Flottweg opens new Process Center for application-oriented process development

Flottweg has officially opened its new Process Center at its headquarters in Vilsbiburg, Germany. With an investment of around €15 million, the company has created a central platform for customer trials, process development, and application-focused testing on an industrial scale.

During the inauguration ceremony, the Executive Board welcomed numerous guests from politics, industry, and project stakeholders to mark the official commissioning of the new technology center. Among the distinguished guests were Hubert Aiwanger, Bavarian State Minister for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, and Sibylle Entwistle, First Mayor of the City of Vilsbiburg.

In their addresses, they emphasised the investment as a clear commitment to the location and the innovative strength of the region. Aiwanger described the new Process Center as a driver for “a fast track to the future,” while Mayor Entwistle highlighted the company’s strong ties to the local community and the active involvement of its employees in civic life.

From concept to process

Stefan Bichelmeier, Head of Process Engineering, provided insights into the development and technical concept of the Process Center. The facility serves as a key interface between laboratory-scale work and industrial applications. He explained how the Process Center has been specifically designed to test customer applications under realistic conditions on a larger scale.

“Very often, everything starts here in Vilsbiburg – in the laboratory,” said Dr. Kersten Christoph Link, CEO of Flottweg SE. “The Process Center creates the conditions needed to turn an idea into a viable, robust, and economically feasible solution.”

For these trials, customers bring their own materials – ranging from mineral oils and plastics to food products. After initial laboratory analyses, these materials are processed, separated, tested, and optimised in the Process Center using decanter centrifuges, separators, and other technologies. This provides a reliable basis for well-founded investment decisions.

A key role in future applications

Covering approximately 2,000 square meters, the Process Center combines modern laboratory, testing, and office facilities. The focus is on developing efficient, customer-specific solutions for a wide range of industrial applications. One growing area of application is the extraction of plant-based proteins, for example from peas for use in food products and alternatives.

Acknowledgment of project partners

The inauguration ceremony also provided an opportunity to thank all project stakeholders, as well as regional partners and suppliers, for their support. Their commitment played a significant role in the successful realisation of the construction project.

With the official commissioning of the Process Center, Flottweg strengthens its position as a development partner for tailor-made separation solutions and further expands its expertise in application-oriented process development.