WBPI: Can you give us an overview of Fusoni and what its main expertise is in the panels sector?
Fusoni: We are producing and supplying worldwide release agents for production of PB, MDF and OSB bonded with UF, MUF and pMDI resins, which could be applied with any available application unit.
From our perspective, the wood-based panels sector in general looks stable. Depending on the market, the specific requirements of customers related to the release agents could be a bit different, but in general demands are equal worldwide.
It’s always expected to get competitive price and efficient performance in production processes that means less consumption, stable quality and technical services if needed. To customers it’s important to get deliveries on time and to have a trusted business partner which follows new challenges which appears on the market. Our aim is to reach all of these demands. Based on these principals, we build long-term business relations with leading companies in wood industry.
Delivering always on time and close relations to customer are imoportant.
WBPI: Explain how Fusoni flame Retardents is helping wood-based panels manufacturers and how FR panels can meet requirements for users.
Fusoni: Yes, flame retarding products are becoming a more important topic to wood industry manufacturers.
We don’t want to compete with basic and massively used FR solutions known on the market.
Therefore, we move into specific areas to propose FR product which will be used in processes where other products aren’t functioning well enough for the customer.
We developed a RF product in a liquid form having around 70% active matter content, which presents amazing stability and efficiency in any production process in wood industry. It could be used for production of flame retardant PB, MDF, OSB and plywood as well as solid wood treatment.
With the same product, we are able to produce flame retardant surfaces with impregnated papers as we developed the whole process.
Depending on specific demands of customers, we are able to modify and optimize our FR product to meet specific requirements.
Therefore, for each production type we can propose a dedicated version and technical support in process adjustment. Advantages of our FR solution are amazing stability and high efficiency through very good distribution.
Of course, our FR products don’t contain halogens and organic solvents and doesn’t release VOC’s or free ammonia in production processes.
WBPI: What priorities and requirements do customers have at the moment.
Fusoni: We can confirm that a big pressure on costs reduction is observed by customers, especially with products used in big volumes.
That goal could be achieved in two ways. One of them is to improve our product’s quality, which translate to better performance and results with lower consumption in production process.
The second way is to reduce the production costs in Fusoni, by usage of alternative raw materials under the condition that quality remains the same or improves.
As we realize what the situation is like in the market, we are strongly involved in R&D work to follow these trends.
It is not an easy task, but at the same time for us it is opportunity for research and to develop new solutions.
WBPI: Production efficiencies and environmental performance represent a big focus area for panel manufacturers. How can Fusoni help them achieve their goals.
Fusoni: All our products used in the wood industry are water-based and don’t contain forbidden substances, like halogens, PFAS, PTFE or organic solvents.
Therefore, we can guarantee that release of VOC’s and other emissions will not be a problematic topic to manufacturers, if they decide to manufacture using our products.
Another issue is sustainability of raw materials and carbon footprint of our products. Everywhere we can, we are choosing the raw natural base raw materials. In relation to synthetized raw materials, we exclusively chose co-operation with suppliers working with ecology standards and following environmental regulations. Respecting these standards is expected from our business partners.
Our main products group – which are release agents – avoids sticking and generation of dirt in the press, which exactly helps to improve final product quality and allow manufacturers to operate high efficiency in production lines.
The release agent is very important in processes where pMDI resin is used, so for us it is the highest importance.
WBPI: What areas of R&D, innovation, Investment and new developments is the company currently working on.
Fusoni: Observing the actual political and economic situation in the world and having experience with COVID-19 – where supply chains has been disturbed – the availability and raw materials supply security is our main goal, as it is for our customers.
It is always related to custom fee levels, eventual delivery restrictions and several other distortions on the raw material market. Based on above, our main topic in our R&D department is to find, test and eventually adapt our production technology to reduce any possible risk related to the global situation.
In some cases, independence from suppliers and the possible impact of the global political/economic situation plays a role and in other cases the production cost reduction is an issue.
We are always checking possibilities in our own production of basic and volume raw materials and at the same time working with trusted suppliers on alternatives and better available raw materials.
This process requires time to test all parameters of the new versions of the products and their potential efficiency. Another topic in R&D is a constant improvement and quality of products through rigorous and through testing.
We have invested in new laboratory equipment, and developed new testing methods with the aim to simulate production conditions used by customers.
With all these efforts, we can offer customers well tested products with high levels of confidence in their quality and efficiency.
