First Graphene Enters South African Construction Market with Waterproofing Additive Launch

First Graphene (ASX: FGR) has taken another step in commercialising its graphene technology, announcing the first orders and market release of its PureGRAPH-enhanced waterproofing additive in South Africa’s construction sector.

Partnering with high performance construction chemicals manufacturer Glade Chemicals, the company has launched KR2-Tech Dry — a graphene-based additive designed to improve the durability and waterproofing of cement and concrete. Following extensive trials, the product is now being supplied commercially to the South African market, marking First Graphene’s official entry into the region.

Managing Director and CEO Michael Bell described the breakthrough as a tangible outcome of years of research and collaboration.

“This milestone reflects the rising prominence of our PureGRAPH product and the global demand for more durable and efficient cement solutions,” Bell said. “Initial orders from Glade provide a bottom line boost and open the door to broader expansion across emerging markets.”

The trials, conducted in partnership with Stellenbosch University, AFRIMAT, Melt Wahl Concrete Services and Kindling Inc., validated the product’s performance under real world conditions. A large-scale concrete slab poured in Wellington, South Africa was tested over 400 days, with remarkable results.

Compared to control mixtures, the PureGRAPH-enhanced concrete reduced long term water absorption by up to 48 percent and cut oxygen penetration by nearly 20 percent. These improvements directly translate to enhanced lifespan and durability of concrete structures — critical metrics for infrastructure in both urban and remote settings.

What also impressed stakeholders was the ease of integration. The trials demonstrated that the additive could be dispersed into conventional ready mix concrete using simple methods, without disrupting normal batching or pouring processes.

The company highlighted that the product addresses growing demand for sustainable, high performance materials in the cement industry, particularly as environmental and durability benchmarks rise. With global cement and concrete industries accounting for approximately 8 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, solutions that extend the life of structures and reduce maintenance are increasingly seen as critical.

First Graphene is now considering introducing Glade’s KR2-Tech Dry additive to the Australian market and sees potential for further applications globally, as the commercial viability of graphene additives becomes more widely recognised.

Already the world’s leading supplier of PureGRAPH, First Graphene continues to build out its market presence across construction, coatings, composites and energy storage, positioning graphene as a transformative material in the push for lower emissions and higher performance across industries.