Stage 1 Pilot Facility equipment ordered and paid for
Nanollose Limited (ASX: NC6) has completed procurement for the first stage of its Pilot Facility program, with all Stage 1 equipment ordered and paid for and delivery of the final key pieces expected over the next 2 months. Several items have already been delivered.
The update marks a move from planning into execution on the Company-controlled Pilot Facility in Western Australia, its principal operating objective for FY2027 (refer ASX announcements of 8 April 2026 and 31 August 2026). With the equipment committed, procurement is no longer an open question on the pilot pathway.
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What Stage 1 delivers for process development
Equipment and modular approach
Stage 1 equipment consists of commercially available items, consistent with the modular approach previously set out to shareholders. It includes:
- A 200-litre disintegrator
- Hammermill
- Filter press
- Reactors
- Dewatering equipment
Data before Stage 2 spending
Stage 1 is designed to provide an expanded in-house operating environment where Nanollose can increase the scale and efficiency of its process development work. It will also generate the data required to finalise equipment selection and configuration for Stage 2.
That allows investment in Stage 2 equipment to be based on scaled up operating data generated through Stage 1, rather than laboratory assumptions.
Why pilot scale matters
A pilot facility is an intermediate step between laboratory testing and full commercial production. Running a process at larger volumes shows whether it holds up outside the lab.
For Nanollose, this applies to the ‘Tree-Free’ cellulose it produces by fermentation and uses as an input for its Nullarbor™ fibres, MicroGel™ horticultural medium and emerging animal-free and plastic-free leather-like materials.
| Stage | Purpose | Status | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Expand in-house process development capability and generate operating data | Equipment ordered and paid for | Remaining deliveries expected over the next 2 months |
| Stage 2 | Key pilot-production phase | Long lead items expected to be ordered in November | Commissioning targeted Q3 CY2027, subject to a suitable facility and permits |
Stage 2 and the partner opportunity
Stage 2 is the key pilot-production phase, targeting production capacity sufficient to support multiple meaningful partner collaborations. Planning work has identified several long-lead items required for this phase.
Securing and fitting out suitable premises is now the immediate operational priority, as a fit-for-purpose Western Australian site is required before the Stage 1 equipment can be fully installed and commissioned. Nanollose has assessed numerous sites across the Perth metropolitan area, and negotiations are progressing on preferred premises.
Andrew Moullin, CEO and Managing Director
“Every piece of Stage 1 equipment is now ordered and paid for, and that is a tangible step from planning into execution… Stage 2 is the important phase. That is where we will move from process development into producing the volumes required for meaningful partner evaluation and customer collaboration…”
What happens next for Nanollose’s pilot program
The announcement sets out the following milestones:
- Final Stage 1 equipment deliveries: expected over the next 2 months.
- Lease on preferred premises: negotiations are progressing, and the Company will update shareholders once a lease is executed.
- Stage 2 long lead items: the Company expects to order these in November, with ordering anticipated before the end of November.
- Stage 2 program roadmap: expected to be finalised next month (November), providing greater clarity around the development timeline and key implementation requirements.
- Stage 2 commissioning: targeted for Q3 CY2027, subject to securing a suitable facility and required permits.
For investors, the update reports Stage 1 procurement complete and the focus shifting to premises, with the Stage 2 roadmap and long lead orders the next items on the Company’s schedule.
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