R&D support teams

Extensive testing is required to obtain a continuously high quality product performance

Jotun has a well-equipped and advanced analytical laboratory providing a wide range of services to the rest of the R&D organisation.

The laboratory co-operates with the product developing chemists to make new and improved products faster and more accurate. This is done by e.g. characterising polymers by liquid chromatography, identifying unknowns by mass spectrometry and determining concentrations of pigments by spectroscopic methods.

During testing of new product performance, the use of analytical techniques improves Jotun's ability to select the right technology and to differ between good and excellent products.

Analysis of product failure and customer complaint are also important services, both to learn how we can improve our products and to guide our customers.

The instrumentation in the laboratories ranges from standard equipment like scales and heating cabinets to highly advanced chromatographic systems with mass selective detectors. 

To enable Jotun to take full advantage of the equipment, the laboratory has an experienced and educated staff of analytical chemists to complement our product developers. 

A prerequisite for our success is the co-operation between the various scientific staff and analytical laboratory. This gives us the edge needed in making the best coating in the world.

Microbial quality control of selected raw materials and finished goods is performed to ensure the premium quality of Jotun products

The Biology laboratory is located in the main R&D centre in Sandefjord. Here, the staff of highly qualified microbiologists supplies services to the rest of the R&D organization ranging from general microbiological tasks, testing of paint formulations to advice on production hygiene issues.

One important aspect of the high quality of Jotun's exterior products is the protection of buildings against growth of moulds and algae. Dry-film challenge tests are performed to ensure that Jotun's exterior products always have optimal protection against microbial growth.

Another vital aspect of coating quality is the preservation of water borne products while the product is still in the can. Wet-state challenge tests are performed to find the most suitable combination of preservatives to ensure the hygienic quality of Jotun's water borne products.

Microbial quality control of selected raw materials and finished goods is performed to ensure the premium quality of Jotun products.  

An important task for the microbiologists is to give advice to production facilities around the world on production hygiene. On-site hygiene audits are also performed.

The safe use of biocides is vital for Jotun's activities and the biology laboratory co-operates closely with colleagues in Group Product Safety department. In this way, Jotun stays in front of legislation and offers our customers more health friendly products.

Technical inspectors measuring dry film thickness. It is important that all instruments are accurate and calibrated.

In order to test Jotun's products during product development and during/after application, a wide range of instruments are needed. 

In the product laboratories, instruments that measure viscosity, scratch resistance, gloss and drying time are among the important tools for a chemist to make the right selections during product development. 

In the quality control laboratories in our factories around the world, the same kind of equipment is used to ensure that the production has been performed according to specifications. 

When the products reach our customers, Jotun also provides services related to application and inspection of finished products. 

The paint inspectors and technical service staff uses thermometers, humidity and film thickness measurements and other parameters as tools to ensure that optimum application conditions are met and that the products meet the specifications. 

All these instruments and measuring devices are provided, maintained and serviced by trained staff in Jotun's R&D support team.

The Instrument department provides training for Jotun staff, calibrate the equipment to make sure that measurements are correct. In addition the department troubleshoots a wide range of technical issues whenever needed. 

Jotun has more than 2 000 instruments worldwide – tools that are needed to provide our customers with more than just a coating but indeed a full solution to protect their property.

The library assists the R&D scientists in their effort to stay updated in their field.

The R&D Library provides access – both electronically and in paper – to a wide range of information resources for the R&D staff.

The Library orders scientific literature, assists in database searching, provides access to databases such as SciFinder, standards, journals etc. 

Having a professional library ensures that the R&D staff always have quality information available when inventing new or improving existing coatings formulations.