KOLB Times
March 2011
The Secret lies on the Surface ...
Let’s go to Italy.
Follow the beauty.
Editorial
Page 2
Greenbentin™
New product line.
Page 3
Return on Investment.
Also for the “human capital”.
Page 4
Kolb is serious about
its commitment.
CO² emissions cut by half.
Page 5
A success story.
Together we are strong.
Page 7
Reach.
In the name of the law.
Page 8
Dear Readers,
A warm welcome to the second edition
of our e-KolbTimes. We were very surprised
at the positive feedback that we received
after the first edition had been released.
We see it as our duty to provide you, our dear
business partners, with interesting reports
about our company.
One topic in this edition is entitled Apprenticeships within Kolb. Experts anticipate a
huge lack in qualified employees in a few years
time. For many years we have been training
young people who then find a varied job
within our company or can at least enter the
job market with a qualification. It is not just a
great responsibility to work with these young
people but also, above all, a great pleasure.
With their motivation, new ideas and concrete
suggestions I am sure that Kolb is well prepared to be able to successfully overcome the
“war of talent.”
Yours sincerely,
Peter Wilkes
CEO
Kolb Distribution Ltd. · Maienbrunnenstrasse 1 · P.O. Box 64 · 8908 Hedingen · Switzerland · Phone +41 44 762 46 46 · Fax +41 44 762 46 00 · www.kolb.ch · info@kolb.ch
PERSONAL CARE & COSMETICS
Six pillars for
personal care
Leading global suppliers of cosmetic ingredients, laboratory and marketing experts, as well as
buyers for all brands meet annually in a major European city to showcase their products and
exchange information. This year it is Milan’s turn. In the city that specifically has a reputation
for fashion Kolb will also confidently showcase its new design in collaboration with KLK Oleo.
The focus will be on six outstanding products. Were you already
aware that the production of Polysorbates is one of our core
competencies. Our brand Kotilen represents these products.
Kotilen-L/1 (Polysorbate 20) and Kotilen-O/1 (Polysorbate 80) are
tried and tested quality products. Their performance is demonstrated in many cosmetics that are in everyday use, such as in
creams but also in shower and bath products. Another outstanding product is used by nearly every company within the cosmetics industry. It turns an aqueous liquid with drops of oil onto
the surface into a fine fragrance or a hygienic mouth wash.
We are talking about INCI “PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil” or
also Sympatens-TRH/400 from Kolb. Thanks to our flexible
production technology we are able to supply competitive, multistage products ourselves. Our Sympatens-GMC/070 (PEG-7
Glyceryl Cocoate) provides refatting properties that the skin on
the body and scalp needs as part of personal hygiene on a
daily basis. Shampoos and shower gels around the world are given
a pleasant consistency through it.
Would you associate Kolb with PEG-free emulsifiers?
Our PEG-free top performers validated by EcoCert make flexible
and safe cream formulations possible for both the less experienced and experts alike. Sympatens-O/2500 G for O/W emulsions
provides the basis for a pleasant skin sensation and you can do
without any silicon oils. This “tough” emulsifier allows you to satisfy changing market requirements and creates opportunities
for you to use different oils creatively. Sympatens-W/4500 will
challenge your senses. This liquid emulsifier for the perfect
sun or face care helps to make W/O emulsions “light”, such that
they can hardly be distinguished from a classic O/W emulsion.
Ask about the scope of our formulations.
We are really looking forward to showing you our six pillars for
Personal Care products and to welcoming you onto Stand S28.
We hope to see you soon in Milan (www.in-cosmetics.com).
Markus Sierigk
Market Manager Specialty Surfactants
markus.sierigk@kolb.ch
e-KolbTimes | March 2011
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Specialty surfactants
Greenbentin™ –
the renewable product line from Kolb
At the start of the year Kolb is pleased to launch its new
Greenbentin™ product line onto the market for you. As its name
suggests, the theory behind Greenbentin™ is its use of at least
30 % renewable raw materials. In this day and age protection
of fossil fuels is significantly important. Kolb is making an active
contribution to this cause with its Greenbentin™ range.
Are you also incorporating more renewable raw materials into
your products, in which you use Kolb’s Greenbentin™ products?
They are available immediately.
These are nonionic surfactants that represent a competitive
alternative to the market standard with their fast wettability
and odour reduction. Greenbentin™-DE products are of course
DID and TSCA listed.
If we have aroused your interest, request our product brochure
for more detailed information along with a sample or contact
our tenside specialists directly. They will be happy to answer any
further questions that you may have.
Denise Brun
Product Manager Specialty Surfactants
denise.brun@kolb.ch
e-KolbTimes | March 2011
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Human Resource
The youth are the future
Trainees with instructors.
Kolb has been a key partner in the area of apprenticeships for young people for many
generations. We are currently offering appropriate training in three professions for our
future specialists on which a well-run economy
is desperately reliant. (See editorial)
Apprenticeships
within Kolb a far-sighted
commitment to
the promotion
of young talent.
The professions in which we will train young
people are: Business Administration (6 trainees),
Laboratory Technician EFZ (Federal Proficiency
Certificate) (3 trainees), as well as Plant and Instrument Engineer (1 trainee).
We are able to offer varied and practiceoriented training in each of these professions,
which consciously prepares the trainees for
their future professional lives. For example,
the Business Administration trainees are trained
in six different departments, changing departments each semester. In some departments it
is quite possible that the trainee could also
take on responsible tasks where he/she has to
deputise.
Each summer at least three young professionals successfully complete their training period
with Kolb so that they are well equipped for
their transition to professional life.
We are able to offer many of our former trainees a permanent position when they have
completed their period of training. This makes
the difficult transition to a professional life
much easier. The newly qualified young people
are able to gain the initial work experience
that they desperately need within familiar surroundings. An equally gratifying number of
former trainees find their way back to Kolb after
a few “years of learning and roaming” from
which both parties benefit as well.
Consequently, the training at Kolb always generates a “return on investment” on the whole
and the many hours that are invested in
practical experience in everyday life are also
an indirect investment in the future of the
company.
The fact that Kolb has recognised this and has
set to work with the necessary commitment
is also reflected in the creation of a part-time
(40 %) Training Coordinator position. My role
is not just to coordinate the apprenticeships
but also any general questions relating to training or any further training and, in doing so,
keep the quality of training at a high level.
Kolb’s clear commitment to training is justifiably commendable, something that is considered anything but matter of course these days.
Nadia Lienammer
Assistant Human Resource
nadia.lienammer@kolb.ch
e-KolbTimes | March 2011
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OPERATIONS
A reduction in the CO² emissions
is now imperative
The chemical industry is faced with major challenges due to climate change. Kolb has taken up
this challenge and significantly reduced the CO² emissions at both production sites by making
investments to reduce its energy consumption. The increase in energy costs could be counteracted
immediately with the technical measures and optimisation of energy supply contracts. Kolb
achieved the climate targets that were agreed with the State. The climate levy that is charged
in Switzerland is being reimbursed to us.
The Kolb factories in Hedingen (Switzerland) und Moerdijk
(Netherlands) produce well in excess of 100,000 tons per year.
This is mainly nonionic tensides that are produced by means
of alkoxylation and are required for a wide variety of “downstream” applications.
At the start of the chemical reactions large quantities of steam
are required. Up until 2007 only heating oil was used in Hedingen
to operate the steam boilers but since 2008 they are predominantly operated with natural gas. Each year between 15 and 20
gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy is consumed in Hedingen.
This leads to high costs that we must always remain conscious of
in view of current pricing pressure and optimise as best we can.
Energy consumption in rel. %
100
80
%
2
40
45
20
0
2000
2005
2010
Year
Current
30 % less energy consumption and 50 % less CO²
We already started making investments to reduce consumption
in Hedingen back in the 1980’s. An initial step was the storage
of any waste heat generated from chemical reactions.
The excess heat is used efficiently to heat our storage tanks
and, since just recently, also the buildings.
At the turn of the millennium Kolb took a close look at its plants
in Hedingen to track down any “energy guzzlers.” Ongoing investments have been made ever since. All of those made in the
last five years with the purpose of conserving energy came
to in excess of CHF 2 million: old air compressors were replaced
and steam boilers and tanks were insulated to modern standards. More efficient cooling water pumps ensued and energysaving waste water distillation using vapour compression completed the measures. Overall, energy consumption in Hedingen
was able to be lowered by over 30 % in this way and the CO²
emissions almost halved.
60
Gasoline
Heating oil
CO2-Emission in rel. %
100
80
%
100
87
60
52
40
20
0
2000
2005
2010
Year
In the past decade the energy consumption of Kolb Hedingen decreased
one third, the CO² emissions were cut by half.
e-KolbTimes | March 2011
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OPERATIONS
Kolb took the utilisation of waste heat that had been put into
effect at its headquarters to a new dimension within the
production site at Moerdijk. As it was necessary to extend the
production capacity by setting up a new production line,
the engineers developed a tailor-made heat recovery system
for the additional plant: any heat of reaction that is formed
from the alkoxylation flows into a complex heat exchanger and
storage system. This heats the raw materials and thereby triggers the next batch reaction. Almost a third of the entire energy
consumption in Moerdijk is reduced in this way. The plant
that came into operation at the end of 2008 was patented.
The Association of the Dutch Chemical Industry (VNCI) awarded
Kolb the “Responsible Care Award 2010” for this innovation.
The State’s climate policy targets have also supported our commitment in Switzerland. At Kolb we are convinced that any
reduction in CO² within the earth’s atmosphere is now imperative!
Kolb concluded an official target agreement on carbon dioxide
emissions with the UVEK (Federal Department of the Environment). With the help of the EnAW (Energy Agency for the
Economy) we developed a vital package of measures to achieve
the targets. At the beginning of 2010 the factory in Hedingen
received a certificate for active CO² reduction from the EnAW.
This will form the basis for the reimbursement of any climate
levy that is payable. If Kolb had not reduced its energy consumption so drastically then a considerable amount of money
would have to be paid year after year in CO² levies.
Natural gas connection helps to secure climate targets
The connection of Kolb Hedingen to the new natural gas
supply in Knonaueramt at the end of 2007 made a significant
contribution to achieving the targets that had been agreed.
The CO² balance of natural gas is superior to that of mineral
oil - significantly less “greenhouse gas” is emitted at the same
heating value. Kolb now only uses small amounts of oil to
bridge the gap when there are supply shortages at times when
there is high demand for natural gas.
Kolb was able to both optimise energy consumption and also
make considerable savings with the technical measures specified. However, we also had to assert our commercial side in
deregulated energy markets, specifically with the negotiation
of energy supply contracts with different providers. Kolb does
not consume enough energy to make it worthwhile employing someone specifically for this task. Then again, the topic
is too complex to deal with it along the way. Therefore, we
accepted support from a professional consultancy institute.
The experts scrutinised the supply contracts and compared
Kolb’s prices with terms achieved in other parts of Switzerland.
This proved that the tariffs from the power supply companies
were considered to be line with market conditions. Longstanding contracts for heating oil had secured advantageous
terms up until now that by comparison were well below the
average price. However, with natural gas and nitrogen the energy
consultants recommended that action should be taken. The
natural gas providers were a few percent higher than the external benchmark prices in the benchmarking process. The new gas
supply installation made it necessary as it was to conclude a
new supply contract so that we could finally negotiate a satisfactory agreement with the suppliers in conjunction with the
consultants. The contract for nitrogen was also renewed and improved thanks to our external support.
We are not just able to have a “clear conscience” today in terms
of the energy contracts. The energy issue is also discussed
in detail with new projects and the environmental responsibility
supported.
At Kolb Hedingen the reaction heat is stored in these storage tanks
and used for heating tanks and buidings.
Kolb has invested 1 million Euro in the heat recovery system in Moerdijk.
The climate targets are even more ambitious for the future.
Greater creativity than up until now will be required in order to
achieve them. We will need to work with a larger number of
partners and develop energy concepts for entire regions.
Lots of companies need heat and others want to “get rid of it”;
everyone will reach their goal with mutual problem solving.
Dr. Viktor Helbling
Head Operations
viktor.helbling@kolb.ch
e-KolbTimes | March 2011
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Specialty surfactants
The Chemistry is Right
Univar and Kolb have been collaborating very
closely and successfully within the German
cosmetics industry for just under a year now.
Now the time has come to set higher targets
and develop this success story.
“The aim” is to significantly increase our presence in this key market and, if nothing else,
we are already significantly ahead, thanks to
our excellent collaborative relationship with
Univar. The chemistry between the two organisations is right. This, amongst other things,
was what swayed us to further develop our collaborative relationship,“ states Dr. Sven Abend,
Manager of the Specialty Surfactants Division
at Kolb.
Kolb and Univar extend their
Strategic Collaborative Relationship
within the German Market.
From now onwards, Univar Germany will not
only distribute our Sympatens™, Kotilen™ and
Kosteran™ product ranges for cosmetic applications, but also take on the exclusive distribution of the technical surfactants Imbentin™
and Hedipin™ in Germany, as well as the brand
new Greenbentin™ product line within the
detergents market (Home Care und I&I).
“We have a great deal of trust in the young
and highly motivated Sales team of Michael
Zschiesche (Manager of the Life Science
Business Unit at Univar Germany) and are confident that together we will be able to quickly
and significantly increase our market presence
within the German detergents market, just
as we have done with cosmetics,” confirms
Roman Steiner, Market Manager of Home Care/
I&I at Kolb.
“The new Greenbentin™ product line is specifically tailor-made for the needs of customers
within the highly competitive detergents market and ideally extends our portfolio for this
market sector. Now we are able to offer our customers a wide range of key raw materials
for the formulation of detergents of all types
and are ideally equipped for the trends of
the future,” adds Michael Zschiesche from Univar Germany.
Both parties are in agreement: “The chemistry
is right.” Our customers will primarily benefit
from this!
Dr. Sven Abend
Business Manager Specialty Surfactants
sven.abend@kolb.ch
Univar Sales team.
e-KolbTimes | March 2011
07
ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH & SAFETY
Reach – GHS – CLP
The deadline for the first Reach registrations expired on 1 December 2010 and, at the same time,
the CLP regulation came into force. The intense activities within Regulatory Affairs are briefly
summarised below:
1. Reach Phase I
Kolb registered the following substance in 2010:
• Alcohols, C12-14(even-numbered), ethoxylated (< 2.5 EO)
This registration includes our products Imbentin-AG/124S/020,
Imbentin-AG/124PG/020 and other chemically identical
products.
The registration dossier was prepared within the CESIO
“Alcohol ethoxylates” consortium, in which all important European manufacturers were represented.
The evaluation of the toxicological data did not prove to be
the sticking point, as originally feared, as extensive data
were available within the consortium and any missing data
could be deduced from other similar substances.
However, the risk assessment for all identified uses was more
complex. Almost 300 uses that had been provided by different
industry associations (AISE, COLIPA, etc.) were registered for
this substance. Consequently, the Chemical Safety Report comprised over 1,000 pages!
The phase 1 registrations were a first for all parties involved.
Nonetheless, we were able to register successfully at the
beginning of October thanks to the good teamwork within the
consortium and with the consultancy firm.
The safety data sheets (incl. exposure scenarios) for the registered product are being prepared as quickly as possible and
made available to our customers in a suitable format.
2. Labelling in accordance with CLP / GHS
All substances must be classified and labelled in accordance
with the CLP regulation from 1 December 2010. The new regulations may also be applied to mixtures on a voluntary basis.
Kolb implemented the change-over to CLP / GHS for all products
(incl. mixtures) as of November 2010. Additional changes which
will become necessary as a result of new information (e.g. from
suppliers, CESIO, ECHA) will be implemented as quickly as possible
and communicated via safety data sheets.
3. ECHA Classification and Labelling Inventory
Kolb notified all reportable substances and polymers to the
ECHA Classification and Labelling Inventory in December 2010.
Kolb Nederland B.V. was designated the importer for products
manufactured in Switzerland.
4. Updated Safety Data Sheets by Email
We are happy to forward updated safety data sheets to our
existing customers by email. Please send your email address to
product.safety@kolb.ch.
Dr. Rudolf Weber
Manager Regulatory Affairs
rudolf.weber@kolb.ch
e-KolbTimes | March 2011
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