The group places a lot of emphasis on creativity and innovation.
Many technical breakthroughs have enabled it to improve its offer with more efficient and better products both more useful and more attractive. The group was the first in the world to make crystal through continuous fusion.
One of the three research priorities for the group is materials. In February 2005, a new material called Kwarx® was put on the market. Free of heavy metals and more competitive than crystal, it nevertheless has the main qualities of transparency and lightness, combined with greater mechanical strength and chemical resistance.
The Group’s researches, production and marketing teams took two years to perfect it. A line of glasses in Kwarx®, known as Open Up, is commercialized since 2006 under the brand Mikasa Oenology
The product
A lot of research goes into products and in particular the shapes and decoration that they may be given. Products are designed so as to meet criteria such as specific and/or intensive use. Research on decoration involves improving processes for depositing colours and protecting them over time. Consequently, the group has the most efficient deposition installations available.
This research on the durability of decorations and strength of the glass is done in close collaboration with the research and development departments behind leading detergent brands
Industrial processes
Research is not only limited to the product and materials. Arc International is striving to improve all of the parameters in the production process: from the design of a large oven to decorating techniques for items produced in small batches. All research into new processes tries to meet three objectives :
- lower unit production costs,
- lower investment need for each article produced,
- improve product performance for customers.