Production service provider for contract synthesis, formulation and finishing of fine, specialty and agrochemicals.
Schirm GmbH
Schönebeck (Elbe) · Lübeck · Baar-Ebenhausen · Wolfenbüttel · Ennis (Texas, USA)New on Amplifa
Production service provider for the chemical industry
Schirm GmbH is a production service provider and contract manufacturer for the chemical and related industries with decades of experience in the synthesis, formulation and finishing of fine, specialty and agrochemicals. As a contract producer, the company synthesizes organic compounds in three multi-purpose synthesis plants with 46 reactors (1–10 m³, –15 to +240 °C, pressure/vacuum) and processes more than 18 classes of substances, from urea derivatives and carbamates to isocyanates, heterocycles and polymers. Formulation covers solid, liquid and paste-like products – from suspensions, emulsions and dispersions to milling and drying through to shaping processes such as extrusion, compaction, pastillation and flaking. Filling is performed from 200 mg to 500 kg for solids and from 2 ml up to tank trucks and rail tank cars. The production services are complemented by value-added services such as scale-up, contract analytics (HPLC, GC, IR, Karl Fischer), REACH support, safety data sheet management, procurement management and customs clearance. Since January 2018, Schirm GmbH has been part of the South African AECI Group; production takes place at five centers of excellence in Schönebeck, Lübeck, Baar-Ebenhausen and Wolfenbüttel as well as in Ennis (Texas, USA).
- Site
- Schönebeck
- Processes
- Chemical synthesis (multi-purpose synthesis, organic compounds), Formulation of suspensions, emulsions and dispersions (aqueous/oil-based), Dry milling (air jet and mechanical mills, also under nitrogen), Wet milling (production of suspensions/dispersions, solids content up to 50%, particle size, Spray granulation, Low-pressure extrusion, Roller compaction, Pelletizing
- Materials
- Urea derivatives, Carbamates, Amines / Amides, Isocyanates, Organic and inorganic acids, Inorganic bases, Aldehydes, Ketones
- Certificates
- ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018, ISO 50001:2011 (DIN EN ISO 50001, all sites since 2016), DIN EN ISO 22716 (Cosmetics GMP, Baar-Ebenhausen site), DIN EN ISO 50001, DIN EN ISO 22716 (Cosmetics GMP)
- Founded
- 1957 (as
- Industries
- Chemicals (fine, specialty, agrochemistry), Crop protection, Biocides/Material protection, Life Science, Advanced Materials/Performance Chemicals, Agricultural market
- 01
Process development and formulation development (laboratory, pilot plant)
- 02
Procurement of raw materials and active ingredients
- 03
Scale-up of synthesis routes (pilot plant 250–1,000 L)
- 04
Contract synthesis (multi-purpose synthesis plants)
- 05
Process engineering refinement (rectification, centrifugation, distillation)
- 06
Formulation (mixing, milling, drying)
- 07
Granulation (extrusion, compaction, pastillation, flaking)
- 08
Finishing and packaging
- 09
Contract analytics and quality control
- 10
REACH support, safety data sheet management, customs clearance, logistics
Locations
Schönebeck (Elbe)
DEHeadquarters, synthesis, formulation and finishing
- Lot size
- Sample and test quantities through to large-scale production
- Materials
- Agrochemicals, fine and specialty chemicals, highly active ingredients
- 3 multi-purpose synthesis plants (46 reactors, 1–10 m³, –15 to +240 °C)
- Synthesis pilot plant 250–1,000 L
- Multi-purpose synthesis plant III (2018)
- Pastillation plant
- EC formulation center with high-performance filler and packing robot (2015)
- High-bay warehouse for hazardous materials
Lübeck
DEProduction site
Baar-Ebenhausen
DEFormulation and finishing, including Beauty Care
- Lot size
- Large-scale production (sachet filling)
- Materials
- Beauty Care, Home Care, consumer goods
- Sachet filling line at large-scale production capacity (2014)
Wolfenbüttel
DEFormulation, finishing, extrusion, pastillation
- Materials
- Highly active ingredients, Home Care
- Extrusion line for highly active ingredients (2013)
- Pastillation plant for Home Care (2017)
Ennis (Texas)
USProduction site (Schirm USA, Inc.)
- Materials
- Herbicide EC formulations
- Herbicide EC formulation and finishing plant (2017)
Services
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical synthesis (multi-purpose synthesis, organic compounds)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Agrochemicals, fine and specialty chemicals, organic compounds, urea derivatives, carbamates, amines/amides, isocyanates, organic/inorganic acids, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, esters, phenols, nitriles, substituted aromatics, sulfides, N-/O-heterocycles, polymers |
| Formulation of suspensions, emulsions and dispersions (aqueous/oil-based)Plastics | – | – | – | – | crop protection products, biocides, additives, construction chemicals, Home Care, Beauty Care, adhesives, composite materials, flame retardants, battery materials |
| Dry milling (air jet and mechanical mills, also under nitrogen)Plastics | – | – | – | – | raw materials/active ingredients (solids) |
| Wet milling (production of suspensions/dispersions, solids content up to 50%, particle sizePlastics | – | – | – | – | inorganic or polymeric substances, active ingredients |
| Spray granulationPlastics | – | – | – | – | liquids/active ingredients |
| Low-pressure extrusionPlastics | – | – | – | – | temperature- and pressure-sensitive substances |
| Roller compactionPlastics | – | – | – | – | solids |
| PelletizingPlastics | – | – | – | – | solids |
| Flaking (flaking of melts on a cooling belt)Plastics | – | – | – | – | melts |
| PastillationPlastics | – | – | – | – | melts/active ingredients |
| Mixing of solid and liquid substancesPlastics | – | – | – | – | solid and liquid chemicals |
| Drying (spray drying, vacuum paddle drying, fluidized bed, belt drying)Plastics | – | – | – | – | raw materials/active ingredients |
| Finishing (filling and packaging, 200 mg–500 kg solid, 2 ml–tank truck/rail tank car)Assembly | – | – | 200 mg – 500 kg | – | solid, liquid and paste-like chemical substances, hazardous materials |
| Refinishing (emptying, refilling, labeling, disposal)Assembly | – | – | – | – | chemical products |
| Contract analytics (HPLC, GC, IR, particle size analysis, Karl Fischer, sieve analyses etc.)Testing | – | – | – | – | chemical substances/active ingredients |
| Process development/Scale-up (laboratory development, pilot plant, pilot plant scale)Engineering | – | – | – | – | chemical products |
| Process engineering refinement (rectification, centrifugation, distillation, extraction,Plastics | – | – | – | – | synthesis products |
| Coating of solidsPlastics | – | – | – | – | solids |
28 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-purpose synthesis plants | – | 3 | 46 reactors, 1–10 m³, –15 to +240 °C, pressure/vacuum | – | Schönebeck |
| Synthesis pilot plant (reaction volume) | – | – | 250–1,000 liters | – | Schönebeck |
| Spray tower (spray dryer) with fluidized bed, bead mill, 20 m³ storage tank | GEA Niro | 1 | industrial scale | – | – |
| Vacuum paddle dryer with chopper and spray nozzles | Lödige | 1 | – | – | – |
| 400L vacuum paddle dryer (pilot plant) | – | 1 | 400 L | – | – |
| Fluidized bed and belt dryers | – | – | within extrusion lines | – | – |
| Air jet mill AFG-400 with classifier < 5 µm | AFG-400 | – | classifier < 5 µm | – | – |
| Mechanical mill Zirkoplex ZPS 200 | ZPS 200 | 1 | – | – | – |
| Hammer mills/crushers | – | – | – | – | – |
| Bead mills (80–220 L nominal volume) | Bachofen or Drais/Bühler | – | 80–220 L | – | – |
| Colloid mills for pre-grinding | – | – | – | – | – |
| Nauta mixers (2–5.5 m³) | – | – | 2–5.5 m³ | – | – |
| Lödige Druvatherm mixer | Lödige Druvatherm | 1 | 6.3 m³ | – | – |
| Stirred vessels (stainless steel, enamel, plastic) | – | – | – | – | – |
| Twin-dome/basket extruders | – | – | – | – | – |
| Compaction plants | – | – | – | – | – |
| Cooling belts | – | – | – | – | – |
| Pelletizing machines | – | – | – | – | – |
| Sifting machines | – | – | – | – | – |
| Extrusion line for highly active ingredients | – | 1 | – | 2013 | Wolfenbüttel |
| Pastillation plant | – | 1 | – | 2017 | Wolfenbüttel |
| Pastillation plant (expansion of multi-purpose synthesis plant) | – | 1 | – | 2018 | Schönebeck |
| Multi-purpose synthesis plant III | – | 1 | – | 2018 | Schönebeck |
| Semi- and fully automatic filling lines | – | – | – | – | – |
| Labelers (wet glue, booklets, self-adhesive labels, sleeves) | – | – | – | – | – |
| High-performance filler and packing robot (EC formulation center) | – | – | – | 2015 | Schönebeck |
| Sachet filling line (large-scale production capacity) | – | – | – | 2014 | Baar-Ebenhausen |
| Herbicide EC formulation and finishing plant | – | 1 | – | 2017 | Ennis (USA) |
Additional services
Quality and Compliance
In-process controls and laboratory areas staffed around the clock at all sites ensure the agreed product quality; contract analytics includes HPLC, GC, IR, Karl Fischer, particle size analysis and sieve analyses. The prevention of cross-contamination is ensured by dedicated buildings for highly active ingredients and the QEHS management system.
| Evidence | Schönebeck (Elbe) | Lübeck | Baar-Ebenhausen | Wolfenbüttel | Ennis (Texas) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISO 9001:2015 | |||||
| ISO 14001:2015 | |||||
| ISO 45001:2018 | |||||
| DIN EN ISO 50001 | |||||
| DIN EN ISO 22716 (Cosmetics GMP) |
Company History
- Ende 18. Jh.
Foundation of the company “Hermania” by pharmacist Carl Samuel Hermann (potassium and magnesium salts, hydrochloric acid) – the foundation of the Schönebeck (Elbe) site.
- 1957
Foundation of Sideco Pharma GmbH in Lübeck as a contract service provider for the pharmaceutical industry.
- 1972–1983
Foundation of further production companies (including Lübeck, Baar-Ebenhausen); entry into formulation and finishing of crop protection products.
- 1984
Foundation of Dr. Schirm GmbH as a holding of five production companies, later converted into Dr. Schirm AG.
- 1992
LEHNKERING Montan AG acquires the company; takeover of the production facility of the former VEB Fahlberg-List in Schönebeck – entry into synthesis.
- 1990er
Systematic expansion and modernization of the production facilities; full-service packages become possible.
- 2000
Acquisition of Ennis Agri Tech (Texas) – market entry in the USA as Schirm USA, Inc.
- 2001
Merger of the subsidiaries into Dr. Schirm AG.
- 2002
Commissioning of a new multi-purpose synthesis plant in Schönebeck.
- 2005
Conversion into Schirm GmbH.
- 2008
LEHNKERING acquires the Wolfenbüttel site from Bayer CropScience; Schirm GmbH manages formulation and finishing there.
- 2011
IMPERIAL Holdings Ltd. (South Africa) acquires LEHNKERING Holding GmbH.
- 2013
New extrusion line for highly active ingredients in Wolfenbüttel.
- 2014
Doubling of Beauty Care capacities in Baar-Ebenhausen; sachet filling at large-scale production capacity.
- 2015
New center for fungicide emulsion concentrates in Schönebeck; additional high-bay warehouse for hazardous materials.
- 2016
First certification of all sites according to DIN EN ISO 50001; ISO 22716 (Cosmetics GMP) for Beauty Care in Baar-Ebenhausen.
- 2017
Pastillation plant for Home Care in Wolfenbüttel; capacity expansion in Ennis with herbicide EC formulation and finishing plant.
- 2018
30.01.2018: Acquisition by the South African chemical group AECI; the Wolfenbüttel site is registered under Schirm GmbH; pastillation plant and new multi-purpose synthesis plant III in Schönebeck.