Processing Solutions for Specialty & Fine Chemicals

Intelligent plant concepts for specialty chemicals

We develop safety and explosion protection concepts for the proper handling of hazardous and health-sensitive substances.

The name says it all

The production of specialty chemicals demands special attention—particularly when it comes to the safe handling of hazardous substances and the development of effective explosion protection concepts.

Small volumes, big impact

While the quantities of specialty chemicals used are often small, their impact on a product’s performance is significant. Typical examples include flame retardants, active materials for batteries, UV stabilizers to prevent aging in plastics and coatings, or food additives like citric acid. Handling fine and specialty chemicals requires specific expertise—whether in explosion protection, maintaining exceptional purity, or minimizing health risks to operating personnel.

Zeppelin Systems offers tailor-made plant concepts to safely, gently, and precisely dose a wide range of raw materials into your processing workflows. The result: maximum safety, cost-efficiency, and consistently high product quality.

Application areas

Detergents

Personal care and hygiene products

Crop protection and fertilizers

Composites

Minerals

Ceramic products

Adhesives and resins

Acids (e.g., silicic acid, adipic acid, citric acid)

Superabsorbents

Activated carbon

Catalysts

Additives

May we assist you in finding the right solution?

Process solutions for specialty and fine chemicals

Safe raw material feeding

To ensure that raw material feeding is nearly dust-free right from the start, our filtration and aspiration systems come into play. The filters can be precisely adapted to your requirements—depending on the raw materials and throughput. For example, jet filters with automatic pneumatic cleaning prevent material loss by feeding the collected contents back into the mixing process in a controlled and accurate manner.

Aspiration systems, on the other hand, operate under negative pressure and are used downstream to reduce residual dust levels to a minimum. Our containment and safe change concepts ensure that operators are fully protected from exposure to toxic or respirable substances—guaranteeing both safety and compliance with strict hygiene and environmental standards.

Gentle pneumatic conveying

Faster isn’t always better! Sensitive raw materials can be damaged if conveyed at excessive speeds, inevitably resulting in a higher fines content. That’s why our conveying systems are deliberately designed to ensure gentle handling of raw materials—supported by technologies such as our patented Overflow System.

Our conveying solutions are precisely tailored to your application—whether you need Lean-Tec (pneumatic dilute-phase conveying), Dense-Tec (pneumatic dense-phase conveying), Twin-Tec with bypass systems, or Hydro-Tec (hydraulic conveying). To determine the best fit, we begin by analyzing the bulk material properties of your product. This allows us to adjust parameters like pipeline material: in addition to standard metal piping, we also offer rubber-lined pipes for materials prone to sticking to metallic surfaces. The result: gentle, reliable, and product-appropriate conveying—every time.

Customized storage and discharge solutions

Zeppelin Systems provides end-to-end raw material logistics—from sacks and big bags to full truck unloading—always tailored to the specific properties of the materials, including abrasive or hazardous characteristics. Carefully aligned containment concepts, matched to the respective hazard classifications and OEB levels, ensure that employees and the environment are not unnecessarily exposed to potentially toxic raw or intermediate products.

Naturally, explosion protection and ATEX requirements are also taken into account, with features such as inert gas blanketing integrated into the system. For fast, efficient discharge without bridging, sticking, or material residue, you can rely on our rotary airlocks.

In short: We specialize in handling fine powders (< 50 µm), challenging additives, and powders that must be conveyed using dry air or nitrogen—with safety, precision, and process reliability as top priorities.

Processing for high-quality products

Sometimes more is more! That’s why we refine your bulk materials in mixing and homogenizing silos—either as new installations or as retrofits for existing silos.

Depending on the required product characteristics and mixing quality, we employ a variety of silo types tailored to your needs. These systems are perfectly suited for both free-flowing and poorly flowing bulk materials such as powders, granulates, recyclates, dryblends, or compounds—ensuring optimal homogeneity and consistent product performance.

Precise dosing and weighing

No tolerance for tolerances! Staying true to this principle, Zeppelin Systems has developed ultra-precise weighing and dosing systems for all formulation components—from the smallest gram-range quantities to bulk volumes in the ton range.

Depending on your needs, we offer fully automated systems for small components or high-performance weighing systems for dosing difficult-to-handle powdered raw materials. By incorporating a separate material-specific weighing process, our solutions ensure extremely low tolerances—with each raw material dosed with maximum precision.

Tailor-made mixing solutions

For decades, Zeppelin Systems has been setting new standards in mixing technology with its HENSCHEL Mixers®—whether for additives, pigments, toners, stabilizers, or other formulation components. Our goal: efficient production, high availability, and consistently reproducible product quality.

To achieve this, we tailor each mixer precisely to the needs of your production with a wide range of configuration options. Whether you’re handling sensitive, hazardous, or even explosive materials—you’ll receive a customized mixer designed to meet your exact requirements.

Need more details? Our contact person will be happy to assist you

Sascha Schmid

General Manager Sales Performance Materials

sascha.schmid@zeppelin.com +49 7541 202 1129

Services

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Zeppelin Technical Center

Industrial-scale testing

Testing is good; testing at a 1:1 scale under real-world conditions is even better. To support this, we have established optimal facilities at our Friedrichshafen technical center: based on your recipe and desired throughput, we identify the plant technology tailored to your needs—and test the complete system for you in live operation.

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Automation

Automation with foresight

Above all, your plant must do one thing: run and deliver. That’s why we provide you with reliable, professional service. Rely on our global service network for expert consultation and extremely fast spare-parts supply to minimize downtime. When needed, we’re also at your side digitally—from virtual troubleshooting to online-supported commissioning.

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Service

Service without compromise

In the 21st century, optimization often means automation. We ensure that your automation project is a complete success in terms of both efficiency and cost-effectiveness. To achieve this, we rely on cutting-edge control systems whose open architectures prepare you for the challenges of tomorrow—and beyond.

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