EZD Expands Its Dispersion Pilot Plant in Selb
The European Center for Dispersion Technologies (EZD) in Selb has extensively expanded its dispersion pilot plant and equipped it with state-of-the-art process technology. In doing so, the EZD is systematically expanding its research and development capabilities.
The new infrastructure at the EZD’s Dispersion Technology Center makes it possible to scale up dispersion processes under real-world conditions, produce customer samples, and apply methods for in-process characterization. Dispersion processes play a central role in the manufacture of numerous products in the plastics, paint, printing ink, adhesive, and coatings industries. At the same time, demands are increasing for product quality, energy efficiency, and the reliable transfer of laboratory results to industrial production. With the establishment of the Dispersion Pilot Plant, the EZD is creating an infrastructure to scale up processes and formulations from the laboratory to the pilot plant scale. The pilot plant includes a dissolver, an agitated ball mill, a high-pressure homogenizer, and a rotor-stator disperser (inline mixer). These allow for the processing of a wide variety of suspensions, emulsions, and resin systems.
Broad Range of Services at the EZD Dispersion Pilot Plant
The range of services extends from dispersion on a laboratory and pilot plant scale, through the energy-efficient production of dispersions via process optimization, to in-process characterization. The offering is complemented by process comparisons, the testing of scale-up strategies, and customized trial days. Water-based, UV-curing, and solvent-based systems are processed. Customer samples can be produced on a scale of 20 to 100 liters. In addition, the facilities are available for training and hands-on continuing education programs. “There is often a critical gap between laboratory development and industrial production. Our dispersion technical center makes it possible to evaluate processes and formulations under realistic conditions and scale them in a targeted manner. At the same time, the integrated characterization methods provide a solid data foundation for optimizing product quality and process efficiency,” says Dr.-Ing. Felipe Wolff-Fabris, site manager of the EZD. The expanded dispersion pilot plant bridges the gap between laboratory development and industrial application. Formulations and processes can be developed, characterized, and scaled under realistic conditions—from the initial formulation to pilot-plant scale.
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