THE FUTURE, - Solvay

Replicated
innovations
60
Replicated innovations > INNOVATIONS 09
209916
BULK SODA ASH DELIVERIES IN STANDARD
SEA CONTAINERS
Containers, a new, simple
and effi cient concept for
bulk transport
THE PROJECT. Until now the only way used to
transport large quantities of bulk soda ash (5 000
to 15 000 tons per batch) for export was in the
holds of bulk carriers. In 2007 and 2008
availability of these vessels became scarce and
the cost doubled or even tripled, weighing heavily
on the profi tability and reliability of our export
sales.
The idea then came to transport the bulk
carbonate in standard shipping containers, which
were not affected by this very tight market. This
was made possible by the application of a fi lm
within the container, a modifi cation of the loading
station and use of tilting-chassis trucks for
emptying the containers.
This system has only advantages:
• fi nancial (reducing transport costs including
demurrage, and tying up less working capital);
• reliability and ease of operations and preserving
the quality of the soda;
• containers provide additional storage space;
• reduced use of fossil fuels by using containers
that would otherwise have done the return trip
empty from Asian and Middle East destinations.
SBU SODA ASH, BSC
SUPPLY CHAIN CHEMICALS SECTOR
> Alain Dommisse; Cvetan Cankov;
Pierre-Gilles Denis; Philippe Habraken;
Kris Lejeune; Jean-Paul Siccard; Dimitar Stefanov;
Marc Tassignon; Petya Tsekova; Michel Wierinck.
209995 209998
NEW SUPPLIER PARTNERSHIP TO OPTIMIZE
FILTRATION PROCESS AND FILTER
PROCUREMENT
Highly fi ltered costs
THE PROJECT. The Pall Corporation, a global
leader in fi ltration and separation, has been
selected as preferred partner by Solvay to
optimize fi ltration processes in Solvay plants.
The company has developed an innovative model
called VAIS (Value Added Integrated Supply), the
introduction of which into Group plants has made
it possible to reduce overall expenditure on fi lters.
Supplier Pall is also required to assist Solvay
technically in these areas. The overall aim is to
improve the fi ltration process, increase the quality
of our products and generate productivity and
maintenance gains.
The potential reduction of the cost of fi lter
purchases and use is over 50%.
Filters are an integral part of the production
process: they contribute to production itself,
are used to control the quality of the product and
have a direct impact on performance.
The VAIS model is based on the combination of
two elements: fi rst, the consolidation and
standardization of fi lter procurement worldwide;
second, access to Pall’s huge range of scientifi c
and engineering services.
This model makes it possible to reallocate Solvay
resources where they are most useful.
The VAIS model has been successfully
implemented on the four US sites of Solvay
Advanced Polymers and two Italian sites. In 2008
and 2009, other production units followed suite in
Europe, Mercosur and Thailand.
CC DIA-CPN
> Véronique Anthoine; Jal Dadabhoy;
Olivier Delannoy; Jean-Pierre Demeunynck;
Dirk Deuringer; Bob Erickson; Massimo Fedeli;
Benoit Jacquot; Roberto Malagoli; Silvia Mascagni;
Maria del Carmen Olarreaga; Adriano Pasquinelli;
Samuel Ruiz-Lucas; Roberto Sousa;
Juntasing Wanchai.
PARTICIPATIVE FORUMS AND INNOVATIVE
CHALLENGES TO GROW EMPLOYEES’
AWARENESS AND COMMITMENT TO
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
When innovation and
sustainable development
meet
THE PROJECT. How does one make
sustainable development a concrete and everyday
reality for all employees? This has been
successfully achieved by Solvay France through
two original and complementary initiatives.
The fi rst is the forums, which aim to make every
employee understand the ins and outs of
sustainable development. The innovation here is
to involve in this process all the social partners,
including unions of all hues, meeting together in
collaborative refl ection workshops and so giving
concrete form to corporate social responsibility.
The second initiative is the launch of innovation
challenges on sustainable development topics.
The fi rst challenge, on the theme of energy,
generated over 400 ideas, forty of which were
examined by a panel of specialist judges.
The second challenge, which addressed the issue
of water, generated in turn 190 innovative ideas.
This approach also has the advantage of
combining into a single stream training, refl ection,
and the generation of ideas and their treatment
from a single innovation and sustainable
development viewpoint (the two are appearing
increasingly inseparable) and working together
to get networks of communicators and innovators
up and running.
BSC FRANCE
> Olivier Monfort; David Cazaux;
Christian Clerc-Girard; Étienne Collignon;
Sébastien Duval; Wilfrid Duzan;
Jean-Claude Gaudriot; Véronique Lamarche;
Dominique Lecroc; Nathalie Mittaine;
Pierre Nicolet; Antoine Pams; Dalila Pradichit;
Pierre Ravion; François Reste de Roca;
Sébastien Toutain; Noël Tritz.