With core brands including K Rend, K Systems and Kilwaughter Lime, Kilwaughter Minerals reports that it is extending its investment in R&D, “ready for a future driven by innovative solutions” for its core markets.
The renewed R&D commitment is said to build on the company’s sustained track record of investing in the business “where
significant annual investment in production plant is the norm” and, more recently, includes the completion of a new business centre at its Kilwaughter HQ.
An organisational focus on longer term planning is further said to have allowed additional investment in people, process and capability for its R&D function, adding new talent to drive strategic plans. These plans are aimed at upscaling business opportunities through the exploration of new technologies for construction and agriculture markets with the best of these technologies to be brought to market as part of the company’s next generation of products and solutions.
Building on existing R&D foundations, the new team includes Research scientists and experienced product development leadership. Ross Savage, Head of R&D, said: “I’m really proud to welcome the changes and further focus on our R&D team,
and we are excited to have such capable and enthusiastic new members join us as we continue to look for new ways to serve our customers.”
Three of the new team members are PhD graduates from Queen’s University Belfast where they focused on a range of relevant technologies. Accolades include winning a national ‘Future Innovator Awards’ competition, with an entry based on chemical technologies applicable to Kilwaughter Minerals’ markets.
In conjunction with investments in the team, the business has developed multi-year technology and product roadmaps across each of the three brands along with a system for creating and evaluating new product ideas.
Caroline Rowley, the company’s Head of Business Development, added: “We don’t expect the future to find us, we are structuring the business to lead as an innovator in our segments with our customers at the heart of our thinking.”
