Quality Circular Polymers
Friday 29 April saw our KIVI Region Limburg South excursion to the brand-new company Quality Cicular Polymers (henceforth QCP), greased at the Chemelot site in Geleen. Despite the short holiday period, 17 very interested people attended this company visit. Ir. Huub Meessen, CEO of QCP, told how he and his MT members had the basic idea back in 2002 to create a new type of company, making high quality polymers based on our own collected plastics material both from households and industry. SITA is a key participant in the business, providing QCP's raw material flow through its sorting centres in the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe. Currently, customers of QCP already make important applications such as paint buckets, bottle caps, plastic wheels for children's bicycles, watering cans and vials for all kinds of products. It was explained that, with its two production lines, QCP currently mainly makes specified High Density PolyEthylene (granules) granules and makes specified and taylor made PolyPropene granules. The guests were very interested in the fascinating story but also asked some good questions. QCP, after a very short construction period from febrauri to October 2015, was started up in November 2015. It is currently working in five shifts towards full production capacity of 35,000 tonnes/year of quality polymers. The month of April 2016 in particular went satisfactorily, according to Mr Meessen.
After completing the presentation, we made our way to QCP's large new production building at Polymeerstraat 1 in Geleen. The tour was given by the enthusiastic COO of QCP, Mr M. Houtermans. He clearly explained all steps in the production process to the visitors. The entire hall, with a total length of 385 metres, was visited, so that the logical process flow from intake of raw materials, the various purification steps and separation steps became clear. For the required wastewater treatment and steam supply, the company uses connection to the Chemelot site's utilities. Rainwater is partly stored as an additional fire-fighting facility and excess rainwater is infiltrated into the soil. An extensive sprinkler system has been installed throughout the building and Sitech Services' professional fire brigade organisation can be called upon in the event of an unexpected fire.
Finally, the afternoon ended with a brief closing in the QCP meeting room and the two speakers/tour guides were bid farewell with a well-deserved gift on behalf of KIVI Region Limburg South.
Description
Quality Circular Polymers (QCP) is a new company at the Chemelot site in Geleen. The company started operations in October 2015 and has since been producing specified high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and various types of polypropylene (PP) based on collected plastics using an entirely new combination of technologies.
The Management Team of QCP is happy to give our members an insight into the process of getting from a basic idea to financing and building their first production facility with two production lines on the Chemelot site in Geleen. They are also willing to show up to 17 of our members around their new production facility. You understand, unfortunately, that it is not allowed to take photos in the production process.
For the company visit, we ask our participants to bring their own personal protective equipment as much as possible, in particular safety shoes, helmet and safety glasses. QCP has only limited loan equipment available.
PLEASE NOTE! In case of greater interest, a second excursion will be organised in autumn 2016 in consultation with the MT of QCP.
Location
Arrival: Prins Mauritslaan 191, Beek,
QCP: Polymeerstraat 1, Geleen
Organiser
Limburg South Region
Name and contact details for information
Region Limburg South