As better raw materials become available for use in the refractory sector, the need for improved product development continues to grow, says refractory manufacturer Keramicalia MD Dave Onderstall.

The manufacturer has enhanced its research and devel- opment (R&D) department, which seeks solutions to prolems facing the industry by approaching experienced, retired engineers to join the company as private entrepreneurs.

The core of the company is focused on product development, states Onderstall.

“In the past, companies went to State-owned institutions for R&D and problem-solving purposes, paid a lot of money and sometimes failed to get solutions,” he says.

He adds that Keramicalia has employed a different R&D strategy, which will prove to be more cost effective for its customers.

“Customers set well- defined, measurable goals and Keramicalia quotes a price for achieving those goals. The customer pays Keramicalia only once the result is achieved,” he points out.

Onderstall believes that getting retired engineers to subcontract on the R&D projects will provide the R&D department with experience and knowledge that are not available among new graduates.

“We also target retired engineers because they are not dependent on a steady income,” he says.

Expansion

Since the expansion of the R&D department, Keramicalia has also expanded the business beyond the refractory industry.

It thus became necesary to approach top retired engineers from different industries to be part of the R&D subcontracted projects.

“The cross-pollination between the top experts in diverse fields promises to yield some mind-blowing technologies. The workload is escalating and Keramicalia’s R&D department is recruiting more experts,” comments Onderstall.

Further, the reduction of carbon footprints is of importance to the refractory industry and Keramicalia has set aside 40% of its R&D programme to focus on cost reduction and efficiency technologies.