„Together for Sustainability“ is a good title for the Endress+Hauser Global Forum 2023. On the occasion of its 70th anniversary, the measurement and automation specialist invited customers, partners and the press to Basel for a collaborative exchange on how the process industry can create a sustainable future. Endress+Hauser and various system partners also presented relevant products and solutions on a large exhibition area. There was also a celebration, of course.
Matthias Altendorf, CEO of the Endress+Hauser Group, is convinced that through the use of measurement and automation technology and the deeper understanding of processes that it provides, the transformation to a more sustainable industry can succeed. „We are all faced with the task of counteracting climate change and conserving resources. There is actually no company that is not currently concerned with sustainability and energy transformation. But economic success and sustainability must go hand in hand,“ he said at the opening of the Global Forum in Basel. For this reason, the management of the Endress+Hauser Group does not simply want to celebrate, but to enter into an exchange with customers and system partners on how measurement and automation technology can help on the path to greater sustainability.
The process industry in particular consumes an enormous amount of energy for its thermal, mechanical or chemical processes, and it requires a lot of resources, especially crude oil and natural gas. Through clever use of measurement technology, insights into the processes can be generated. The data can then be used to better understand and optimise the processes. Furthermore, if fossil fuels are replaced with alternative energy sources such as solar, wind and hydrogen, production in many places can be climate neutral. „The important thing is that we take the path to greater sustainability together with our customers,“ says Altendorf.
There is no way around sustainable action
Keynote speakers Mike Berners-Lee, a scientist known for his book „There is no Planet B,“ and Bertrand Piccard, a psychiatrist and adventurer who circumnavigated the globe in a solar-powered plane, showed the auditorium how important the issue of climate neutrality is. Berners-Lee impressively described that although science has been pointing out the problems caused by rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere for decades, the worldwide consumption of fossil fuels still continues to increase. He warned that it was time to reverse this trend and affirmed that industry could make a major contribution with its new technologies.
Piccard‘s speech focused on how to be brave and pursue new technologies that make the world more climate-friendly, even against resistance. With his solar airplane, he himself provedhow to successfully realise an idea against all odds.
Endress+Hauser defines climate targets
The topic of sustainability was further explored in several technical presentations. Julia Schempp, Corporate Social Responsibility Officer, Endress+Hauser, and Paul Borggreve, Corporate Director Marketing, Endress+Hauser, described how seriously the Group takes Corporate Social Responsibility. The company has defined climate targets for itself and has been participating in the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) since March. SBTs are an approach to setting emissions reduction targets for companies. According to Schempp, there are also more and more inquiries from customers in this regard. On the other hand, there is a tsunami of bureaucracy and new legislation to keep track of, he said. Borggreve explained how Endress+Hauser intends to reduce Scope 3 emissions in the future, for example by preferentially using green steel for the instruments, and how emissions can be reduced in customer processes by the clever use of sensor technology.
Technologies for greater sustainability
Frederik Effenberger, Industry Manager, Jens Hundrieser, Regional Industry Manager, and Thomas Kaufmann, Product Manager Sales Marketing, Endress+Hauser Germany, talked about technologies that can be used to save CO2, for example generating green hydrogen, and where Endress+Hauser technologies are used there. And finally, Kévin Rueff, Chief Product Owner, Endress+Hauser Digital Solutions explained how IIoT makes the most of process data, using the example of a wastewater treatment plant installation.
Resource efficiency through inline Raman measurements and chemical recycling: the second plastic revolution, were other top topics at Global Forum 2023. Dr. Simone Beatrice Moos, Program Manager, Analytik Jena, showed analytical methods for the quality determinations of feedstock and pyrolysis oil in chemical recycling.
As an Endress+Hauser customer, Bernd Herrmann, CEO Phyox, reported on the difficulties of growing algae in consistent quality. The „superfood of the 21st century“ contains valuable ingredients and proteins and can be grown on a small area. But without complex measurement and control techniques, consistent quality cannot be guaranteed, he says. Phyox wants to provide this with the support of Endress+Hauser technology in an algae cultivation plant in Croatia.
