4 Oct. 2024: Burlington, Ont.-based EcoSynthetix Inc., a renewable chemicals company that produces bio-based products, is locking in a second large follow-on trial order for its strength aid, SurfLock, from a leading global pulp manufacturer.

“This order follows on the successful performance and customer feedback the account received from the earlier large trials completed in July of this year,” said Jeff MacDonald, CEO of EcoSynthetix in a press release.

“These trial orders represent the largest volume of trial material ever shipped to one account in the company’s history.

“The characteristics and value SurfLock offer manufacturers make it an attractive innovation which this leading global pulp manufacturer recognizes.”

EcoSynthetix declined to share details on who the deal was with, but told Pulp and Paper Canada it was “a top 10 global pulp and paper manufacturer.”

SurfLock is a bio-based strength aid that increases the mechanical strength in pulp, tissue and paper-based packaging applications.

It can be used by manufacturers to improve their economics by increasing their use of lower cost virgin fibers, recycled fibers and low-cost fillers, reducing their use of retention aids and refining energy, and improving the runnability of the line with less breaks on the machine.

Pulp, tissue and packaging applications represent a billion-dollar addressable market opportunity for the ExoSyntheticx.

This new trial order represents approximately US$400,000 of revenue.