Engineering, construction and commissioning of plants for the chemical and explosives industries.
Josef Meissner GmbH & Co. KG
Cologne (headquarters) · Bergisch Gladbach-Immekeppel (research site)New on Amplifa
About Josef Meissner
Josef Meissner GmbH & Co. KG is an engineering company founded in 1926, family-run in its third generation and headquartered in Cologne. The company plans, supplies, erects and commissions complete chemical plants, partial plants and plant complexes – with in-house process know-how for cellulose products (cellulose ethers, nitrocellulose, linters processing), nitroaromatics (MNT, DNT, MNB), formaldehyde and derivatives, synthetic resins, explosives and explosives disposal including delaboration and high-pressure water jet technology. The processes are developed in the company's own laboratories and pilot plants at the research site Immekeppel (Bergisch Gladbach) and are continuously advanced. More than 600 successfully commissioned plants worldwide, including for customers such as BASF, Bayer and DOW, attest to this experience. The offering is complemented by licensing, modernization of existing plants and training of customer personnel.
- Site
- Köln
- Processes
- Plant construction / engineering, supply, erection and commissioning of complete chemical plants, Research & Development (laboratories and pilot plants), Licensing of processes, Basic engineering and detail engineering of plants (including 3D CAD plant planning), Procurement & supply of plant components, Erection & commissioning of plants (including pre-assembly in the in-house workshop for pilot, Modernization and conversion of existing plants, Cellulose ether production (CMC, MC, HEC, HPC etc.) – plants
- Materials
- Cellulose ethers (CMC, MC, HEC, HPC etc.), Nitrocellulose (NC), Chemical-grade alpha cellulose, Mononitrotoluene (MNT), Dinitrotoluene (DNT), Mononitrobenzene (MNB), Mononitrochlorobenzene (MNCB), Formaldehyde
- Founded
- 1926
- Industries
- Chemical industry, Explosives industry, Paint and coatings industry, Plastics/polyurethane chemistry, Defence/munitions
- 01
Research & Development
- 02
Licensing
- 03
Engineering (Basic & Detail)
- 04
Procurement & Supply
- 05
Erection & Commissioning
- 06
Modernization of Existing Plants
- 07
Training of Customer Personnel
Processes & Products
Cellulose ethers (CMC, MC, HEC, HPC)
Plants for etherification of alkali cellulose for thickeners, film formers and stabilizers in many industries.
Nitrocellulose (NC)
Continuous nitration with acid recovery and modern refiner technology for civilian and military grades.
Mononitrotoluene (MNT)
Nitration plants with loop reactors, dynamic separators and compact wash units.
Dinitrotoluene (DNT)
Two-stage nitration with capacity of up to 50 t/h in one line as a precursor for polyurethanes.
Mononitrobenzene (MNB)
Adiabatic process with tubular reactor to minimize by-product formation.
Formaldehyde & Derivatives (UFC, Hexamine, Pentaerythritol)
Plants based on silver or metal oxide catalyst processes including fully continuous pentaerythritol production.
Synthetic resins (alkyd, polyester, phenolic, epoxy and polyurethane resins)
Polycondensation, polymerization and polyaddition plants of the RHE product group including EPV sampling valve and online analytics.
Explosives (TNT, HMX, RDX, PETN, NG)
Complete production plants including acid and wastewater treatment as well as further processing into Composition B, Octol and plastic explosives.
Primary explosives (lead azide, lead styphnate, tetrazene)
Plants for the production of primary explosives and initiators.
Explosives disposal
Delaboration, water jet washing and cutting with high-pressure water jet up to calibre 203 mm, TNT regeneration and burning ovens.
Sites
Cologne
DEHeadquarters/main administration
- In-house workshop (pre-assembly)
Bergisch Gladbach-Immekeppel
DEResearch site (laboratories/pilot plants)
- Laboratory facilities
- Pilot plants/pilot-scale plants
Plants & Equipment
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant construction / engineering, supply, erection and commissioning of complete chemical plantsEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Research & Development (laboratories and pilot plants)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Licensing of processesEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Basic engineering and detail engineering of plants (including 3D CAD plant planning)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Procurement & supply of plant componentsEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Erection & commissioning of plants (including pre-assembly in the in-house workshop for pilotErection | – | – | – | – | – |
| Modernization and conversion of existing plantsEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Cellulose ether production (CMC, MC, HEC, HPC etc.) – plantsEngineering | – | – | – | – | Cellulose, Caustic soda, Chloroacetic acid, Chloromethane |
| Nitrocellulose production (NC) – continuous nitration, acid recovery,Engineering | – | – | – | – | Cellulose, Sulfuric acid, Nitric acid |
| Linters processing (mechanical cleaning, caustic soda boiling, bleaching)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Cotton linters, Caustic soda, Bleaching agents |
| Mononitrotoluene (MNT) plants with loop reactors, dynamic separators and compact wash unitsEngineering | – | – | – | – | Toluene, Nitric acid, Sulfuric acid |
| Dinitrotoluene (DNT) plants, two-stage nitration, capacity up to 50 t/h in one lineEngineering | – | – | – | – | Toluene, MNT, Nitric acid, Sulfuric acid |
| Mononitrobenzene (MNB) plants using an adiabatic process with tubular reactorEngineering | – | – | – | – | Benzene, Nitric acid, Sulfuric acid |
| Formaldehyde plants (silver catalyst and metal oxide catalyst processes)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Methanol |
| Urea-formaldehyde precondensate (UFC) plantsEngineering | – | – | – | – | Urea, Formaldehyde |
| Hexamethylenetetramine (hexamine) plants (absorption, reaction and crystallization in one reactor)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Formaldehyde, Ammonia |
| Pentaerythritol plants (fully continuous process)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Formaldehyde, Acetaldehyde |
| Acetaldehyde plantsEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Polycondensation plants (alkyd resins, polyester resins, phenolic resins, urea resins, melamineEngineering | – | – | – | – | Alkyd resins, Polyester resins, Phenolic resins, Urea resins, Melamine resins |
| Polymerization plants (acrylate resins, acrylate dispersions, polyvinyl acetate dispersions)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Acrylate resins, Acrylate dispersions, Polyvinyl acetate dispersions |
| Polyaddition plants (epoxy resins, polyurethane resins, polyurethane dispersions)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Epoxy resins, Polyurethane resins, Polyurethane dispersions |
| Sampling & online analytics for synthetic resin plants (EPV valve, viscosity, acid number, pH,Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Pilot-scale plants for synthetic resins and polymer dispersionsEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| TNT plants (nitration, sulfiting, drying, granulation, acid and wastewater treatment)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Toluene, Mixed acid |
| Octogen/Hexogen/Nitropenta plants (HMX, RDX, PETN) incl. further processing into Composition B,Engineering | – | – | – | – | Hexamethylenetetramine, Acetic acid, Nitric acid, Pentaerythritol |
| Nitroglycerine/nitroglycol plants using the MEISSNER injector process incl. transport, storage,Engineering | – | – | – | – | Glycerine, Nitroglycol, Mixed acid |
| Explosives processing (filling, pressing, assembling)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Primary explosive plants (lead azide, lead styphnate, tetrazene, sodium azide, styphnic acid)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Delaboration facilities for munitions (saws, milling machines, cutting, disassembly, unscrewingEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Water jet washing with high-pressure water jet (projectile calibres up to 203 mm, bombs, rocketEngineering | – | 203 mm (projectile calibre) | – | – | – |
| Cutting with high-pressure water jet (with/without abrasive)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Regeneration of explosives (TNT, HMX, RDX from munitions/bombs up to 500 kg)Engineering | – | – | up to 500 kg (bombs) | – | – |
| Combustion plants and burning ovens (explosives disposal, thermal after-treatment)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Acid recovery plants and wastewater treatment plantsEngineering | – | – | – | – | Sulfuric acid, Nitric acid |
11 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loop reactors for nitration purposes (with circulation pumps) | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dynamic separators | – | – | – | – | – |
| Compact wash units | – | – | – | – | – |
| Tubular reactor (adiabatic MNB plants) | – | – | – | – | – |
| Injector plants (nitroglycerine/nitroglycol) | – | – | – | – | – |
| Delaboration machines (unscrewing machines, extraction and pressing equipment) | – | – | – | – | – |
| High-pressure water jet facilities (water jet washing, projectile calibres up to 203 mm) | – | – | – | – | – |
| Burning oven with shot bed | – | – | – | – | – |
| Sampling valve EPV | EPV | – | – | – | – |
| Pilot plants / pilot-scale plants | – | – | – | – | Research site Immekeppel/Bergisch Gladbach |
| In-house workshop (pre-assembly) | – | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
History
- 1926
Founded by Josef Meissner as a partnership in Cologne; development of the Schmid-Meissner process for continuous nitroglycerine production
Led by the sons Heribert Meissner (engineer) and Dr. Fritz Meissner (chemist); several patented processes
- 2015
Expansion of activities to plants for synthetic resins; HÄNDEL ENGINEERING integrated as the RHE product group
- 2025
Participation in the European Coatings Show in Nuremberg; accompanying Chancellor Merz's delegation trip to China (represented by Ute Marita Meissner)