Hercules' Customer Applications Laboratory Services group provides complete pulp and paper testing, image analysis, surface chemistry, and analytical chemistry services to evaluate the results of pilot trials and resolve process or production problems.  Customer Applications Services comprises four key operations:

Analytical Customer Applications

An endless variety of contaminants can cause runnability and quality problems in pulp and papermaking operations.  Typical problems include slime, scale, pitch, stickies, a spot or hole in the sheet, and contaminant-related felt filling.  Many mills need rapid analysis and identification of these contaminants beyond what may be accomplished with field-based methods.  Hercules employs an experienced staff of analytical chemists, microbiologists, and technicians, supported by sophisticated testing facilities, dedicated to addressing these needs.

Stock Preparation Laboratory

Hercules' Stock Preparation Laboratory (SPL) in Jacksonville, Florida, serves the unique needs of the global pulp and paper industry.  This flexible, pilot-scale laboratory is dedicated to product and application development and customer problem solving.  The facility has a wide range of equipment for simulating and troubleshooting virtually any unit operation associated with recycled fiber stock preparation.  Because every piece of equipment in the SPL is designed for and used in commercial applications, products can be tested under real-world conditions, while maintaining the same control that characterizes our bench-scale laboratory studies.

Papermaking Services

Continuous pilot papermaking systems are the cornerstones of our Papermaking Services operations.  The primary purpose of our papermaking operations is to provide papermakers with insights and solutions to problems and opportunities related to the effects of additives and system changes on wet-laid products and processes.  Our facilities are equipped to conduct trials that predict commercial system performance.

Product Application Laboratories

Hercules is dedicated to addressing customer needs rapidly.  The Product Application Laboratories group works with applications specialists and field representatives to develop correction or control strategies for our customers' process and product quality problems.  Our knowledge of pulp and papermaking operations is combined with our product technology, process simulation devices, and paper testing equipment to accomplish this goal.