Sulzer is a global leader in fluid engineering. We specialize in pumping, agitation, mixing, separation and purification technologies for fluids of all types. Our customers benefit from our commitment to innovation, performance and quality and from our responsive network of 180 world-class manufacturing facilities and service centers across the globe. Sulzer has been headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland, since 1834.
Sulzer’s core strengths are flow control and applicators. We specialize in pumping solutions and services for rotating equipment, as well as separation, mixing and application technology.
The Chemtech division is represented in all important industrial countries and sets standards in the field of mass transfer and static mixing with its advanced and innovative solutions. The product offering ranges from process components to complete separation process plants and application technologies. We are the market leader in providing monomer and polymer production technology for poly-lactic acid (PLA) and devolatilization technology for effective removal of residuals. Most of the industrial plants producing the biopolymer PLA are based on Sulzer technology and/or Sulzer process licenses.
The customer support covers engineering services for separation and reaction technology and tower field services to perform tray and packing installation, tower maintenance, welding, and plant turnaround projects. Sulzer customers benefit from a network of over 180 production and service sites around the world.
Sulzer has been headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland, since 1834. In 2017, we achieved sales of roughly CHF 3 billion with around 14’700 employees. Our shares are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: SUN)
Bio-based, recycling & carbon capture
Mitigating climate change, protecting our limited natural resources, combatting environmental pollution; challenges like these are shaping the global agenda at a breathtaking pace. Sulzer Chemtech is providing a wide range of circular solutions to curb the increasing climate emissions while simultaneously tackling the global plastic waste challenge. Our portfolio of applications includes biopolymers, textile and plastics recycling, bio-based applications, and carbon capture and utilization.
Biopolymers
The detrimental impacts throughout the life cycle of fossil fuel-based plastics in the form of land and water pollution, carbon emissions and toxins released upon incineration underline the need for alternative biopolymers made from renewable resources. Biopolymers like polylactic acid (PLA) and polyethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate (PEF) provide a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic materials. In contrast to fossil-based plastics, these materials are made from renewable feedstocks such as sugars, starches or agricultural waste.
Polylactic acid (PLA)
Cutting edge production for biopolymer
PLA is a bio-based, bio-compostable and 100% recyclable biopolymer produced from renewable feedstock like sugar beet, sugar cane, wheat or maize. Due to technological developments and optimizations of the processes, we offer skid mounted lactide to PLA plants or integrated solutions from sugars to PLA thanks to our PLAnet(TM) alliance.
Main benefits
The main advantages of this state-of-the-art PLA technology are:
Highly efficient polymerization process using Sulzer Mixing Reactors (SMRTM) systems
Fast product transitions between different PLA grades due to short residence time
Operational flexibility to produce different PLA grades with different molecular weights
Compact-sized plants
Straight-forward scalability to bigger plant sizes of up to 100 kt/a
Precise reaction temperature control thanks to the equipment geometry and inserts allowing an efficient energy dissipation
Perfect melt mixing thanks to the unique geometry of the reactors
Low maintenance costs due to installation of mainly static equipment
Main applications
Thermoforming: packaging for food industry, glasses, straws
Fibers and non-wovens: t-shirts, blankets, carpets
Film: single use gloves, bags, agricultural films
Injection Molding: computer cases, cutlery, car parts
Bottles: detergent or beverage
Rotomolding: car and machine parts
3D printing: filament for 3D printers
Together with its partners Futerro and Technip Energies, a seamless technology starting from sugars. Such biopolymer is available on commodity markets, such as packaging, disposable and single use objects, fibers and more tailored on the Clients’ needs. Please find out more about what PLAnetTM can offer you by clicking here.
Build a PLAnet™ with sustainable bioplastics
Futerro, Sulzer and TechnipFMC team up to simplify the manufacture of bioplastics. Three major process technology and equipment specialists, Futerro, Sulzer and TechnipFMC, have formed the PLAnet™ initiative in equal partnership to promote the production of sustainable plastics made of Poly-Lactic Acid (PLA). The strategic collaboration will support manufacturers interested in entering the bioplastic market by delivering integrated PLA technology packages.
HQ : Switzerland
