Preschem’s Commitment to Innovation

Commitment to Innovation | Product Research and Development

 

Preschem’s range of industrial power pole wood preservatives and DIY/Architectural finishes are mostly unique formulations. They are unique due to our commitment to innovation. To achieve this level of innovation and proven product reliability is not an easy undertaking. Behind the scenes, it takes a lot of hard work in terms of Research and Development. R&D can also be a lengthy process, as to prove the formulation works, it can take up to 10 years of field trials and analysis of those trials. In addition, all timber preservatives have to be registered under government legislation, so to get a new product up and over the line with a complete data pack is also very expensive. I have discussed the registration process in this previous post.

On the way there are many failures that our customers don’t see. Preschem doesn’t look at these failures as a disaster, but as an expansion of knowledge. We determine why the trial or product failed so as to refine the concept. Or if we find that the concept is not worth pursuing due to technical reasons, we start again from scratch.

So what does one of these trials look like? Last Month (16th May) two colleagues and I traveled down to Heartwood Plantations (one of the other companies in our business group) at their site just outside of Yaram. We installed a trial to collect data on a new power pole preservative product.

Timber preservative trial

Timber Preservative Trial, Yarram

Our timber finishes and decking oils also get the full field trial treatment. While timber finishes don’t require product registration, we are constantly on the lookout for formulations that will improve overall performance. The only way to be confident that you’ve got the formulation right for you the end user, is to first put them through their paces.

Timber Finish Exposure Trial

Timber Finish Exposure Trial

So at this point you may be thinking that Preschem takes the easy road and that all our trials are local. Oh no, we have conducted our R&D as far flung and often exotic locations such as:

Australia trial locations

  • Yarram, VIC
  • Wedding Bells State Forrest, NSW
  • Belanglo State Forrest, NSW
  • Innisfail, QLD
  • Dandenong South, VIC
  • Cairns, QLD
  • Heatherton, VIC
  • Furntree Gully, VIC
  • Perth, WA
  • Rocklea, QLD

Overseas trial locations

  • Thailand
  • Brazil
  • Uraguay
  • South Africa
  • Kenya
  • USA
  • Botswana
  • Turkey
  • Ghana (pilot study)
  • Lesotho