Research & DEVELOPMENT
For over ten years, Unité d’Intervention Hexagone inc. has been advancing multiple areas of expertise with the goal of improving the health, sustainability, and performance of bee colonies.
Four major projects have marked this ongoing journey of innovation:
2015 - 2025
Validation of a prototype beehive made from food-grade composite materials
During this period, the company conducted a project to validate the acceptability of different bee colonies in a prototype hive made entirely of food-grade composite materials.
This experiment took place in an outdoor laboratory specially designed for this purpose on the INRS Armand-Frappier campus in Laval.
2022
Development of environmentally friendly technology for beeswax
In 2022, a mandate was given to Kemitek to develop an eco-friendly and economically viable technology that would:
• eliminate pesticide residues present in beeswax,
• as well as process and reuse this wax after a 2- to 3-year production cycle.
This project aims to provide beekeepers with a sustainable solution for recycling and reusing wax in their beekeeping activities.
2023
Prototypes of composite material frames
In 2023, a mandate was given to the Quebec Composite Development Center (CDCQ) to create around ten prototypes of frames made from composite materials.
The goal: to select FDA-approved fibers and resins that facilitate the removal of old wax and allow for effective cleaning and sanitation through an innovative design.
These frames represent a key step toward establishing a circular economy for wax and its processing.
SUMMER 2025
Importation and Testing of Complete Honeycomb Matrices
In the summer of 2025, 500 complete honeycomb matrices made of beeswax, produced by the company BREAT (Spain), were imported to Quebec.
Due to the specific nature of the shipment, several procedures, certifications, and inspections were required before it could be released.
Once received, the matrices were carefully mounted on wooden frames with metal wires, each frame being engraved and hot-stamped with the company’s name to ensure full traceability.
Approximately 200 additional frames will be introduced in spring 2026, a period deemed ideal by the supplier, as queens are more likely to lay eggs in these matrices early in the season.
After that period, bees tend to use them mainly for honey storage.
