Kingston Process Metallurgy

4 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 3 K INGSTON PROCESS METALLURGY (KPM) Although Davis readily sees the benefits of what KPM does, he quickly admits that not many people understand what they do at face value. “When most people hear chemical processes, they often think we make products like shampoo,” he says. “That’s not what we do. We develop and improve chemical processes that have a high level of complexity in chemistry, reactor design, and materials.” Since KPM is not selling a particular process and clients seek out the company, Davis says most of the work the company does can come from almost any industry that relies on chemical processes. “We work on a broad spectrum of challenges in any resource sector, including the metals industry, high-purity downstream materials, battery components, purification, you name it,” says Davis. Working at such a breadth of industries and use cases also allows the company to cross-pollinate concepts. “An idea originating in one industry can be applied to other industries, giving us a high level of expertise when tackling client projects,” he adds. KPM was incorporated in 2002 as a two-person operation working out of borrowed lab space. Before the company started, Davis was doing some consulting work, and Roy moved to Kingston from an engineering position at a lead smelter. From the outset, a more interdisciplinary approach to solving problems helped to define what they offered clients. This reputation has meant that the company needs to only rely on word of mouth for work. By 2009, KPM had bought its own building for a main lab and has continued to buy, renovate, and put into service valuable infrastructure for chemical process commercialization. Today, the company operates three facilities: its headquarters on Progress Avenue comprising a 12,000 square feet facility with five labs; a second facility housing its pilot plant and a third location at McKay Street housing its aluminum foundry sister company, Kingston Metals & Materials. A fourth building currently being