For 17 years, Nanum Nanotecnologia has stood as Brazil’s first and only industrial-scale nanomaterials company, supplying clients across Latin America, North America, Europe, and Asia. With over 40 tons of high-performance nanomaterials delivered to global manufacturers, at some of the most competitive prices, it ranks among a select group of companies that can translate nanoscale science into commercially viable, large-volume production.
Nanum was created in 2008 from the entrepreneurial and visionary spirit of its current shareholders, Ailton Ricaldoni and Fernando Contadini. With deep technical knowledge and experience in creating innovative businesses, the partners identified a promising startup, in which they invested and transformed it into a real nanomaterials industry.
Every great company has its “eureka” moment. For Nanum, this moment arrived with the development of a magnetic ferrite formulation for MICR ink, a crucial component for secure printing. In 2010, this material was officially homologated by HP, becoming the company’s first major validation from a global technology leader.
This was not just a one-off success. The HP partnership proved that Nanum could meet rigorous international quality standards and maintain a consistent supply in every possible situation. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, as HP’s demand for MICR ink materials surged, Nanum delivered consistently, in full, and without compromising quality. This reliability became the foundation of its market credibility.
“Reliability is everything in materials science. The most sophisticated formulation means nothing if it cannot be reproduced at scale or delivered on time. That is what our clients have learned to trust us for,” says Ailton Ricaldoni, Founder and Main Shareholder.
Buoyed by its early success, Nanum began to expand its technological capabilities. It invested heavily in the synthesis and functionalization of advanced nanoparticles, including metallic systems, nanostructured oxides, and carbon-based materials. These developments opened the door to broader applications across multiple industries.
Among the most important of these materials were graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO)—both known for their ability to enhance mechanical strength, conductivity, and corrosion resistance. Nanum’s proprietary dispersions, free from additives and stabilizers, offer exceptional purity and long-term stability, making them ideal for use in demanding manufacturing environments.
Nanum has also built a reputation for producing true nanomaterials, particles below 100 nanometers in size, with particularly high dispersion stability. This attribute is essential for customers seeking mechanical or anti-corrosion enhancements in end-use products. Besides, the company provides significant flexibility through tailored formulations, adjusting solutions to meet each client’s specific operational and product requirements. These nanomaterials are also engineered with a relatively low carbon footprint, supporting customers’ efforts to meet modern ESG standards.
From Product Innovation to Industrial Execution
As product complexity increased, so did the need for scale. Recognizing this, Nanum committed to industrial execution. In 2024, the company inaugurated a 20,000-square-meter production complex equipped with five dedicated production lines and six state-of-the-art laboratories. This facility was designed not just for high-volume output but for rapid prototyping, allowing Nanum to deliver both standard and customized solutions with agility.
This infrastructure investment also enabled international expansion. With the launch of Nanum USA, including a commercial office and warehouse, the company established a local presence in North America, reducing lead times and offering closer technical support to its U.S.-based clients.
“We saw strong demand coming from the U.S., our clients needed faster turnaround, and our presence there will solve that. In the long term, we will manufacture locally to fully integrate with our partners’ ecosystems,” states Josemar Morais, Industrial and Technical Director at Nanum.
Today, Nanum’s product portfolio reflects the versatility and precision of its materials platform. It includes high-purity graphene oxide dispersions for composites and coatings, nanocerium formulations aimed at improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions, and nanosilver dispersions with antimicrobial and conductive properties. Each product is engineered to meet rigorous industrial requirements while remaining adaptable across a wide range of use cases.
One of the most telling examples of Nanum’s impact is its anti-spatter welding solution developed for a global automotive Group. Designed to prevent weld spatter from adhering to surfaces, the formulation is now being scaled globally across the OEM’ production network. This success illustrates Nanum’s strength not just in delivering advanced materials but in providing integrated, process-driven solutions with measurable operational benefits.
Central to this strength is Nanum’s consultative and collaborative approach. When a new client approaches with a specific challenge, the engagement begins with a thorough analysis of the customer’s production environment and end goals. From there, Nanum co-develops a tailored formulation that aligns with technical and operational constraints.
“We don’t just sell a product. We partner with clients to understand their processes and build solutions that integrate seamlessly into their operations. From selecting the right dispersion medium to defining particle size distribution, we collaborate to ensure real value creation,” explains Alexandre Caldeira, Director of Commercial Strategy and Innovation.
People, Culture, and the Road Ahead
The company’s success is not solely defined by its technology; it is also shaped by its people and culture.
Nanum’s team includes specialists in chemistry, materials science, and engineering, with over 40 percent of employees holding graduate degrees. The organization is intentionally structured to promote cross-functional collaboration from the lab bench to the boardroom.
Equally important is Nanum’s commitment to inclusion and diversity. With balanced representation across gender, age, and regional backgrounds, the company draws strength from varied perspectives, which in turn fuels innovation and better decision-making.
“Diversity is real here in terms of gender, education level, and age, and this makes a huge difference in terms of leveraging ideas and driving innovation,” says Fernando Contadini, CEO.
Looking to the future, Nanum is poised for continued growth and product diversification. Several new materials are under development targeting critical applications in energy storage, printable electronics, and smart coatings. These initiatives are guided by the same principles that have defined Nanum’s journey so far: scientific precision, industrial reliability, and deep collaboration with clients.
Some of the company’s most successful innovations have been born out of necessity. When Nanum struggled to find a reliable supplier of graphene that met its purity standards, it developed its own formulation in-house. This product has since become one of the company’s best performers, proving that internal R&D, guided by market demands, remains one of its greatest strengths.
With advanced infrastructure, a world-class scientific team, and a global client base, Nanum is redefining what’s possible in industrial nanotechnology. As industries continue to seek smarter, smaller, and more sustainable materials, Nanum is not just prepared to deliver—it is helping shape the future of manufacturing through materials innovation.
Nanum was created in 2008 from the entrepreneurial and visionary spirit of its current shareholders, Ailton Ricaldoni and Fernando Contadini. With deep technical knowledge and experience in creating innovative businesses, the partners identified a promising startup, in which they invested and transformed it into a real nanomaterials industry.
Every great company has its “eureka” moment. For Nanum, this moment arrived with the development of a magnetic ferrite formulation for MICR ink, a crucial component for secure printing. In 2010, this material was officially homologated by HP, becoming the company’s first major validation from a global technology leader.
This was not just a one-off success. The HP partnership proved that Nanum could meet rigorous international quality standards and maintain a consistent supply in every possible situation. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, as HP’s demand for MICR ink materials surged, Nanum delivered consistently, in full, and without compromising quality. This reliability became the foundation of its market credibility.
“Reliability is everything in materials science. The most sophisticated formulation means nothing if it cannot be reproduced at scale or delivered on time. That is what our clients have learned to trust us for,” says Ailton Ricaldoni, Founder and Main Shareholder.
Buoyed by its early success, Nanum began to expand its technological capabilities. It invested heavily in the synthesis and functionalization of advanced nanoparticles, including metallic systems, nanostructured oxides, and carbon-based materials. These developments opened the door to broader applications across multiple industries.
Among the most important of these materials were graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO)—both known for their ability to enhance mechanical strength, conductivity, and corrosion resistance. Nanum’s proprietary dispersions, free from additives and stabilizers, offer exceptional purity and long-term stability, making them ideal for use in demanding manufacturing environments.
Nanum has also built a reputation for producing true nanomaterials, particles below 100 nanometers in size, with particularly high dispersion stability. This attribute is essential for customers seeking mechanical or anti-corrosion enhancements in end-use products. Besides, the company provides significant flexibility through tailored formulations, adjusting solutions to meet each client’s specific operational and product requirements. These nanomaterials are also engineered with a relatively low carbon footprint, supporting customers’ efforts to meet modern ESG standards.From Product Innovation to Industrial Execution
As product complexity increased, so did the need for scale. Recognizing this, Nanum committed to industrial execution. In 2024, the company inaugurated a 20,000-square-meter production complex equipped with five dedicated production lines and six state-of-the-art laboratories. This facility was designed not just for high-volume output but for rapid prototyping, allowing Nanum to deliver both standard and customized solutions with agility.
This infrastructure investment also enabled international expansion. With the launch of Nanum USA, including a commercial office and warehouse, the company established a local presence in North America, reducing lead times and offering closer technical support to its U.S.-based clients.
“We saw strong demand coming from the U.S., our clients needed faster turnaround, and our presence there will solve that. In the long term, we will manufacture locally to fully integrate with our partners’ ecosystems,” states Josemar Morais, Industrial and Technical Director at Nanum.
Today, Nanum’s product portfolio reflects the versatility and precision of its materials platform. It includes high-purity graphene oxide dispersions for composites and coatings, nanocerium formulations aimed at improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions, and nanosilver dispersions with antimicrobial and conductive properties. Each product is engineered to meet rigorous industrial requirements while remaining adaptable across a wide range of use cases.
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Reliability is everything in materials science. The most sophisticated formulation means nothing if it cannot be reproduced at scale or delivered on time. That is what our clients have learned to trust us for
One of the most telling examples of Nanum’s impact is its anti-spatter welding solution developed for a global automotive Group. Designed to prevent weld spatter from adhering to surfaces, the formulation is now being scaled globally across the OEM’ production network. This success illustrates Nanum’s strength not just in delivering advanced materials but in providing integrated, process-driven solutions with measurable operational benefits.
Central to this strength is Nanum’s consultative and collaborative approach. When a new client approaches with a specific challenge, the engagement begins with a thorough analysis of the customer’s production environment and end goals. From there, Nanum co-develops a tailored formulation that aligns with technical and operational constraints.
“We don’t just sell a product. We partner with clients to understand their processes and build solutions that integrate seamlessly into their operations. From selecting the right dispersion medium to defining particle size distribution, we collaborate to ensure real value creation,” explains Alexandre Caldeira, Director of Commercial Strategy and Innovation.
People, Culture, and the Road Ahead
The company’s success is not solely defined by its technology; it is also shaped by its people and culture.
Nanum’s team includes specialists in chemistry, materials science, and engineering, with over 40 percent of employees holding graduate degrees. The organization is intentionally structured to promote cross-functional collaboration from the lab bench to the boardroom.
Equally important is Nanum’s commitment to inclusion and diversity. With balanced representation across gender, age, and regional backgrounds, the company draws strength from varied perspectives, which in turn fuels innovation and better decision-making.
“Diversity is real here in terms of gender, education level, and age, and this makes a huge difference in terms of leveraging ideas and driving innovation,” says Fernando Contadini, CEO.
Looking to the future, Nanum is poised for continued growth and product diversification. Several new materials are under development targeting critical applications in energy storage, printable electronics, and smart coatings. These initiatives are guided by the same principles that have defined Nanum’s journey so far: scientific precision, industrial reliability, and deep collaboration with clients.
Some of the company’s most successful innovations have been born out of necessity. When Nanum struggled to find a reliable supplier of graphene that met its purity standards, it developed its own formulation in-house. This product has since become one of the company’s best performers, proving that internal R&D, guided by market demands, remains one of its greatest strengths.
With advanced infrastructure, a world-class scientific team, and a global client base, Nanum is redefining what’s possible in industrial nanotechnology. As industries continue to seek smarter, smaller, and more sustainable materials, Nanum is not just prepared to deliver—it is helping shape the future of manufacturing through materials innovation.
