Primary concerns - the need for change

摘要

Paul Lawton-Bryant, managing director of LTL Engineering Ltd, considers the need for further changes in the primary sector to meet manufacturers' requirements for increased profitability and better yields. While there have undoubtedly been positive developments within the primary process, the pace-of-change has been relatively slow. Some may argue that this is because primary doesn't have as far to develop as say, secondary and that existing primary equipment is already working well to its conventional designs. However, there are two factors currently holding back developments; firstly the need to consider more innovative equipment design and; secondly the ability to measure and control the process allowing overall optimisation of all equipment. Both factors require an improved scientific understanding of the process and different tobacco properties at the input stage, by suppliers and manufacturers alike, and a business ethos that can support and accept new approaches.