AEL’s dedicated cutting edge Research and Development (R&D) department has one driving force and that is to develop cutting edge commercial explosives and initiating systems. This ensures that AEL remains at the fore front of technology in its field whilst pursuing sustainable profitability and growth for companies operating in the Southern African, African and selected international explosives markets.

Housing a dedicated team of scientists and technicians who all offer vast and varied backgrounds in chemistry, physics, chemical and mechanical engineering, AEL’s R&D team covers a growing spectrum of scientific approaches to explosives and initiating systems.

The department exists to explore cutting edge research while offering field and plant support on all new and existing developed technologies. The team also ensures that the group maintains a firm grasp on the anticipated changes and developments in the world of explosives.To further its efforts in doing so, the team attends many conferences across all disciplines – including the National Institute of Explosives Technology, the South African Society of Rheology, the International Society of Explosives Engineers, the International Pyrotechnics Society, SAFEX and the European Federation of Explosive Engineers.

AEL’s R&D team is housed at the group’s headquarters in Modderfontein. The division is headed by internationally recognised Dr Piet Halliday, Executive Director Group Technologies, who received the covetted President’s Award from the International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE) in 2010.