The R&D team carries out, supervises and co-ordinates all efforts aimed at the development of new products, the alteration of existing products and the design and implementation of test methods in accordance with our own requirements and international standards. Product specialists provide technical advice and trouble shooting within the areas of mineral processing and refining, pigment and filler applications and mineral/binder interactions.

We offer to carry out tests in full transparancy with our clients. When required, such tests will be covered by secrecy agreements to secure confidentiality.

The Research Centre allows the production of batch samples of up to 100kg material.
The pilot plant for wet grinding can be operated as a continuous milling process and offers in addition the possibility for a step by step degradation of the grain size of minerals down to 150nm.

Test equipment available from our Research Centre is as follows:
Contamination free dry milling
Pin-milling of soft mineral products
Wet grinding to sub-micron grain size
Blending machinery for handling and treatment of mineral products
Deaggregation/deagglomeration of mineral powders
Magnetic separation
Calcining and temperature treatment up to 1250°C
Drying facilities
Froth flotation
Classifying and sieving purposes

The Research and QA laboratory monitors and measures the characteristics of raw materials, products and samples to ensure conformity with the acceptance criteria. Most of the test methods established are based on national and/or international standards. Alongside chemical and physical detection methods, the laboratory provides control and monitoring devices for mineral powders as pigments and fillers. Special tests, examinations and analysis are available for pigments and fillers for concrete, paint and plastics applications.

The following test methods are established:
Analytical Chemistry in acc. with DIN 55913 and ISO 787
Physical Properties of pigments and fillers in acc. with ISO 787

Pigment and filler Characterization as follows:
Pigment dispersion (Heavy Spar) in acc. with EN 12878
Pigment dispersion (Varnish) in acc. with ISO 8780
Pigment dispersion (Thermoplastics) in acc. with ISO.
Fineness of Grind (Varnish) in acc. with ISO 8780, ISO 1524
Colour and tint strength in acc. with DIN 6174, ISO 7724, ISO 787
Hiding Power in acc. with ISO 2814
Gloss in acc. with ISO 2813
Rheology by Flow Cup, Krebs, C&P, Brookshield in acc. with: ISO and ASTM
Conductivity (Thermoplastics) in acc. with ISO.

The laboratory has established relationships with foreign R&D Centres, universities and co-operation partners for those methods of characterization and approval of products that require special investigation techniques and instruments.

Available investigations are:
Particle shape and size, dispersibility of powders by SEM
Grain size determination by DCP, Sedigraph and Malvern
Powder Characterization
Zeta Potential measurements and surface chemistry
Paper & Pulp investigations
Magnetic Properties of powders
Mineralogical and crystallographical investigations
Other investigations: DTA, XRD, BET, XRF