In order to take account of specific
market requirements and to anticipate our future growth and development,
we have set up multidisciplinary teams bringing together individuals
with the very best skills in production, sales, marketing, logistics,
research and laboratories.
We focus our R&D effort on two
areas:
Developing
new products and applications in line with the needs and expectations
of the market.
 |
In our determination to offer
our customers the very best technical support, we have a
food applications laboratory which specialises in developing
salts for manufacturing Europhos processed cheeses. |
Alongside the activities of our food applications
laboratory, our central Research and Development department helps
to develop and expand several ranges of food products:
- phosphate salts for the baked goods industry, i.e. a range
of time-release calcium phosphates and acidic sodium pyrophosphates;
- ongoing improvement to our range of food tripolyphosphates
(used in the meat, fish and seafood, processed cheese, petfood,
and oral care industries) in order to develop certain grades
that have excellent dispersion properties combined with a good
fluidity;
- ongoing optimisation of mixtures designed for meat
and fish (Carfosel®), and processed cheese (Kasomel®)
applications.
We also have preferred partnerships with specialist
laboratories that are leaders in their fields, in particular
in developing preparations for the meat market using the Carfosel® range.
In fluorine products, we are working to develop
specific qualities that meet the specific demands of our customers.
We are also developing new applications with a
view to increasing the number of outlets for the exceptionally
high-quality calcium
sulphate (phosphogypsum) produced by our plant in Engis,
Belgium.
In addition, in our attempts to reach our goal
of industrially recycling the orthophosphates contained in some
phosphate waste,
wa are working hard to develop a process whereby
we can recycle in our fertiliser production
process the phosphate collected
in the wastewater treatment
plants used for phosphate
removal.
All this research work helps us to stay ahead
in terms of innovation in our respective fields and means we
can
continue
to build
up our know-how to benefit our customers.
Improving
manufacturing processes by optimising the quality of our
products, keeping costs low, and reducing environmental damage.
Our central Research and Development department
has 1,500 m2 of laboratories and testing areas fitted out
with all the testing equipment required to conduct research and
development in the following areas of technological expertise:
- crystallisation and precipitation processes;
- agitation techniques
and processes for separating solids and liquids, drying,
calcination and grinding;
- processes for purification by liquid/liquid
extraction;
- pilot trials;
- new separation techniques useful for purifying
acids and mineral salts.
In this field, too, we also work in partnership
with many university laboratories and research centres across
Europe, combining their expertise and scientific knowledge with
Prayon's know-how.
Moreover, with almost half a century of experience
in designing wet-process phosphoric acid production methods,
via our Prayon Technologies and Profile divisions, our Research
and
Development
department
offers potential customers feasibility and/or optimisation
tests for projects using natural phosphates throughout
the world.
Our
team is made up of highly qualified researchers who have built
up their expertise through our policy of ongoing training
combined with many painstaking years of gaining and sharing experience.
