Sparc CEO to strengthen board in new role as managing director

Sparc is bolstering its board with the appointment of its chief executive officer Mike Bartels to the company’s top role as managing director.

Bartels has extensive global experience with major multinational coatings companies in Australia and internationally, including Sherwin Williams, a NYSE listed company, and AkzoNobel listed in Amsterdam.

He was first brought on board in March to lead the management team in undertaking a review of the business with a focus on streamlining research and development activities as well as fast tracking commercialisation opportunities.

Sparc Technologies (ASX:SPN) executive chairman Stephen Hunt said that since joining the company in March, Bartels had brought a great deal of enthusiasm and energy to the team.

“Combined with Mike’s corporate experience and in particular, his coatings industry knowledge and network, we are delighted to have Mike more deeply involved in the overall strategy setting and Board participation,” he added.

“We see that Mike brings a very strong commercial focus which aligns strongly with Sparc’s mission.”

Graphene wins

Sparc saw significant progress last month with test work demonstrating the potential of its graphene-based additives to improve the performance of anti-corrosion coatings.

Leading commercially available coatings products enhanced with its proprietary additives returned a 62 per cent improvement in anti-corrosion performance.

This would be especially welcome in the marine sector as that would mean significantly less downtime.

The company also reached a memorandum of understanding with JBS&G to test the ability of its proprietary graphene products to absorb PFAS – the name given to a set of chemicals compounds used to resist heat, oil, stains and water – from contaminated water at a site where JBS&G is undertaking remediation works.

Sparc also strengthened its intellectual property after securing a key graphene patent in the US that gives it exclusive access to graphene’s unique ability to act in a high performance and efficient porous matrix to remove heavy metal ions from liquid or gas.

This article was developed in collaboration with Sparc Technologies, 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.