Manchester-based Nanoco Group, which specialises in the development and manufacture of cadmium-free quantum dots and other nano-materials, said earlier this month that it has started its new financial year with “considerable confidence”.

The company a trading update for the year to 31 July, ahead of the release of its full results on 16 October. The group said it had made steady progress on material development and supply agreements for nano-materials with a large corporation in the USA (www.nanocotechnologies.com).

New manufacturing facilities in Runcorn are progressing as planned, and small-scale commercial shipments are expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2018, while volume production is expected to start in the second half of 2019.

The first half of 2019 will be used to stress-test and improve the new Runcorn facility.

Nanoco said it continues to make progress in display, initially with gaming monitors.

Its patented CFQD resin is being provided to Wah Hong Industrial Corp to convert into film for a Taiwanese manufacturer of display panels.

These gaming monitors are on track for a launch to the public for the 2018 end-of-year holiday season.