Michael: How Experience Creates Expertise

Core Operations Require Resilience

My team and I support nearly all of Evonik’s business lines in the unit operation of solid-liquid separation, one of the areas of expertise within the Process Technology department. Given the broad product portfolio across our company, it quickly becomes clear how significant this unit operation is for successful processes. What fascinates me most is its versatility: it is needed not only for final products, but also for educts, recycling streams and waste streams. Every application is different and requires an individual technical solution. The combination of separation principles, machinery and equipment engineering, and their automation continues to make our work both exciting and diverse to this day.

From Technical Knowledge to True Expertise

Technical knowledge can be learned. For me, however, true expertise only develops when that knowledge is applied over many years in a wide range of situations. Throughout my career, I have been involved in more than 30 start-ups in the chemical industry. The many successfully implemented process steps create confidence and assurance. These experiences have taught me how to assess technical challenges, identify risks at an early stage, and make sound decisions even under time pressure.

I enjoy sharing my experience and supporting my colleagues. To me, success is not only about achieving strong technical and economic results. It is also about helping others grow and working together as a team in an efficient and value-creating way, while staying at the cutting edge of technology, like continuous exchange with scientific committees and helping to maintain our company’s competitiveness.

In the End, Quality and Reliability Always Prevail 

One highlight of my work is supporting a project from the first laboratory trials all the way through to plant start-up. Since more than five years lie often between these milestones, such experiences are particularly valuable in building expertise. During that period, not only are technical solutions developed, but close collaboration and mutual trust are built between operations, engineering, suppliers, and my role from Process Technology.

When Experience Turns into Success

My latest memorable goosebumps moment dates back about two years. For a new filtration unit, engineering had to begin before pilot testing had been fully completed. This meant that key technical decisions had to be made early and adjusted during implementation. Thanks to the close collaboration of everyone involved, critical optimizations could still be introduced in time. When the plant ran steadily during its first production campaign and the operating concept I had developed worked exactly as intended, it was a special moment.