Overview
Uhde Inventa-Fischer is a thyssenkrupp subsidiary and one of the world’s leading engineering companies for polymer plant construction. With over 100 years of experience since 1924, the company has built more than 450 polymer plants worldwide. Core competences include polyesters, polyamides, and polylactic acid (PLA). The company developed the PLAneo® process for producing PLA from lactic acid and has built the first commercial PLA plants using this technology in China and elsewhere.
Company Heritage
Founded in 1924 as Inventa AG in Switzerland, the company has been at the forefront of polymerization technology for a century. In 2005, it became part of thyssenkrupp Uhde, combining Swiss engineering precision with German industrial scale. The company operates from Berlin, Germany (engineering headquarters) and Domat/Ems, Switzerland (technology center).
Core Technologies
PLAneo® Process Technology
Revolutionary PLA Production:
- Direct polymerization of lactic acid to high-molecular-weight PLA
- No need for lactide intermediate (unlike ring-opening polymerization)
- Continuous process with high efficiency and low capital expenditure
- Produces PLA with properties equivalent to NatureWorks grades
- Enables cost-competitive bioplastics production at scale
Technical Advantages:
- Simplified process flow vs. traditional lactide route
- Lower energy consumption
- Reduced byproduct formation
- Flexible capacity scaling (5,000-100,000+ tons/year)
- Proven at commercial scale
Polyester Plant Technology
- PET, PBT, PTT, and specialty polyester plants
- Over 300 polyester plants built worldwide
- Continuous polycondensation expertise
- Solid-state polymerization (SSP) integration
Polyamide Plant Technology
- Nylon 6, Nylon 66, and specialty polyamides
- Caprolactam and adipic acid integration
- Advanced polymerization and finishing technologies
Bioplastics Leadership
Commercial PLAneo® References
- Jilin COFCO Biomaterials (China): First commercial PLAneo® plant
- Multiple additional plants in China and globally
- Technology licensed to major chemical and bioplastics companies
Partnerships and Licensing
- Technology licensing model for global deployment
- Collaboration with lactic acid producers
- Integration with downstream compounding and conversion
Services Portfolio
- Process Licensing: PLAneo®, polyester, and polyamide technologies
- Basic Engineering: Process design, mass/energy balances, P&IDs
- Detail Engineering: Procurement specs, construction drawings
- Plant Construction: EPC and EPCM execution models
- Commissioning & Start-up: Performance testing, operator training
- Revamps & Debottlenecking: Capacity increases, efficiency improvements
- Digital Solutions: Process simulation, digital twins, predictive maintenance
Market Position
- Global leader in licensed polymer process technology
- 450+ plants built worldwide
- Technology portfolio covering major polymer classes
- Reference projects on every continent
- Key enabler for bioplastics scale-up
Sustainability Focus
- Enabling circular economy through chemical recycling technologies
- Bio-based polymer process development
- Energy efficiency optimization in polymerization
- Life cycle assessment integration in plant design
Key Facts
- Founded: 1924 (Inventa AG)
- Parent: thyssenkrupp Uhde GmbH (thyssenkrupp AG)
- Employees: 500+ (engineering and technology)
- Locations: Berlin (HQ), Domat/Ems (Technology Center), global offices
- Plants built: 450+ polymer plants
- PLAneo® plants: Multiple commercial references
Last updated: February 14, 2026 Information sourced from thyssenkrupp Uhde corporate website, technology brochures, and industry publications