applications, but in graphene applications for military and defense, aviation and marine and in other emerging industries where demand exists,” he added. Considering the high regard that Rutgers University commands from the research community, it is not difficult to see how high the potential is for major breakthroughs to be accomplished. http://nanotubes.rutgers.edu/
In yet another research project we find graphene excellently suited as a protective optical limiter. http://www.laserfocusworld.com/articles/2012/01/dispersed-graphene-makes-excellent-protective-optical-limiter.html
Then there is this project from Manchester University and Cambridge University. Graphene, a monolayer form of carbon with properties that will likely mean great things for optics as well as electronics, will be giving high-speed optical communications a boost, if research at the Universities of Manchester and Cambridge pans out. A combination of graphene with metallic nanostructures appears to show a twentyfold enhancement in converting light to electricity when compared to graphene by itself. This could mean dramatically improved photodetectors for fiber optics, for one.
http://www.laserfocusworld.com/articles/2011/09/plasmonic-structures-and-graphene.html
The biggest question seems to be, "Just what is the potential for Focus Metals from all this?" Since Focus Metals owns 100% of the Lac Knife deposit, near Fermont, Quebec, and this deposit is now NI 43-101 compliant. http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/news/press-releases/2011-2/dec52011
Previous to this report being completed, on Feb. 23, 2011, Focus Metals announced that they had formed a graphene joint venture. http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/news/press-releases/2011-2/feb232011. This was followed by another release in which Focus Metals announced that the joint venture had been incorporated, and was now called Grafoid Inc. http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/news/press-releases/2011-2/sept92011
Then on Dec.1 came the news that Grafoid Inc. had signed a MOU with none other than Rutgers University, a very highly regarded facility. http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/news/press-releases/2011-2/dec12011.
These are only some of the highlights of what management of Focus Metals has accomplished in the past year, but I believe they are indicative about how the potential of Focus Metals just keeps building. With the tens of billions of dollars being spent to fund an almost infinite amount of graphene research globally, and with some researchers, as well as companies applying for numerous patents, it is not that difficult to see that Focus Metals has positioned themselves extremely well for the impending rise in anticipated demand for both graphite and graphene. Does Focus Metals have any competitors? That would depend on what a person wants to use for the definition of competitors. From the aspect of whether there are additional companies who will be attempting to sell graphite and or graphene, yes, there will be competitors. From the aspect of, can any other companies boast of a world class deposit such as Lac Knife, which holds some of the highest grade graphite known at this time, no. It is common knowledge that company CEO, Gary Economo, has been in various talks with a number of companies, and the basis for these talks is to establish one or more off-take agreement(s). I would expect this decision could be made in the near future, but keep in mind that it is an arduous task for companies interested in the graphite to run many complex and sophisticated tests on the graphite, to ensure its suitability. Graphite is very different from most any other mine in this aspect. Gold is gold, and silver is silver, however this holds no bearing on how graphite is sold. Companies who may be interested in buying graphite will need to make certain that the graphite will meet any number of prerequisites. The fact that Lac Knife holds such an unusually high grade of graphite can only be considered a blessing of the largest kind, since this puts Focus Metals well in front of most, if not all other graphite explorers and producers. Not only does the NI43-101 report state how high the quality is, but we have this excerpt from Professor Nosker.
On behalf of AMIPP (Advanced Materials via Immiscible Polymer Processing), Professor Nosker said a huge opportunity is waiting to be opened by the cooperative venture.
“I am very pleased that we have an opportunity to spearhead the exploration for the applications from the very high quality graphite received from the Lac Knife project in Canada,” he said.
“This material, formed together in an igneous rock formation millions of years ago, has extreme high electrical conductivity relating to the perfection of the graphite crystals formed there.
“There are many engineering applications for these materials just waiting to be discovered,” Prof. Nosker added.
When I read all that companies like Samsung, Nokia, and IBM, just to name a few, are investing into the research of graphene, it becomes clear in my mind that graphite and graphene are both headed for a much higher demand as we move closer and closer to the breakthroughs that will help graphene live up to the expectations that the world has bestowed upon it. This will most certainly help Focus Metals in my opinion. I believe we will see an increase in the demand of graphite, although I would not expect that immediately. Graphene demand will continue to grow I expect, and I can easily see graphene demand growing many fold as these research projects begin to produce usable ways to incorporate graphene into many of the products we use on a daily basis. I firmly believe graphene will be the next item to revolutionize the world, and Focus Metals is the company I see best positioned to take advantage of this.
For anyone interested in considering Focus Metals as an investment choice, I highly recommend that you do your own due diligence, and seek the advice of a professional advisor. Focus Metals has a website which can be found at www.focusmetals.ca.
For disclosure purposes I have received no compensation of any kind for this posting or for my opinions. All opinions herein are strictly my own. I own shares of Focus Metals
I recently found a few articles that will show just how sudden some possible breakthroughs can come. As the global pace for graphene research seems to recognize no limitations, it is almost overwhelming what these researchers are finding as they consider the results of the nearly endless research projects. The following is one such example and is an excerpt from the following report,Scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have used the capabilities of one of the world's most powerful university-based supercomputers, the Rensselaer Center for Nanotechnology Innovations (CCNI), to uncover the properties of a promising form of graphene, known as graphene nanowiggles. What they found was that graphitic nanoribbons can be segmented into several different surface structures called nanowiggles. Each of these structures produces highly different magnetic and conductive properties. The findings provide a blueprint that scientists can use to literally pick and choose a graphene nanostructure that is tuned and customized for a different task or device. The work provides an important base of knowledge on these highly useful nanomaterials. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/rpi-sd010412.php
Rice University is well known for the many graphene research projects they undertake. The Rice lab of materials scientist Pulickel Ajayan, in collaboration with colleagues in China, India, Japan and the Texas Medical Center, discovered a one-step chemical process that is markedly simpler than established techniques for making graphene quantum dots. The results were published online this month in the American Chemical Society's journal Nano Letters. The impact of this type of research is something that should not be taken lightly. This could potentially save numerous lives by allowing doctors to correctly diagnose some of the many maladies that we currently do not have the technology to diagnose in its earliest stages. The earlier a person can get a diagnosis the sooner treatment can begin, and this has been proven to be paramount in hoping for a successful treatment program. This research could also lead to a possible treatment method as well. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120112134357.htm
In recent months we have read of many research projects that are geared towards better understanding how the electrical conductivity of graphene can be useful in any number of applications. In yet another aspect of the current graphene research being conducted, we find that researchers at University of Texas Dallas have been busy studying the potential of graphene in electronics, but this more from the thermal aspect. Much of modern technology is based on silicon's use as a semiconductor material, but research recently published in the journal Nature Materials shows that graphene conducts heat about 20 times faster than silicon. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120109211557.htm
While the above information helps to lend a view to where some graphene research is heading, there is lots being pursued at Rutgers University. December 1, 2011, there was a news release issued which announced the signing of a MOU between Grafoid Inc., which is a graphene joint venture that is 40% held by Focus Metals, and Rutgers University. http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/news/press-releases/2011-2/dec12011. As is noted in this news release,
“The graphene research and development activities undertaken to date by Dr. Chiu are heading towards a new phase, leading ultimately, we believe, to industrial applications for our graphene,” Mr. Economo said.
“In time, and through further development in conjunction with Rutgers University we see Grafoid assuming its place as an industry leader not only in industrial and infrastructural applications, but in graphene applications for military and defense, aviation and marine and in other emerging industries where demand exists,” he added. Considering the high regard that Rutgers University commands from the research community, it is not difficult to see how high the potential is for major breakthroughs to be accomplished. http://nanotubes.rutgers.edu/
In yet another research project we find graphene excellently suited as a protective optical limiter. http://www.laserfocusworld.com/articles/2012/01/dispersed-graphene-makes-excellent-protective-optical-limiter.html
Then there is this project from Manchester University and Cambridge University. Graphene, a monolayer form of carbon with properties that will likely mean great things for optics as well as electronics, will be giving high-speed optical communications a boost, if research at the Universities of Manchester and Cambridge pans out. A combination of graphene with metallic nanostructures appears to show a twentyfold enhancement in converting light to electricity when compared to graphene by itself. This could mean dramatically improved photodetectors for fiber optics, for one.
http://www.laserfocusworld.com/articles/2011/09/plasmonic-structures-and-graphene.html
The biggest question seems to be, "Just what is the potential for Focus Metals from all this?" Since Focus Metals owns 100% of the Lac Knife deposit, near Fermont, Quebec, and this deposit is now NI 43-101 compliant. http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/news/press-releases/2011-2/dec52011
Previous to this report being completed, on Feb. 23, 2011, Focus Metals announced that they had formed a graphene joint venture. http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/news/press-releases/2011-2/feb232011. This was followed by another release in which Focus Metals announced that the joint venture had been incorporated, and was now called Grafoid Inc. http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/news/press-releases/2011-2/sept92011
Then on Dec.1 came the news that Grafoid Inc. had signed a MOU with none other than Rutgers University, a very highly regarded facility. http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/news/press-releases/2011-2/dec12011.
These are only some of the highlights of what management of Focus Metals has accomplished in the past year, but I believe they are indicative about how the potential of Focus Metals just keeps building. With the tens of billions of dollars being spent to fund an almost infinite amount of graphene research globally, and with some researchers, as well as companies applying for numerous patents, it is not that difficult to see that Focus Metals has positioned themselves extremely well for the impending rise in anticipated demand for both graphite and graphene. Does Focus Metals have any competitors? That would depend on what a person wants to use for the definition of competitors. From the aspect of whether there are additional companies who will be attempting to sell graphite and or graphene, yes, there will be competitors. From the aspect of, can any other companies boast of a world class deposit such as Lac Knife, which holds some of the highest grade graphite known at this time, no. It is common knowledge that company CEO, Gary Economo, has been in various talks with a number of companies, and the basis for these talks is to establish one or more off-take agreement(s). I would expect this decision could be made in the near future, but keep in mind that it is an arduous task for companies interested in the graphite to run many complex and sophisticated tests on the graphite, to ensure its suitability. Graphite is very different from most any other mine in this aspect. Gold is gold, and silver is silver, however this holds no bearing on how graphite is sold. Companies who may be interested in buying graphite will need to make certain that the graphite will meet any number of prerequisites. The fact that Lac Knife holds such an unusually high grade of graphite can only be considered a blessing of the largest kind, since this puts Focus Metals well in front of most, if not all other graphite explorers and producers. Not only does the NI43-101 report state how high the quality is, but we have this excerpt from Professor Nosker.
On behalf of AMIPP (Advanced Materials via Immiscible Polymer Processing), Professor Nosker said a huge opportunity is waiting to be opened by the cooperative venture.
“I am very pleased that we have an opportunity to spearhead the exploration for the applications from the very high quality graphite received from the Lac Knife project in Canada,” he said.
“This material, formed together in an igneous rock formation millions of years ago, has extreme high electrical conductivity relating to the perfection of the graphite crystals formed there.
“There are many engineering applications for these materials just waiting to be discovered,” Prof. Nosker added.
When I read all that companies like Samsung, Nokia, and IBM, just to name a few, are investing into the research of graphene, it becomes clear in my mind that graphite and graphene are both headed for a much higher demand as we move closer and closer to the breakthroughs that will help graphene live up to the expectations that the world has bestowed upon it. This will most certainly help Focus Metals in my opinion. I believe we will see an increase in the demand of graphite, although I would not expect that immediately. Graphene demand will continue to grow I expect, and I can easily see graphene demand growing many fold as these research projects begin to produce usable ways to incorporate graphene into many of the products we use on a daily basis. I firmly believe graphene will be the next item to revolutionize the world, and Focus Metals is the company I see best positioned to take advantage of this.
For anyone interested in considering Focus Metals as an investment choice, I highly recommend that you do your own due diligence, and seek the advice of a professional advisor. Focus Metals has a website which can be found at www.focusmetals.ca.
For disclosure purposes I have received no compensation of any kind for this posting or for my opinions. All opinions herein are strictly my own. I own shares of Focus Metals
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