1 Chemical industry
made in holland ChemiCal indUSTRY
Gateway to Europe • Innovative solutions • Smart polymeric materialsBiobased economy • Process technology • Revolutionary science and education
2 Chemical industry
The Dutch Way
Great expectations
Everything about Rotterdam is big, with its almost un-Dutch-like skyline of residential and office buildings. But it is the immense logistical network of roads, railways, waterways and pipelines that makes a lasting impression and speaks of great ambition: being and remaining the transit port of Europe. This, no doubt, is old news to the many international chemical conglomerates that have long made Rotterdam their home away from home, and it certainly comes as no surprise, given that they have the Ruhr area in their backyard and all major European companies but a stone's throw away. One of the largest in the world, the port of Rotterdam is the chemical gateway to Europe.www.portofrotterdam.com
Photo: Marijke Volkers
Chemical industry 3
made in holland ChemiCal indUSTRY
WelcomeActivate. React. Convert. The Dutch chemical industry owes its success to creating strong
synergies: between multinationals and SMEs, researchers and entrepreneurs, societal issues and
green solutions. This brochure offers a fine opportunity to learn about the innovative chemical
industry in the Netherlands. You likely already know the big players, such as Akzo Nobel,
DSM and Shell, but did you know that a large number of Dutch SMEs are involved in
groundbreaking innovations that will deliver a significant boost to the economy in the coming
years? These companies benefit from the fruitful cooperation between industry, academia
and government in the Netherlands, which contributes to an export-driven climate and
high-level education, research and open research. Not to mention the geographical location of
the Netherlands as gateway to Europe, an excellent logistical network and attractive investment
climate. Get the synergy. The chemistry is already there.
about this publication, Made in Holland; Chemical Industry (March 2013) is a publication issued by NL Agency, which is part of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. Commissioned by The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs editorial address NL Agency / Made in Holland, PO Box 20105, 2500 EC The Hague, The Netherlands, [email protected] editor-in-Chief Carin Bobeldijk Final editor Sonja Haase editing Kris Kras Design, Rosali de Hart, Werner Bossmann, Donald Macdonald, Jacqueline Meeuwisse Cover photo Freek van Arkel Contributors Ministry of Economic Affairs, Secretariat Top Sector Chemical Sector, NL Agency Concept, design and art direction Kris Kras Design, Utrecht Translation Concorde Group, Amstelveen.
Copyright Articles may be reprinted or reproduced only with acknowledgement of the source: Made in Holland / NL Agency. No rights may be derived from the contents of this publication.
4 In the Spotlight This is the dutch chemical industry
8 Facts and Figures Substances of importance
10 Interview Green gateway to europe
12 Best Practices inspiration straight from the source
14 Into the Future Sharing risks and results
16 Innovation Formulas for global success
18 Global Issues even akzo nobel doesn't go it alone
20 Around the World Fromartificialgrasstoheritageprotection
22 A Win-Win Situation
Super-efficientclothingdyes
24 Contact Get in touch
4 Chemical industry
In the Spotlight
Photo: Hollandse Hoogte
Chemical industry 5
high-performance materials: sustainable success
The Netherlands from the air: a complex and advanced network of rivers, canals, motorways and bike paths. The infrastructure in the Dutch chemical industry can certainly measure up to it. The Netherlands is specialised in adding value to chemical substances and transporting them: from one of the largest global petrochemical production sites in Rotterdam to the European hinterland, and beyond.Major chemical companies benefit from the geographic location of the Netherlands as a gateway to the continent. The same is true for the short distances in the Netherlands, where researchers, developers and suppliers are always just around the corner, and where production facilities with
Industry, academia and government work closely together within the Dutch chemical industry. They consistently foster cooperation to keep the industry competitive in the future. That consultation model is proudly referred to as 'the golden triangle'. Multiple combinations are always possible within the chemical industry. What do you get when you add the category of designers? Amazing results, in some cases, as is evident with the new addition to the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. Chemistry allowed for the realisation of the acclaimed design for the Dutch architect firm, Benthem Crouwel. The model and synthetic structure are the reasons why the museum building
Base chemicals: the base must be good substantial capacity are available. More than 50% of the Dutch chemical industry’s revenue comes from the production of base chemicals. Nineteen of the twenty-five largest chemical companies are headquartered in the Netherlands. Royal Dutch Shell is one of them and has successfully positioned itself on the global market as a major player, with unerring attention to detail and advanced technology. The deployment of nanoflow reactors and automation at Shell Chemicals accelerates the development time of chemical products, resulting in faster delivery of products to the market. Moreover, work is carried out more precisely. Macro working, nano thinking.
is popularly referred to as The Bathtub. It contains a composite that includes Twaron, an aramid fibre developed by Teijin Ara-mid. The super fibre renders the materials durable, extending their service life. Its application ties in with the development of sustainable construction policies. The design and application of high-performance materials is a special focal point of the Dutch chemical industry, which aims to position itself as leader in the development of such smart materials.
Photo: source Shell
6 Chemical industry
In the Spotlight
Photo: source Avantium | Marijke Volkers
Chemical industry 7
Paint that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but lasts longer and requires fewer coats than conventional paint. The sector in which coating and paint manufacturers operate is called ‘fine chemicals’. Of all sectors of the Dutch chemical industry, the fine chemicals sector is the most focused on innovation. Extensive research and innovation go into a product before it is released to consumers. Furthermore, collaboration between researchers and entrepreneurs is supported and encouraged. It contributes to the exchange of knowledge and enables uni-versities and knowledge institutes to put the societal relevance of their research to the test. The Netherlands has long had
Oneinfourconductsresearchinfinechemicalsa tradition in fine chemicals, with companies such as Akzo Nobel and DSM, which have strong Dutch roots. These major companies exist by virtue of innovation: one in four DSM employees engages in research. DSM Sinochem, manufacturer of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), became the first company to supply generic Atorvastatin Active Ingredients that received the Certificate of Suitability of the European Pharma-copoeia (CEP). Atorvastatin is the most widely prescribed drug for cardiovascular disease in the world.
Green chemicals: used in wide and varied applicationsWhen you think of the Netherlands, you think of meadows, not oil fields. A Dutch company came up with the idea to make a soda bottle from sugars extracted from paper, wood, straw, waste and grass. The bottle is better than the regular bottles made from petroleum-based plastics, as the new material allows less oxygen, water and CO2 to permeate the bottle after it has been sealed. The product garnered recognition for the company, Avantium. Forget the PET bottle, the future belongs to the PEF bottle, which is made from polyethylene furanoate: 100% biobased. This fact has not escaped The Coca Cola Company, which entered into a partnership with Avantium. One of the benefits for such large bottle consumers
is that with PEF products they are no longer dependent on fluctuations in oil prices. Avantium is one of the many companies in the Netherlands that utilises green chemicals in its manufacturing processes. Such companies are put under the proverbial magnifying glass as they will lead the way for the future direction of the Dutch chemical industry. In 2050, the Netherlands must be at the forefront of new, green chemicals. The chemical industry is the industry that has the answer to raw material scarcity and climate change issues. It can play a vital role, for example, by working on sustainable production processes and by switching to the use of alternative biomass raw materials in the production of chemicals.
Photo: source DSM
8 Chemical industry
50%20%8%7% 6%5% 4%
Base chemicals
Pharmaceutical products
Synthetic fibres
Paint, enamel, varnish, ink and mastic
Soap, detergents, cleaning and maintenance products
Other chemical products
Agrochemicals
What chemicals do the Dutch sell?
Facts and Figures
Innovation is essential The chemical industry in the Netherlands devotes approximately 2.5% of its revenues to in-house research and development, which amounts to approximately € 1.4 billion per year.
The chemical industry accounts for 20% of the value added in the industry, and contributes about 3% to the gross domestic product. Although many of the chemical companies in the Netherlands, such as Akzo Nobel, DSM and Shell, are of Dutch origin, a host of foreign companies have also set up shop here, such as BASF, Dow, Exxon, SABIC and Teijin Aramid.
Substances of importance
Chemical industry 9
• geographical location as gateway to Europe• excellent logistical network• high-tech clusters for industrial biotechnology,
fine chemicals and high-performance materials• competitive fiscal climate• highly educated, flexible and motivated workforce• excellent infrastructure for education and science
The Netherlands is attractive to investors due to its:
Balance of trade 60%
Approximately 80% of the chemical products manufactured in the Netherlands are exported, and a fifth of all exported goods come from the chemical industry.
Big in export
The chemical industry will reduce greenhouse gas emissions with 40% by 2030, compared to the situation in 2005.
Environmentally ambitious40%
The chemical industry made a positive contribution of almost €60 billion to the balance of trade in 2012, which was over 60% of the total balance of trade of commodities in the Netherlands.
Chemical industry 9
Photo: Sanne Paul
10 Chemical industry
Interview
‘In 2050, the Netherlands will be the world leader in biobased chemicals’
Photo: source 500 watt/Casper Rilla
Chemical industry 11
Gerard van Harten is the chairman of the Chemical Industry Top Team. He leads the development of international plans for the industry and is chairman of SusChem Nederland, the Dutch branch of the European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry. He was the chairman of the Board of Dow Benelux until late 2012.
‘Without innovation in the chemical industry, there will be no innovation in other industries’
as per Gerard van Harten, former CEO of Dow Benelux, an individual with a tendency to look at the
big picture. It is not surprising that he was asked to head up the Netherlands Chemical Industry Top
Team. The chemical industry has the answer to the societal issues involved in raw material scarcity
and climate change, says Van Harten. ‘The Dutch industry can lead the way in the migration towards
green chemicals worldwide.’
Green gateway to Europe
What does the future hold for the chemical industry? ‘We are ambitious. The Dutch government has identified the chemical industry as a key sector. This means that the government, business community, universities and research centres will collectively work on knowledge and innovation to make an already strong industry, even stronger. In 2050 - but as soon as possible, as far as I'm concerned - the Netherlands will be the world leader in green, biobased chemicals. To achieve that goal, we, the Chemical Industry Top Team, will bring industry, academia and government together in order to foster cooperation. We are already seeing the first contours of that taking shape. The Dutch chemical industry is safe and clean; many companies accept their social responsibility, in areas such as sustainable production processes, use of biomass raw materials and the elimination of harmful solvents. I am convinced that the chemical industry has the answer to societal issues involved in raw material scarcity and climate change.’
That sounds idealistic.‘Yes, and at the same time it is a growth model that ensures that the Dutch industry retains its competitive edge in the global market. Companies can distinguish themselves by developing smart materials that require challenging fundamental research. That is where industry and academia meet. Dutch companies devote 2.5% of their revenues to innovation through in-house research. The major players have the money and the manpower to do that. That is why we are looking to bring SMEs with fewer than two hundred employees into contact with researchers at universities.SMEs in the Netherlands are innovative and are able to bring innovative products to market quickly. That is partly why, together with the industry, we, the Chemical Industry Top
Team, have set up three Centres for Open Chemical Innovation (COCI-Locations), to give start-ups a boost.’
Isitdifficultforentrepreneurs,governmentand researchers to work together? ‘Not particularly. We do, after all, have something in common: curiosity, whether you work in a multinational or have set up a small business with a number of other students. The chemical industry in the Netherlands is large but well-organised. Plus, in a relatively small country such as ours, you frequently come into contact with industry counterparts.All partners in the production chain, including the people in development and research, work relatively close to one another. Companies supply one another, and we therefore need one another. In that sense, we work as a chain. That is why every step we take towards green chemicals has direct consequences for the entire industry. The manner of collaboration in the Netherlands is, in fact, designed from that perspective. Researchers are given the opportunity to test and valorise their knowledge and expertise in practice. Entrepreneurs gain access to top-level scientific knowledge, and it is up to the government to create ideal conditions and to eliminate regulatory bottlenecks.’
Nineteenofthetwenty-fivechemicalcompanies in the world are located in the netherlands. ‘Some, such as Shell and DSM, even have strong Dutch roots. We are a knowledge-based country with a highly developed infrastructure, specialised in public-private partnerships. Do not forget the geographical location of the Netherlands either: Rotterdam is the gateway to Europe, a sophisticated consumer market of 500 million people.’
www.government.nl/issues/entrepreneurship-and-innovation
12 Chemical industry
Green StyrofoamYou can make a product as sustainable as you like, but if you wrap it up in unsustainable
packaging, it just adds to the growing mountain of waste. Take, for example, polystyrene
or expandable polystyrene (EPS), which has been used in the packaging industry and as
insulation material in construction for fifty years. ‘Even though it is the most commonly
recycled type of plastic, it does not always have a positive image,’ says director Jan
Noordegraaf of Synbra Technology, which developed an environmentally-friendly alternative.
BioFoam is a biodegradable EPS. It is produced from vegetable waste obtained from sugar
cane or cassava starch. The green-coloured BioFoam grains produce seventy percent less CO2
emission than Styrofoam, which is made from petroleum. With BioFoam, Synbra Technology
has won several awards for sustainability and innovation, including the first place in the fifth
Innovation Top 100. A ranking list from innovation network Syntens, entrepreneurs’ magazine
Bizz and NL patent centre. www.biofoam.nl
The green goldBiofuels are the future. But if you produce fuel from corn or soy, it
will only add to the pressure on global food production. Algae are
referred to as the 'green gold'. You can extract oil from them and they
reproduce rapidly. That translates into an infinite source of fuel.
An algal pond the size of Belgium several times over is enough
to provide the entire world with oil, according to estimates by
U.S. researchers. The Dutch Evodos developed a way to produce
sustainable algae. The company makes industrial Spiral Plate
Technology (SPT) centrifuges for separating matter in liquid and
Flying speedTether a kite to your ship and it will harness wind power to propel the ship forward at flying speed. The
tractive force of an efficient kite is similar to that of an Airbus 320 engine; it quickly delivers two megawatts
of energy, and saves a significant amount of fuel. Hence the increasing use of these natural engines in the
shipping industry. For a kite with this much tractive force, industrial strength rope is required. DSM, from the
Netherlands, produces an Ultra High Molecular weight Polyethylene Fibre, also known as Dyneema®. ‘The
strongest fibre in the world,’ according to DSM. Aside from kite rope in the shipping industry, Dyneema® is
also used in bullet-proof vests, medical suture thread, commercial fishing nets and cut-resistant gloves.
To accelerate innovation, DSM recently acquired shares in SkySails, the company that produces kite systems
for commercial shipping. Ninety percent of the world's trade is transported by seagoing vessels that often
run on fuel oil. If all cargo vessels on earth were to fly kites, that would save up to 32 tonnes of CO2 per day.
www.dyneema.com
Water treatment plants consume much space. Wastewater treatment requires huge basins in which
the active biomass that biologically purifies the water is separated from the purified water before
it can be discharged or reused. It is a time, space and energy consuming process. In partnership
with the engineering firm Royal Haskoning DHV and the water boards (STOWA), the Delft University
of Technology developed a new purification technology called Nereda. The Nereda technology
uses a sustainable and energy-efficient process to purify wastewater in a much smaller area.
‘Water treatment uses bacteria, which grow rapidly in open structures,’ says Merle de Kreuk of TU
Delft. ‘The conventional Active sludge in open structures is like snow. It settles slowly. The Nereda
technology ensures that the bacteria grow in clumps. This aerobic granular sludge is compact, like
hail. It settles quickly. There's no need for large tanks. The plant is much more compact as well.’
The first sewage treatment plant using the Nereda technology was officially opened in Epe in 2012.
Compared to other sewage treatment plants, at least 20 percent energy savings is achieved.
www.dhv.com
Compact wastewater treatment
Best Practices
particles of 1-100 microns. ‘The process of separating algae and
water was complicated and expensive’, says managing director Marco
Brocken. ‘Evodos has made it possible to harvest algae with a very
positive energy balance for a mere €100 / tonne. The algae remain
alive. Evodos centrifuges are currently being used around the world
for the purpose of this application.’ The Evodos centrifuge requires no
chemicals and consumes much less energy than other centrifuges.
Evodos is a partner of the Institute for Sustainable Process
Technology (ISPT). A global patent was obtained for SPT.
www.evodos.eu
Photo: Shutterstock
Chemical industry 13
oil from the deepest seasOil is found in increasingly deeper waters. It is usually transported through steel or
conventional flexible pipelines, but these are very heavy. One steel pipe accounts for about
400 tonnes of weight on an oil platform. Airborne Oil and Gas makes pipes for the oil industry.
The strongest and lightest pipes available today, says Commercial Director Martin van Onna.
‘We are the first manufacturer in the world to develop a composite pipe that can handle the
pressure at that enormous depth. It weighs ninety percent less than steel and subsequently
allows our customers to explore and produce in deeper waters.’ The pipe is made of fibres and
plastics that are welded together, layer by layer. A 2.5 km long pipe sits on a 10m by 9m reel,
which in essence is bigger than a house. Van Onna: ‘The pipe is strong, but can still be rolled
up.’ The pipes are also used in shallow waters. ‘Steel is not only heavy; it is also susceptible to
corrosion. Our pipes prevent oil leaks.’
www.airborneinternational.com
Safe chemical transportHow can you prevent accidents during the transport of chemical commodities by rail?
The petrochemical company SABIC has invested extensively in safety during recent years. In 2011,
the company received the Responsible Care Award from the Association of the Dutch Chemical Industry
(VNCI) in recognition of its efforts in making the transport of dangerous goods as safe as possible.
SABIC employs safety policies that go beyond that required by law. As such, SABIC developed a local
Rail Safety Policy that must be satisfied by all carriers affiliated with the company. SABIC also had
its entire fleet of (rented) tank wagons outfitted with crash buffers, which are designed to absorb
the impact in head-on train collisions. Currently, in addition to innovation, SABIC is also investing in
environmental sustainability and in sustainability in terms of employment. According to spokesperson
Simona Maassen, the chemical company is in the process of upgrading its ‘naphtha cracker’. ‘A €100
million-plus investment project designed to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions by up to
eight percent.’ www.sabic-europe.com/_en
The power of waterThe perfect adhesive has strong bonding abilities, but is still environmentally-friendly.
Many adhesive types do, however, contain solvents that are harmful to one’s health and to
the environment. SABA of Dinxperlo produces sustainable water-based adhesives,
and they are getting better. SABA's 'healthy' adhesive is especially in demand by furniture and
mattress manufacturers. ‘Solvents are not prohibited, but as a company, one does have the
responsibility to limit their use’, says Research & Development Manager, Ruud de Block. In its
quest for the perfect adhesive, SABA worked with polymer, additive and resin suppliers.
The company succeeded in achieving a high bonding strength through a reaction in the
spray gun nozzle. As a result, the spray adhesive bonds better to wood and plastic. Besides
new spray adhesives, SABA also developed a new hot-melt glue, which is better for the
environment as it runs into the right place immediately and does so with precision.
www.saba.nl
All of the hidden values of urine Anyone who flushes after urinating, is flushing a lot of natural
waste products containing raw materials down the drain. This is a
pity, because urine contains nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
The Dutch company GMB BioEnergy BV, along with SaNiPhos, have
developed a nutrient installation that extracts fertiliser from human
urine. The installation consists of a 50,000 litre storage tank for
urine. SaNiPhos can process five million litres of urine, or thirty
million flushes per year. One m3 of pure urine yields about 3 kg of
struvite for processing into fertiliser granules, and 40 kg of liquid
ammonium sulphate for use as nitrogen-rich sulphur fertiliser in the
agriculture industry. SaNiPhos is dependent on pure urine. Previously
designed toilet and flushing systems are carefully developed for new
construction projects. In the meantime, GMB purchases residual
urine from large scale festival organisers that use portable toilets.
‘Phosphorus is necessary for growth and flowering, and because it is
a raw material, ‘depleted is depleted’. Technology and Development
Manager, Martin Wilschut, emphasises the importance of sustainable
phosphorus extraction, in view of the latter. ‘Currently, you can recover
useful substances from urine that would otherwise end up diluted in
the wastewater treatment plant where significant energy would be
required to extract these nutrients from the vast wastewater stream.’
www.gmb-international.eu
14 Chemical industry
They stand side by side in the laboratories. Dutch scientists and entrepreneurs in small and
medium-sized companies are working together more and more often, and this is a win-win
situation that affords companies access to the latest knowledge and allows universities to
capitalise on knowledge and technology. This form of cooperation is the engine of the 'green
growth model' for the chemical industry. ‘Innovation has secured my company's future’,
says one of the pioneers.
Turning knowledge and expertise to profit
Into the Future
Photo: source Latexfalt
Chemical industry 15
Turning knowledge and expertise to profit
Bert Jan Lommerts, General Manager of Latexfalt, places a call from the car. ‘Can you hear how quiet it is? The tires make virtually no sound.’ Lommerts is driving on the A12, the vital east-west route in the middle of the Netherlands. The Porous Asphalt Concrete (PAC) from which the motorway is made contains surface binders manufactured by his company. The road surface is durable and quiet - important properties in the densely populated Netherlands - and it can cope with vast amounts of rainwater very quickly. The latter is by no means a luxury, given the climate of the country on the North Sea.
a model for collaborationLatexfalt makes bitumen and polymer-based road and floor finishing systems, which are also found in the thousands of kilometres of coloured bike paths in the Netherlands. Latexfalt has also developed a solvent-free wear layer, thanks to the collaboration with researchers from different universities. ‘Innovation has secured my company's future’, says Lommerts. Latexfalt is also a trailblazer for an entirely different reason. The way in which the company has been working together with several universities in the Netherlands for almost ten years serves as a model for collaboration between companies and knowledge institutes. Each week, three Latexfalt employees conduct one day of research at either the Utrecht University, with the professor of inorganic chemistry and catalysis, Bert Weckhuysen, or at the universities of Eindhoven or Delft. international high potentialsThe benefits for Latexfalt are obvious. Bert Jan Lommerts' company gets access to knowledge and advanced test equipment that would otherwise be inaccessible to the company's eighty employees. What do the researchers gain, however, from dealing with people from the industry? ‘Valorisation is becoming increasingly important’, explains Bert Weckhuysen. ‘That is, the transfer of knowledge to society and industry. This occurs in a natural way in the collaboration with Latexfalt.’ The collaboration between Lommerts and Weckhuysen came about a few years ago without any incentive arrangement. ‘At my initiative’, says Lommerts. ‘I saw the innovative potential for my company and I went looking for high potentials who felt at home in both worlds. It turned into a colourful international company with diverse people with Romanian, Moroccan, Belgian and Iranian roots. I was also looking for scientists who were open to collaboration.’
a boost for innovationIt was anything but easy, since Latexfalt had yet to make a name for itself. Lommerts: ‘I believe SMEs are a good fit for young researchers. The same is not true in large companies, where you must have a PhD to work in the laboratory. After a few years, you might come into contact with a customer for the first time. But for many SMEs, the step to science is still not that obvious.’ That is why Lommerts and Weckhuysen are both part of the Chemical Industry Top Team, focussing their efforts on encouraging collaboration between SMEs and academia. The ‘green growth model’ designed for the chemical industry is based on innovation. Entrepreneurs and researchers are encouraged to cooperate via innovation contracts and ‘innovation vouchers’ for SMEs. Industry, academia and government are jointly involved in four Top Consortia for Knowledge and Innovation, which focus on new chemical innovation, biobased economy, smart polymers and process technology, among other things. Weckhuysen is also involved in the public-private research project, Catchbio, for the conversion of biomass to fuels, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
Fastest way to the marketThe Dutch chemical industry consists of 1,000 and 1,500 companies with fewer than two hundred employees. An estimated ten percent has the expertise to work with scientists over a prolonged period. Weckhuysen: ‘Large companies have significant resources to conduct their own research and attract young scientists. For us as researchers, working with smaller companies, whose employees are very close to relevant social developments, is also important. We share the risks but also the results.’ Lommerts believes that those results are often visible more quickly. ‘Large companies throw millions of Euros at this and go for the blockbusters, but the development time is long. As SMEs, we introduce entrepreneurship, targeted and flexible - innovations with a smaller market potential are also interesting for SMEs. We can also deliver them much faster in the market.’ Where will the road end for Latexfalt? ‘We are working on setting up Latexfalt China. This will be an exact copy of our company. We are not personally involved in the process, merely the licence provider. I prefer to focus on increasing the sustainability of our product range in collaboration with Berth Weckhuysen and his colleagues.’
Bert Weckhuysen is Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis at the Utrecht University and Scientific Director of CatchBio.(Chemical Industry Top Team member)
Bert Jan Lommerts: is General Manager of Latexfalt, manufacturer of bitumen and polymer-based road and floor finishing systems.(Chemical Industry Top Team member)
www.catchbio.com www.latexfalt.com
16 Chemical industry
Innovation
Green campus grows organically
Silent innovation through education
Sustainable ambitions all the way to Brazil
The southern Dutch city of Bergen op Zoom, between the world ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, Belgium, has a long history in the production of synthetic materials. Something new is growing in the shadow of Sabic's large plant: a community of businesses in chemicals and agri-culture, working on new product development. The Green Chemistry Campus.Since its opening, ten small and large companies and knowledge institutes, including the TNO and Avans College, have joined the ranks to take advantage of the knowledge exchange, open innovation and facilities that are not ac-cessible to all SMEs, including a state-of-the-art laboratory. www.greenchemistrycampus.nl
The Netherlands is on its way to gaining a place in the top three smart material-producing countries. The Dutch Polymer Institute (DPI) is a public-private research centre specialising in pre-competitive research of polymers and their application. Since 1997, DPI has been combining scientific knowledge with the need for innovation in the industry. Worldwide, about two hundred researchers are working on DPI projects. ‘Educating young people and the connection of education to the employment market is the biggest silent innovation’, says DPI Director, Jacques Joosten. ‘That a company like Sabic carries out its R&D in the Netherlands, is partly due to the network that is in place. Foreign companies are able to hook up with us quickly.’ www.polymers.nl
In 2012, TU Delft and BE-Basic festively opened an office in Brazil, not far from the University of Campinas , and the Prince of Orange had the honour of cutting the ribbon. ‘The Netherlands is strong in chemistry and energy and is looking to move to sustainable production methods’, said Luuk van der Wielen on that occasion. He is professor of Biobased Economy and Managing Director of BE-Basic, a consortium of companies and academia operating in sustainable energy and ecology. ‘Brazil has vast knowledge and experience in the production of bioethanol and food. A permanent establishment strengthens the collaboration on biobased innovation for sustainable energy and chemicals.’ www.be-basic.org
Chemical industry 17
The land of green chemicals
a process accelerator for innovation
Self-assembly of molecules into new structures and materials. Gas from biomass. Sustainable chemical production.Plenty of challenges for companies and researchers in the Netherlands, which is looking to position itself as the country of green chemicals in 2050. Together, researchers can submit research projects to four chemical Top Consortia for Knowledge and Innovation (TKI), including the TKI New Chemical Innovations. There is a need for small, successful collaboration programmes for relevant research and green innovation. There are different forms of financing, but the more involved the industry is in the research, the more it contributes. www.nwo.nl/cw
When it comes to a sustainable future agenda, the Chemicals Industry draws a tie with other Dutch Top Sectors, such as Agri-food and Energy. More than fifty companies, which seek to innovate in processing, have become affiliated with the Institute for Sustain-able Process Technology (ISPT). The projects implemented under the umbrella of the ISPT, link the technology needs of companies to the knowledge of universities and colleges. What is special about ISPT is that ‘various types of companies from various industries are on board’, says Director Tjeerd Jongsma. Agro raw materials are used in chemicals, food or energy. ‘As such, you can also put biobased thinking on the economic map.’ www.ispt.eu
more than an industrial park
Government, industry and academia also work together in other coun-tries, but nowhere is the emphasis on open innovation as strong as in the Netherlands. It is one of the success factors for Chemelot Campus and Industrial Park in Geleen: accelerated business growth through the open exchange of ideas. A 'chemical and materials community' of small and large chemical companies, which, as a result of joining forces, have access to knowledge and expertise that are otherwise available only to large organisations. The park is home to amongst others Sabic, DSM and Sekisui S-Lec. On the campus, some thousand knowledge workers are working on new products, applications, pro-duction processes and education. www.chemelot.nl
Photo: source Chemelot
18 Chemical industry
Global Issues
Customer is technology partner For major companies, working in partnerships is equally important as for SMEs. Akzo Nobel
is the largest global paint and coating company, and a leading producer of specialty chemicals.
The company focuses on strategic partnerships. ‘We harness our sustainable solutions to contribute
to our customers' success’, says Vincent van der Laan of Akzo Nobel. Sometimes innovation comes
from unexpected sources.
Photo: Akzo Nobel
Chemical industry 19
Vincent van der Laan is the Global Marketing Specialist at Akzo Nobel Automotive & Aerospace Coatings.
You see it happen every two years, when the Dutch football team participates in a major match. The whole country turns orange, the colour of the Dutch royal family and the shirts of the national team. Orange flags on houses, orange banners hung between lampposts, orange ribbons and balls on car antennas.
after the euphoriaThis typical Dutch phenomenon led the researchers of the business unit Automotive & Aerospace Coatings to an idea a few years ago. Develop an orange paint that can be temporarily sprayed on cars and then peeled right back off after the euphoria dies down. No damage may come to the environment as a result, since it is all in the spirit of fun.
Peelable coatingThis discovery constituted the basis for peelable coating, which has since been developed to camouflage vehicles during peacekeeping missions and in war situations. The coating can be applied in any colour, from forest green to desert sand. After a mission, you can simply peel the coating right back off. The peelable paint protects not only the vehicle but also the personnel. It dries faster, is more environmentally-friendly than conventional paint and comes in a matte finish, making vehicles more difficult to detect. ‘New discoveries sometimes lead to unexpected applications’, says Global Marketing Specialist Vincent van der Laan of Akzo Nobel Automotive & Aerospace Coatings.
Technology partners But you surely don't make a product before you know there is a demand for it? ‘On the contrary, our company is close to the market and we work closely with customers here at home and abroad, in order to develop products that are needed. That is a form of collaboration we intend to develop further in the future. We are the technology partner of the McLaren Group Formula 1, for example.’
at the top of the sustainability index‘That may not sound very sustainable but in that world, everything revolves around reducing weight and resistance and thus the amount of fuel you consume. What we learn from that, we can use in coating systems for aircraft. Moreover, we are further developing the properties of the peelable paint in collaboration with the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.’
Together with airbusWith 55,000 employees worldwide, Akzo Nobel operates in more than 80 countries. The company is at the top of one of the world’s most important sustainability indexes, the Dow Jones Sustainability World Indexes. ‘We see sustainability as an opportunity. We are working on sustainable products and solutions that contribute to our customers’ success. Our Eco-premium applications are more environmentally-friendly than conventional counterparts.’
Fuel savingsThe Aerobase Base Coat / Clear Coat Technology is an example, and we are very proud of it. This product was developed within the framework of our very fruitful collaboration with the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus. We have reduced the aircraft paint drying time from ten to two hours. This saves paint shops time and energy. Moreover, there are fewer coatings required per colour and the coating is lighter. This affects the aircraft’s fuel consumption. A transparent enamel finish lends a brighter and smoother surface to the aircraft and prevents the colours from fading, ensuring that the aircraft retains its new look for a longer time. This is not only beneficial to the airline company’s brand image, but the aircraft will require fewer paint jobs during its service life. The product's performance therefore delivers indirect environmental benefits.’
www.akzonobel.com/aac
20 Chemical industry
Around the World
Cultural heritage protected with sustainable biocoating
Barcelona has been building on Sagrada Familia of Gaudi for over a hundred years, causing the porous sandstone to suffer from urban pollution. The winter frost is also a source of extensive damage. The Dutch company Bionic Technology has the solution: a sustainable water-repellent biocoating made from natural materials. The coating is UV-resistant, hydrophobic and oleophobic, easy to clean, and anti-bacterial and anti-microbial. www.bionictechnology.nl
Photo: Hollandse Hoogte
Chemical industry 21
entire greenhouse and growth conduction into compost
The Dutch family company Rodenburg has developed a highly innovative extrusion process, which they apply to produce products for the bioplastics industry, based on reclaimed side stream starch from potatoes. Rodenburg has partnerships with several companies and universities worldwide. The product Solanyl® is purchased by partners in such countries as China, Canada and Australia. For example, for manufacturing biodegradable clips for growing vegetables on the twine. When the harvest is in, the clips will simply biodegrade along with the compost. This saves horticulture customers a significant amount of work. www.biopolymers.nl
PreferredbyFIFAasproducerofartificialgrass
Nothing can ruin a sport like a poorly-kempt field. A good surface allows athletes to get the most out of their abilities. The Dutch company GreenFields develops innovative surface types for the international sports world. The world player has production facilities in South Africa, Korea, Algeria and the United Arab Emirates, and strong partnerships with producers in Australia, Russia and North America. The football association FIFA has given GreenFields the status of preferred producer in recognition of its continued efforts to provide the best playing conditions for the game and players worldwide. www.greenfields.eu
Photo: source Greenfield
Photo: source iStock
22 Chemical industry
it is not possible, they said. Yeh: ‘True. There were many sceptics when we began to make work of it, about five years ago. But you don't hear that anymore.’Siewers: ‘The technology for dyeing fabrics with CO2 already existed. A German engineer already proved that in a lab some 75 years ago. He also has the patent on it. But using the technology on an industrial scale, no one has been able to do that before us.’Yeh: ‘It had been tried. You always heard that it was coming and it did not, hence the scepticism. Moreover, the textile industry is traditionally very conservative. No one with the right mindset had ever looked into it. Customers know us as a company that is always at the forefront. We owed it to ourselves to go through with it.’Siewers: ‘We were just tenaciously creative.’
Why did you believe in it?Yeh: ‘Truth be told, I was not one hundred percent sure it would succeed. We convinced one another. It was evident that sustainability was going to play an increasingly important role, for consumers as well as for the textile industry.’Siewers: ‘I think that there was a lack of focus on textiles, that the technology was increasingly used by machine builders. The Yeh Group put that knowledge in place. At Feyecon, of which DyeCoo is a spin-off, extensive knowledge is in place about CO2, and that too, is different from previous efforts. Hence, we solved the bottlenecks and made the right choices.’Yeh: ‘There are indeed enough doctors around in Delft.’He says laughingly, ‘In that respect, I certainly was confident. I like to think that I, with my commercial instincts, have given the final push. From the beginning, we consistently provided the examples of polyester, so that the application of the technology could be further perfected. This was truly achieved in the spirit of cooperation.’
‘Waterless dyeing is a revolution’ Dyeing a kilogram of fabric produces 100-150 litres of wastewater. Engineers have long been
searching for a way to use industrial-strength liquid CO2 instead of water for this process. That is
more sustainable and economical. A combination of Dutch ingenuity and Thai entrepreneurship
made this possible. ‘We were just tenaciously creative.’
Together with Geert Woerlee, Ernst Siewers has been involved in Feyecon, of which DyeCoo is a spin-off company, from the very beginning. They met at the TU Delft. The development of a waterless textile dye with CO2 has been in the making for ten years. The research is still conducted in the university city of Delft, and the office of DyeCoo Textile Systems is located in Weesp, near Amsterdam. DyeCoo has received various international innovation awards.
www.feyecon.com
Ernst Siewers, Chief Technology Officer DyeCoo Textile Systems, Weesp/Delft
www.dyecoo.com
A Win-Win Situation
Chemical industry 23
a good combination. how did that come about?Yeh: ‘Via another Dutch company, Stork, which we had worked with nine years ago to become the first company to apply the textile inkjet printing technology directly on fabric.’Siewers: ‘Not only was Feyecon involved in the development of the first machine, a small one, but also the TU Delft and Stork. When Stork stepped aside, the Yeh Group got on board enthusiastically, and that is how DyeCoo Textile Systems came about.’Yeh: ‘You could say that it has developed into more than a business relationship. I consider some of the DyeCoo people almost as family, and much of what we do is based on trust. Here in Thailand, there are also Dutch managers for the hardware on the production site.’
What does waterless dyeing mean for the textile industry?Yeh: ‘It is the biggest revolution in a long time, and a huge step in sustainability for this industry. I am very proud that we have
the world premiere. Sustainability is becoming increasingly important to consumers, but my customers do not come to me asking for waterless-dyed fabrics. When the development was in full swing, I took the idea to the customers. The first products appeared in Adidas stores in early 2012.’Siewers: ‘The sustainability aspect was important to us from the very beginning. That was the case when Geert Woerlee, who was my graduating professor in 1998, set up Feyecon, and we went looking for CO2 applications. At that time, it was already being used for extracting materials, bitterness from hops, for example. That it would become textile, we had no way of foreseeing, much less that a global player such as Nike would participate in DyeCoo, as they did this year.’Yeh: ‘I see more possible applications for CO2 in the textile industry. I think that aside from polyester, we will also be able to apply this technology to dye cotton and nylon in the future.’
Driven by innovation, says David Yeh about the Yeh Group. In the business unit Tong Siang, located near Bangkok, sports and outdoor fabrics are manufactured for companies such as Adidas, Nike, The North Face and Puma. DryDye, the name under which Adidas promotes clothing made from waterless-dyed fabrics, is a brand of the Yeh Group. The company came into contact with the Dutch company Feyecon, specialising in CO2 applications, via Stork. Yeh Group was the first company to participate in DyeCoo Textiles Systems, a subsidiary of Feyecon.
www.yeh-group.net
David Yeh, directeur Yeh Groep, Bangkok, Thailand
Photo: source Adidas
24 Chemical industry
doing business with the dutchThe portal to doing business with the Netherlands.
Here you can find Holland information, market
information, rules and regulations. The information
centre will help match you with interesting Dutch
partners.
www.hollandtrade.com/business-information
dutch diplomatic missions and netherlands BusinessSupportOfficesProvides useful business leads and contacts
through its international network. Staff will assist
you with your trade requests or introduce you
to the various trade programmes.
www.minbuza.nl/en/services/trade-information/trade-information.html
network of innovation attachésInnovation Attachés serve as a liaison for
international collaboration with Dutch top sectors.
They are located at embassies and consulates.
www.agentschapnl.nl/en/nost
netherlands Foreign investment agency The NFIA is the first port of call for foreign
companies wishing to establish their business
in the Netherlands and to take advantage of the
Dutch business environment as a strategic base
for doing business in Europe. www.nfia.nl
dutch Top SectorsThese are the sectors in which the Netherlands
excels globally and which represent a government
priority: the Agri-food sector, Horticulture
and propagation materials, High Tech, Energy,
Logistics, the Creative Industry, Life Sciences,
Chemicals and Water.
www.government.nl/issues/entrepreneurship-and-innovation/investing-in-top-sectors
netherlands Chemical industry associationVNCI promotes the interests of the chemical
industry in the Netherlands.
www.vnci.nl/vnci/de-vnci/about-the-vnci.aspx
The Royal netherlands Chemical SocietyProfessional association for chemical industry,
life sciences, process technology and (bio)
molecular science. Knowledge sharing
is paramount.
www.kncv.nl
Bio-based economyWithin the Chemical top sector, TKI-BBE
contributes to the realisation of the biobased
economy in the Netherlands.
www.tki-bbe.nl
institute for Sustainable Process TechnologyPartnership between industry, universities and
knowledge institutes aimed at expediting
innovations.
www.ispt.nl
dutch Polymer institute Public-private partnership in which different
producers research polymers and their
applications.
www.polymers.nl
The association of dutch Suppliers in the oil and Gas industryIRO promotes the interests of the Dutch oil and
gas industry.
www.iro.nl
netherlands organisation for ScientificResearchNWO finances advanced university research.
By setting priorities, NWO ensures that research
addresses future needs to the maximum
extent possible.
www.nwo.nl/en/about-nwo/organisation /nwo-divisions/cw
Contact
Photo: Freek van Arkel
