Boral cuts the ribbon at Innovation Factory
Boral unveiled its brand new Boral Innovation Factory at a ribbon-cutting ceremony among stakeholders and other invited guests on Thursday.
The new 27,000-sq.-ft. facility provides a base for disruptive innovation in building products, featuring office space and "analytical areas" to incubate projects.
Material science, polymer chemistry, composite products, durability testing and process development are the primary areas of focus in the U.S. The Innovation Factory’s active sister research and development center in Sydney, Australia, focuses on cementitious materials and concrete technology.
“Boral has taken an international perspective on the industry as part of our commitment to drive sustainable growth through product development, customer solutions and performance excellence,” said Joel Charlton, EGM Innovation & VP, Intellectual Property Portfolio with Boral. “The establishment of the Innovation Factory has set us on a trajectory to introduce new products and processes that can solve customers’ unmet needs in the marketplace, enabling Boral to be synonymous with innovation.”
Boral's Innovation Factory first launched in 2012 as an extension of its R&D division. It's since been a hub for the analysis of market trends and future building requirements, as well as emerging technologies and solutions that fill service gaps.
It has been responsible for the development of innovations such as Boral’s patented poly-ash technology, a synthetic material made with specially formulated urethane glue and fly ash, which is resistant to moisture and maintains a high level of dimensional stability. The resulting line of trim and siding products is marketed under the Boral TruExterior brand name.
The Innovation Factory has also helped Boral increase U.S. Patents by more than 30% to more than 100 in total.
“The evolution of the Boral Innovation Factory is closely aligned with Boral’s growth strategy as an industry leader,” said Russell Hill, Vice President, Global Chief Technology Officer with Boral. “Through a socially responsible approach to all activities, our mission is to expand our capabilities and expertise, delivering a more sustainably built environment for the future.”