Zeton, a frontrunner in pilot plant design and fabrication, stands as the premier hub for both market leaders and pioneering start-ups in the process sector. From industry behemoths such as Dow and Shell to trailblazers like GSK and SABIC, enterprises worldwide turn to the expertise emanating from this Dutch branch of the Canadian company.
Zeton excels in designing and constructing modular pilot and demo factories. The company guides clients seamlessly through the complexities of product production. This includes guiding clients from initial lab experiments to full-scale production. Zeton is versatile in tackling projects ranging from sustainable bioplastics to the creation of oils from wood chips.
While Zeton doesn’t manufacture its own products, Zeton’s Managing Director Johan ter Harmsel notes: “With our scale-specific knowledge, we are experts in designing, engineering, and building installations for our clients’ production processes.”
Fully automated pharmaceuticals production plant
Evolution and innovation for upscaling sustainable technologies in the chemical and life sciences industry
With almost four decades of groundbreaking contributions, Zeton’s trajectory reflects its growth in both size and scope. Originally rooted in process-technical installations in oil and gas, the company has expanded its footprint into the chemicals, plastics and pharmaceuticals industries, positioning itself at the forefront of innovation.
“We started with process-technical installations in the oil and gas industry, and later, we added the chemical and plastics industries,” explains ter Harmsel.
Meanwhile, Zeton is also entering the pharmaceutical market, a conservative market – for now – with opportunities for innovation. He continues, “We’ve got a lot of knowledge of continuous processes, while the pharmaceutical companies work with batches or incremental processes. But more and more big pharma is also starting to see the advantages and possibilities of continuous processes. Because the technique would allow them to respond more quickly to changes in the process, they would be better equipped to monitor their product quality. On top of that, it would save time and energy. There is a radical change going on in the pharma industry in terms of sustainability. This market is therefore an important focus point for us.”
Zeton’s impact extends across a spectrum as diverse as the innovative products emerging from its projects. From bioplastics derived from biomass, to the creation of oil from wood chips, the company’s recent endeavors have been laser-focused on advancing sustainability through chemistry. This aligns with the Netherlands’ sustainability efforts and innovation in the Dutch chemical sector. In summary, these collaborations drive a collective effort to address global challenges and create a greener, more resilient future.
Leveraging the Dutch operational advantage
Choosing the Netherlands as its operational hub has proven strategic for Zeton. Since 2000, Zeton has called the Dutch city of Enschede home.
According to ter Harmsel, “Enschede’s international ambiance, coupled with the laid-back, no-nonsense culture of the East, makes it an ideal base. We have a diverse team from Mexico, South Africa and Brazil and the multilingual environment fosters a welcoming atmosphere. Living here is pleasant and the unhurried pace complements our work culture.”
The Netherlands’ strategic location, with easy access to European markets and a well-connected infrastructure, further supports Zeton’s global endeavors.
In Enschede, at industrial estate ‘De Marssteden,’ Zeton seamlessly transports entire factories, showcasing the efficiency of Dutch logistics. The company’s approach, involving construction, disassembly into modules, and global shipping, underscores the effectiveness of the Netherlands’ meticulously planned logistical infrastructure.
Driving growth through collaboration
In recent years, Zeton continues to grow, doubling in size in both hall capacity and personnel. The location in Enschede currently employs 180 people.
Zeton embraces the collaborative spirit intrinsic to the Dutch business landscape. Strong partnerships with the University of Twente, Saxion University of Applied Sciences and local vocational schools form a highly educated talent pool.
“There are many talented, enthusiastic young people here. We have set up a trainee program, especially for them. Most of the participants continued to work for us afterward. There are also many good manufacturing companies in this region, with whom we cooperate a lot. We consciously choose these collaborations because the culture is the same and because we speak the same language. We know what we can gain from each other,” concludes ter Harmsel.
Invest in Holland Network partner Oost NL extends crucial support and expertise to Zeton, highlighting the importance of partnerships in the company’s ongoing growth strategy.
Source: Oost NL
