Patrik Simonson

 

We recognize your present and future challenges. And that’s why we have such a comprehensive approach to innovation. A new feature or component is likely to start a domino effect, which makes the capacity to see the big picture – and the ability to affect it – a true necessity.

Patrik Simonson, one of our senior specialists at Eka Product & Business Development, started at our lab in 1986 and, apart from a break for university studies, has been with us ever since, working in Sweden and Asia Pacific. He’s helped to develop, launch and fine-tune the Compozil retention system, and has worked on various new applications where it truly matters – at our customers’ mills.

Out-of-the-box in practice

“Our R&D projects are initiated from talking to our customers, studying their operations and working with their processes. The crucial part is interlocking commercial and practical reality with out-of-the-box thinking. And vice versa, making sure our new products and concepts address important issues, support sustainability and are economically and technically safe to apply. After all, every papermaking process and every paper machine is unique, and without exception highly sensitive to change. Being a large company has its benefits. There are a lot of ideas concerning competitiveness. Only the best are developed, which means our innovation is cutting-edge.” 

Never-ending development

Having access to all plants and machinery used by professional papermakers, combined with careful preparation and planning, is vital to success.

“By working closely with our customers on site, we gain insight and develop an understanding of what they really need. And of the possibilities and limitations of everyday work at each paper mill. Our job is to look beyond chemicals. Our strength is that we can develop globally viable systems and products and adjust them to work locally. As the largest chemical partner to the pulp and paper industry, we’ve seen more, handled more and solved more than most. Compozil is just one of the many examples of Eka’s chemical and technological leadership over the years. There will be more soon.”

Learn more about our R&D