made in holland

CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
Gateway to Europe Innovative solutions Smart polymeric materials
Biobased economy Process technology Revolutionary science and education

Chemical industry

The Dutch Way

Photo: Marijke Volkers

Great expectations
Everything about Rotterdam is big, with its almost
un-Dutch-like skyline of residential and office buildings.
But it is the immense logistical network of roads, railways,
waterways and pipelines that makes a lasting impression
and speaks of great ambition: being and remaining the
transit port of Europe. This, no doubt, is old news to the
many international chemical conglomerates that have
long made Rotterdam their home away from home, and
it certainly comes as no surprise, given that they have
the Ruhr area in their backyard and all major European
companies but a stone's throw away. One of the largest
in the world, the port of Rotterdam is the chemical
gateway to Europe.
www.portofrotterdam.com

Chemical industry

Welcome
Activate. React. Convert. The Dutch chemical industry owes its success to creating strong
synergies: between multinationals and SMEs, researchers and entrepreneurs, societal issues and
green solutions. This brochure offers a fine opportunity to learn about the innovative chemical
industry in the Netherlands. You likely already know the big players, such as Akzo Nobel,
DSM and Shell, but did you know that a large number of Dutch SMEs are involved in
groundbreaking innovations that will deliver a significant boost to the economy in the coming
years? These companies benefit from the fruitful cooperation between industry, academia
and government in the Netherlands, which contributes to an export-driven climate and
high-level education, research and open research. Not to mention the geographical location of
the Netherlands as gateway to Europe, an excellent logistical network and attractive investment
climate. Get the synergy. The chemistry is already there.

made in holland
chemical industry
4

In the Spotlight

16 Innovation

This is the Dutch chemical industry

Formulas for global success

Substances of importance

Facts and Figures

18 Global Issues

10

Interview

20 Around the World

Green gateway to Europe

Even Akzo Nobel doesn't go it alone

Inspiration straight from the source

14 Into the Future

24

12 Best Practices

Sharing risks and results

22 A Win-Win Situation

From artificial grass to heritage protection

Super-efficient clothing dyes

Contact

Get in touch

About this publication, Made in Holland; Chemical Industry (March 2013) is a publication issued by NL Agency, which is part of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. Commissioned by The
Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Editorial address NL Agency / Made in Holland, PO Box 20105, 2500 EC The Hague, The Netherlands, madeinholland@info.agentschapnl.nl Editor-in-Chief
Carin Bobeldijk Final editor Sonja Haase Editing Kris Kras Design, Rosali de Hart, Werner Bossmann, Donald Macdonald, Jacqueline Meeuwisse Cover photo Freek van Arkel Contributors
Ministry of Economic Affairs, Secretariat Top Sector Chemical Sector, NL Agency Concept, design and art direction Kris Kras Design, Utrecht Translation Concorde Group, Amstelveen.

Copyright Articles may be reprinted or reproduced only with acknowledgement of the source: Made in Holland / NL Agency. No rights may be derived from the contents of this publication.

Chemical industry

In the Spotlight
Photo: Hollandse Hoogte

Chemical industry

Photo: source Shell

Base chemicals: the base must be good

The Netherlands from the air: a complex and advanced network
of rivers, canals, motorways and bike paths. The infrastructure
in the Dutch chemical industry can certainly measure up to
it. The Netherlands is specialised in adding value to chemical
substances and transporting them: from one of the largest
global petrochemical production sites in Rotterdam to the
European hinterland, and beyond.
Major chemical companies benefit from the geographic
location of the Netherlands as a gateway to the continent.
The same is true for the short distances in the Netherlands,
where researchers, developers and suppliers are always
just around the corner, and where production facilities with

substantial capacity are available. More than 50% of the Dutch

chemical industrys revenue comes from the production of
base chemicals. Nineteen of the twenty-five largest chemical
companies are headquartered in the Netherlands. Royal Dutch
Shell is one of them and has successfully positioned itself on
the global market as a major player, with unerring attention to
detail and advanced technology. The deployment of nanoflow
reactors and automation at Shell Chemicals accelerates the
development time of chemical products, resulting in faster
delivery of products to the market. Moreover, work is carried
out more precisely. Macro working, nano thinking.

High-performance materials: sustainable success

Industry, academia and government work closely together
within the Dutch chemical industry. They consistently foster
cooperation to keep the industry competitive in the future.
That consultation model is proudly referred to as 'the golden
triangle'. Multiple combinations are always possible within the
chemical industry. What do you get when you add the category
of designers? Amazing results, in some cases, as is evident
with the new addition to the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.
Chemistry allowed for the realisation of the acclaimed design
for the Dutch architect firm, Benthem Crouwel. The model and
synthetic structure are the reasons why the museum building

is popularly referred to as The Bathtub. It contains a composite

that includes Twaron, an aramid fibre developed by Teijin Aramid. The super fibre renders the materials durable, extending
their service life. Its application ties in with the development of
sustainable construction policies. The design and application of
high-performance materials is a special focal point of the Dutch
chemical industry, which aims to position itself as leader in the
development of such smart materials.

Chemical industry

In the Spotlight
Photo: source Avantium | Marijke Volkers

Chemical industry

Photo: source DSM

One in four conducts research in fine chemicals

Paint that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but lasts longer
and requires fewer coats than conventional paint. The sector
in which coating and paint manufacturers operate is called
fine chemicals. Of all sectors of the Dutch chemical industry,
the fine chemicals sector is the most focused on innovation.
Extensive research and innovation go into a product before it
is released to consumers. Furthermore, collaboration between
researchers and entrepreneurs is supported and encouraged.
It contributes to the exchange of knowledge and enables universities and knowledge institutes to put the societal relevance
of their research to the test. The Netherlands has long had

a tradition in fine chemicals, with companies such as Akzo

Nobel and DSM, which have strong Dutch roots. These major
companies exist by virtue of innovation: one in four DSM
employees engages in research. DSM Sinochem, manufacturer
of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), became the first
company to supply generic Atorvastatin Active Ingredients that
received the Certificate of Suitability of the European Pharmacopoeia (CEP). Atorvastatin is the most widely prescribed drug
for cardiovascular disease in the world.

Green chemicals: used in wide and varied applications

When you think of the Netherlands, you think of meadows,
not oil fields. A Dutch company came up with the idea to make
a soda bottle from sugars extracted from paper, wood, straw,
waste and grass. The bottle is better than the regular bottles
made from petroleum-based plastics, as the new material
allows less oxygen, water and CO2 to permeate the bottle
after it has been sealed. The product garnered recognition
for the company, Avantium. Forget the PET bottle, the future
belongs to the PEF bottle, which is made from polyethylene
furanoate: 100% biobased. This fact has not escaped The
Coca Cola Company, which entered into a partnership with
Avantium. One of the benefits for such large bottle consumers

is that with PEF products they are no longer dependent

on fluctuations in oil prices. Avantium is one of the many
companies in the Netherlands that utilises green chemicals in
its manufacturing processes. Such companies are put under
the proverbial magnifying glass as they will lead the way for the
future direction of the Dutch chemical industry. In 2050, the
Netherlands must be at the forefront of new, green chemicals.
The chemical industry is the industry that has the answer to
raw material scarcity and climate change issues. It can play a
vital role, for example, by working on sustainable production
processes and by switching to the use of alternative biomass
raw materials in the production of chemicals.
Chemical industry

Facts and Figures

Substances
of importance
The chemical industry accounts for 20% of the value added in the industry,
and contributes about 3% to the gross domestic product. Although many of the
chemical companies in the Netherlands, such as Akzo Nobel, DSM and Shell,
are of Dutch origin, a host of foreign companies have also set up shop here,
such as BASF, Dow, Exxon, SABIC and Teijin Aramid.

Innovation is essential

The chemical industry in the Netherlands devotes

approximately 2.5% of its revenues to in-house research
and development, which amounts to approximately
1.4 billion per year.

What chemicals
do the Dutch sell?
50%

Base chemicals

20%

Pharmaceutical products

8%

Synthetic fibres

7%

Paint, enamel, varnish, ink and mastic

6%

Soap, detergents, cleaning and maintenance products

5%

Other chemical products

4%

Agrochemicals

Chemical industry

Photo: Sanne Paul

Big in export

Approximately 80% of the chemical products manufactured in the

Netherlands are exported, and a fifth of all exported goods come
from the chemical industry.

40%

Environmentally
ambitious

The chemical industry will reduce greenhouse

gas emissions with 40% by 2030, compared to
the situation in 2005.

The Netherlands is attractive

to investors due to its:

geographical location as gateway to Europe

excellent logistical network
high-tech clusters for industrial biotechnology,
fine chemicals and high-performance materials
competitive fiscal climate
highly educated, flexible and motivated workforce
excellent infrastructure for education and science

Balance of trade

60%

The chemical industry made a positive contribution of

almost 60 billion to the balance of trade in 2012, which
was over 60% of the total balance of trade of commodities
in the Netherlands.

Chemical industry

Interview
Photo: source 500 watt/Casper Rilla

In 2050, the Netherlands

will be the world leader
in biobased chemicals
10

Chemical industry

Gerard van Harten is the chairman of the Chemical Industry Top Team. He leads the development of
international plans for the industry and is chairman of SusChem Nederland, the Dutch branch of the European
Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry. He was the chairman of the Board of Dow Benelux until late 2012.
www.government.nl/issues/entrepreneurship-and-innovation

Green gateway
to Europe
Without innovation in the chemical industry, there will be no innovation in other industries
as per Gerard van Harten, former CEO of Dow Benelux, an individual with a tendency to look at the
big picture. It is not surprising that he was asked to head up the Netherlands Chemical Industry Top
Team. The chemical industry has the answer to the societal issues involved in raw material scarcity
and climate change, says Van Harten. The Dutch industry can lead the way in the migration towards
green chemicals worldwide.
What does the future hold for the
chemical industry?
We are ambitious. The Dutch government has identified
the chemical industry as a key sector. This means that the
government, business community, universities and research
centres will collectively work on knowledge and innovation
to make an already strong industry, even stronger. In 2050
- but as soon as possible, as far as I'm concerned the Netherlands will be the world leader in green, biobased
chemicals. To achieve that goal, we, the Chemical Industry
Top Team, will bring industry, academia and government
together in order to foster cooperation. We are already
seeing the first contours of that taking shape. The Dutch
chemical industry is safe and clean; many companies accept
their social responsibility, in areas such as sustainable
production processes, use of biomass raw materials and
the elimination of harmful solvents. I am convinced that the
chemical industry has the answer to societal issues involved
in raw material scarcity and climate change.

That sounds idealistic.

Yes, and at the same time it is a growth model that ensures
that the Dutch industry retains its competitive edge in
the global market. Companies can distinguish themselves
by developing smart materials that require challenging
fundamental research. That is where industry and academia
meet. Dutch companies devote 2.5% of their revenues to
innovation through in-house research. The major players
have the money and the manpower to do that. That is why
we are looking to bring SMEs with fewer than two hundred
employees into contact with researchers at universities.
SMEs in the Netherlands are innovative and are able to bring
innovative products to market quickly. That is partly why,
together with the industry, we, the Chemical Industry Top

Team, have set up three Centres for Open Chemical Innovation

(COCI-Locations), to give start-ups a boost.

Is it difficult for entrepreneurs, government

and researchers to work together?
Not particularly. We do, after all, have something in common:
curiosity, whether you work in a multinational or have set up
a small business with a number of other students. The chemical
industry in the Netherlands is large but well-organised. Plus,
in a relatively small country such as ours, you frequently come
into contact with industry counterparts.
All partners in the production chain, including the people in
development and research, work relatively close to one another.
Companies supply one another, and we therefore need one
another. In that sense, we work as a chain. That is why every
step we take towards green chemicals has direct consequences
for the entire industry. The manner of collaboration in the
Netherlands is, in fact, designed from that perspective.
Researchers are given the opportunity to test and valorise
their knowledge and expertise in practice. Entrepreneurs
gain access to top-level scientific knowledge, and it is up to
the government to create ideal conditions and to eliminate
regulatory bottlenecks.

Nineteen of the twenty-five chemical

companies in the world are located in
the Netherlands.
Some, such as Shell and DSM, even have strong Dutch roots.
We are a knowledge-based country with a highly developed
infrastructure, specialised in public-private partnerships.
Do not forget the geographical location of the Netherlands
either: Rotterdam is the gateway to Europe, a sophisticated
consumer market of 500 million people.

Chemical industry

11

Best Practices

Green Styrofoam
You can make a product as sustainable as you like, but if you wrap it up in unsustainable
packaging, it just adds to the growing mountain of waste. Take, for example, polystyrene
or expandable polystyrene (EPS), which has been used in the packaging industry and as
insulation material in construction for fifty years. Even though it is the most commonly
recycled type of plastic, it does not always have a positive image, says director Jan
Noordegraaf of Synbra Technology, which developed an environmentally-friendly alternative.
BioFoam is a biodegradable EPS. It is produced from vegetable waste obtained from sugar
cane or cassava starch. The green-coloured BioFoam grains produce seventy percent less CO2
emission than Styrofoam, which is made from petroleum. With BioFoam, Synbra Technology
has won several awards for sustainability and innovation, including the first place in the fifth
Innovation Top 100. A ranking list from innovation network Syntens, entrepreneurs magazine
Bizz and NL patent centre. www.biofoam.nl

The green gold

Biofuels are the future. But if you produce fuel from corn or soy, it

particles of 1-100 microns. The process of separating algae and

will only add to the pressure on global food production. Algae are

water was complicated and expensive, says managing director Marco

referred to as the 'green gold'. You can extract oil from them and they

Brocken. Evodos has made it possible to harvest algae with a very

reproduce rapidly. That translates into an infinite source of fuel.

positive energy balance for a mere 100 / tonne. The algae remain

An algal pond the size of Belgium several times over is enough

alive. Evodos centrifuges are currently being used around the world

to provide the entire world with oil, according to estimates by

for the purpose of this application. The Evodos centrifuge requires no

U.S. researchers. The Dutch Evodos developed a way to produce

chemicals and consumes much less energy than other centrifuges.

sustainable algae. The company makes industrial Spiral Plate

Evodos is a partner of the Institute for Sustainable Process

Technology (SPT) centrifuges for separating matter in liquid and

Technology (ISPT). A global patent was obtained for SPT.

www.evodos.eu

Compact wastewater treatment

Water treatment plants consume much space. Wastewater treatment requires huge basins in which
the active biomass that biologically purifies the water is separated from the purified water before
it can be discharged or reused. It is a time, space and energy consuming process. In partnership
with the engineering firm Royal Haskoning DHV and the water boards (STOWA), the Delft University
of Technology developed a new purification technology called Nereda. The Nereda technology
uses a sustainable and energy-efficient process to purify wastewater in a much smaller area.
Water treatment uses bacteria, which grow rapidly in open structures, says Merle de Kreuk of TU
Delft. The conventional Active sludge in open structures is like snow. It settles slowly. The Nereda
technology ensures that the bacteria grow in clumps. This aerobic granular sludge is compact, like
hail. It settles quickly. There's no need for large tanks. The plant is much more compact as well.
The first sewage treatment plant using the Nereda technology was officially opened in Epe in 2012.
Compared to other sewage treatment plants, at least 20 percent energy savings is achieved.
www.dhv.com

Flying speed
Tether a kite to your ship and it will harness wind power to propel the ship forward at flying speed. The
tractive force of an efficient kite is similar to that of an Airbus 320 engine; it quickly delivers two megawatts
of energy, and saves a significant amount of fuel. Hence the increasing use of these natural engines in the
shipping industry. For a kite with this much tractive force, industrial strength rope is required. DSM, from the
Netherlands, produces an Ultra High Molecular weight Polyethylene Fibre, also known as Dyneema. The
strongest fibre in the world, according to DSM. Aside from kite rope in the shipping industry, Dyneema is
also used in bullet-proof vests, medical suture thread, commercial fishing nets and cut-resistant gloves.
To accelerate innovation, DSM recently acquired shares in SkySails, the company that produces kite systems
for commercial shipping. Ninety percent of the world's trade is transported by seagoing vessels that often
run on fuel oil. If all cargo vessels on earth were to fly kites, that would save up to 32 tonnes of CO2 per day.
www.dyneema.com

12

Chemical industry

Photo: Shutterstock

The power of water

The perfect adhesive has strong bonding abilities, but is still environmentally-friendly.
Many adhesive types do, however, contain solvents that are harmful to ones health and to
the environment. SABA of Dinxperlo produces sustainable water-based adhesives,
and they are getting better. SABA's 'healthy' adhesive is especially in demand by furniture and
mattress manufacturers. Solvents are not prohibited, but as a company, one does have the
responsibility to limit their use, says Research & Development Manager, Ruud de Block. In its
quest for the perfect adhesive, SABA worked with polymer, additive and resin suppliers.
The company succeeded in achieving a high bonding strength through a reaction in the
spray gun nozzle. As a result, the spray adhesive bonds better to wood and plastic. Besides
new spray adhesives, SABA also developed a new hot-melt glue, which is better for the
environment as it runs into the right place immediately and does so with precision.
www.saba.nl

Safe chemical transport

How can you prevent accidents during the transport of chemical commodities by rail?
The petrochemical company SABIC has invested extensively in safety during recent years. In 2011,
the company received the Responsible Care Award from the Association of the Dutch Chemical Industry
(VNCI) in recognition of its efforts in making the transport of dangerous goods as safe as possible.
SABIC employs safety policies that go beyond that required by law. As such, SABIC developed a local
Rail Safety Policy that must be satisfied by all carriers affiliated with the company. SABIC also had
its entire fleet of (rented) tank wagons outfitted with crash buffers, which are designed to absorb
the impact in head-on train collisions. Currently, in addition to innovation, SABIC is also investing in
environmental sustainability and in sustainability in terms of employment. According to spokesperson
Simona Maassen, the chemical company is in the process of upgrading its naphtha cracker. A 100
million-plus investment project designed to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions by up to
eight percent. www.sabic-europe.com/_en

All of the hidden values

of urine

agriculture industry. SaNiPhos is dependent on pure urine. Previously

designed toilet and flushing systems are carefully developed for new

Anyone who flushes after urinating, is flushing a lot of natural

construction projects. In the meantime, GMB purchases residual

waste products containing raw materials down the drain. This is a

urine from large scale festival organisers that use portable toilets.

pity, because urine contains nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.

Phosphorus is necessary for growth and flowering, and because it is

The Dutch company GMB BioEnergy BV, along with SaNiPhos, have

a raw material, depleted is depleted. Technology and Development

developed a nutrient installation that extracts fertiliser from human

Manager, Martin Wilschut, emphasises the importance of sustainable

urine. The installation consists of a 50,000 litre storage tank for

phosphorus extraction, in view of the latter. Currently, you can recover

urine. SaNiPhos can process five million litres of urine, or thirty

useful substances from urine that would otherwise end up diluted in

million flushes per year. One m3 of pure urine yields about 3 kg of

the wastewater treatment plant where significant energy would be

struvite for processing into fertiliser granules, and 40 kg of liquid

required to extract these nutrients from the vast wastewater stream.

ammonium sulphate for use as nitrogen-rich sulphur fertiliser in the

www.gmb-international.eu

Oil from the deepest seas

Oil is found in increasingly deeper waters. It is usually transported through steel or
conventional flexible pipelines, but these are very heavy. One steel pipe accounts for about
400 tonnes of weight on an oil platform. Airborne Oil and Gas makes pipes for the oil industry.
The strongest and lightest pipes available today, says Commercial Director Martin van Onna.
We are the first manufacturer in the world to develop a composite pipe that can handle the
pressure at that enormous depth. It weighs ninety percent less than steel and subsequently
allows our customers to explore and produce in deeper waters. The pipe is made of fibres and
plastics that are welded together, layer by layer. A 2.5 km long pipe sits on a 10m by 9m reel,
which in essence is bigger than a house. Van Onna: The pipe is strong, but can still be rolled
up. The pipes are also used in shallow waters. Steel is not only heavy; it is also susceptible to
corrosion. Our pipes prevent oil leaks.
www.airborneinternational.com

Chemical industry

13

Into the Future

Photo: source Latexfalt

Turning knowledge and expertise to profit

They stand side by side in the laboratories. Dutch scientists and entrepreneurs in small and
medium-sized companies are working together more and more often, and this is a win-win
situation that affords companies access to the latest knowledge and allows universities to
capitalise on knowledge and technology. This form of cooperation is the engine of the 'green
growth model' for the chemical industry. Innovation has secured my company's future,
says one of the pioneers.

14

Chemical industry

Bert Jan Lommerts:

is General Manager
of Latexfalt,
manufacturer of
bitumen and polymerbased road and floor
finishing systems.
(Chemical Industry
Top Team member)

Bert Weckhuysen
is Professor of
Inorganic Chemistry
and Catalysis at the
Utrecht University
and Scientific Director
of CatchBio.
(Chemical Industry
Top Team member)
b.m.weckhuysen@uu.nl

BertJan.Lommerts@latexfalt.com

www.catchbio.com

www.latexfalt.com

Bert Jan Lommerts, General Manager of Latexfalt, places a

call from the car. Can you hear how quiet it is? The tires make
virtually no sound. Lommerts is driving on the A12, the vital
east-west route in the middle of the Netherlands. The Porous
Asphalt Concrete (PAC) from which the motorway is made
contains surface binders manufactured by his company.
The road surface is durable and quiet - important properties in
the densely populated Netherlands - and it can cope
with vast amounts of rainwater very quickly. The latter is
by no means a luxury, given the climate of the country on
the North Sea.

A model for collaboration

Latexfalt makes bitumen and polymer-based road and floor
finishing systems, which are also found in the thousands of
kilometres of coloured bike paths in the Netherlands. Latexfalt
has also developed a solvent-free wear layer, thanks to the
collaboration with researchers from different universities.
Innovation has secured my company's future, says Lommerts.
Latexfalt is also a trailblazer for an entirely different reason.
The way in which the company has been working together with
several universities in the Netherlands for almost ten years
serves as a model for collaboration between companies and
knowledge institutes. Each week, three Latexfalt employees
conduct one day of research at either the Utrecht University,
with the professor of inorganic chemistry and catalysis, Bert
Weckhuysen, or at the universities of Eindhoven or Delft.

International high potentials

The benefits for Latexfalt are obvious. Bert Jan Lommerts'
company gets access to knowledge and advanced test
equipment that would otherwise be inaccessible to the
company's eighty employees. What do the researchers
gain, however, from dealing with people from the industry?
Valorisation is becoming increasingly important, explains
Bert Weckhuysen. That is, the transfer of knowledge to society
and industry. This occurs in a natural way in the collaboration
with Latexfalt. The collaboration between Lommerts and
Weckhuysen came about a few years ago without any incentive
arrangement. At my initiative, says Lommerts. I saw the
innovative potential for my company and I went looking for
high potentials who felt at home in both worlds. It turned into
a colourful international company with diverse people with
Romanian, Moroccan, Belgian and Iranian roots. I was also
looking for scientists who were open to collaboration.

A boost for innovation

It was anything but easy, since Latexfalt had yet to make a
name for itself. Lommerts: I believe SMEs are a good fit for
young researchers. The same is not true in large companies,
where you must have a PhD to work in the laboratory.
After a few years, you might come into contact with a
customer for the first time. But for many SMEs, the step to
science is still not that obvious. That is why Lommerts and
Weckhuysen are both part of the Chemical Industry Top Team,
focussing their efforts on encouraging collaboration between
SMEs and academia. The green growth model designed for
the chemical industry is based on innovation. Entrepreneurs
and researchers are encouraged to cooperate via innovation
contracts and innovation vouchers for SMEs. Industry,
academia and government are jointly involved in four Top
Consortia for Knowledge and Innovation, which focus on new
chemical innovation, biobased economy, smart polymers and
process technology, among other things. Weckhuysen is
also involved in the public-private research project,
Catchbio, for the conversion of biomass to fuels, chemicals
and pharmaceuticals.

Fastest way to the market

The Dutch chemical industry consists of 1,000 and 1,500
companies with fewer than two hundred employees.
An estimated ten percent has the expertise to work with
scientists over a prolonged period. Weckhuysen: Large
companies have significant resources to conduct their own
research and attract young scientists. For us as researchers,
working with smaller companies, whose employees are very
close to relevant social developments, is also important. We
share the risks but also the results. Lommerts believes that
those results are often visible more quickly. Large companies
throw millions of Euros at this and go for the blockbusters,
but the development time is long. As SMEs, we introduce
entrepreneurship, targeted and flexible - innovations with
a smaller market potential are also interesting for SMEs.
We can also deliver them much faster in the market. Where
will the road end for Latexfalt? We are working on setting up
Latexfalt China. This will be an exact copy of our company.
We are not personally involved in the process, merely
the licence provider. I prefer to focus on increasing the
sustainability of our product range in collaboration with Berth
Weckhuysen and his colleagues.

Chemical industry

15

Innovation

Silent innovation through education

The Netherlands is on its way to gaining a place in the top three smart materialproducing countries. The Dutch Polymer Institute (DPI) is a public-private
research centre specialising in pre-competitive research of polymers and their
application. Since 1997, DPI has been combining scientific knowledge with the
need for innovation in the industry. Worldwide, about two hundred researchers
are working on DPI projects. Educating young people and the connection of
education to the employment market is the biggest silent innovation, says DPI
Director, Jacques Joosten. That a company like Sabic carries out its R&D in the
Netherlands, is partly due to the network that is in place. Foreign companies are
able to hook up with us quickly. www.polymers.nl

Sustainable ambitions all the way to Brazil

In 2012, TU Delft and BE-Basic festively opened an office in Brazil,
not far from the University of Campinas , and the Prince of Orange
had the honour of cutting the ribbon. The Netherlands is strong in
chemistry and energy and is looking to move to sustainable
production methods, said Luuk van der Wielen on that occasion.
He is professor of Biobased Economy and Managing Director of
BE-Basic, a consortium of companies and academia operating in
sustainable energy and ecology. Brazil has vast knowledge and
experience in the production of bioethanol and food. A permanent
establishment strengthens the collaboration on biobased
innovation for sustainable energy and chemicals.
www.be-basic.org

Green campus grows organically

The southern Dutch city of Bergen op Zoom, between the
world ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, Belgium,
has a long history in the production of synthetic materials.
Something new is growing in the shadow of Sabic's large
plant: a community of businesses in chemicals and agriculture, working on new product development. The Green
Chemistry Campus.
Since its opening, ten small and large companies and
knowledge institutes, including the TNO and Avans College,
have joined the ranks to take advantage of the knowledge
exchange, open innovation and facilities that are not accessible to all SMEs, including a state-of-the-art laboratory.
www.greenchemistrycampus.nl

16

Chemical industry

The land of green chemicals

Self-assembly of molecules into new structures and materials.
Gas from biomass. Sustainable chemical production.
Plenty of challenges for companies and researchers in the
Netherlands, which is looking to position itself as the country of
green chemicals in 2050. Together, researchers can submit research
projects to four chemical Top Consortia for Knowledge and Innovation
(TKI), including the TKI New Chemical Innovations. There is a need for
small, successful collaboration programmes for relevant research and
green innovation. There are different forms of financing, but the more
involved the industry is in the research, the more it contributes.
www.nwo.nl/cw

A process accelerator for innovation

When it comes to a sustainable future agenda, the Chemicals
Industry draws a tie with other Dutch Top Sectors, such as Agri-food
and Energy. More than fifty companies, which seek to innovate in
processing, have become affiliated with the Institute for Sustainable Process Technology (ISPT). The projects implemented under the
umbrella of the ISPT, link the technology needs of companies to the
knowledge of universities and colleges. What is special about ISPT
is that various types of companies from various industries are on
board, says Director Tjeerd Jongsma. Agro raw materials are used in
chemicals, food or energy. As such, you can also put biobased
thinking on the economic map. www.ispt.eu

More than an industrial park

Government, industry and academia also work together in other countries, but nowhere is the emphasis on open innovation as strong as in
the Netherlands. It is one of the success factors for Chemelot Campus
and Industrial Park in Geleen: accelerated business growth through
the open exchange of ideas. A 'chemical and materials community'
of small and large chemical companies, which, as a result of joining
forces, have access to knowledge and expertise that are otherwise
available only to large organisations. The park is home to amongst
others Sabic, DSM and Sekisui S-Lec. On the campus, some thousand
knowledge workers are working on new products, applications, production processes and education. www.chemelot.nl

Photo: source Chemelot

Chemical industry

17

Global Issues
Photo: Akzo Nobel

Customer is technology partner

For major companies, working in partnerships is equally important as for SMEs. Akzo Nobel
is the largest global paint and coating company, and a leading producer of specialty chemicals.
The company focuses on strategic partnerships. We harness our sustainable solutions to contribute
to our customers' success, says Vincent van der Laan of Akzo Nobel. Sometimes innovation comes
from unexpected sources.

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Vincent van der Laan is the Global Marketing Specialist

at Akzo Nobel Automotive & Aerospace Coatings.

vincent.vanderlaan@akzonobel.com

You see it happen every two years, when the Dutch football
team participates in a major match. The whole country
turns orange, the colour of the Dutch royal family and the
shirts of the national team. Orange flags on houses, orange
banners hung between lampposts, orange ribbons and balls
on car antennas.

After the euphoria

This typical Dutch phenomenon led the researchers of
the business unit Automotive & Aerospace Coatings to an
idea a few years ago. Develop an orange paint that can be
temporarily sprayed on cars and then peeled right back off
after the euphoria dies down. No damage may come to the
environment as a result, since it is all in the spirit of fun.

Peelable coating
This discovery constituted the basis for peelable coating,
which has since been developed to camouflage vehicles
during peacekeeping missions and in war situations.
The coating can be applied in any colour, from forest
green to desert sand. After a mission, you can simply peel
the coating right back off. The peelable paint protects not
only the vehicle but also the personnel. It dries faster,
is more environmentally-friendly than conventional paint
and comes in a matte finish, making vehicles more difficult
to detect. New discoveries sometimes lead to unexpected
applications, says Global Marketing Specialist Vincent van
der Laan of Akzo Nobel Automotive & Aerospace Coatings.

Technology partners
But you surely don't make a product before you know there
is a demand for it? On the contrary, our company is close
to the market and we work closely with customers here at
home and abroad, in order to develop products that are
needed. That is a form of collaboration we intend to develop
further in the future. We are the technology partner of the
McLaren Group Formula 1, for example.

www.akzonobel.com/aac

At the top of the

sustainability index
That may not sound very sustainable but in that world,
everything revolves around reducing weight and resistance
and thus the amount of fuel you consume. What we learn
from that, we can use in coating systems for aircraft.
Moreover, we are further developing the properties of the
peelable paint in collaboration with the UK Defence Science
and Technology Laboratory.

Together with Airbus

With 55,000 employees worldwide, Akzo Nobel operates in
more than 80 countries. The company is at the top of one of
the worlds most important sustainability indexes, the Dow
Jones Sustainability World Indexes. We see sustainability
as an opportunity. We are working on sustainable products
and solutions that contribute to our customers success.
Our Eco-premium applications are more environmentallyfriendly than conventional counterparts.

Fuel savings
The Aerobase Base Coat / Clear Coat Technology is an
example, and we are very proud of it. This product was
developed within the framework of our very fruitful
collaboration with the European aircraft manufacturer
Airbus. We have reduced the aircraft paint drying time from
ten to two hours. This saves paint shops time and energy.
Moreover, there are fewer coatings required per colour
and the coating is lighter. This affects the aircrafts fuel
consumption. A transparent enamel finish lends a brighter
and smoother surface to the aircraft and prevents the
colours from fading, ensuring that the aircraft retains its
new look for a longer time. This is not only beneficial to
the airline companys brand image, but the aircraft
will require fewer paint jobs during its service life.
The product's performance therefore delivers indirect
environmental benefits.

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19

Around the World

Photo: Hollandse Hoogte

Cultural heritage protected with sustainable biocoating

Barcelona has been building on Sagrada Familia of Gaudi for over a hundred years, causing the porous sandstone to suffer from urban
pollution. The winter frost is also a source of extensive damage. The Dutch company Bionic Technology has the solution: a sustainable
water-repellent biocoating made from natural materials. The coating is UV-resistant, hydrophobic and oleophobic, easy to clean,
and anti-bacterial and anti-microbial. www.bionictechnology.nl

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Photo: source Greenfield

Preferred by FIFA as producer of artificial grass

Nothing can ruin a sport like a poorly-kempt field. A good surface allows athletes to get the most out of their abilities. The Dutch company
GreenFields develops innovative surface types for the international sports world. The world player has production facilities in South Africa,
Korea, Algeria and the United Arab Emirates, and strong partnerships with producers in Australia, Russia and North America. The football
association FIFA has given GreenFields the status of preferred producer in recognition of its continued efforts to provide the best playing
conditions for the game and players worldwide. www.greenfields.eu

Photo: source iStock

Entire greenhouse and growth conduction into compost

The Dutch family company Rodenburg has developed a highly innovative extrusion process, which they apply to produce products for
the bioplastics industry, based on reclaimed side stream starch from potatoes. Rodenburg has partnerships with several companies and
universities worldwide. The product Solanyl is purchased by partners in such countries as China, Canada and Australia. For example,
for manufacturing biodegradable clips for growing vegetables on the twine. When the harvest is in, the clips will simply biodegrade along
with the compost. This saves horticulture customers a significant amount of work. www.biopolymers.nl
Chemical industry

21

A Win-Win Situation

Waterless dyeing
is a revolution
Dyeing a kilogram of fabric produces 100-150 litres of wastewater. Engineers have long been
searching for a way to use industrial-strength liquid CO2 instead of water for this process. That is
more sustainable and economical. A combination of Dutch ingenuity and Thai entrepreneurship
made this possible. We were just tenaciously creative.

It is not possible, they said.

Yeh: True. There were many sceptics when we began to
make work of it, about five years ago. But you don't hear
that anymore.
Siewers: The technology for dyeing fabrics with CO2 already
existed. A German engineer already proved that in a lab some
75 years ago. He also has the patent on it. But using the
technology on an industrial scale, no one has been able to do
that before us.
Yeh: It had been tried. You always heard that it was coming
and it did not, hence the scepticism. Moreover, the textile
industry is traditionally very conservative. No one with the
right mindset had ever looked into it. Customers know us
as a company that is always at the forefront. We owed it to
ourselves to go through with it.
Siewers: We were just tenaciously creative.

Why did you believe in it?

Yeh: Truth be told, I was not one hundred percent sure it
would succeed. We convinced one another. It was evident that
sustainability was going to play an increasingly important role,
for consumers as well as for the textile industry.
Siewers: I think that there was a lack of focus on textiles, that
the technology was increasingly used by machine builders.
The Yeh Group put that knowledge in place. At Feyecon, of which
DyeCoo is a spin-off, extensive knowledge is in place about CO2,
and that too, is different from previous efforts. Hence, we solved
the bottlenecks and made the right choices.
Yeh: There are indeed enough doctors around in Delft.
He says laughingly, In that respect, I certainly was confident.
I like to think that I, with my commercial instincts, have given
the final push. From the beginning, we consistently provided the
examples of polyester, so that the application of the technology
could be further perfected. This was truly achieved in the spirit
of cooperation.

Ernst Siewers, Chief Technology Officer DyeCoo

Textile Systems, Weesp/Delft
Together with Geert Woerlee, Ernst Siewers has been involved in Feyecon, of which DyeCoo
is a spin-off company, from the very beginning. They met at the TU Delft. The development
of a waterless textile dye with CO2 has been in the making for ten years. The research is still
conducted in the university city of Delft, and the office of DyeCoo Textile Systems is located
in Weesp, near Amsterdam. DyeCoo has received various international innovation awards.

www.feyecon.com

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Chemical industry

www.dyecoo.com

Photo: source Adidas

A good combination. How did that come about?

Yeh: Via another Dutch company, Stork, which we had worked
with nine years ago to become the first company to apply the
textile inkjet printing technology directly on fabric.
Siewers: Not only was Feyecon involved in the development
of the first machine, a small one, but also the TU Delft and
Stork. When Stork stepped aside, the Yeh Group got on board
enthusiastically, and that is how DyeCoo Textile Systems came
about.
Yeh: You could say that it has developed into more than a
business relationship. I consider some of the DyeCoo people
almost as family, and much of what we do is based on trust.
Here in Thailand, there are also Dutch managers for the
hardware on the production site.
What does waterless dyeing mean for the textile industry?
Yeh: It is the biggest revolution in a long time, and a huge step
in sustainability for this industry. I am very proud that we have

the world premiere. Sustainability is becoming increasingly

important to consumers, but my customers do not come to me
asking for waterless-dyed fabrics. When the development was
in full swing, I took the idea to the customers. The first products
appeared in Adidas stores in early 2012.
Siewers: The sustainability aspect was important to us from the
very beginning. That was the case when Geert Woerlee, who was
my graduating professor in 1998, set up Feyecon, and we went
looking for CO2 applications. At that time, it was already being
used for extracting materials, bitterness from hops, for example.
That it would become textile, we had no way of foreseeing,
much less that a global player such as Nike would participate in
DyeCoo, as they did this year.
Yeh: I see more possible applications for CO2 in the textile
industry. I think that aside from polyester, we will also be able to
apply this technology to dye cotton and nylon in the future.

David Yeh, directeur Yeh Groep, Bangkok, Thailand

Driven by innovation, says David Yeh about the Yeh Group. In the business unit Tong Siang,
located near Bangkok, sports and outdoor fabrics are manufactured for companies such
as Adidas, Nike, The North Face and Puma. DryDye, the name under which Adidas promotes
clothing made from waterless-dyed fabrics, is a brand of the Yeh Group. The company
came into contact with the Dutch company Feyecon, specialising in CO2 applications,
via Stork. Yeh Group was the first company to participate in DyeCoo Textiles Systems,
a subsidiary of Feyecon.
www.yeh-group.net

Chemical industry

23

Contact

Photo: Freek van Arkel

Doing business with the Dutch

Dutch Top Sectors

Institute for Sustainable Process Technology

The portal to doing business with the Netherlands.

These are the sectors in which the Netherlands

Partnership between industry, universities and

Here you can find Holland information, market

excels globally and which represent a government

knowledge institutes aimed at expediting

information, rules and regulations. The information

priority: the Agri-food sector, Horticulture

innovations.

centre will help match you with interesting Dutch

and propagation materials, High Tech, Energy,

www.ispt.nl

partners.

Logistics, the Creative Industry, Life Sciences,

www.hollandtrade.com/business-information

Chemicals and Water.

Dutch Polymer Institute

www.government.nl/issues/

Public-private partnership in which different

Dutch diplomatic missions and Netherlands

entrepreneurship-and-innovation/investing-

producers research polymers and their

Business Support Offices

in-top-sectors

applications.
www.polymers.nl

Provides useful business leads and contacts

through its international network. Staff will assist

Netherlands Chemical Industry Association

you with your trade requests or introduce you

VNCI promotes the interests of the chemical

The Association of Dutch Suppliers in

to the various trade programmes.

industry in the Netherlands.

the Oil and Gas Industry

www.minbuza.nl/en/services/trade-

www.vnci.nl/vnci/de-vnci/about-the-vnci.aspx

IRO promotes the interests of the Dutch oil and

information/trade-information.html

gas industry.
The Royal Netherlands Chemical Society

www.iro.nl

Network of Innovation Attachs

Professional association for chemical industry,

Innovation Attachs serve as a liaison for

life sciences, process technology and (bio)

Netherlands Organisation for

international collaboration with Dutch top sectors.

molecular science. Knowledge sharing

Scientific Research

They are located at embassies and consulates.

is paramount.

NWO finances advanced university research.

www.agentschapnl.nl/en/nost

www.kncv.nl

By setting priorities, NWO ensures that research

Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency

Bio-based Economy

extent possible.

The NFIA is the first port of call for foreign

Within the Chemical top sector, TKI-BBE

www.nwo.nl/en/about-nwo/organisation

companies wishing to establish their business

contributes to the realisation of the biobased

/nwo-divisions/cw

in the Netherlands and to take advantage of the

economy in the Netherlands.

Dutch business environment as a strategic base

www.tki-bbe.nl

addresses future needs to the maximum

for doing business in Europe. www.nfia.nl

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Chemical industry