Interview with Uwe Boltersdorf, former Division President Chemtech | Sulzer

ACHEMA Inspire: Sulzer Chemtech operates manufacturing sites in China, India, Mexico, and Korea – what plans for the European market?

• __Uwe Boltersdorf: Europe remains a key market for Sulzer Chemtech. It’s home to not only our headquarters but also our world-class testing facilities in Winterthur, numerous experts in operation technologies and strong business partners. Over the past few years, we’ve also been intensifying our investment across the region at sites such as our new service centre in Essen. This facility enhances our ability to help regional customers with manufacturing as well as advanced service and repair capabilities, whilst also incorporating state-of-the-art digital technologies for improved efficiency and reduced downtime.

ACHEMA Inspire: You have a strong portfolio already, so where next for the Chemtech division?

• __Uwe Boltersdorf: We always have a very strong focus on sustainability, but we also appreciate that our customers need to remain competitive if they’re going to be able to implement these products and processes. That is why we work to maximise efficiency, performance, and productivity by default.
  In terms of our portfolio of chemical processing and separation technologies, I’d agree that is very strong, so thank you! Beyond maintaining the strength of our products and components, we are equally focused on enhancing our R&D and service offerings. This enables us to deliver comprehensive, end-to-end solutions to our customers.
  We also offer licensing opportunities for cutting edge chemical processes, empowering other companies to produce biofuels, synthetic aviation fuels, as well as biodegradable and bio-based polymers. For instance, our solutions for the production of bioplastics, such as PLA, who are increasingly replacing traditional polymers within various applications, including packaging.
  Our profound industry knowledge helps us to recognise and meet all of our customers’ needs for both competitiveness and sustainability. This commitment is reflected in our advanced mass transfer components, which support global businesses in adopting more environmentally friendly practices.
  Last year, we also further expanded our licensed technology portfolio to include SULAC, a novel process solution for PLA production, designed to meet the growing market demand for this biopolymer and promote the adoption of more sustainable, high-quality plastics.

ACHEMA Inspire: This followed last year’s launch of your CAPSUL technology. How much of a priority is bioplastics for you?

• __Uwe Boltersdorf: You don’t need to look further than the latest headlines or a stroll along any littered beach to understand the urgency of addressing plastic waste. That’s why the development of biodegradable polymers like our CAPSUL technology is a key focus for us. CAPSUL facilitates the continuous production of polycaprolactone (PCL), a biodegradable polyester.
  By making it possible to produce PCL on a larger scale from both traditional and renewable resources, we allow industry stakeholders to enhance their sustainability efforts while also gaining a competitive advantage.

ACHEMA Inspire: You are also known for your energy efficiency initiatives. Can you expand on what that means in practical terms?

• __Uwe Boltersdorf: Our technologies are designed to support more efficient processing, but we also look to optimise resource utilisation and reduce waste on a wider scale. For example, our mass transfer technologies are utilised by Messer Group, the world’s largest, privately owned industrial gas specialist, in partnership with a leading manufacturer of inorganic chemicals. Together, we’ve enabled innovative carbon capture and utilisation at a facility in Landeck, Austria.
  This technology has successfully captured over 50,000 tons of CO₂ annually, which is then reused not only in the food and beverage sector but also by other industries in the region. What makes this project particularly noteworthy is the collaboration between the plant operator and the technology licensor, both leaders in their markets and our long-term partners. This project exemplifies our commitment to partnership and sustainable outcomes. Moreover, it proves that scaling up such technologies is feasible and commercially beneficial.

ACHEMA Inspire: Am I right in thinking your solution also offers a significant cost benefit?

• __Uwe Boltersdorf: Absolutely. Our MellapakCC structured packing system enhances the absorption of carbon dioxide from flue-gas streams in fossil-fuel power plants. It has been proven to significantly reduce both the size of the necessary equipment and the pressure-drop across the carbon dioxide absorber, leading to lower capital and operational costs.

ACHEMA Inspire: And you’ve quite a reputation for growing your own technology?

• __Uwe Boltersdorf: Indeed, our growth has been largely organic, driven by continuous innovation and deep collaboration with our customers. We actively invest in developing our technologies. For instance, we’ve established multiple test units across our research centres, allowing our customers to directly engage with and evaluate our technologies on-site.
  Take, for example, our new InTecH site in Singapore. This facility focuses on refining chemical separation processes for sustainable practices like polymer recycling and the production of bio-based fuels. It also positions us to better anticipate and meet evolving market demands, enhance sustainable manufacturing capabilities, and strengthen our relationships with local customers and potential partners in a strategically important region.

ACHEMA Inspire: And how does that relate to products?

• __Uwe Boltersdorf: Our team is continuously working on innovative projects. Currently, we are developing mobile service units that enable us to bring our technologies directly to our customers’ sites. This approach not only enhances trust but also allows us to address their needs more promptly and effectively, reinforcing our commitment to customer proximity and sustainability.
  But while it’s sustainability-focused topics such as carbon capture and bioplastics that are driving us forward, we are continuing to develop our traditional solutions across a range of operations that can improve efficiency and environmental performance. These include distillation, phase separation, absorption, evaporation, liquid-liquid extraction, stripping, and crystallization.

ACHEMA Inspire: How do you prioritise sustainability driven businesses?

• __Uwe Boltersdorf: We target sustainability-driven initiatives with a significant percentage of our investment and have every reason to expect this number to grow.
  Otherwise, we remain committed to leveraging our R&D expertise to tackle environmental challenges with an array of clean-tech solutions.