Product Design

A first-of-its-kind wooden testing box designed for Nouryon’s Witbreak® demulsifiers blending functionality, safety, and brand identity for crude oil separation testing.

About the project

I designed and developed a custom wooden box for Nouryon Chemicals to support their Witbreak® demulsifier testing. The box securely holds multiple crude oil sample bottles, prevents leakage, withstands heating during bottle tests, and enables clear visual observation of oil separation results. This was the first product design innovation backed by Nouryon, and it now plays an essential role in their lab testing workflows.

Date:

9 Mar 2025

Client:

Nouryon Chemicals

Services:

Project Details

The project involved creating a durable, branded wooden box tailored for laboratory testing of crude oil demulsifiers.

Purpose: To provide a reliable container for crude oil sample bottles during the “Bottle Test” process, where emulsions are treated, heated (up to ~100 °C), and visually observed for separation performance.
Key Features:
- Custom cavities for bottles to minimize movement and leakage.
- Structural resilience to withstand lab heating cycles.
- Front-open design for quick inspection of color/clarity changes in samples.
- Elegant Nouryon branding to align with corporate identity.
Testing Compatibility: Supports industry-standard bottle test procedures, enabling labs to measure clarity, water separation, and oil quality after demulsifier treatment.

I had the pleasure of working with Ankit Shah at Nouryon, and I was always impressed by his deep expertise in brand and design strategy. Ankit brings a unique blend of creativity and strategic thinking, which consistently elevates the quality and impact of our communication materials. What stood out most was Ankit’s ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, compelling brand messages that resonate globally. His collaborative approach, attention to detail, and proactive mindset made it very easy to work with him, even across teams and time zones. Ankit is not only a skilled brand leader but also a supportive colleague who adds value beyond his immediate responsibilities. I highly recommend him for any role where brand leadership, innovation, and cross-functional collaboration are key to success.

Amr Mostafa

Technical Service Manager, Nouryon

Things I Did

Designed and engineered the wooden box structure.
Created leak-proof, bottle-specific compartments.
Incorporated branding and sustainability cues through material choice.
Optimized for lab usability—easy to open, load, and observe samples.
Delivered the first-ever product design innovation adopted by Nouryon.

How It Helps the Business:

Provides Nouryon labs with a safe, reusable, and efficient testing tool.
Improves accuracy and speed of crude oil demulsifier evaluations.
Strengthens brand visibility through a functional, branded product.
Demonstrates Nouryon’s commitment to innovation and sustainability.
Positions my design expertise as a trusted partner in scientific and industrial product solutions.