Innovation at ELANTAS
Decentralized structures ensure close customer relations
ELANTAS is a focused specialty chemical company offering its customers top quality, innovative liquid electrical insulation systems. Innovation is a key element of our corporate strategy which ensures ELANTAS’ long-term growth and continued technological and market leadership.
Local needs drive innovation in decentralized research
We see innovation as the successful launch of new products based on our research and development. Although the fundamental product needs are the same, local market requirements can differ between regions. This is due to different worker safety and environmental regulations, climatic conditions, norms and last but not least historic reasons. It is essential to know these local needs and taking these into consideration, develop new, customized products together with our customers. For this reason, ELANTAS maintains a network of local research centers rather than a globally responsible central R&D unit.
Global Coordination to realize synergies
The Chief Technology Officer of ELANTAS is accountable for the global coordination and transparency of our R&D portfolio, which results in high efficiency within our decentalized structures. The R&D directors of all sites meet regularly in the “Technical Steering Committee (TSC)” to discuss the progress of our global projects and to determine the next steps.
Local projects: Customer focused development and timely market introduction
Customer specific projects, such as the adaptation of a formulation to the specific needs of a customer application, the use of locally available raw materials, or the development of formulations specific to only one region, are carried out under the direction of the local site. Market potential and project definition are determined by the local sales and R&D departments.
Global projects: Synergies make us stronger
Research topics with global relevance are coordinated at the ELANTAS level. They are assigned to our sites based on local know-how and the availability of resources.
Top researchers and developers of specialty chemicals group from around the world discuss in Wesel at the innovation conference on technical and economic developments and innovative trends of the future.
More information about the ALTANA Innovation Conference.
Going forward with partners: ELANTAS' use of external networks
ELANTAS’ own R&D, the use of the know-how of our sites and the close cooperation with our customers and our sister divisions within ALTANA make up the core of our innovation process. In addition, ELANTAS collaborates, if it is expedient and adds value, with external partners under the condition that we can protect our know-how. The choice of commercial R&D tank, university, or other company is dependent upon the individual topic. Besides this, ELANTAS, as part of ALTANA, is also a member of various networks and industry associations.