Industrial Plant / Pilot and Laboratory Plants
THE TOOL FOR YOUR RESEARCH
We design and supply customised pilot plants for research institutes, universities and the R&D departments of chemical companies. These systems provide a flexible platform for process development, solvent recovery, product concentration and reaction optimisation, enabling you to carry out experimental work in-house with complete control over your development activities.
Supporting your R&D
For many projects, our in-house laboratory testing provides the fastest and most cost-effective route to process validation. In some cases, however, a dedicated pilot plant offers greater flexibility and control. We support you in determine the most suitable approach for your project.
- For research & education: If you are a university or research institute seeking a flexible platform for fundamental development and research work in separation technology.
- For in-house R&D: If you are a chemical or pharmaceutical company developing new, proprietary processes that require complete confidentiality and in-house validation.
Industrial performance at laboratory scale
Our pilot plants are far more than laboratory units. They are fully engineered process systems, developed using the same engineering know-how as our large-scale plants.
- Customised design: We tailor each pilot plant exactly to your specific separation task, your process media, and performance requirements, whether it is a laboratory unit for pervaporation or other membrane-based separation processes.
- Laboratory-scale capacity: With throughputs of just a few litres per hour, our pilot plants are the ideal platform for research and development.
- Flexible batch operation: The plants are often designed for batch operation, offering maximum flexibility for experimental programmes and small-scale production.
Rent or buy: your choice
Depending on your requirements and the timeline, we offer two flexible options:
- Rental: Ideal for short-time projects, a rapid “proof of concept” studies for your pervaporation process or for bridging temporary capacity constraints.
- Purchase: The preferred choice for long-term research and development programmes or the continuous production of highly specialised products.
Frequently asked questions
Why invest in a pilot plant if DeltaMem already offers laboratory testing?
Our laboratory testing is the fastest and most cost-effective way to validate a separation technology. A dedicated pilot plant, however, gives you complete control over your development activities. It is the ideal choice if your processes or formulations are confidential, or if you require a system for continuous, in-house research.
How does a pilot plant differ from an industrial-scale plant?
The main differences are capacity and purpose. Pilot plants have a lower capacity (a few litres per hour) and are designed for flexible batch operation, ideal for feasibility studies and proof-of-concept testing. Industrial-scale plants, on the other hand, are engineered for high throughput and continuous production.
What is the process for developing a customised pilot plant?
Our pilot plants are developed using the same engineering approach as our industrial systems. We begin by analysing your requirements, carry out feasibility testing where required, and then develop a detailed process design tailored to your specific application.