Michael van der Hoeven & Mark d’Angremond
KH Engineering and LANXESS have enjoyed a long-standing partnership, recently formalised through a framework agreement signed at the end of November. ‘This ensures continuity, quality, and the availability of skilled engineers’, says Site Director Mark d’Angremond.
Mark d’Angremond is the Site Director of LANXESS Rotterdam, while his colleague Michael van der Hoeven serves as Engineering Manager. Both have a long track record in the industry. Michael has spent many years working at various engineering firms. Michael and Mark view the collaboration with KH Engineering as an extension of their own organisation. Michael explains, ‘The purpose of an engineering design is to create something that can be constructed and subsequently function effectively in production.’ Mark adds, ‘KH Engineering not only provides the necessary capacity but also enhances our company’s efficiency.’
Framework agreement
In November, LANXESS and KH Engineering signed a framework agreement. Mark elaborates, ‘We wanted to secure sufficient access to skilled professionals, and a framework agreement provides a solid foundation for that. You can always outsource individual projects, but for us, quality and compliance are paramount. Achieving that requires more continuity, which KH Engineering delivers. The agreement allows us to outsource more work under one umbrella. It’s fair to say it’s a true partnership.’
Smaller modifications
Mark explains, ‘KH Engineering, for instance, handles smaller modifications within our plant. For other projects, such as adaptations to our furnaces, we turn to specialised furnace builders. This way, we always choose the most suitable partner for the task at hand.’
Marc Steigenga (KH Engineering) & Mark d’Angremond
Sustainability projects
As part of the preparations for the 2026 turnaround, LANXESS also requires support from KH Engineering. ‘During this turnaround, several sustainability projects will be completed. For example, modifications will be made to our carbon adsorption unit to further reduce potential emissions, and work will be performed on the furnaces to lower NOx emissions’, Mark explains.
Local presence
Michael praises the expertise of KH Engineering across all relevant disciplines. ‘That level of expertise isn’t something you see at every engineering firm’, he notes. ‘We see many skilled individuals, but on a critical note, I would suggest their interdisciplinary communication could be improved to align their work more seamlessly. One major advantage is KH Engineering’s proximity. Every Tuesday, LANXESS colleagues visit their Schiedam office to review ongoing projects and synchronise plans. The close communication is very effective. Building personal relationships leads to the best results, in my view.’
Flexibility
Another advantage, Mark and Michael say, is KH Engineering’s size. This enables them to meet LANXESS’s needs. Mark explains, ‘They’re big enough to support us, yet small enough to offer the flexibility to adapt to our requirements. They make a significant contribution in this regard. We share our project portfolio with KH Engineering, so they know exactly what we need and when. In short, it’s a strong partnership with excellent communication.’
For more information about LANXESS: https://lanxess.com/en
LANXESS is a leading company in the specialty chemicals sector. With approximately 12,000 employees in 32 countries, they are a recognised name in the global market. Their core expertise lies in the production, development, and marketing of chemical intermediates, additives, specialty chemicals, and plastics. At the Rotterdam production site, LANXESS produces benzoic acid, benzaldehyde, and benzyl alcohol. These substances are used in everyday products such as toothpaste, medicines, perfumes, cosmetics, and food preservatives. LANXESS also contributes to the flexibility of popular vinyl flooring, using benzoic acid as an eco-friendly plasticiser.