GMG and Alstom have signed a global exclusive memorandum of understanding to test and develop graphene products for rail HVAC systems, with commercialisation dependent on successful technical work.

Alstom AGV train travelling on the Velim railway test circuit
An Alstom AGV train at the Velim test circuit in the Czech Republic. Illustrative image that does not depict the GMG–Alstom graphene project. Photo: Miroslav.broz / CC BY-SA 3.0

Brisbane-based Graphene Manufacturing Group announced the agreement⁠ on 21 July 2026. It covers the evaluation, development and potential commercialisation of graphene-based products specifically for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment used in the rail industry.

Testing comes before any rail deployment

The companies have announced a development framework rather than a supply contract. GMG’s release does not identify a test location, train platform, programme timetable, performance target, investment value or order volume.

It also makes commercial adoption conditional on the successful co-development of products suitable for rail applications. The memorandum therefore opens a technical pathway, but it does not mean that a graphene product has been approved, ordered or installed on an Alstom train.

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GMG said the agreement is global and exclusive. Alstom brings a broad rail portfolio covering high-speed and regional trains, metros, monorails, trams, signalling, infrastructure and services. The manufacturer reported €19.2 billion in revenue⁠ for the financial year ended 31 March 2026 and employs 87,800 people in 61 countries.

Existing coating work provides the technical context

GMG already markets THERMAL-XR⁠, a graphene-enhanced coating intended for aluminium and copper coils in air-cooled HVAC and refrigeration equipment. The company says the coating protects heat-exchange surfaces and is designed to improve heat transfer.

However, the Alstom memorandum does not identify THERMAL-XR by name. The exact formulation, railway equipment, testing method and certification route therefore remain undisclosed.

GMG chief executive Craig Nicol said the partners intend to develop and commercialise graphene products for rail applications. The next material milestone will be disclosure of the test scope and results, followed by any decision to proceed toward qualification, procurement or fleet use.

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