Argo Graphene Solutions Corp. (CSE: ARGO) (OTCQB: ARLSF) (FSE: 94Y) has announced an update on its plans to establish a commercial-scale graphene refinery in the Chicago, Illinois area, while reporting encouraging preliminary results from graphene-enhanced industrial lubricant testing. The company is in the final stages of securing a facility to house its STREAM™ production operations, targeting an initial capacity of 10 metric tonnes of graphene per quarter. Together, these developments advance the company's strategy to build a vertically integrated graphene business connecting large-scale production with industrial product applications.

Key Points

  • Argo Graphene Solutions Corp. (CSE: ARGO) is a Vancouver-based advanced materials company commercialising graphene technologies
  • The company is finalising a Chicago-area facility to house its STREAM™ graphene production operations
  • Initial production capacity targeted at 10 metric tonnes of graphene per quarter, with longer-term plans for 90 metric tonnes per quarter
  • Graphene dispersion in mineral oil remained stable for multiple weeks across tested concentrations of 0.05% to 0.50% by weight

Illinois Subsidiary Authorised as Chicago Refinery Plans Advance

A wholly owned Nevada-incorporated subsidiary of Argo Graphene Solutions Corp. was granted Authority to Transact Business in Illinois by the Illinois Secretary of State, effective October 15, 2026. The subsidiary is also undergoing a corporate name change to better reflect Argo's expanding portfolio of graphene and graphene oxide products, with the new name to be disclosed following regulatory approval. The planned facility is intended to support the company's vertically integrated refinery model, combining graphene production with material testing, application development, and customer qualification programmes across industrial sectors including construction, energy storage, composites, coatings, and lubricants.

STREAM™ Technology Underpins Production Scale-Up Strategy

Argo's commercialisation strategy centres on its exclusive worldwide licence to Grapherry's proprietary STREAM™ production technology, which also provides a contractual pathway to full ownership. Beyond the initial 10 metric tonnes per quarter graphene target, the company has outlined longer-term plans to expand to approximately 90 metric tonnes per quarter. Argo also intends to produce graphene oxide dispersion at an initial target of 30 metric tonnes per quarter at a 20% concentration, with further capacity expansion contemplated as commercial operations develop. Following the close of its C$1.47 million financing in September 2026, Argo stated it intends to advance facility development and production scale-up.

Graphene-Enhanced Lubricant Testing Yields Encouraging Early Data

Preliminary lubricant testing demonstrated that graphene remained dispersed in a specially formulated mineral oil for multiple weeks at concentrations ranging from 0.05% to 0.50% by weight. Stable dispersion is considered an important step toward formulations with the potential to reduce friction and minimise equipment wear. Initial friction testing also produced encouraging observations, supporting further evaluation. The global lubricants market, cited by Grand View Research in the announcement, is projected to reach approximately US$155 billion in 2026 and grow to more than US$204 billion by 2033, representing a substantial potential commercial opportunity for performance-enhancing graphene additives.