A four-step approach to contract manufacture
Daniel Marr , commercial director of Airedale Chemical , explains why contract manufacturing has moved up the company ’ s agenda and how the service has changed over recent years
Airedale Chemical of the UK has been active as a contract manufacturing organisation ( CMO ) for 20 years . In the last two years , we have seen a marked increase in the number of customers turning to these services , with an increase in volume output of 35 % since 2018 . In particular , we have seen a significant rise in demand across most sectors for products such as cold blends , aqueous-based chemical solutions , acid blending , surfactant solutions , alkalis , phosphates , phosphonates , and lower flash point chemistry and reactions .
A focus on this service has become such a priority that we developed a four-step process of initial discovery , pilot stage , evaluation and delivery . This is designed to partner customers with the internal expertise in order to manage and deliver whatever chemical production requirements are needed . The model thus covers all the phases of what can be a complex process in an incredibly important part of a business ’ s strategy .
Four-step process
Initially , in the discovery phase , there should be an examination of all the theoretical aspects of the end product formulation , which raw materials are needed , where to source them from and consideration of the intended applications . Following this we progress to the second stage of piloting the product , where analysis takes place of everything from practical new product development and commercial viability to in situ testing . CMOs should always be able to offer an experienced onsite technical team and Airedale also offers the services of a four-strong regulatory specialist department . Customers should also expect wellequipped development laboratories , quality control facilities and
Airedale ’ s own distribution fleet covers the last of the four phases
42 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981