What changed?
The Impacts and Benefits
Benefits for the Company
The impact to the company has been monumental and the benefits from the KTP have far surpassed objectives. The goal of investigating the physical properties of syndets and developing science-based methodologies to production optimisation was not only accomplished, but was also implemented in a much more robust way than expected. This was achieved by developing a suite of software packages (I-RheoExtrude, I-RheoIndent, I-RheoDataAveraging and I-RheoArrhenius), that analyse production data and combine it with rheological measurements to determine the optimal production windows for any current or future product of the company, rather than just those investigated during the KTP. This technology has significantly improved the company's data analysis capabilities and upskilled a large number of staff though training and practice. The impact of the project extends further as it introduced a culture of innovation and founded a brand-new R&D division in the company.
Moreover, the benefits greatly exceeded expectations following a ground-breaking discovery by the KBS, Dr Manlio Tassieri, consisting of a novel technique for broadband rheology. This both equipped Soapworks with the necessary tool to acquire the rheological data for their process optimisation, independently and at a low cost, but also provided them with valuable intellectual property that is patent pending. Consequently, Soapworks is pursuing commercialisation of this new technology, aiming to penetrate the rheometer market, where there is a myriad of potential applications.
The KTP had a lasting impact, fostering excellent work connections, significantly strengthening university-industry ties and enabling future collaboration. Moreover, its high-quality work inspired Daabon to launch its first inter-company exchange programme. Initially, Heidi Terran, a process engineer from Colombia, collaborated with Dr Skopalik at Soapworks on energy efficiency. Subsequently, Dr. Skopalik travelled to Daabon's Colombian headquarters to optimize their local soap plant. Both initiatives were very successful and laid solid foundations demonstrating the benefits of expert collaboration within the group.
Benefits to the KTP Associate
Dr. Simeon Skopalik didn't just fill the role of KTP Associate but redefined it, delivering impact well beyond its original remit. He proactively looked for ways to enrich the project and adapted evolving needs rapidly acquired new competencies in thermal analysis to investigate defects in products, 3D printing and fast prototyping to enable the practical deployment of the newly discovered rheological tool and software development to seamlessly embed the process optimisation research into everyday operations at Soapworks via the I-Rheo tools. He worked closely with external collaborators, helping maximise the benefits of these partnerships, obtaining valuable tools and data in addition to contributing to a highly rated scientific publication.
His leadership extended beyond technical realms. Recognising the power of collaboration, he initiated and secured funding for a summer internship that not only accelerated project progress but also supported early-career development for a student while helping him gain real-world supervisory and project management experience.
Dr Skopalik also actively engaged with the wider Daabon Group, playing a central role in planning and executing an inter-company knowledge exchange that fostered global collaboration. His contributions extended the value of the KTP far beyond expectations, culminating in the delivery of a suite of robust, user-friendly tools and methodologies that transformed Soapworks’ data analysis capabilities.