发布时间：2008.7
摘要
Elmarco, based in Liberec, Czech Republic claims to be the world’s first company—and the only company—to manufacture machines for the mass production of nanofibres. The machines are called “Nanospider” and come in two versions: a laboratory-scale version and an industrial-scale version. A key element of Elmarco’s business strategy is to cooperate closely with technology companies, technical universities, other educational institutions and non-government research organisations.
Notable educational institutions with which Elmarco cooperates include the Technical University of Liberec (TUL), where the Nanospider was invented, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and North Carolina State University (NCSU).
Nanospider machines use electrospinning to produce nanofibres. These fibres can be used to manufacture materials for a wide variety of applications, including: air and liquid filtration; sound absorption; medical textiles for wound dressings, tissue engineering and drug delivery; personal diapers, napkins and wipes; cosmetic textiles; protective garments; and reinforced composite materials such as plastics, metals, ceramics, thermal insulation composites and biocomposites.
For the future, Elmarco has plans to expand by building a new production facility in Liberec. This will house its research and development business unit, a pilot plant and a showroom. The company may also consider mass production of nanofibres, in addition to supplying the machinery which produces them.
目录及图表
SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
DEVELOPMENT OF NANOSPIDER TECHNOLOGY
ELMARCO: COMPANY DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALISATION OF NANOSPIDER TECHNOLOGY
Origins of the company
First prototype machine
Nanospider unveiled at international exhibitions
Establishment of sales offices abroad
JOINT VENTURES AND COOPERATION AGREEMENTS
Cooperation with other companies
Cooperation with universities
PRODUCTS AND MARKETS
Products
Machinery
Materials
Markets
MARKETS AND APPLICATIONS FOR NANOFIBRES: FROM FILTERS AND BATTERIES TO NAPKINS AND CLOTHES
Air and liquid filtration
Energy and information technology (IT)
Sound absorption
Environment
Medicine
Wound dressings
Tissue engineering
Encapsulation
Hygiene
Cosmetics
Protective garments
Nanocomposites
LEADING CUSTOMERS
RAW MATERIALS USED BY NANOSPIDER
FINANCIAL RESULTS AND OWNERSHIP
EXPANSION PLANS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS
List of figures
Figure 1: The electrospinning process for making nanofibres
Figure 2: Nanospider technology