Wednesday - September 21, 2011
Factory of the future
Bayer and TU Dortmund University open the INVITE research center
Managing Director Dr. Thomas Bieringer presents new concept for production of active ingredients
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| INVITE Managing Director Dr. Thomas Bieringer shows the highlight of a new modular production container: This High-intensity mixer has a capacity of 200 tons/year |
Speaking before more than 100 invited guests from the industrial, political and scientific communities at the start of the event, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Plischke, Bayer Management Board member responsible for Innovation, Technology and Environment, said, “The only way we can achieve significant additional improvements in sustainability and resource conservation in production processes is by using completely new technologies.”
The results of the research projects will not only be put into practice, they will also be provided to students and graduates participating in initial and continuing education programs, who will be able to take a first-hand look at world-class science and research during future visits to the INVITE research center.
“At INVITE, institutions of higher learning and industrial partners join forces to develop innovative technologies more efficiently than ever before, and do so under realistic industrial conditions. Our students also benefit from the practice-oriented instruction and project work at INVITE,” said Prof. Dr. Ursula Gather, president of TU Dortmund University, underscoring the significance of the 50:50 joint venture between Bayer Technology Services and TU Dortmund University.
The groundbreaking for the research facility, which was funded in part by the German federal government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia with EUR 5 million from Economic Stimulus Package II, took place in October 2010. Bayer, TU Dortmund University and the state invested a total of EUR 6.5 million in the project, which will employ more than 20 people in the over 800-square meter facility comprising a technical center, laboratories and office space.
TU Dortmund University is one of Europe’s foremost universities for biological and chemical engineering and has a long history of collaboration with Bayer on numerous research and development projects. One of the first projects to take advantage of the INVITE infrastructure is the EU-funded “F3 Factory” project. F3 stands for Fast, Flexible, Future. This project marks the first time that 25 partners, including seven of the leading European chemical companies, have put aside their own competing interests to combine the advantages of larger, better optimized plants with those of smaller, more flexible plants. The idea is to build chemical factories according to a modular principle. Modular standard apparatus are consolidated into containers, which can then be connected in series to form a complete plant. Both stakeholders of INVITE GmbH are participants in F3 Factory, a EUR 30 million research project coordinated by Bayer Technology Services.
Other cross-sector research projects under the INVITE umbrella involve new, modular production methods for biotechnology. The scientists are also focusing their efforts on innovative means of reacting and using carbon dioxide.
For more information, see www.invite-research.com.
About Bayer Technology Services
Bayer Technology Services offers fully-integrated solutions along the life cycle of chemical/pharmaceutical plants – from development through engineering and construction to process optimization for existing plants. The Bayer subsidiary employs 2,700 people worldwide at its headquarters in Leverkusen and other German locations, as well as in regional offices in Belgium, Brazil, India, Mexico, the People’s Republic of China, Russia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. 2010 sales totaled approximately EUR 420 million. Additional information about Bayer Technology Services is available at www.bayertechnology.com.
About TU Dortmund University
Established roughly 40 years ago, TU Dortmund University has distinguished itself through the interdisciplinary collaboration of 16 departments in the natural and engineering sciences, social sciences and cultural sciences. Research at TU Dortmund University enjoys a particularly high profile both nationally and internationally in the areas of Production and Logistics, Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Modeling, Simulation and Optimization of Complex Processes and Systems and in Youth, Schools and Education Research. TU Dortmund University offers a comprehensive range of more than 60 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs as well as teacher training in a wide variety of subjects. Some 25,000 students, 300 professors and 3,400 employees learn, conduct research and work at TU Dortmund University. Additional information about TU Dortmund University is available at www.tu-dortmund.de.
Information for editors:
Photos are available for download at www.press.bayer.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
Copyright @ Bayer AG
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