A FAMILY-OWNED chemical firm is pushing ahead with a venture it believes can be a catalyst for fresh growth.

Thomas Swan and Co Limited has founded a technology advisory panel to capitalise on market demands.

The company, based in Consett, County Durham, is known for working on graphene, which experts say is an ultra-light yet overtly tough carbon material that can conduct electricity, add toughness to plastics and cut friction in lubricants.

According to its plans, the panel will help the firm with work on carbon nanotubes, which carry some of the same characteristics as graphene.

Officials added it will also support the business’ ambitions in gaining a stronger foothold in the electronics industry, having worked with US operator Nantero for years on nanotubes for new memory technology.

Harry Swan, managing director, who will chair the panel, said the endeavour represents a tremendous opportunity for the company to ensure it stays at the forefront of market needs.

He said: “While I’m confident we have an excellent product, and can scale manufacturing to meet the anticipated increase in demand, the panel will help establish our reputation with customers in the memory market as a stable and reliable supplier.

“It will also ensure we are positioned for the next wave of technical requirements.”

The panel includes Dr Andy Goodwin, Thomas Swan’s advanced materials business director, and Andy Green, a former senior independent director at ARM Holdings.

Last month, Thomas Swan revealed a new graphene creation designed to improve industrial coatings and finalised an agreement to represent the Robinson Brothers’ Robac Technology brand across the US and Canada.

The company was founded in the 1920s when Tommy Swan set up mixing plants at Consett’s Crookhall works.

In its infancy, it was known for converting steel industry slag waste into road surfacing material.

However, when road builders changed from using tar as a binder to bitumen on roads, it created a surfactant, which became its first chemical product.

Its expertise now includes tyre and rubber additives, while it also supplies an active ingredient that goes into cleaning agent Dettol.