Pur-Ethanol: the story told by Lionel Nadal
Hello Lionel, and thank you for sharing your experience with us. Tell us how Pur-Ethanol came about.
The
Nadal Alcools company has specialized in pure alcohols for five generations now. That longevity is no accident: it comes from constant adaptation.
There is no dogma at Nadal. So, stepping outside our traditional products for the food, cosmetics and perfume markets, in late 2011 I decided to develop
a bioethanol for fireplaces that would meet the market’s expectations — a genuinely pure, odorless product.
That is how
Pur-Ethanol, an alcohol for fireplaces was born, the fruit of 180 years of experience.
Can you briefly explain how bioethanol is made? The different stages?
It is very simple. First we select a
superior-quality extra-fine alcohol, the same one sold to liqueur makers, flavor producers and other food industries. We then add a touch of denaturant to make it unfit for consumption, and that is it.
A large part of
what makes Pur-Ethanol what it is lies in that touch of denaturant — and, of course, in the exclusive use of an extra-fine alcohol, which guarantees no residue.
Many denaturants bring unpleasant odors, along with an overload of chemical and toxic substances. Our recipe guarantees our customers
a product free of phthalates, ethyl methyl ketone and methanol.
An almost traditional recipe, since our denaturant was once used in Berger lamps, originally designed to “purify the air in hospitals”.
In a few words, how would you describe the DNA and the values of this company?
At
Nadal Alcools, we have been convinced since the company began that the market does not belong to us:
customer satisfaction, product and service quality, and a strong ability to adapt are words full of meaning for us if we are to still be here tomorrow.
You have a very committed team, who even act as ambassadors for Pur-Ethanol. What is your secret for bringing your team together?
Believing in people!
What do you enjoy most about your work?
Innovation! Alcohol is a very old trade, full of certainties. Shaking up those certainties, erasing the dogmas, changing the way we work, produce and sell — now there is a programme I rather like.
What fundamentally sets you apart from your competitors? What is your strength?
I think I can say that we are the only
alcohol specialists in general, and not just in
alcohol for fireplaces. A certain expertise follows from that.
Why did you choose an online store rather than a physical shop?
Choosing to
sell our bioethanol online puts us in direct contact with users, and it is a fascinating experience. It was feedback from our customers, for instance, that led us to add a tap to our boxes, to make filling their fireplaces easier and safer.
A tap that has been free for three years now — who can beat that?
You are a business owner active locally, between Argelès-sur-Mer and Port-Vendres. How does Pur-Ethanol contribute, at its own scale, to the local economy?
Nadal Alcools, and therefore
Pur-Ethanol, have always had a social commitment. We are partners, for example, of the
mucovie66 association, which fights against the terrible disease that is cystic fibrosis.
Using ethanol in fireplaces often has a bad reputation. What do you say to critics who call for the activity to stop?
Nonsense!
Burning alcohol in air produces carbon dioxide and water vapor, and that is all. The same cannot be said of smoke from a wood fire.
As for safety, I do not believe users of an
ethanol fireplace are any less careful than anyone else. A fire is a fire, and care is always required.
I also have complete confidence in the French manufacturers and retailers of
ethanol fireplaces, who have made their products more reliable and safer over time.
In your view, what does the future hold for fireplace bioethanol?
Given the quality of the products on the market, the fact that no flue is needed, and the strict rules brought in against wood fires, this market is bound to grow.
What are your ambitions for Pur-Ethanol in 2017?
100% satisfaction! (A rate which today already stands at 98%…)
And further ahead?
Why not develop our own
Pur-Ethanol fireplace? Watch this space 🙂
