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The team is divided into those who work in the lab and those who work mainly in the office. In the office, our colleagues are involved in releasing products as well as other important operational duties.
fertilizers are only released once thorough testing has taken place. Only then can the products go to the customer.
The Senior QA Analyst is involved in the whole fertilizer production process. Paul: “We test the products from start to finish. The raw materials are checked upon arrival and are tested both chemically and physically. Then, after applying a coating, we conduct further checks on the end product.”
ICL can ensure a consistent, high quality fertilizer product thanks to strict control checks and thorough testing throughout the entire production process. ICL has a team of expert analysts at their laboratory located at the manufacture in Heerlen. Paul: “The day begins with a team meeting. Afterwards, we start with our daily routine tasks: weigh the samples, send them to the relevant testing equipment, analyze them, and then approve and release the products.” The
ICL produces high-quality fertilizers at its production facility in Heerlen, the Netherlands. Quality assurance is an important pillar in our business, and it starts with the raw materials.
These are often sourced from our own mines and are in compliance with the highest of standards. A team of dedicated experts carry out quality controls during the entire production process. We spoke to Paul Broeksmit, Senior QA Analyst at ICL. His daily responsibility is to ensure that all fertilizer products are of top quality.
Classification
of Fertilizers
Quality testing is continuously being conducted during the production process from raw material to fertilizer. Not a single phase in the process is skipped. ICL's fertilizers are classified as EC-fertilizers. Meeting these strict regulations means that “the nutrients must be supplied effectively and without any damage to human, animal, or plant health nor to the environment. Additionally, you have to be able to demonstrate that the fertilizer is subject to the relevant sampling, analysis and testing methods.”
Quality assurance does not stop at the production facility. It’s also done during storage, handling, and transportation, ensuring that ICL's fertilizers reach the customer in the best possible condition.
From Raw Material
to Quality Product:
LAB TECHNICIAN
“Over the decades, we have gained a lot of knowledge and improved our products. We understand what kind of products we have to deliver and what we are capable of. The high quality of our fertilizers is proof of this. We are a market leader for a reason.
Short Lines of Contact During Production
Take a Look in the Lab
A Day in the Life of a Senior QA Analyst
Why is the Quality of Fertilizers Important?
The lab coordinator is in direct contact with colleagues at the production site, but Paul is also heavily engaged in the actual production process. “If there’s any unclarities, I’m on the phone straightaway. For instance, there might be some information missing, such as samples, batch numbers or certain output figures. If there is some uncertainty about a sample, we contact for instance Leo Bouwels, Coordinator Blending and Packaging. He and his team monitor the entire production process and can identify precisely where a specific sample comes from.”
The product samples entering the lab from the production site first need to rest for about 8 hours. Only then can we can start testing. Paul: “You need a lot of knowledge of the equipment in the lab in order to use it. It's not just about how to operate it, but also how to fix it in case of complications.”
There are various tests that Paul and his team conduct daily or regularly to ensure the quality of ICL’s fertilizers. The complete nutrient release pattern of the controlled release fertilizers is monitored to make sure that the coated granules are not damaged.
A high quality fertilizer does what you expect it to do and guarantees consistent plant performance. Irrespective of whether the product is used for open field crops, the fastest green at the golf club, or the uniformity of a grower’s pot plants—a high quality fertilizer always performance according to expectations. That’s the reason why quality assurance is so important at ICL. We monitor the entire production process from sourcing the raw materials to the final nutrient solutions for the plants.
Top Plant Performance Starts Here
The lab coordinator is in direct contact with colleagues at the production site, but Paul is also heavily engaged in the actual production process. “If there’s any unclarities, I’m on the phone straightaway. For instance, there might be some information missing, such as samples, batch numbers or certain output figures. If there is some uncertainty about a sample, we contact for instance Leo Bouwels, Coordinator Blending and Packaging. He and his team monitor the entire production process and can identify precisely where a specific sample comes from.”
Short Lines of Contact During Production
The product samples entering the lab from the production site first need to rest for about 8 hours. Only then can we can start testing. Paul: “You need a lot of knowledge of the equipment in the lab in order to use it. It's not just about how to operate it, but also how to fix it in case of complications.”
There are various tests that Paul and his team conduct daily or regularly to ensure the quality of ICL’s fertilizers. The complete nutrient release pattern of the controlled release fertilizers is monitored to make sure that the coated granules are not damaged.
Take a Look in the Lab
Quality testing is continuously being conducted during the production process from raw material to fertilizer. Not a single phase in the process is skipped. ICL's fertilizers are classified as EC-fertilizers. Meeting these strict regulations means that “the nutrients must be supplied effectively and without any damage to human, animal, or plant health nor to the environment. Additionally, you have to be able to demonstrate that the fertilizer is subject to the relevant sampling, analysis and testing methods.”
Quality assurance does not stop at the production facility. It’s also done during storage, handling, and transportation, ensuring that ICL's fertilizers reach the customer in the best possible condition.
Classification
of Fertilizers
ICL can ensure a consistent, high quality fertilizer product thanks to strict control checks and thorough testing throughout the entire production process. ICL has a team of expert analysts at their laboratory located at the manufacture in Heerlen. Paul: “The day begins with a team meeting. Afterwards, we start with our daily routine tasks: weigh the samples, send them to the relevant testing equipment, analyze them, and then approve and release the products.” The
fertilizers are only released once thorough testing has taken place. Only then can the products go to the customer.
The Senior QA Analyst is involved in the whole fertilizer production process. Paul: “We test the products from start to finish. The raw materials are checked upon arrival and are tested both chemically and physically. Then, after applying a coating, we conduct further checks on the end product.”
The team is divided into those who work in the lab and those who work mainly in the office. In the office, our colleagues are involved in releasing products as well as other important operational duties.
A Day in the Life of a Senior QA Analyst
A high quality fertilizer does what you expect it to do and guarantees consistent plant performance. Irrespective of whether the product is used for open field crops, the fastest green at the golf club, or the uniformity of a grower’s pot plants—a high quality fertilizer always performance according to expectations. That’s the reason why quality assurance is so important at ICL. We monitor the entire production process from sourcing the raw materials to the final nutrient solutions for the plants.
Why is the Quality of Fertilizers Important?
ICL produces high-quality fertilizers at its production facility in Heerlen, the Netherlands. Quality assurance is an important pillar in our business, and it starts with the raw materials.
These are often sourced from our own mines and are in compliance with the highest of standards. A team of dedicated experts carry out quality controls during the entire production process. We spoke to Paul Broeksmit, Senior QA Analyst at ICL. His daily responsibility is to ensure that all fertilizer products are of top quality.
From Raw Material
to Quality Product:
LAB TECHNICIAN
Top Plant Performance Starts Here