Our research and development project on cellulose filament spans three years. We have three objectives. The first is to develop the manufacturing process from the laboratory to a semi-commercial stage. We are starting with a laboratory that produced one tonne per week. We have a demonstration plan that could produce from five to 10 tonnes a day.
The second objective is to develop applications in the traditional sectors, meaning pulp and paper. We have conducted 17 or 18 trials of different products in the plants: printing paper, toilet paper, facial tissue. We will also conduct trials for packaging.
The third objective is to develop applications other than those related to pulp and paper. This cycle will be much longer, since we will have to develop partnerships with all kinds of companies. For example, for some components used in the manufacturing of automobiles, there is an advantage to using cellulose fibres to reduce the volume of material required but that has the same resistance.
We have signed eight research partnerships with different universities and conglomerates—universities, businesses and research centres—in the composite material, polymer and adhesive sectors. We hope that this will lead to applications in processing companies. FPInnovations has also undertaken similar initiatives.