GeolabXP – an Industry Development Fund Story
GeolabXP was a successful IDF grant recipient in the IDF’s first round of funding, receiving their grant in early 2022. The grant has helped the business to expand its services into a new area – in July 2022 GeolabXP opened their new premises in Port Vila. Via their grant VB was able to purchase specialised equipment, to diversify their range of services now on offer to business clients, Government departments, and the private sector.
Vanuatu Bijouterie was founded in Vanuatu in 1971 (then colonial New-Hebrides) by Mr Francois Hainaut, an established French master jeweller in New Caledonia. It was the first business registered in Vanuatu after gaining independence in 1980.
In 2014 the business was purchased by Tal & Estelle Milfirer, Vanuatu Bijouterie – Fine Jewellery is the first and only Jewellery manufacturing company in the South Pacific manned by 100% locally trained Melanesian master jewellers and apprentices.
Vanuatu Bijouterie’s team of talented jewellery artisans’ source unique and exclusive local products to be processed with Precious Metals, Tahitian Pearls, Diamonds, Gemstones and other exotic elements, into masterpieces that reflects the Maison’s passion to combine Melanesian traditional art lines with the art of fine jewellery.
In 2019, the business extended its services to include a laboratory, called GeolabXP, located at the Vanuatu Bijouterie building at the Wharf Road round-a-bout.
This spectrometry based analytical laboratory, is an independent analytical laboratory that aims to provide non-destructive testing and analysing services (based on various light spectrums analysis) to their clients. It has a range of equipment that can provide identification and quantification of various organic and inorganic substances, very helpful for various sectors such as agriculture, industrial, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, food and beverage and more.
Mr. Thomas Boyer, founding partner and chief scientist at GeolabXP, is the man to see and talk through your needs concerning the identification and quality certification of materials, powders, liquids, solids, pastes, and more items you may need analyzed.
The lab also offers gemological identification (including precious and semi-precious stones, precious metals in jewelry) and geological identification (mineralogy, volcanology, geotechnics), as well as field missions to identify risk for risk assessments linked to hazardous waste (lead, cadmium, asbestos for example) or radioactive materials.
GeolabXP has recently signed an MOU with the Department of Customs to assist them in streamlining the testing of products both imported and exported, to maintain custody continuity of samples taken, and to ensure delivery of technical advice upon request.
The benefits of being able to test and analyze samples in Vanuatu instead of having to send samples to be tested in New Zealand or Australia are immeasurable. VCCI is very proud to be able to work with the Department of Industry to monitor and evaluate and report back in Vanuatu Bijouterie’s successful expansion into a much-needed service delivery space!
To contact GeolabXP please email Thomas Boyer at tboyer@geolabxp.com or call / WhatsApp GeolabXP on 5426290.
