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Boron Quality Lab

Manufacturers need to be able to trust the consistency of their raw materials source—and trust the reliability of their supplier. To provide those assurances, U.S. Borax has a dedicated Quality Lab onsite. This lab is staffed with experts who bring decades of experience and a lifelong passion for quality.

Manufacturing quality control

To ensure that manufacturers and end users can trust the quality and consistency of our products, the Quality Lab runs 24/7 and supports every aspect of Boron Operations.

We have had a lab in operation at Boron since the 1950s. Today, it’s a state-of-the-art testing facility—and the hub of quality data analysis for the entire plant. The Quality Lab supports the mine’s comprehensive quality management program, which is certified to the rigorous ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Standard.

Resource model matching

Before ore is mined, the lab processes test samples to ensure that ore meets the quality standards required for our products. This “pre-screening” step helps ensure mining operations are as efficient as possible and that the ore we take out is going to be usable in our processing plants.

Pre-drill testing at the U.S. Borax Quality Lab

Processing plant quality testing

U.S. Borax refined borates are produced using a multi-step process that’s significantly more extensive than production of a “raw mineral” product—and more highly managed. Plant operations personnel employ quality management best practices to ensure consistency and quality of the products we produce.

At each stage, operations we collect samples for in-process analysis. The Quality Lab provides rapid analysis through titration testing—and delivers those results to operators on the processing line. Operators use that data in real time to adjust the process, prevent variation, and mitigate the risk that any sub-standard product reaches customers. A final sampling and analysis step is performed for every finished product.

Technician running a test at the U.S. Borax Quality Lab

Packaging verification and traceability

The Quality Lab performs additional final checks on packaged products to ensure shipped products meet both internal and customer standards. Every lot code is analyzed, traceable, and has a Certificate of Analysis.

U.S. Borax warehouse with pallets of refined borate products

Sample validation

On rare occasions, the Quality Lab receives a request from a customer to re-analyze a product sample. These quick-turn analyses help customers who may be looking for a root cause of an issue or variation in their operations.

Bagged samples of U.S. Borax Neobor product

Two labs at Boron: Quality Lab and the Pilot Plant

In addition to the Quality Lab, Boron is also home to the Pilot Plant, a specialized research lab focused on development of new products and applications. In addition, Pilot Plant scientists assist customers with product and formulation research.

The Pilot Plant team seeks new and innovative uses for borates in improving modern living. They are also focused on continually improving U.S. Borax operations.

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