Green Feather Innovations (GFI), a stand-alone innovation and problem-solving hub for its customers and the wider chemical using sector, marks the next bold move by Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd., the family owned, independent manufacturer of performance and speciality chemicals.
As the company stands on the brink of its centenary year, it was established in 1926, Thomas Swan is sharpening its focus as it navigates the ever more turbulent times and sets itself up for the next 100 years.
“GFI is the solutions focused arm of Thomas Swan,” says its CEO Harry Swan. “We decided that if we wanted to be a solutions provider for our partners and the wider chemical sector, we needed to have a strong emphasis on research that could then be moved into development. GFI has a clear-cut mandate for research, which is then taken forward by our development team.” Swan adds that GFI is fully funded by Thomas Swan and therefore has freedom to explore and innovate.
Establishing GFI, Swan says, was inspired by the successes that came from Bell Labs, famous for many innovations in communications as well as home to several Nobel Prize winners, and Lockhead Martin’s Skunk Works. In both instances, the companies developed their labs into a brand and made them a focus of their innovation efforts. "At Thomas Swan we don’t want to just have “R&D” we want our new product development to have a life of its own and be recognised for its achievements," Swan says.
“GFI’s vision is based on working with our customers and providing solutions to their dilemmas, which are growing as businesses pivot towards increased sustainability,” Swan adds. “We have a range of mature products that are doing well for us, but the pace of change in, for example, regulation means we do not know for how much longer some of these products can be used. The simple fact of the matter is that if we are not innovating, we will die. The new product pipeline is essential.”
GFI was established during 2022 but is now making its presence felt with the upcoming launch of its first product, a quaternary ammonium salt. Head of New Product Development at GFI, Josie Lefevre, describes the new product as a “quick win in line with market needs.” Lefevre explains that it is a refined version of an existing molecule and customers can use it as a drop-in replacement.
But crucially the new development helped Lefevre, and her team, test run the whole concept of GFI. “It could be argued that the first product out of GFI has allowed the team to see what’s possible as well as allowing us to create the framework for the GFI platform.” says Lefevre.
The time used to set up and test run the GFI platform put Thomas Swan in a position to capitalize on a chance conversation with one of SCI’s partners at an event. “The conversation was focused on a problem that this company was set to face around the move to more sustainable products,” Swan explains. “I brought this dilemma back to the team and work began.”
At this stage Swan and Lefevre are not giving anything away about the new developments except to say that it involves two new molecules and its potential is global. The molecules could be produced in Europe or America and will have a positive impact on sustainability in the markets that they will serve. Swan is delighted about what this development could mean for the company. “It’s rare to come up with a totally new molecule,” Swan says.
Swan describes GFI as a “small team, with a growth mindset.” This was, in part, what attracted Lefevre to the role. With a career that began at ICI and then moving to Croda, Lefevre has worked across several business units including lubricants and oil field chemicals with experience in several areas including technical management and business development.
“GFI is a small team, but our strength is the ability to focus on fewer things and develop areas of expertise where we can build. We want our chemistry to be established on a strong platform of expertise rather than just doing lots of stuff.” Lefevre says. “We don't want to do commodity products but where we do go down the commodity route, we want to make sure that it's the highest quality in the market,” Lefevre adds.
The focus on a small number of chemistries is what underpins the GFI strategy as Lefevre explains: “As GFI moves forward we looking to develop around our existing commercial products and business units. Diversification is great, but it can come with risks. GFI will take risks, but those risks must be based on strong fundamentals,” says Lefevre.
“With greater focus on fewer chemistries, this means we have less complexity in terms of raw materials coming in. Ideally those raw materials, in the main, will be from bio-based sources. But our aim is a greater focus on fewer functional platforms where we have more control. Thomas Swan already has a lot of complexity in its supply chains, and at GFI we would rather not add complexity here,” Lefevre says.
Further reading
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