update! - Lehnkering

16 update! 10/2010 Chemical Manufacturing Services
More customers for synthesis services
For many years now Schirm GmbH has been synthesising crop-protection agents at its Schönebeck location.
Following construction of a pilot synthesising station in 2000 and a new multi-purpose synthesising plant in 2002,
for the first time the company was able to establish the synthesis of fine and special chemicals. Over the last
few years the list of regular customers for custom synthesis has expanded to more than 30 companies.
Along with well-known chemical firms in Germany, production is also underway for international companies based
in Italy, France, Switzerland and the USA.
As a neutral service provider, Schirm starts by carrying out
processes to its customer’s orders at laboratory level. Next
come pilot experiments in the pilot plant, in order to transfer
the synthesis successfully to the multi-purpose synthesising
plant later.
The multi-purpose synthesising plant is highly automated
and is controlled using a modern process-control system.
It is equipped with 19 stirrer-tank reactors, 15 receiver
tanks, a refrigeration belt, various filters, dryers, centrifuges
and distillation towers. The plant also includes a tank store
with a total capacity of 530 cubic metres. The reactions are
effected at temperatures of − 15 to 280º C and pressures of
2 mbar to 6 bar. A wide range of licences makes it possible
to carry out syntheses using corrosive, poisonous,
very poisonous and easily flammable substances or CMR
materials (carcinogenic, mutagenic, reproduction-toxic).
The quality of the products manufactured, and of the intermediate
stages, are scrutinised and checked in Schirm
GmbH’s modern laboratory.
The multi-purpose synthesising plant can be adapted to
each technology and process method required. Up to
6 syntheses are currently carried out concurrently in a four-
i LEHNKERING Chemical Manufacturing Services
shift system and some 4,000 tons of fine chemicals are
synthesised for various customers covering different areas
of use, including biocides and conservation products for
dyes, plastics, paper, adhesives, fuels or textiles. Further
products include disinfectants for hospital hygiene, prepolymers
for the manufacture of skiers and snowboards,
intermediate products for automotive and high-performance
plastics, accelerators and catalysts for epoxide resins,
and raw materials for the rubber industry, such as catalytic
softeners for tyres and shoe soles, or bonding agents.
A total of 59 different synthesised products were manufactured
in 2009. Annual synthesis capacity has been significantly
raised from year to year since 2001; at the beginning,
eight to ten new synthesis products were added.
A further area of expertise at Schirm GmbH in Schönebeck
is that of cleansing active ingredients or other products by
re-crystallisation (cooling or solvent crystallisation). Through
constant technology enhancements Schirm is able to offer
its customers more and more services, and is able to gain
new customers. Schirm is not restricted to special areas of
application, but is open to all types of reaction, such as condensations,
cyclisations, reductions, additions, oxidations,
aminations or alkylations.
The LEHNKERING Chemical Manufacturing Services (CMS) Division bundles the services of the Schirm GmbH with which
LEHNKERING supports its customers from the chemical industry in producing and packaging their goods. CMS offers a broad
portfolio of services:
n Commission synthesis of agricultural chemicals and fine chemicals, e.g. development of products by CMS, or development in
accordance with customer specifications, in modern laboratories; testing in pilot plant; manufacture of products in CMS’s own
synthesis plant;
n raw-materials service, i.e. procurement of active ingredients and raw materials for our customers in the chemical industry, and
preparation and refining of raw materials as required;
n formulation of active ingredients for pesticides, biocides, and additives
n packaging of solid or fluid materials; special packaging in water-soluble or low-melt bags;
n sample service for chemical products, i.e. filling chemicals into small and very small containers (250 ml to 1 l bottles); storage of
sample containers in our own specialist store; and shipping of samples world-wide.