Toko Research and Development

Toko has an awesome laboratory and testing facility in Altstaetten, Switzerland

In this laboratory, there are two full time scientists as well as some interns. Toko also has a scientist embedded in a Chemical company with which Toko has strong cooperation.

Meet

Judith

and

Udo

Judith and Udo are truly the core of Toko’s competence as a wax company. They are the innovators with the science know-how to break into new frontiers. Neither of them fit the mold of the “pocket protector scientist with the broken glasses”. Both are very fit and active in outdoor sports. Both Judith and Udo mountain bike and ski regularly. Udo also competes at a very high level in Judo and rides a Harley. They inject creativity, expertise, and fun into our company.

Judith and Udo have some tremendous resources available to them. The machines and devices that they have in the lab are impressive.

What kind of scientific apparatae do Judith and Udo have at their disposal?

Differential Scanning Calorimetry

● Substance identification

● Purity tests/Quality control

● Identification of melting and gaseous points of synthetic materials

● Identification of decomposition points

● -130F to 1652F temp range

● Cost $128,000

Differential Scanning Calorimetry

● Exposes wax (or substance) to Heat and Oxygen or Nitrogen and yeids a reaction which gives accurate information on ingredients and properties of wax

Differential Scanning Calorimetry

● Provides read out showing properties of wax

● Gives breakdown of ingredients and at what percentages

Infrared Spectrascope

● Short Wave IR

● For identifying organic substances

● Direct identification of molecular structure

● Quality control

● Identifies multiple elements within one substance, how much, and what properties

● Cost $75,000 plus a $90,000 microscope

Halogen Dryer

● For the identification of solids within liquids and pastes

● Evaporates everything that can possibly evaporate and identifies what is solid

● Quality control

● Raw material identification

● Identifies % pureness

● Cost $15,000

pH Meter

● Measures exact pH value

● Quality control

● Cost $10,000

Vibramax 100

● Determines stability of liquids

● Excellent for mixing

● Quality control

● Cost $1100

Rotating Evaporator

● Increases the concentration of a solution

● Separates solvents and evaporable substances from non-evaporable liquids and solids

● Measures quantities of certain active substances

● Cost $3,000

Needle Probe Hardness Tester

● Measures the hardness of a substance at 77F

● Cost $15,000

Stress Tech Recovery Meter

● Measures viscosity and elasticity

● Especially useful in developing kick waxes

● Cost $90,000

Electronic and Optical Microscope

● Control or determine particle size

● Quality control

● Cost $15,000

Refractometer

● Measures the index of refraction of liquid substances

● Quality control

● Cost $1500

New Product Formulation and Testing

Hundreds of new formulations of glide waxes, grip waxes, and klisters are tested each year including adjustments of existing formulations as well as completely new raw materials and concepts. Toko is the company that drives innovation in ski wax.

Ski Storage and Wax Room

Ski Storage and Wax Room

Infrared Waxing Test Fleets

Collaborating in testing and evaluating with race service department, coreteam, and other entities

● Coreteam meetings

● Written reports

● Application methods discussed and tested

● Areas needing improvement identified

● Opportunities for new development or direction brainstormed and identified

● Action plan with timetable set established

Christian Stalder – World Cup Snowboard Race Service

Steffen Hoos – World Cup Nordic Race Service

Heinz Kolly – World Cup Alpine Race Service

National Teams and other teams including Toko Tech Team

Big Picture

● Possible effective new substances are researched and tested

● Trends are documented

● Test result analysis

● Conclusions reached

Examples of Toko Innovation

Stay Tuned for Further Exciting Developments!

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