solvay_live243_p02a04 somEdito

Dossier
54
SolvayInnovationTrophy2006
101339 104142
EXTENDING MERCURY CELLS PLATES’ LIFE
WITH A METHOD SO SIMPLE THAT IT WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE IMPOSSIBLE
THE “CHEWING GUM”
SOLUTION
The plates of the mercury electrolysis
cells suffer degradations as a result
of corrosion and erosion caused by
the brine and the mercury.
Repairs via welding or brazing are not
possible and the only option is to replace
them. However, in the mid term, the mercury
cells will be withdrawn to make way
for another technology: membrane cells.
An original solution has been found and
successfully implemented in Tavaux (France).
The lifetime of these plates is extended
by filling the degraded areas with
thermosetting resins. This solution, which
was first deemed to be unthinkable,
developed with a company specialising
in coatings, makes it possible to extend the
lifetime of the mercury cells at a low cost.
Referred to as the “chewing gum” solution,
this development once again proves that
the best ideas are often the simplest ones.
> Pascal Vandewattyne; Dominique Chaudot;
François Gras; Christophe Page; Richard Poirault;
Konrad Roumieux.
> CC ECM – MATERIALS & CORROSION
SOLVAY ACADEMY FOR PHARMACEUTICALS
TRAINING AND SHARING
OF BEST PRACTICES
In view of the rapid growth of Solvay
Pharmaceuticals, the idea is to create
a training department, focusing specially
on the sale and marketing of pharmaceutical
products. This Solvay Academy would
appoint its trainers from among the best
recognised talents in these professions. With
its own Intranet site, the Solvay Academy
would offer a programme to all the sales
and marketing staff, it would put the best
practices identified throughout the
organisation at the disposal of all.
Workshops could be organised quarterly
and the Intranet communication updated
every week. This academy should help to
permanently improve the performance levels
in the field of the sale and marketing
of pharmaceutical products and make Solvay
Pharmaceuticals a world-class company,
capable of taking the changes brought about
by acquisitions and partnerships in its stride.
> Suresh Ramadasan.
> PHARMACEUTICALS SECTOR
104600
CREATE AN INNOVATIVE ATMOSPHERE
INTRODUCING ART AT THE PLANT
AN ATYPICAL FIRST
FOR THE GROUP
Building on the suggestion of one of its
employees, the Solvic Lillo plant (close
to Antwerp, Belgium) took the daring step
of promoting a very innovative artistic event.
In collaboration with the Royal Academy
of Fine Arts of Antwerp, it invited six students
from the In Situ 3 workshop to come up with
a work of art for its site. The only condition
imposed was the choice of background
for the works: roofs, unused infrastructures,
tanks, administrative areas. After a tough
competition, seven works were selected
by a jury made up of employees from the
plant and professors from the Academy.
The idea was not only to support the artistic
promotion of young talents, but to stimulate
the personnel to think differently, with
creativity, by making it possible to create
a pleasant and innovative atmosphere arising
both from contact with the works and with
the students. The aim being to trigger
innovative projects internally. The works,
which were presented to the general public
during the Open Days of the Belgian chemical
industry, proved to be very beneficial:
• they have inspired the plant’s personnel,
who have themselves decorated an
administrative building on the theme
of the cinema;
• they have nurtured closer links between
the outside world and the plant;
• they give the plant a well-kept, attractive
and innovative image;
• they have given the Antwerp Academy
an unusual stage, which has included them
in a book dedicated to the work of In Situ 3.
> Norbert Deckers; Guido Derycke;
Marina Goeyvaerts; Christiane Malcorps;
Kris Van’t Hof.
> SBU VINYLS