Research & Development
ICL’s R&D activities are part of its global strategic plan. The activities include both internal research and joint activities with a wide range of universities, research institutes and start-ups along with other long‑term innovative activities. ICL’s R&D is directed towards present and future market needs and focuses on identifying additional uses for the minerals in use and their derivatives. In 2017, the ICL significantly strengthened its core area research activities with third parties in: agriculture, food, and engineered materials. \
ICL’s Technology Roadmap, which is derived from scouting global trends is collaborating with academies, startups and industrial companies, to create joint work teams.
OUR R&D EXPENSES
The agronomic research collaboration between ICL and the Volcani Institute (CPFN), has thus far executed 21 active projects in addition to field trials and agronomic workshops.
In addition, during 2017 ICL succeeded in receiving a grant from the BIRD foundation (the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation) which approved funding of approximately $1 million for a joint development with an Israeli startup, in the field of Nano crystal material, relating to Paint & Coating research applications.
The defined goals of our research and development operations are:
- Expansion of the Company’s new products and its new technology portfolio;
- Continuous process improvement in the Company’s manufacturing facilities by reducing production costs, operating optimization and reduction of waste streams and environmental impacts;
- Cultivating the Company’s human resources and technological leadership;
- Investing in external collaboration in order to achieve new ideas and/or know-how; and
- Joining consortiums for external funding and connections over the entire value-chain.
YPR-TECH, our JV in China, is running 20 projects for new products and technologies, based on Phosphorus derivatives.
R&D Activities
These are some of the R&D activities we focused on:
ICL Industrial Products business line
- Brominated polymers: continuing development of polymeric/active brominated flame retardants, which are expected to become the next generation of environmentally friendly flame retardants
- Textiles: continuing development of TexFRon®, a series of textile flame‑retardant products. In addition, unique ATO-free (Antimony Trioxide) flame‑retardant systems were introduced to the market. These sustainable solutions created interest among the Company’s customers and are being commercially evaluated;
- Energy storage: continued development of bromine‑based energy storage solutions, for Br-Battery companies, using diverse compounds;
- Environmental research to reduce all emissions, e.g., wastewater management, air emissions and solid/organic waste reuse;
- Biocides: continued development of new materials for water treatment and prevention of biofilm in irrigation systems and industrial water cooling systems;
- Phosphorus‑based products: development of new phosphorus‑based flame-retardants
- Support of production: improving product quality and lowering production costs by changing and improving processes, while using the principles of green chemistry (for example, reduction in the use of organic solvents).
- Engineering: research in the area of construction materials in order to overcome problems of accelerated corrosion, wear and tear, and equipment adaptation.
Magnesia-based products: development of formulations in order to fulfill unmet needs in the markets, such as replacing aluminum products in deodorants and zinc oxide in several consumer products.
ICL Advanced Additives business line
- ICL Advanced Additives consolidated its global R&D activities in St. Louis while expanding the in-house testing capabilities with respect to construction, asphalt and paints & coatings. Research work in P-coating pigments is also performed in our R&D JV Center in Kunming, China.
- In partnership with the Swiss company, ALEVO, ICL Advanced Additives launched LIPOL 104, a proprietary dispersant & binder for Lithium Ion batteries. GridBank Lithium-Ion batteries feature a proprietary inorganic electrolyte (Alevolyte™), which is non-flammable and offers extreme long life and stability. Gridbank is currently the most advanced Lithium-ion storage system on the market.
ICL Food Specialties business line
- Further improvement of our solutions to modify texture and stability of food products for the meat, poultry, seafood and dairy industries;
- Continued development aimed at serving the growing market of vegan lifestyle by offering meat substitutes and cheese replacements using ICL’s texture and stability toolbox.
ICL Potash and Magnesium business line
- Optimization and synergy with the goal of increasing the potash production and reducing the cost per ton in the potash and magnesium plants in Sodom and Spain;
- Advancement of research regarding environmental protection, including the development of methods for treating and reducing effluents; and
ICL Phosphate business line
- Improvement of processes and reduction of costs in the production plants;
- Research regarding environmental protection, including the development of methods for treating and reducing effluents;
- Further analysis of adaptation of various types of phosphate rock (bituminous and brown phosphates) for the production of phosphoric acid and its downstream products as part of an effort to utilize and increase existing phosphate reserves;
- Development of applications for water conservation and improving the availability of the fertilizers around the root
Development of a new fertilizer from wastewater.
ICL Specialty Fertilizers business line
- Development of controlled‑release NPK fertilizers containing micro-nutrients, which are not currently available in the market;
- Development of controlled‑release fertilizers with an improved environmental profile;
Development of applications for water conservation and improving the availability of the fertilizers around the root.
For more on our R&D projects, you are invited to read ICL’s 2017 Annual Report (pp.196-199).
