Arno Coops & Martijn Klopman
The collaboration between Westlake and KH Engineering, which has spanned over twenty years, continues to yield multiple successes. Martijn Klopman, Manager Projects & Engineering at Westlake, and Arno Coops, Project Account Manager at KH Engineering, explain how this has come to be.
After studying Mechanical Engineering, Instrumentation & Control Technology, Martijn Klopman began his career as a process control engineer at GE Plastics. Following 16 years at Fluor, he joined Hexion (now Westlake) 10 years ago as a project manager. Currently, Martijn is the manager of the Projects & Engineering department in Rotterdam-Pernis, where epoxy resins are produced. Arno Coops studied Mining Engineering at TU Delft. After starting at the former HBG as a process engineer, he joined KH Engineering via Evonik in 2007, where he now works as a project account manager.
Reliable
For Martijn, collaboration with KH Engineering is crucial. ‘We place great value on an engineering firm that understands our processes, is reliable, and can be depended upon. Moreover, KH Engineering considers both our physical and business processes, as well as the best solution for our project. Over time, we have conducted many feasibility studies, including cost estimates. These have resulted in several actual projects. Not all of them, of course, as not every project is financially or technically feasible. What I appreciate about KH Engineering is their consistent transparency and openness in these matters.’
Mothballing
For Westlake Rotterdam, a current challenge is that one of their plants will be ‘mothballed’ starting next year. This means the plant will be shut down. However, this is a complex task, as the other plants, which are closely interconnected, must continue operating seamlessly. Martijn explains: ‘Moreover, we are located on the Shell Pernis site, which presents additional infrastructural challenges. Everything is quite ‘intertwined’, and it takes significant effort to untangle it properly. KH Engineering supports us with this.’
Success
‘At KH Engineering, we enjoy working with Westlake’, Arno adds. ‘Our relationship goes back a long way, at least twenty years, and we feel closely invested in Westlake’s success. KH Engineering has always handled the larger projects, such as feasibility studies for the energy transition. For smaller projects, Westlake works with another engineering partner.’
Closely involved
‘Speaking of large projects’, Martijn says, ‘KH Engineering was closely involved in our ‘six-percent stripper’. This is a distillation column that recovers our product ECH from water and was commissioned in 2023. In addition to product recovery, this column also significantly improves the energy efficiency of our production. KH Engineering handled the feasibility studies from FEL 1 through to detailed engineering. Moreover, they regularly conduct HAZOP studies for us.’
Disciplined but not rigid
What Martijn appreciates about KH Engineering’s way of working is their structured approach. ‘At the same time’, Martijn says, ‘they have the flexibility to adapt to our needs. They are disciplined without being rigid. They think along with us and prevent us from following the ‘whims’ that a process engineer might sometimes devise. In this, they keep us firmly on track.’
Providing direction
‘That can sometimes create friction’, Arno acknowledges. ‘Occasionally, Westlake expects KH Engineering to take even more control, but to do that, we need to know more about Westlake’s exact goals.’ Martijn agrees: ‘We need to provide the direction and define the scope, after which KH Engineering can take it from there effectively. Additionally, the permitting process can be challenging in our work, so we’ve engaged specialised firms for that. This usually works the fastest and most efficiently for all parties involved.’
Marriage
Martijn believes that Westlake and KH Engineering complement each other well in delivering successful projects. ‘KH Engineering has assigned the right people to the projects we undertake and knows how to match them with the people on our side of the table. I sincerely hope we can continue to keep those excellent people in the right roles. Additionally, I see it as a major advantage that KH Engineering’s commitment is ensured right up to the highest levels, including the Chief Operations Officer. Engineering, after all, is and remains a people business, so it’s important that everyone gets along and understands each other. Of course, we sometimes have differing views, but we always work it out. It’s just like a good marriage!’
For more information about Westlake: https://westlake.com/
Westlake Corporation is a globally operating industrial company headquartered in Houston, Texas. Westlake produces petrochemicals, polymers, and building products for various consumer and industrial markets. In 2022, Westlake acquired Hexion’s epoxy division, expanding its portfolio with epoxy resins, coatings, and composites. Westlake Epoxy, located at the Shell Pernis site, is one of the company’s largest production facilities worldwide. The plant employs approximately 250 permanent staff and operates three continuously producing units. Westlake Epoxy manufactures resins, coatings, and composites for various customers. These products are used in sectors such as wind energy, automotive, and aerospace.