Sulzer, a Swiss multinational corporation, a fluid and chemical engineering giant, has opened its latest Innovation Technology Hub (InTecH) in Singapore. This latest Sulzer InTecH is located within Singapore’s advanced manufacturing Jurong Innovation District, JTC CleanTech Three. They will be the first R&D facility in Asia, and they are the second outside of Switzerland for the 190 year old Swiss multinational corporation.
This multi-million dollar R&D facility will pioneer the development of advanced chemical engineering processes that are more precise, more efficient and use less energy. These processes range from recycling hard-to-recycle items such as polystyrene, EV batteries and lubricant oils, to the production of bio-based goods like Polylactic Acid (PLA) which is a plastic derived from renewable sources such as corn starch or sugar cane.
Sulzer R&D facility playing a part in SG Green Plan 2030
Singapore, while it’s a small country in land size, they recognise the need to take actions to tackle climate change, giving rise to the areas of sustainability, recycling and renewable sectors, as well as how we want to work and live, known as the SG Green Plan 2030.
Sulzer R&D facility is playing their part in SG Green Plan 2030, as they will boost Singapore’s efforts to become a leading regional centre for R&D into new sustainability solutions under the SG Green Plan 2030.
Clients in Asia would benefit greatly with the location of Sulzer InTecH R&D facility in Singapore, in the past, they would have to work with Sulzer’s R&D facility in Switzerland to develop new chemical engineering processes. Now, they can speed things up with the InTecH R&D facility in Singapore. Sulzer has invested over S$10 million into the facility and aims to grow its local team of 150 by 20 to 30 staff over the next 3 years.
Sulzer is a leader for chemical engineering within this region. With the presence of InTecH R&D facility in Singapore, it further cements their standing, as well as supplementing their 39 year long history in Singapore of supplying engineering components, polymer production equipment and distillation equipment for industries like oil & gas power generation.
Revolutionising the Green Tech landscape in Southeast Asia
The Green Tech landscape in Southeast Asia has gained significant momentum over the years with the world economy recognising the urgent need to address climate change and taking the necessary actions in this area, giving rise to sustainability, recycling and renewable sectors of change and growth.
Dr Suzanne Thoma, Chief Executive Officer of Sulzer, said: “InTecH Chemical Processes Singapore is poised to revolutionise the Green Tech landscape in Southeast Asia. Our state-of-the-art R&D facility provides unparalleled access to cutting-edge technologies, empowering manufacturers and processors to innovate and produce eco-efficient, high-quality products. This opening marks a significant step in shaping the future of sustainable technology in the region.”
Sulzer InTecH is located within Singapore’s advanced manufacturing Jurong Innovation District, JTC CleanTech Three. The InTecH R&D facility features state-of-the-art equipment, including a 9-storey high fractional distillation tower – It’s the tallest for a research facility in Asia! This R&D facility was built over 10 months and will help drive the growth of companies that are planning to enter into economically non-viable recycling and higher-yield, bio-based production.
The infrastructure at Sulzer InTecH R&D facility is equipped with a comprehensive suite of fluid separation facilities and analytical equipment. They are featuring Sulzer’s proprietary technologies for thermal separation of chemical components, including liquid-liquid extraction and falling-film crystallisation, integrated with advanced chemical analysis techniques to identify and measure compounds after processing.
Sulzer can offer end-to-end services to a broader client base in Asia with its InTecH R&D facility and capabilities, including those companies in the pharmaceutical and biofuel industries. They can offer development and stress-testing of new cutting-edge solutions, chemical analysis, as well as the consultancy for engineering, and construction of a new processing plant.
World is changing and Sulzer is ready for the challenge ahead
At the recent media conference for the opening of Sulzer InTecH in Singapore, we gained knowledge and insights into Sulzer’s expertise in chemical engineering, technology and innovation, and the R&D it has, combining together to provide chemtech business models and solutions for there clients from various industries.
The area that caught my attention was on Sulzer areas of renewable solutions to address the crucial challenges that world is facing, on sustainability challenges, catering to a rise and demand in the renewable, recycling and sustainability areas.
World is changing and Sulzer is ready for the challenge ahead, with its chemical engineering leadership, expertise and knowledge, its technology and innovation, and in their R&D to meet the changing world’s needs and changes on sustainability and new energy sources.