Research & Developement: Kemper System

Innovations don’t fall from the sky

To be precise, KEMPER SYSTEM has been researching and developing right from the start. How else would Dr Heinz Kemper have initiated his invention of liquid waterproofing? How, if not through continuous trial, constant development and strict quality control? There is no doubt that the research and development work initially carried out by Dr Kemper on his own is as important today as it was in the 1950s and ‘60s, when he founded his company and got the business moving.

Today, worldwide, a total of 21 experts from a wide variety of fields work in the Research and Development Department. Chemists, laboratory assistants, chemical engineers, chemical-technical assistants and plastics engineers alongside master roofers, industrial management assistants and product safety experts form a professional symbiosis that is second to none.

More than just good – perfect

When a new product is launched in the Research and Development Department, it must meet the relevant criteria. First of all, it must be an innovation, i.e. be of benefit for people’s work, a gain, something which after only a short time one can no longer imagine how one actually went without it. But a product from KEMPER SYSTEM must incorporate even more.

This is why the specialists in the Research and Development Department always pursue several objectives at the same time. On the one hand, there is customer satisfaction – after all, a product should perfectly meet customer requirements. On the other hand, there is quality, reliability and efficiency. No wonder every product goes through an extensive quality-assurance process before it is delivered to the customer.

Moving forward is how we do business

In the Research and Development Department, we are continuously in the process of developing products for specific requirement profiles and keeping an eye on the changing demands of the industry. As soon as a new application area or product idea arises, tests are carried out and evaluated and any necessary corrections made. The ideas, by the way, come from the most diverse channels – often one idea builds on another.

What follows the first tests? More tests. Because the product under development is put through its paces again and again, until it reaches maturity to be produced on a small scale. Then it is time for the engineers to work with the development product on pilot surfaces and trial it intensively. Incidentally, this is also the point at which the process of obtaining the required test certificates and approvals is started and the technical documentation is compiled.

From the idea to the finished product

Observing the market, listening to our customers, recognising changing requirements – there are some initial sparks that inspire us with good ideas. They are put into practice on location, where we can literally try them and study them.

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A conversation with Ingo Wolf

Want to take a look behind the scenes? Ingo Wolf, Head of Research & Development at KEMPER SYSTEM, answered our questions about his department and its work.

In his interview, he provides informative and interesting background information on what it's like to be part of KEMPER SYSTEM and what is special about his work.

Interview

Adhesive strength measurement –
to ensure adhesion

For KEMPER SYSTEM it is crucial that every waterproofing is guaranteed to adhere to the intended substrate. That is why we continuously carry out extensive adhesive strength tests with new and weathered roofing membranes as well as roofing foils. To this end, we use different measuring devices and test methods, which ensures a high level of reproducibility. And more than that. Because our customers can contact us directly if they are looking for the optimum waterproofing for their individual substrate and would like to have an individual adhesive strength measurement performed.

Learn more

All we need is a sufficiently large and representative sample of the corresponding sheet or foil, on which we can place samples of various KEMPEROL waterproofings. After substrate pre-treatment, application and curing of the liquid waterproofing, our specialists carry out a peel strength or adhesive strength test. To do this, the samples are clamped and loaded with increasing force. Using internally defined values and many years of experience, our Research and Development Department then evaluates the result. Based on this, we provide an object or application-related product recommendation.

The ideal solution for every substrate

Be it plastic sheeting, roofing membranes or bitumen – our waterproofing systems guarantee superb adhesion. We can assure you of this as we constantly carry out extensive tensile adhesive strength tests with the leading manufacturers of all types of roofing membranes.

Simply select a manufacturer and substrate – and you will automatically receive the possible combinations with our KEMPEROL Waterproofing Systems and KEMPERTEC Primers. As soon as you click the buttons of the waterproofing systems or primers, you will discover more about the products.