Local wax microsphere developer and manufacturer Cirebelle will open its new factory in Johannesburg this month to focus on industrial prilling solutions, in addition to the company’s personal care line that has been operating for six years. Microspheres are spherical beads with a diameter measured in micrometres.

The company, which has a Level 1 broad-based black economic-empowerment accreditation, appointed a new MD, Corrie Haasbroek, to lead the growth initiative, this month. The prilling technology will allow Cirebelle to expand beyond wax as a raw material or process ingredient.

The new facility will be opened to initially supply toll-manufactured wax beads to Sasol. Cirebelle will also be able to serve additional customers as it has invested significantly in increased capacity using its unique and efficient prilling technology.

“We want to expand what we have done with our wax-based personal care prilling solutions and apply them to industrial and other solutions,” says Cirebelle chairperson Derek Thomas.

He adds that Cirebelle’s aggregated global distributor network could function as a development catalyst for other South African small to medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs) that are not able to access global markets on their own, adding that 99% of the company’s product is exported.

“Subsequently, we have the ability to act as a conduit and development catalyst for these businesses by bringing them into Cirebelle’s global distributor network. Cirebelle plans to support the country’s export growth strategy for SMMEs.

Thomas explains that the company is also investing heavily in research and development, where the company will triple its research capacity within the next few months.

“This allows the firm to offer an expanded range of wax beads to be able to respond to increased requests from global customers for Cirebelle to assist in their new product development efforts,” he says.

What distinguishes Cirebelle’s wax products from its competitors’, Thomas notes, is that they have a unique biodegradable factor and do not pollute water systems. This is in the wake of the argument put forward by global environmental lobbyists who have successfully maintained that the competing linear low-density polystyrene beads that are used for the same cosmetic and personal care applications have a negative ecotoxicity effect on waterways.

Thomas mentions that Cirebelle, which manufactures and distributes wax beads, so-called ‘softspheres’ and base waxes, uses waxes that are derived from the Fischer-Tropsch process, which is unique to Sasol.

“Multiple processes, such as distillation, purification and modification, [ensure] thoses waxes [are] of exceptional quality. “Continuous and thorough quality control is maintained throughout the manufacturing process by Sasol and, in turn, by us to ensure consistent, high-quality waxes for the cosmetics and toiletries market,” he says.

Owing to the nature of the manufacturing process, Thomas notes, the waxes are free of sulphur and aromatic compounds, and are classified as nonirritant and practically odourless.

He adds that the waxes have better purity and stability than any other competing wax.

“We have managed to achieve technical competence in our microsphere product development and prilling process technology in the six years since we bought Cirebelle and that has definitely set us apart from our competitors globally,” he concludes.