Constant innovation
Innovation is the life blood of a modern technology business. Investment in innovative research is an obligation of world leadership, sharpening international competitiveness and sowing the seeds of future profitability. Johnson Matthey has never relinquished its position as one of the most innovative companies. We spend millions of pounds each year on focused research and development projects aimed at the products and materials technologies of the future.
The businesses focus our research efforts and devote considerable time and energy to analysing the probable areas of future technology growth, sources of product demand, and the impact of legislation. Driven by commercial needs, much of the work is therefore evolutionary, although a certain amount of pure research is undertaken in search of new applications for platinum group metals.
Catalysts Division - Research & Development
Environmental Catalysts and Technologies' R&D is focused on enhancing our ability to cost effectively meet promulgated emissions standards. This may result in offering a product that uses 10% less precious metal than our competition, it might mean that we can meet standards with a smaller catalytic converter or the depth of our understanding of emission control systems may enable a customer to solve an emissions problem without major re-engineering. Whatever the benefits of buying from Johnson Matthey, our commitment to investing in technology is clear.
Process Catalysts and Technologies' R&D targets the development of both novel catalysts and scaleable, well defined preparative methods. One programme for the development of highly selective catalysts and ligands for specialised fine chemical applications has led to a new range of immobilised precious metal homogeneous catalysts which demonstrate good chiral selectivity for a number of commercially important reactions. PCT has also initiated a major new R&D programme in the area of GTL catalyst technology for the manufacture of sulphur free diesel fuel from natural gas.
Precious Metals Division - Research & Development
The division's global research and development programmes continue in several important areas. Work continues on catalysts for ammonia oxidation designed to improve conversion efficiencies whilst minimising the production of unwanted by-products, which act as greenhouse gases. Products have been formulated and are now being commercialised utilising technology jointly developed with Johnson Matthey's Process Catalyst and Technologies business. Initial results show great promise and the products are attracting a very high level of industry interest.
Our programme of collaborative work with spark plug companies to develop novel alloys for higher spark plug efficiency is also achieving commercial success. Further work continues in this area.
Colours & Coatings Division - Research & Development
The Colours & Coatings Division continues to place great emphasis on product and process development, both of which are key to our ability to grow sales and sustain margins. Considerable resources are dedicated to research both at the Johnson Matthey Technology Centre based at Sonning, UK, and at the major European facilities in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and UK .
The research structure, focused on the core areas of fundamental chemistry, cost reduction technologies and product development has continued to deliver innovative solutions for the market during the year. These include the development of high conductivity silver pastes and a new decorative precious metal product for tableware based on fundamentally more controllable chemistry. Going forward, management remains focused on delivering a pipeline of market driven research and product developments to underpin future profitability
Pharmacuetical Materials Division - Research & Development
Pharmaceutical Materials Division's R&D is focused on commercial products to be manufactured and marketed by the division's four business units. Technology required for the manufacture of commercial scale products includes primarily the development of chemical manufacturing processes and methods for the analysis of these products.
This technology is essential to achieve competitive market positions and to obtain regulatory approval for products. Contract drug development services offered by Pharm-Eco include medicinal chemistry, process development and initial scale-up of potential new drugs. Each of Pharmaceutical Materials Division's businesses has developed substantial chemical know-how in its respective market niches and they collaborate closely on new technical challenges. Combined with Johnson Matthey's core expertise in catalysis, chiral catalysis and organometallic chemistry, the division offers the pharmaceutical marketplace a unique range of R&D capabilities
A Commitment to Innovation and Excellence
In recognition of the company's continual commitment to innovation and excellence Johnson Matthey has been awarded with the Queen's Award no less than ten times.
First awarded in 1968 for Export Achievement, Johnson Matthey subsequently went on to win on many other occasions for Export, Technology, Environment and Innovation.
From an early stage in the history of the company, Johnson Matthey has nurtured and developed a special interest and expertise in platinum and these early developments formed the basis for the industrial applications of platinum, which remain the primary interest of the company to this day.
| 1968 | Johnson Matthey & Co Ltd - Export Achievement |
| 1968 | Universal Matthey Products Ltd (sold to UOP Inc in 1985) - Export Achievement |
| 1970 | Johnson Matthey & Co Ltd - Export Achievement |
| 1977 |
Johnson Matthey Research Centre |
| 1982 | Johnson Matthey Chemicals Ltd - Export Achievement |
| 1986 | Johnson Matthey Chemicals Ltd - Rare Each Products Division (sold to Allied Signal Inc in 1999) - Export Achievement |
| 1991 |
Johnson Matthey Technology Centre (jointly with the |
| 1993 | Johnson Matthey Catalytic Systems Division - Export Achievement |
| 1993 | Johnson Matthey Catalytic Systems Division - Environmental Achievement |
| 2003 | Tracerco, part of Johnson Matthey Plc - Queens Award for Enterprise: Innovation (for the Tracerco Profiler) |
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