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I watched a few very informative YouTube videos on Graphene production this afternoon. I'd recommend spending some time doing so. Producing graphene from graphite flakes is called "top down", producing from sugar or other carbon-based substances is called "bottom up" production. The quality of the graphene will vary depending on the process and the raw material used.
A very interesting demonstration from Russia entitled "Commercial Graphene Production".
Juggsy
Anyone looked at Mason Graphite? News of much larger reserves than previously announced has lit a fire under their stock. Risen from .15 to .60 in December alone.
Same intentions as Lomiko. Have no idea yet how their estimated reserves compare.
The previous post about manufacturing Graphene from other sources using CVD is interesting, but I don't think it will displace Graphene from Graphite processes.
Would like to hear your comments on that Gary.
Juggsy
Hello!
Amazing to see some familiar names here. As some of you may remember, I sold all at around 4 cents, seems like years ago now. I'm 65 now. Living in the same Illinois town. Doing Home Inspection full time and still enjoying trading. Last year was amazing for the 3D printing field, which is where I placed many of my chips.
Now have 4 grandkids, a great 2nd wife who is just now developing her singing and guitar playing career. I get to be the roadie!
Blessing to all of you!
Juggsy
Thanks for posting the link to that abstract about the breast cancer tissue. What they are accomplishing is just amazing. I wish we could copy and paste that, but its a pdf and isn't working out for that.
Amazing stuff.
It looks like about 26,000 shares traded on the new Gray Market. I put in an order at the last sale ($18.10) and when I didn't get any, raised my limit up to $19.00. Still no sale. Looks like it traded as high as $20.00. The closing price in Euro's was what, $12.20? This converts to only $16.83.
So, which market will be the tail and which one the dog? Will GOE open higher tomorrow in France because of the final trade at $18.20 US?
Juggsy
I also couldn't buy GOE through Scottrade. At Gary's suggestion last week, I opened a Fidelity account and signed up for international trading. The entire project took me about 45 minutes from sign up, transferring funds from my bank and then stock purchase. No sweat. I was so impressed with Fidelity that I plan to do more with that account.
Juggsy
That MF article also mentions the P/S ratio, which is higher than either DDD or SSYS. Still, I bought more today.
Juggsy
I asked Keith about this during the Retail Investor Conference Q & A session. I can't find a transcript of the Q&A now so my memory will have to serve.
Me: Is the Organ or Body on a Chip a threat to ONVO's work?
Keith: We've suggested to them that they might try doing their tissues with 3D printers. They might have even better results.
Also, when get get some positive, respected analyst coverage, that will make a big difference. As ONVO stated, this issue will be addressed in the upcoming retail investor conference. I do think it would be hard for an analyst to justify a price target much higher than our PPS is right now until some real revenues start rolling in.
Juggsy
Indeed, printing organs is their end goal. But what they can do now is exciting in its own right. They have done blood vessels and some heart and lung tissue. I read recently that they can take cancerous cells, grow more of them, then print cancerous tissue and sell it to pharmaceutical companies for drug development.
I think we will be seeing a lot of filings that receive Confidential Treatment.
GLTA
Juggsy
Indeed, the most intelligent presentation I have ever seen in this type of venue. The "Keith Murphy founds Organovo" story is compelling. I don't think he covers that in this presentation. He is a brilliant company builder and CEI in search of a brilliant idea to build a company around. He found Gabor Forgacs, and the rest is becoming history.
A group of high-worth investors (Maverick Angels) backed Organovo. Under their website's "About Us" section you will find their Portfolio of 2011 investments.
http://www.maverickangels.com/2012/03/maverick-angels-backed-organovo-announces-6-5-million-private-placement-to-advance-3d-bioprinting-for-medical-applications/
Thanks. I'll look into that.
Enjoy the ONVO ride.
Juggsy
I was lucky to read about ONVO. I think it was mentioned along with DDD, which I've been into a bit longer, in a Seeking Alpha article about 6 weeks ago, or so. So, I feel quite lucky to have found it. This article: http://seekingalpha.com/article/428421-organovo-s-3d-bioprinting-a-win-for-pharmaceuticals?source=yahoo
A recent purchase is also Raven Industries. They have done, and are doing, quite well. I bought them because of their GPS units for precision farming. Turns out they do much more than that.
Funny, when I called my broked and asked him what companies he was aware of that were into precision farming he just laughed at me. Had never heard of it. Anyway, I sold my KOL and bought RAVN, about a month ago.
RAVN has doubled in the last 2 years. Should continue to do well.
Good luck to you.
That was probably a good decision. I'm already into DDD and SSYS, but am more heavily weighted here. I think the potential for all three companies is great, but love having gotten in here so early in the game. It's going to be a wild ride for a while here I reckon, before fundamentals start playing a role in the PPS.
Juggsy
This is working out pretty well so far.
Here's a 2010 NPR interview: Guy Raz and Gabor Forgacs:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124674635
Well, lets just hope for good progress on the technical front right now. If two or more companies can figure out how to print an organ, more power to them. If ONVO can do that, they'll most likely have the resources to vigorously defend their patents.
Juggsy
One difference that I see is that ONVO is now the holder of the process patents that came out of the Univ of MO research, of which Gabor Forgacs was/is the head. So, no matter which machine is being used, the process is now protected under patent, which is big of course.
Back in the $2.00 range, where I first bought in, I looked at this as a near private placement price. Now its getting a little rich for that view, but I still think there is tons of growth left here.
I do have an unanswered question though. Researchers at the University of Mo. are using a tissue printer manufactured by nScrypt.
http://www.nscrypt.com/human-tissue-3d-printing-equipment/index.php
Their description of the machine and the scaffolding they use sounds identical to the NovoGen. Has anyone looked into this?
Thanks,
Juggsy
Indeed Tech,
It sounds completely different than the KDS process. They claim a higher efficiency but I find the patent application very hard to follow.
Juggsy
I keep a Google alert going for "drying grinding biomass"
Here's today's result:
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/7320715/description.html
Anyone who wants to respond to this, be my guest:
http://www.bulk-online.com/Forum/showthread.php?s=761e76e9929c7870d9f665f9043956a9&postid=39927
Juggsy
Thanks tech. I hope they get it.
Juggsy
Says here they got that grant:
http://www.wctrib.com/articles/index.cfm?id=28006§ion=news&freebie_check&CFID=73098001&CFTOKEN=62956941&jsessionid=88302d37efdb657c6029
$1 million grant from Xcel Energy gives life to Priam producer’s biomass plans
Tom Cherveny West Central Tribune
Published Saturday, December 08, 2007
PRIAM — Long-held aspirations by the Minnesota Valley Alfalfa Producers in Priam to create green energy on west central farms just got a $1 million boost.
Xcel Energy is awarding a $1 million grant to the farmer-owned cooperative to research its proposal to produce biomass fuel using a patented technology from Canada.
“We’re very excited,’’ said Duane Hultgren, MnVAP general manager, when contacted on Friday.
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He said the company is pursuing a proposal that would convert a variety of agricultural products — such as corn stover or straw — into a pellet-form biomass fuel.
MnVAP has acquired patented technology from First American Scientific Corp of Vancouver, British Columbia. The technology is very energy efficient at “densification,’’ or converting biomass matter into pellet form.
The system uses less electricity to create pellets than other systems, and it requires no heat for drying the matter, said Hultgren. The company calls its product the KDS Micronex Reduction System, which it describes on its Web site as using extreme velocity impact mill technology to reduce material to very fine sizes.
MnVAP will research the feasibility of using any of 16 different biomass products from the farm and producing biomass pellets as a fuel for larger-scale burners.
Hultgren said there is a great deal of research needed. The grant will fund research to adapt the Canadian technology to the needs of biomass production in west central Minnesota.
Before any testing can begin, the company must obtain permits from the state. MnVAP is hoping that process can be completed by April, he added.
The grant award to MnVAP is one of 22 grants totaling nearly $23 million announced by Xcel Energy for renewable energy projects in the state.
Xcel is also awarding $979,082 to the University of Minnesota to develop the best management for harvesting biomass and for the maintenance of soil quality.
The university is working to develop the infrastructure to produce and collect biomass fuel to power and heat buildings on its Morris campus.
MnVAP doesn’t anticipate using alfalfa or the stems of the plant as a biomass fuel source, as was once considered. The company produces a variety of animal feed products from alfalfa, some of them in pellet form. The value of alfalfa is too high to justify its use as a biomass fuel, he said.
The farmer-cooperative originally purchased the Priam facility in 1996 with intentions of using a fractionation process to separate alfalfa leaves and stems. The proposal called for using the stems as an energy source to produce electricity for sale to Xcel while the leaves would continue to be sold as animal feed.
OT: Sam, look at their growing revenue.
Period Ending: 12/31/2005 12/31/2004 12/31/2003 12/31/2002
Total Revenue $1,803.000 $766,000 $229,000 $121,000
It appears to me that this is just the beginning for that company. They've had some unfortunate events, such as firing their auditors and becoming a "pinkie", but that is soon to be all behind them, and that's why you've seen the runup they've experienced in the past months.
Again, thanks for pointing them out.
Juggsy
I bought some of that this morning. Will probably add more tomorrow. Thanks Sam.
Juggsy
Mitsubishi hunts for biomass projects around the world
13 September, 2007
Japanese group Mitsubishi is looking globally for biomass investment targets as part of a push into the renewables market.
The company has just formed a Mitsubishi-led joint venture to build Japan’s largest wood pellet production plant, at Hita in south-west Kyushu island.
Mitsubishi’s New Energy and Environment Division is willing to consider various types of biomass investments around the world, according to Sushi Umemura, assistant manager in the division’s biomass team. About 200 people transferred to the division when it was formed on 6 April, he said.
Although the criteria of the government’s Renewable Portfolio Standard are low, they are expected to rise, said Umemura: “We want to get ready to provide new energy.”
Mitsubishi is understood to want the annual capacity to produce 2bn litres of ethanol at plants in Japan and abroad, including in South America.
Mitshubishi has a 70% stake in the Hita biomass company. Timber firm Taisei Mokuzaki owns 15% and 15% is held by Hita Lumber Co-operative Association, which will provide the feedstock in the form of cedar residue and bark which are not used at the moment.
A feasibility study has taken about three years, said Umemura. The plant will have an initial pellet production capacity of 25,000t/year, aimed at power station and industrial buyers. That is about three-quarters of Japan’s present pellet market, which is mainly domestic consumers.
“The Japanese power plant sector is still not ready for this plant,” said Umemura. However, some power stations and industrial firms are testing pellets for co-firing at a 3–10% mix with coal. Japan uses about 100m tonnes/year of coal. The joint venture has six customers already, said Umemura.
The plant is expected to begin production early next year and to be doubled in size subsequently, said Umemura. Mitsubishi has “a fairly aggressive” strategy of producing about 1m tonnes/year by 2010.
http://www.bioenergy-business.com:80/index.cfm?section=international&action=view&id=10742
Indeed, I've noticed that. Still, I wait for the day WWAT is listed in articles like that.
Juggsy
From today's Motley Fool:
"Energy policy is no exception, so I wasn't terribly surprised last week when it was announced that a group of solar cell manufacturers, including Evergreen Solar (Nasdaq: ESLR), First Solar (Nasdaq: FSLR), Kyocera (NYSE: KYO), BP (NYSE: BP), SunPower (Nasdaq: SPWR) and Suntech Power (NYSE: STP), announced that they had joined forces to form the Solar Alliance. "
I'm still hoping and waiting for the day we see WWAT listed among major solar players.
Juggsy
Hey TR, here's a heartfelt and hearty "hello and best wishes".
Hope you are doing well.
Juggsy
Mining guy:
A small and minor point, but the most I ever sold my shares for when I decided to unload was 2.4 cents. Over a one or two week period I sold 2.4 million shares and the price only dropped to a low of 0.016 cents while I was selling.
Juggsy
Here's something right up the KDS's alley:
http://www.fuelcellsworks.com/Supppage7710.html
rj2, thanks for the clarification.
Juggsy
In my opinion,
the game was over when David and Sundar left. When a company of only 5 or so employees losses its director of sales and head engineer, its hard to imagine at least it was for me, what more could expected from the company.
My best wishes to all shareholders here.
Juggsy
Loss appears considerably greater than expected.
"Our net loss for the three and six months ended March 31, 2007 totaled $14.4 million, or $0.28 loss per share and $26.2 million or $0.52 loss per share, respectively. Excluding expenses associated with our new terrestrial solar power division, our review of historical stock option grants, and other non-operating income and expenses, our net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2007 totaled $9.3 million or $0.18 loss per share. For the six months ended March 31, 2007, our net loss totaled $17.5 million or $0.35 loss per share."
Can't say how it will affect WWAT. Tomorrow will tell.
Juggsy
New here. Just bought in today at 0.065. Looking good so far. Easy triple from here if good progress/news continues.
JUggsy
This little company has been so good to me, I wish I could attend the shareholder's meeting, whenever it is. Not that my shares would make much difference, but, that's dangerous thinking. We've all got to remember to send in our vote.
Not sure what Materatz in on about, but I sure hope his predictions are on target.
Jugsy