Brown and Williamson's Development
Most of the technological development at Brown & Williamson is done at it's Research and Development center:
As far as new products go, Brown and Williamson is constantly looking for a new brand that will be accepted by their consumers. They do this by coming up with new cigarettes and having an expert taste-test them. Also, the company is always looking for new factory production methods which allow the process of converting huge tobacco leaves into cigarettes to be made much smoother. Their goal is to reduce waste of tobacco." Capabilities include gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, automated wet chemical methods and physical measurement test stations. Most routine testing is automated, and all routine data are collected electronically and compiled for reporting via a Laboratory Management computer system."
The new invention of the cigarette industry is the "smokeless cigarette filter device". This simple device allows smokers to smoke as much as they want without harming those around them and the environment. The smoke never reaches the outside air.
"The Smokeless Cigarette Filter Device consists of a barrel fabricated out of molded, heat resistant durable material. A structure on a first end of the barrel is for covering the mouth of the smoker. An element is for holding a cigarette within the barrel. A component is for lighting the distal end of the cigarette within the barrel when the smoker inhales. An assembly is on a second end of the barrel, for filtering first and second hand smoke, so as to prevent the smoke from ever reaching the outside air. An apparatus is for extinguishing the cigarette within the barrel, when the smoker is done smoking the cigarette." (Information from http://www.invention.com/nicholson.htm)
The tobacco industry emits a certain amount of pollution during it's manufacturing processes and needs to limit the polluted and odorous air that it releases into the atmosphere. This is where the clean air "technicQ system" comes into play. The technicQ assures that a portion of the polluted air is changed into harmless by-products. How is this done? According to the Environmental Technologies Case Study:
"The system is based on the ability of bacteria to degrade organic and inorganic compounds. The system consists of one or more filter housings where the compounds in question are absorbed and oxidised by the selected bacterial species. The filter volume is calculated based on previous experience and using a computer aided model. The polluted air is delivered to the biofiltration system by a centrifugal fan. The air is then passed through an air washer where the particulates are removed and the gas is conditioned to the correct temperature and humidity(20-40degreesC, 100% RH). After leaving the air washer the air travels to the inlet plenum where it is distributed prior to moving through the biological filter. After passing through the filter the air is discharged to the atmosphere via a stack."