Riset dan Pengembangan

We believe that the only key to create breakthrough, innovative products lies in extensive research and development strategies in our designated department.

We have researched consumers’ preference and responded to it by manufacturing products that meet such expectations or even exceed them. Our researches are based on scientific data and made to comply with regulations. This has been proven with our early debut as the first Indonesian company to ever market machine-rolled cigarettes known locally as SKMs.

A special team known as Bentoel Internal Panelist consists of Expert and Trained Panelists is dedicated to carry out tasting sessions and evaluate each stick of cigarette through advanced technological equipment.

The pursuit for excellent products ends not here. Our research and development strategies are part of a constantly running process designed to meet the expectations of future dynamics with hope to seize a larger market share. Therefore, all production statistics are carefully documented, analyzed and processed for this purpose.

In short, our research and development activities consist of Product Development and Cigarette Non Tobacco Material (NTM). The first is developing new products and maintaining existing product, supported by seasoned staff member experienced in tobacco blending, flavor composing and cigarette designing.

Tobacco blending is a design process to harmonize various types of tobacco into a blend that produce the expected flavor after being combined with cloves, an ingredient that distinguishes Indonesian cigarette from other products. During the flavor composing stage, various kinds of flavors – from natural, natural identical and artificial fruity, spicy, sweet, brown, fermented, green and nutty — are blend into a flavor compound that help determine cigarette taste and aroma.
Afterwards, we carry out non-tobacco material design to specify what filter, paper and tipping paper to use. The latter part determines the character of smoke produced by the sticks.

Bentoel Group’s Product Development team is like an ensemble orchestra. Just like in musical pieces where harmony is the key, in manufacturing cigarettes, we also need to harmonize tobacco, cloves, flavor and design to be able to come up with a product that resembles a masterpiece.

The company is also the pioneer for automated primary processing with high speed mass production equipment. To assure that products reach our end users in its prime we set up the Non-Tobacco Material Development team consisting of cigarette material and packaging material sub divisions.

During the development of cigarette material, we select alternative materials for filter tow, cigarette paper, plug wrap, tipping paper and adhesives to assure that the physical properties meet the initial design from Product Development. They should suit the existing printing and cigarette making machines, safe for consumption, as has been regulated and comply with standards issued by the NTM Development, but still can be produced at a balanced cost versus benefits rate.

Afterwards, out packaging material development will focus on cigarette outer package of flip, slof, over wrap film, tear tape and card box. Aside from selecting material alternatives, the team also assures that the packaging will provide added value which could protect products during distribution and comply with the set standards.