Customer Development Manager Frank Mclaughlin, Caldic UK, had a serious issue on his hands. A customer raised concerns about a recurring problem on their production floor, where workers were handling a combination of chemical products. Stored in 20-liter kegs, the containers proved too strenuous for standard protective gloves, splitting under pressure and posing a significant risk of chemical exposure. At the same time, employees were forced into awkward, stooped positions to access the content of the kegs, leading to potentially long-term back injuries.
Frank wasted no time diving into the problem. “When I heard what was happening, I started thinking about ways we could redesign the process rather than just work around it,” he recalls.
His solution was straightforward: switch to larger, taller kegs that could hold the same materials more safely. “By increasing the size and height of the vessel, we could reduce the strain on gloves and eliminate the need for the staff to bend over repeatedly.” It addressed both risks in one go.
But coming up with an idea was just the beginning, Frank needed to find alternative suppliers that could provide the right kind of keg – one that was both robust enough to handle the chemicals and met all the safety regulations. “It was essential that we didn’t just go bigger, but that we went safer too,” he adds.
Helping people feel safer at work and seeing a solution make a real impact is the most rewarding part of it all.
Once he identified a suitable option, he ensured it passed all necessary compatibility and safety checks. Only then did he bring the proposed change to the customer: a locally manufactured, larger drum that fit their needs. His solution was met with unanimous support. “The customer was incredibly pleased,” Frank says, “they were not only relieved to see a viable fix but also appreciated the care we took to think through every aspect of the risk.”
As industries evolve, so must the materials that power their progress. At Caldic, we combine advanced material chemistries with technical labs and application-driven R&D. Customers rely on us to jointly fast-track innovations, from composites to nanomaterials, to market readiness.
