Innovation at the heart of strategy
Since the patenting of CIMENT FONDU® in 1908 and the invention of the industrial manufacturing process for calcium aluminates, innovation has been at the heart of Kerneos’ strategy and has driven its expansion.
Innovation demonstrates above all the company’s constant concern for creating value for its customers. Kerneos R&D consequently focuses largely on the following key areas:
- First and foremost, of course, innovation and product development: continuous improvement of existing products, the development of new applications for existing products and, lastly, the development of new products and new solutions, by incorporating new expertise and technologies (such as the Peramin® powder range);
- Technical support to its customers: Kerneos’ R&D staff also provide support for technical teams in contact with customers, at the same time as encouraging expanded use of Kerneos products by customers within new applications; the aim always being to offer customers a high level of expertise, usually by means of technical partnerships;
- "Technological potential": research staff are involved in analysing construction material trends and in designing new ideas for solutions based on aluminate technologies, enhanced by other technologies;
- Knowledge management: Kerneos R&D teams have always be able to maintain and develop a high level of scientific and technical expertise as regards their professional background (= calcium aluminates); Kerneos’ R&D always attaches great importance to the consolidation and sharing of critical knowledge and know-how, which also enables the company to continue to promote calcium aluminate technology.
DEDICATED TEAMS
Supported by two application laboratories based in China and the USA respectively, the Kerneos Research Centre or KRC is the centrepiece of this innovation strategy. Based near Lyon (France), its first-rate staff are working continuously to develop new applications and new technical solutions through ongoing collaboration with plants, sales and marketing teams, and of course customers. Partnerships initiated with internationally-renowned universities enable them to remain at the cutting edge of knowledge of aluminous cements and their interactions with other organic or mineral materials.
The work conducted in R&D for almost a century forms an unparalleled database of knowledge and experience of calcium aluminates. Many presentations during seminars and scientific publications have been made worldwide, in partnership with universities or customers’ R&D departments.
During the first half of 2010, Kerneos will be moving its Research Centre into new, larger premises. This real centre of excellence will enable it to continue its strategy of product innovation in respect of its customers.
In combination with other specialist mineral and organic products, including in particular its Peramin® polymer powders, Kerneos’ calcium aluminate ranges now enable innovative solutions to be offered and improved performances to be achieved. Kerneos always acts as a partner to its customers, with a desire to thereby open up new areas of application, with the aim of best meeting the needs of the building chemistry and refractory materials markets.
