Corporate Information

Nanophase Technologies (Nasdaq: NANX)
Nanomaterial Innovation

Nanophase Technologies is an industry-leading nanocrystalline materials innovator and manufacturer with an integrated family of nanomaterial technologies. Nanophase produces engineered nanomaterial products for diverse markets: personal care, sunscreens, abrasion-resistant applications, environmental catalysts, antimicrobial products, and a variety of polishing applications, including semiconductors, hard disk drives, and optics. In parallel, new markets and applications are constantly being developed. The Company markets its products to target markets and customers, including multinational corporations and Fortune 500 companies.

Nanophase reduces the cycle time for innovation by co-developing nanoengineered solutions for customer applications. The Company has complete capability from application development through pilot quantities and annual production. Nanophase's business model is based on strategic partnerships, typically with companies who currently occupy a market channel(s). As examples, Nanophase has worldwide exclusives with BASF for the supply of nanomaterials into sunscreen applications and with Rodel, a division of Rohm and Haas Company, for nanomaterial dispersions used in semiconductor polishing applications. Additionally, Nanophase also partners with companies to engineer nanomaterial solutions for their particular products or processes.

Nanophase uses patented and proprietary integrated nanotechnologies to create products with unique performance attributes. Nanophase currently owns or licenses 22 U.S. patents and patent applications, consisting of 8 owned patents, 8 patent applications, and 6 licensed U.S. patents. The Company also has 24 foreign patents and patent applications, consisting of 9 owned patents and 15 patent applications.

The Company's patented and proprietary technology engineers unique nanoparticles, typically in the range of 5-100 nanometers, which may be singular or multi-element oxides. Nanophase can modify the nanoparticle surface to manipulate electrical, mechanical, optical, and other properties, while precisely controlling the particle size and other physical parameters. As a leader in nanomaterials, Nanophase has created an integrated platform of nanomaterial technologies that are designed to deliver a nanomaterial solution for a market application. Nanophase's technologies consist of two distinct nanoparticle manufacturing processes, nanoparticle surface treatment(s) technologies, and dispersion technologies. Products are available as nanoparticles, surface-treated nanoparticles, and stable dispersions in aqueous or organic media, providing partners with nanomaterials in readily usable forms.

Nanophase is one of the few public companies creating nanomaterials in commercial quality and quantity. The Company has extensive R&D facilities and application laboratories, as well as manufacturing capacity based in two locations in the Chicago area. This capability allows Nanophase to develop and supply unique nanomaterials in quantities ranging from grams to metric tons. Nanophase's state-of-the-art facilities are certified to ISO 9001:2000 international standards and are cGMP compliant. All processes are rigidly controlled under six-sigma discipline with the capability to manufacture precisely to application requirements. Nanophase's operations employ a cellular, team-based manufacturing approach under a Lean Manufacturing environment to continuously advance production capabilities. Nanophase is proud of its 100% shipping performance to customer requirements and 99+% customer satisfaction rating.