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New test center opened for the Process Technology division

July 26, 2024

Official opening ceremony with (from left) Dr. Simon Esser (Head of the Test Center), Christian Wilhelm (Mayor of Sonthofen), Indra Baier-Müller (District Administrator of Oberallgäu) and Dennis Kemmann (Managing Director)

BHS-Sonthofen officially opened a new Test Center on July 19, 2024. The test center offers expanded capacities for laboratory and pilot tests in the Process Technology division. With state-of-the-art technologies for the process steps of solid-liquid separation, drying, mixing and reacting, the experts at BHS support our customers' test series and can carry out these steps not only individually but also in combination. With extensive investments in infrastructure, the long-established company is consistently continuing its growth course at its headquarters. The opening ceremony took place in the presence of District Administrator Indra Baier-Müller and Mayor Christian Wilhelm.

Tests on a laboratory and pilot scale are essential to ensure that the respective process solution functions optimally and that the technology is perfectly adjusted to the process. The BHS experts support their customers' test series with extensive technical know-how and define a qualified scale-up of the production machine based on the test results.

With 450 square meters of available floor space, the new test center is significantly larger than the existing premises. “Until now, we have carried out tests separately at two locations – for filtration technology in Sonthofen and for mixing and drying technology in Herrsching," explains Dr. Simon Esser, the manager of the new test center. “In the future, we will consolidate our entire process engineering expertise with the respective technologies at one location. In addition to higher test capacities, this will also give us the opportunity to conduct combined tests."

In many process technology procedures, for instance, thermal drying is followed by mechanical liquid separation. BHS offers equipment for both process steps and can integrate both technologies at one location. In addition, the new test center creates ideal conditions for transferring process engineering know-how to the customer. Systems and equipment can be assembled on a modular basis to suit the purpose of the test, and customers can participate in the test live.

BHS will continue to use the test center in Herrsching for mixing and drying tests, allowing the company to conduct tests at both sites simultaneously in the future and avoid bottlenecks. In recent years, the company has made significant investments in staff and infrastructure development and has also expanded its testing and sales capacities in China, India, and the USA. This expansion enables laboratory and pilot tests for a wide range of applications.

BHS-Sonthofen continues to grow

Behind the Test Center is the company's clear commitment to its headquarters in Sonthofen. “Our laboratory and pilot tests require a high level of technical expertise - and we find it in Germany. We currently employ twelve engineers, nine technicians and two laboratory assistants at the Test Center,” comments Managing Director Dennis Kemmann on the growing workforce. A total of over 300 employees currently work at the Sonthofen site and around 40 employees in Herrsching.

The opening ceremony took place in the presence of the District Administrator of the Oberallgäu, Indra Baier-Müller, the first mayor of Sonthofen, Christian Wilhelm, and numerous members of the town council.