R&D Setup and Activities at Anil

Anil has a modern, well-equipped R&D facility recognized by the Government of India. The facility consists of three sections:

• Chemistry
• Microbiology
• Pilot plant

R&D activities primarily concentrate on:

• Monitoring and improving product quality
• Enhancing process efficiencies
• New products and applications
• Enhanced technical service to customers

The R&D laboratory was started as part of Anil ’s efforts in entering the biotechnology field, namely microbial enzymes in technical collaboration with Nagase of Japan. Initial efforts concentrated towards increasing yields of the cultures imported from Japan. Within a short period, the efforts were rewarded by development of a process for the manufacture of microbial protease suitable for incorporation as an adjunct in detergents. The enzyme even though approved by a leading detergent manufacturer in India, did not go beyond production trials due to unwarranted safety issues in its use in detergents in the USA; and which were proven false in due course.

With R&D activities in full swing, Anil began manufacturing gluconates by fermentation. The fermentation capacity installed for detergent protease was used for the purpose. Anil was and continues to be the only manufacturer of gluconates by the fermentation process in India. Subsequently, the gluconates and enzymes manufacturing facilities have been spun off into a separate company namely Anil Biochem Limited.

To help increase the range of applications, research was carried out in modifying the basic starch molecule. Working in close association with large users in the textile and paper industries, Anil developed specific products, such as swollen starch, thin boiling starch, ionic starches, and spray starches. An example of a starch product specially tailored for a custom solution was the cold-water soluble starch used to starch clothes at home. This cold water swelling starch was designed to fulfill the need of modern consumers for a convenient product usable at home. In the textile industry, our wide range of modified starches are used in sizing, printing and finishing. In the specific sizing process alone, we have developed different modified starches for the various types of fabrics to improve overall sizing performance, resulting in higher productivity during weaving. Sizanil LV-100 is one of such product developed and launched by Anil.

Another product developed as a result of constant R&D is a modified starch used in the confectionery industry. Starch based gum jellies are not produced in India at present, but are common in USA and many other countries.