D&L Industries Inc., which prides itself on being an innovation powerhouse in the country, plans to continue to beef up its research and development (R&D) investments to develop more innovative products despite the uncertainties due to the pandemic.
The firm said that, with its successful maiden bond offering worth P5 billion, it has fully secured financing for its Batangas expansion plant which will be a world-class manufacturing plant boasting of its cutting edge R&D and innovation capabilities.
“Innovation is the foundation of our business. This is how we were able to grow the company to where it is today - from a small business venture in 1963 with an initial capital of just P2,000 which my uncle and father founded, to a listed company in the Philippines valued today at almost P60 billion,” remarked D&L President and CEO Alvin Lao.
He added that, “Two of my uncles as well as my father are chemical engineers and that is why R&D, engineering, and Chemistry are at the core of our business. We continue to see this as a key strength and the main driver of growth moving forward.”
D&L Industries practices disciplined innovation by earnestly listening to its customers. This has consistently allowed the company to be attuned to the needs of the market it serves, and thus able to continuously come up with innovative product solutions across all the industries it serves - from food to chemical applications.
At the peak of the lockdown in 2020, the company was able to realign its resources to manufacture essential food and chemical products that were badly needed during those times.
For instance, in less than three months of product formulation and R&D, D&L subsidiary Aero-pack Industries was able to formulate and introduce to the market Solbac® Surface Disinfectant, which is a line of surface disinfectant in aerosols format.
Laurin CocoMCT oil is another example of D&L’s product innovation which is aligned with market needs given the ongoing pandemic. Laurin CocoMCT oil is a unique combination of medium chain triglycerides (MCT) and lauric acid which is known for its powerful antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.
Currently, D&L exports CocoMCT in both retail and bulk formats to various countries across the globe with demand seen to continue to increase.
With D&L’s R&D and innovation capabilities, the company also strives to help its various customers stay ahead of trends as well as adapt to changing regulatory landscape.
With the looming ban on single-use plastics, the company has successfully developed Biorez and Biomate which are proprietary lines of plastic materials and additives that can make plastics compostable and biodegradable.
As a big proponent of “green chemistry” in the country, D&L is also capable of assisting its customers make their products sustainable to stay ahead of the shift in consumer preference towards sustainability.
D&L, through its various subsidiaries, offer sustainable product solutions from coconut-derived raw materials for personal & home care products, environmentally-friendly chemicals for industrial and construction applications, organic fertilizers to wholesome food ingredients.
“Having one of the most extensive R&D investments in the country, our customers, in many ways, see us as an R&D extension of their respective businesses,” said Lao.
He noted that, “With our new facility coming online, they can expect more innovative business solutions and product offerings from us. While times have changed especially with the pandemic, our company remains rooted in its core mission of dedicating itself to better lives with R&D and innovation as its main tool.”