Paragraf is the first company in the world to mass produce graphene-based electronic devices using standard semiconductors processes. They utilise this modern technology to provide unique solutions in a range of applications, including automotive, industrial automation, consumer, diagnostics and agritech.
Paragraf is accelerating development of their manufacturing capability to meet demand. The Cambridge-based company has attracted national and international attention from news outlets such as The Guardian, The Times, The New York Times and Sky News, inspired by the pioneering work they are undertaking.
As the company continues to develop at a fast pace, they are now setting up a production-focussed facility in Huntingdon to complement their existing R&D facility in Somersham. CMB secured the contract to deliver the full turn-key package as Principal Contractor at the Huntingdon plant. This includes structures, MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) cleanroom fit-out and process engineering to facilitate this new state-of-the-art facility.
Having been awarded the enabling works package in September 2023, and the Phase 1 contract in December, we are now six months into construction on the project and we made a recent visit to see how the site was progressing. The scope of CMB’s work is essentially to turn a recently constructed distribution warehouse into a cleanroom facility for the production of 150mm wafers that could hold 12,000 devices per wafer. Graphene (a hexagonal single layer of carbon atoms over 150,000 thinner than the average human hair) is used already to strengthen concrete and paints but is now starting to come good on its previous touting as a replacement for silicon in semiconductors.
Our team have covered good ground in installing the mezzanine steelwork and the slab cast, as well as substantially completing the blockwork to the plant rooms. First fix on the electrical containment and the mechanical services has also commenced and the incoming services are well underway.
The Air Handling Units were delivered last month, and we have progressed in installing them. We look forward to welcoming various supply chain members starting in the next month or so.
Construction of the new manufacturing facility for Paragraf follows a string of cleanroom and semiconductor projects CMB have undertaken in the last six years, including: IQE, CSA Catapult, TRH (Cardiff Uni), CISM (Swansea Uni), and the latest – KLA UK in Newport. We are proud to be one of the leading companies in the UK in developing these facilities that will play a crucial role in technological advancements in our country and across the world.
