The company says that the laboratory will be focused on both the formulation and development of ingredients and products that will be targeted at the personal care industry.
The laboratory will develop the company’s Mirasil silicones portfolio for the personal care industry, and the project will be implemented as part of a collaboration with the company’s R&D facilities worldwide.
Mirasil silicones are designed for easy compatibility as well as having non-sticky sensorial and non-transfer properties, and are formulated with a variety of product types, including hair care, skin care, deodorants and wet wipes.
Building a global entity
The inauguration of the new technical facility also builds on the company’s aim to become a more global entity as a supplier to the personal care segment, in line with a number of new products that are planned to come on stream from the company’s two production facilities in China.
“The opening of our new Technical Service Laboratory is an important step and a strong message emphasizing the importance of our Spanish facility as the Centre of Excellence Personal Care for the Bluestar Group,” said Grégoire Amice, global marketing manager for personal care at Bluestar.
Bluestar is a China-based group specialising in a diverse range of applications for silicones that was established in 2007 following China National Bluestar’s acquisition of Rhodia Silicones, and has since been built into a global business with a €400m turnover.
Silicone applications for personal care expand
Silicones are derived from the silicon–oxygen backbone structure found in sand, chemically modified with carbon and hydrogen to enhance compatibility and it is currently estimated that personal care accounts for approximately 18 per cent of the global market.
Technological developments in the manufacturing of silicones have meant that they can now be specified in an increasing range of personal care and cosmetics ingredients, bringing about greater formulation flexibility and efficacy.
Silicones are primarily used in hair care, where they bring about shine and smoothing properties, but in recent years, technological developments such as hybrid and organomodified silicones have greatly expanded the potential applications in personal care.