As the tobacco industry enters the exploration phase of harm reduction products, heat-not-burn (HNB) technology, known for its similar taste and experience to traditional cigarettes, is gradually becoming the ideal alternative for long-term smokers. According to IMARC Group's predictions, the HNB market size is set to reach $162.8 billion by 2032, with an annual compound growth rate of 24.44%. Currently, the global HNB market is dominated by a few multinational tobacco companies, with Philip Morris International (PMI) holding a 71.4% market share thanks to patented technology.
Despite the dominance of industry giants, innovation has never ceased. At the recently concluded InterTabac International Tobacco Exhibition in Dortmund, Germany, the prominent domestic electronic vaporization company "FirstUnion Group" won the "Best HNB Innovation Award" for 2024 from the Alternative Awards with its latest developed light heating technology - Alkaid, which promises to revolutionize the field of "HNB (Heated Tobacco Products)". 2Firsts exclusively interviewed Dr. Zhu Bin, the technology leader for Alkaid at FirstUnion Group, to discuss the development process and future outlook of this groundbreaking technology.
Focusing on user pain points, Alkaid's light heating technology offers a brand new solution.
Alkaid Light Heating Technology is a groundbreaking innovation in the field of HNB by the FirstUnion Group, aiming to address many pain points experienced by users when using HNB products. By using light waves for heating, Alkaid technology not only quickly generates smoke but also provides a purer taste experience in a short amount of time, while reducing the frequency of cleaning and maintenance. The breakthrough advantage of this technology lies in its ultra-fast heating and uniform heating across all wavelengths.
Convenience and durability are two core advantages of Alkaid technology," Dr. Zhu Bin told 2Firsts. He continued, "Traditional HNB devices usually require 10 to 30 seconds of preheating time, but Alkaid technology can complete preheating and produce smoke in as little as 5 seconds, reducing waiting time by up to 75% compared to traditional HNB devices. This greatly improves user convenience, reduces user wait anxiety, and makes the user smoking experience closer to traditional cigarettes." Additionally, the Alkaid technology's non-contact heating principle avoids direct contact between the tobacco stick and the heating element, reducing tobacco residue and tar accumulation. This means the device requires less frequent cleaning and has a longer lifespan.
Internal testing conducted by the FirstUnion group has shown that devices supporting Alkaid technology are able to maintain almost identical flavor performance to a new device even after inhaling 5000 cigarettes, with the lifespan of the heating element exceeding 10,000 uses.
In addition to convenience and durability, another highlight of Alkaid's light heating technology is the improvement in taste. It uses a full spectrum of continuous light waves to activate nicotine and flavor substances in tobacco, significantly increasing the tobacco's reductive power. "We tested the same cigarette using light heating and traditional heating, and found that light heating can increase nicotine content in aerosols by over 40%. In our tests, the total particulate matter in smoke also increased by over 20%. Compared to traditional heating methods, Alkaid significantly enhances the satisfaction of smoking," said Dr. Zhu Bin.
In order to better illustrate the advantages of Alkaid's optical heating technology, the following is a comparison with traditional HNB heating technology.
Traditional heating technology vs Alkaid light heating technology comparison chart | Graphic by 2Firsts
Dr. Zhu Bin summarized that the research and development of FirstUnion Group has always been centered around user needs. "Through continuous testing and improvement, we have ultimately elevated the Alkaid technology to new heights in user experience.
From Inspiration to Technological Breakthrough: The Birth of Alkaid
The birth of the Alkaid light heating technology originated from a highly creative brainstorming meeting four years ago. During that discussion, the R&D team of FirstUnion Group focused on a long-standing issue that has plagued HNB users - the slow heat transfer speed and uneven heating of current heating technologies, leading to a poor user experience.
During the meeting, an expert from the field of solar thermal energy proposed a novel idea: why not borrow the principles of solar collector to uniformly heat tobacco using the high speed and strong penetrability of light, similar to how sunlight does? This inspiration laid the foundation for the Alkaid solar heating technology.
Our initial idea was to design a structure similar to a solar collector, focusing energy and achieving uniform heating through the strong penetrating power of shortwave light. At the same time, the collector can also gather energy and maintain temperature," Dr. Zhu Bin recalled. This idea was quickly recognized during discussions, and the research and development team immediately began forward-looking research on solar heating technology.
In the following experiments and tests, the team gradually realized that solar heating technology not only significantly enhances heat transfer efficiency, but also shows great potential in reducing harmful substance emissions. Once the technology matures, solar heating will bring revolutionary advances to HNB products. This awareness drives the team to continuously break through technological barriers, eventually leading to the development of the current Alkaid solar heating technology.
Dr. Zhu Bin further added, "We later discovered that the Alkaid technology provides the cigarette with an energy intensity about 1000 times that of sunlight on the ground, allowing it to heat up in a very short amount of time, bringing an unprecedented smoking experience." This light-speed heating effect not only meets the users' demand for quick response but also enhances the tobacco's flavor and authenticity, truly achieving a perfect combination of technology and user needs.
Building an interdisciplinary team, it takes four years to hone a sword.
Behind the structural optimization is the result of over four years of effort by the interdisciplinary research and development team of FirstUnion Group. Dr. Zhu Bin stated that from the beginning of the research and development process, FirstUnion has placed high importance on the Alkaid solar heating technology project, steadily increasing funding for basic research, prototype development, and subsequent testing stages each year.
According to 2Firsts, in order to facilitate the smooth progress of the Alkaid project, FirstUnion Group has established a interdisciplinary team with over 100 members internally, including material scientists, optical engineers, tobacco industry experts, structural engineers, electronic engineers, and more. The team covers a wide range of expertise from theoretical research to practical technological implementation.
This group of elite soldiers has encountered many challenges and difficulties during the collaborative research and development process, but they always manage to find solutions. In order to ensure uniform heating and overall heat management of the equipment, the team has introduced advanced simulation software to optimize component and optical design; improved the material of the heating element through repeated experiments to enhance its lifespan and stability; established a strict testing process to ensure that even under extreme conditions, the samples can meet the durability and safety standards.
From conceptual input to laboratory prototype, and then to prototype iteration, we have spent over four years perfecting the Alkaid technology. During the research and development process, thousands of experiments were conducted to optimize heating efficiency and performance. Dr. Zhu Bin reflected on the past four years of investment in Alkaid, stating that it is a disruptive innovative technology that has fundamentally changed the traditional way of heat conduction in the industry.
Behind Alkaid technology is the research and development philosophy of FirstUnion Group, which has always been driven by the core principle of meeting user needs. It is this philosophy that has driven the continuous improvement of user experience. Dr. Zhu Bin has summarized this process into four key steps: first, through extensive communication and research, deeply understand the actual needs of consumers; then, set clear technical indicators for each core pain point; next, repeatedly test, design modifications, and re-testing in the development process; finally, invite users to personally experience specific function modules and use their satisfaction as the final acceptance criteria.
It is worth noting that FirstUnion Group has been exploring HNB technology since 2012. In 2013, they collaborated with customers to release their first HNB product. In 2019, they introduced electromagnetic heating technology, and from 2021 to 2022, they launched infrared heating products. The HNB products developed in collaboration with customers by FirstUnion Group have been successfully launched and sold in multiple countries and regions around the world.
Harnessing light will illuminate the future, and breaking the current pattern is right around the corner.
In the emerging tobacco industry, safety and compliance have always been important topics of concern, and FirstUnion Group has made it one of the core principles in developing the Alkaid technology. It is understood that the heating outer shell of Alkaid is made of non-toxic and harmless SiO2 glass material, eliminating the toxicological risks that traditional heating methods may bring. By effectively stimulating tobacco flavor substances through full-band radiation, it further reduces the release of harmful substances. According to the results of the smoke composition analysis, the release of harmful substances with Alkaid technology is reduced by around 20% compared to traditional heating methods.
In terms of compliance, Dr. Zhu Bin revealed that the FirstUnion Group has applied for patent protection for Alkaid light heating technology in multiple dimensions, from the selection of heating materials, structural optimization to temperature control, striving to build a robust technological moat. At the same time, the FirstUnion Group is actively involved in the establishment of industry standards, establishing a strict quality management system to ensure that every step complies with relevant regulations and standards. Dr. Zhu Bin confidently stated, "We believe that Alkaid light heating technology will soon break the existing competitive landscape in the HNB industry." As the theme of this press conference expresses, "Guided by light, the future is just a step away.
On the path of exploring innovation, FirstUnion Group's Alkaid optical heating technology has not only illuminated a new era for HNB products, but also represents humanity's ongoing pursuit of healthy lifestyles. This beam of groundbreaking technology is gradually dispelling the health hazards brought by traditional smoking methods, bringing unprecedented change for the sustainable development of the entire industry.
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