Degussa brings catalysis activities under one roof
Degussa has brought all its catalysis activities together in a new catalysis competence centre at its Hanau-Wolfgang site near Frankfurt. Eighty-five employees are now working in 12 state-of-the-art laboratories and one pilot plant to develop new catalysts and catalytic processes in the fields of homogeneous catalysis, heterogeneous catalysis and biocatalysis.
By bundling all three major catalyst disciplines used in chemical manufacturing processes, the Centre covers the entire value-added chain of catalyst development. 'The combination of homogeneous, heterogeneous and biocatalysis is unique. We are the only company that has equal expertise in all three catalyst disciplines,' said Dr Alfred Oberholz, the Degussa management board member responsible for research and development. 'Overall, this gives us a greater degree of freedom, because it allows Degussa to select the most suitable discipline of the three for a particular chemical synthesis.'
Degussa has invested some €54.5m in catalysis since 2001: €9.5m in the Catalysis Competence Centre and another €45m in the Biotechnology and Catalysis Project Houses, which have been concluded. The technologies developed there are now combined in the new Centre. They will be marketed by the Biocatalysis Service Centre, the internal start-up Degussa Homogeneous Catalysts, and the Exclusive Synthesis & Catalysts Business Unit.
An essential component of this service is co-operation with universities and research institutes. 'This is why our new centre is also a symbol of networking,' said Dr Bernhard Hofmann, executive vice president and head of the fine & industrial chemicals division. 'It is a powerful mediator between the latest scientific findings and the needs of our customers.'