GCM on track for first VHD tech revenue
GCM continues to validate graphite thermal management tech
New global distribution strategy to boost sales channels and market segments
Company on track for first revenue in the first half of 2026
The tech has applications from global electronics, semiconductor and microchip manufacturers, to data centre operators and thermal solution providers.
It can be used in any industry where thermal management is vital, with sample testing being expanded to customers in aerospace, automotive, electronics, medical and industrial sectors through machining and distribution partners in North America and Europe.
Green Critical Minerals (ASX:GCM) is advancing commercialisation of the tech and its product distribution strategy, with several new sales channels in development, including online retailers and machine shop networks, along with existing collaboration deals such as with Australia's leading data centre provider GreenSquareDC2.
The company has successfully transitioned from pilot-scale production to full-scale manufacturing following commissioning of Module 1 of the VHD production plant.
The company has now begun initial production runs of saleable VHD graphite blocks at the facility, with inventory to be built up in support of upcoming customer sampling programs and prototype heat sink development.
Discussions are ongoing with leading data centre operators in North America, Europe and Asia, focused on the evaluation and integration of VHD graphite into advanced computing infrastructure, including isomoulded graphite heat sink profiles.
Global distribution will drive revenue
The company plans to establish a US-domiciled entity to support product registration and direct engagement with North American customers and is partnering with Asian market entry specialist O'Connor Corporate Advisory, targeting companies such as Samsung, SK and LG.
With all of this underway, GCM says it remains on track to achieve first revenue in the first half of calendar year 2026.
'We're making rapid progress in transforming our VHD technology into a commercial reality,' MD Clinton Booth said.
'The strong interest we're receiving from data centre operators, online distributors, and global electronics, semiconductor and microchip companies highlights the growing interest and demand for high-performance thermal management solutions.
'With Module 1 now fully commissioned and producing saleable graphite blocks, we've entered an exciting new phase—shifting our focus from development to production and commercial rollout.
'Initial production is underway, multiple sales channels are advancing and momentum continues to build.
'We are laying solid foundations to achieve our first revenue in the first half of 2026 and to firmly establish GCM as a key player in the global supply chain for next-generation thermal management technologies.'
This article was developed in collaboration with Green Critical Minerals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.
This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Exotic mushrooms grown using Queensland's sugarcane waste
Exotic Asian mushrooms are now being grown using a by-product from sugarcane processing. Bagasse, the material left over after sugarcane has been processed, has proven to be a viable and productive growing substrate for Asian mushrooms. "One [bagasse] bag, we can produce about 200 to 250 grams [of mushrooms]," exotic mushroom grower Simon Tang said. "That's quite a good result in this industry." Mr Tang grows premium Asian mushrooms across two farms at Park Ridge in Logan in south-east Queensland. "We probably produce from 2 to 3 tonnes every week, including king, oyster mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms," he said. The pandemic compromised output for Mr Tang's company Kenon Mushrooms, with import interruptions and delays. The Asian mushroom spores and their growing substrate were imported from China. "Normally the shipping container comes here [after] like 21 days, [but during the pandemic] maybe they take up to two months to come," Mr Tang said. When imports were cancelled or delayed, production for Mr Tang's company ground to a halt. "After that I [began] thinking maybe I need to think about [the company switching to] grow everything locally in Australia [because it] can protect your business [when it's] at risk," Mr Tang said. Previous attempts to use locally sourced sawdust or cottonseed husk as mushroom substrates had failed due to difficulty sourcing and maintaining a consistent supply. When Mr Tang discovered research to use sugarcane bagasse to grow Asian mushrooms, he was intrigued. "I said, 'Whoa, that's quite a good idea' because in Queensland we got a lot of sugar on the farms," he said. Since then, the Millaquin mill in Bundaberg has supplied Mr Tang's company with bagasse to grow exotic mushrooms. Mill manager Lincoln Williams said the collaboration came about after Mr Tang contacted him directly. "He sent me an email saying, 'Yeah this is what I'm looking at doing, growing mushrooms from bagasse … are you interested in supplying some?' "So we went, 'Yep — no worries.' We had some spare," Mr Williams said. All sugar mills run differently, but at the Millaquin mill bagasse is stockpiled on site and on a nearby farm too. "Bagasse is the by-product after we squeeze out all the sugar juice out of it [the sugarcane]," Mr Williams said. The mill is seasonal, coinciding with sugarcane harvesting, which generally starts during winter. But even when it's not crushing season, the bagasse is still necessary for the year-long sugar refinery operation. "We use every part of it that we can," Mr Williams said. This wasn't always the case, but efforts to make sugar production more efficient over the years have prompted changes in the industry. "If we have any excess stuff that we don't use that year we do sell it to some other companies that use it in mulch and things like that." Using sugarcane bagasse to grow mushrooms is definitely outside of the ordinary. CQ University researchers have led trials at Mr Tang's manufacturing facility, cultivating mushroom spores and developing different recipes using bagasse. They've also mixed in other waste products, including peanut shells. "It's definitely exciting," CQ University professor Delwar Akbar said. "We are trying to understand what is the development impact of such an industry where the raw materials are close by, and how the supply chain will work in this area," Mr Akbar said. Once the substrate bags are composed, they're injected with the mushrooms' spores before being stored in incubation rooms. Mr Tang's bagasse bag manufacturing facility in Bundaberg, Queensland is currently producing up to 10,000 substrate bags a week. "We've got the only bagging machine in Australia that produces bags without hand packing," factory manager Stephen Newbould said. Mr Tang sells his exotic mushrooms at major markets in Brisbane and Sydney as well as to other local markets, Asian grocers and specialty restaurants. But his hope is to supply bagasse grow bags to more people, to increase the number of mushroom growers. "They can get mushroom bags from our factory, and then they can produce it in [their] local backyard to grow mushrooms. [It's] very easy," Mr Tang said. The more growers he can support, Mr Tang believes, the better the Australian industry will become. "You know, one thing is we give more people more choices, like a more healthy, more nutritious food choice." Watch ABC TV's Landline at 12:30pm AEST on Sunday or stream anytime on ABC iview.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
US review of AUKUS incomplete as cost of defence boost revealed
The Trump administration's review of the AUKUS partnership is unfinished as its slated deadline arrives, according to Australia's acting defence minister. Patrick Conroy told the ABC's Insiders the Australian government was "engaging at the most senior levels" and was optimistic the US review would endorse the military pact. "I'm confident it will support AUKUS just as our review of AUKUS [and] the UK review found," he said. "There's been lots of speculation about what the timeframe is of the review … My last information is that the review has not been completed yet." The review, led by senior Pentagon official Elbridge Colby whose public statements about AUKUS have been mixed, was slated to be finished within 30 days, a timeframe reached this weekend which coincides with Anthony Albanese's visit to China. Despite the statements of confidence, the government is bracing for the likelihood that the Trump administration will press harder on Australia to lift its defence spending, as it did with European partners. The ABC can reveal new figures laying out the colossal budget impact of agreeing to such a request. During the election campaign, the Parliamentary Budget Office estimated the short-term boost to defence spending needed to achieve 3 per cent of GDP by 2035, as was Coalition policy, would cost $20.6 billion over the first five years and $156.4 billion over a decade. Those figures, prepared in consultation with Treasury and Defence, can be extended to suggest the even larger cost of a 3.5 per cent spend of $45.2 over five years or $287.1 billion over a decade. The government currently intends to increase defence spending to 2.3 per cent of GDP by 2035. To get to 3.5 per cent instead, the extra funding alone would triple Australia's entire foreign aid budget by the year 2029-30. Mr Conroy told the ABC the government would seek to emphasise that its aid and diplomatic spending, especially in the Pacific region, was also contributing to security. "We're making the point to everyone that both [defence and aid spending] are incredibly important," he said. "We're investing in our relationships in the region, as well as our military capability and we are increasing our defence budget significantly, $57 billion above the previous trajectory," he said. "We've made it clear that if a case is made for more capability, we'll increase more. We're not going to pluck a figure out of the air and work out how to spend it. That's what the Coalition took to the election." Mr Conroy, who is acting for Richard Marles in the defence portfolio but whose regular portfolio is defence industry, said Australia was also trying to get more value for money from defence procurement processes. "It's a challenging area for every country around the world [and] it was problematic under the last government … We've made significant reforms to how we do defence procurement," he said. "It is important that taxpayers have confidence that every single dollar goes to improving capability of the Australian Defence Force as well as supporting the 100,000 Australians who work in that industry." Mr Conroy said Australia would not "engage in hypotheticals" after a report in the Financial Times that Mr Colby was also pressing both Australia and Japan to give assurances about how they would respond in the event of a war with China over Taiwan, but emphasised Australia would make its own decisions about any conflict. "The sole power to commit Australia to war or to allow our territory to be used for a conflict is the elected government of the day," he said. "Sovereignty will always be prioritised and that will continue to be our position." Officials have also emphasised Australia's strategic focus on deterrence and opposition to the use of force. "We are being very clear that we want a balanced region where no-one is dominated and no-one dominates," he said.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
The unexpected job that pays Aussies $200k a year
23. Sheet Metal Worker – Average salary: $95,000. Fabricates and installs sheet metal products, including ducts, roofs, and siding. Certificate III in Engineering/Sheet Metal Work required. Workers often remain in this role for 10-20 years before advancing into supervisory positions. All you need is a box of scraps and a cave, just ask Tony Stark. Picture: Supplied 18. Real Estate Agent – Average salary: $100,000. Assists clients in buying, selling, and renting properties, providing market insights and negotiation services. Requires a Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice and the ability to say 'This place has character' when it's clearly held together by duct tape and a dream. Picture: Supplied 13. Boilermaker – Average salary: $110,000. Fabricates, assembles, and repairs metal structures and equipment. Completion of a Certificate III in Engineering/Fabrication Trade is necessary. One wrong move working with high temperatures could mean serious injury. Picture: Supplied 10. Police Officer – Average salary: $115,000. Enforces laws, maintains public order, and responds to emergencies. Completion of a police academy training program required. Officers typically serve for 20-30 years, with many retiring by 55. While most officers don't go undercover in high school like in 21 Jump Street, the job still demands quick thinking and resilience. Picture: Supplied 9. Sales Manager – Average salary: $120,000. Oversees sales teams, formulates strategies, and drives revenue growth. Most candidates selected are aged between 35 and 50, bringing extensive industry-specific experience and well-developed leadership skills. That employee who convinced you to walk out with four phone accessories instead of just a screen protector? The Sales Manager is the one who trained them, set the bonus target, and made sure you felt like it was your idea all along. Picture: iStock 8. Elevator Installer and Repairer – Average salary: $120,000. Designs, installs, maintains, and repairs electric and hydraulic passenger and freight lifts, escalators, and moving walkways. Are they the ones who put up the Do not use lift in case of fire sign? No – but they're definitely the ones who'd roll their eyes if you ignored it. Completion of a Certificate III in Engineering/Lift and Escalator Mechanic required. Professionals often remain in this role for up to 25 years, moving up into technical specialist positions. Picture: iStock 7 Body Corporate Manager – Average salary: $125,000. Manages the administration and maintenance of strata-titled properties, ensuring compliance and resolving disputes. Requires a Certificate IV in Strata Community Management or equivalent. They've probably approved more cavoodles than your local council. Picture: iStock 5. Train or Tram Driver – Average salary: $130,000. Transport passengers and freight on rail networks. Completion of a Certificate III in Transport and Logistics necessary. Drivers often remain in the role for 20-30 years, with many retiring in their mid-60s. Passengers often assume delays are due to the driver, but in fact, they're usually caused by signal faults and track issues. Picture: Supplied 4. Coal Miner – Average salary: $130,000. Operates plans to excavate, load, and transport coal in underground or open-cut mines. Requires a Certificate III in Resource Processing, along with industry-specific safety training. Many miners work for 5-10 years, often transitioning to supervisory or safety roles. One underground miner told 'It's one of those industries where it's not what you know, it's who you know.' Picture: Supplied 1. Horticulture Manager – Average salary: $200,000. Manages the cultivation and care of plants, as well as day-to-day operations in nurseries, gardens, and agricultural settings. Usually requires a Diploma in Horticulture, Landscape Management, or a related field. Professionals typically stay in the role for 5–10 years, often progressing to senior management or consultancy roles. The most common age group is 40–50, indicating a high level of experience and leadership. Some large commercial horticulture operations in Australia manage over a million plants at a time, meaning these managers aren't just good with greenery, they're running a logistics empire. Picture: Supplied
