Innovative - 2019 Annual and Sustainable Performance Report

5. IMMERSIVE SIMULATION TOOLS TO HELP BUILD AND IMPROVE OUR PLANTS

Implemented in 2015 to design the thiochemicals unit in Kerteh, Malaysia, and used again for a new high-performance production line for molecular sieve beads at the Honfleur site in France, facilities modeling is now used during the design of all Arkema’s production units.

This was the case for the new production line for Orgasol^® powders in Mont, as well as for the Carling-Saint-Avold platform, at the Jarrie plant in France, for the extension of the Kerteh 2 plant in Malaysia, and for the set-up of the future production site for high-performance bio-based Rilsan^® polyamides in Singapore. The idea is to model the future production facilities, which are designed entirely in 3D digital form. The result is a significant timesaving in design and construction, fewer design errors, lower costs, greater efficiency at the start of production, better anticipation of maintenance work, improved training for operators, and more.

Immersive and collaborative

“We win in every respect,” notes Laurent Baseilhac. “Particularly because 3D workshop modeling has the unique ability to bring into play everyone involved in the engineering and production in real time. “For example,” says Cetia’s Digital Director, “by immersing operators in their future working environment, we can take into account improvements relating to the use of equipment at a very early stage, and they are always happy with the workshop that is built in line with their requirements. In this way, they are helping to make the future facility safer, more ergonomic and more efficient for everyone. They can also use this 3D model later as an immersive training tool to create operational scenarios and check what they have learned.”

6.IS THERE A PILOT IN THE BUILDING?

Digital modeling has many applications for Arkema’s production operations. For example, it can be used as a simulator for production facilities, like those used by pilots during flight training. “We can model what happens on the whole chemical platform even before it is built, to train people who will be operating it. This is what we did at Lacq (France) and Kerteh (Malaysia), and it is what we are putting in place for the new platform in Singapore,” explains Laurent Baseilhac.

7.MODELING FUTURE MOLECULES

The incredible power of digital calculation allows us to design and manufacture molecules that will be used to make our future materials, faster and more efficiently. Thanks to the latest generation of molecular modeling tools, we are now able to predict the properties and behaviors of new molecules even before producing them!