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Title
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Editorial office/imprint
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Table of Contents
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LANXESS worldwide
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Three Questions for Bart Goossens
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Focus: Shaping the Future
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Happy Birthday, LANXESS
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Global Launch
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Swarm Intelligence
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Colorful Minds
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Extracting the New White Gold
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Extracting the New White Gold
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Puzzles & Competitions / Lancer Success
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Qualitiy Works: Working up the Sweat
MAGAZINE FOR EMPLOYEES Different – And Valuable How neurodivergent employees can elevate teams to a new level. PAGE 18 Innovation Overdrive A second hub for creativity, a larger budget, and approved research funds: innovation is picking up speed. PAGE 20 01.2025 | English Edition JOB DESCRIPTION: MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE LANXESS wants to provide solutions to make the world a safer and better place. Some employees are already conducting successful research in this area. One of them is Thomas Klein, LAB BU. PAGE 6
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR INTERNAL INFORMATION KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE! DEAR COLLEAGUES, It has now been 20 years since LANX- ESS went public – and we celebrated this with many of you on January 31 in a virtual event. To mark this anniversary, we invited employees to look back and share their personal memories (read their stories starting on page 12). But an occasion like this also gives us the chance to reflect on our strengths. LANXESS has already come a long way and despite the challenging business environment, it remains true to its goal of wanting to shape the future. We want our work to help find solutions to the world’s problems. That is our promise and our motivation. To achieve this end, we all contribute in very dif- ferent ways. In the following issues, we will be introducing you to some of our colleagues and sharing their projects, ideas, and what drives them personally. In our cover story (starting on page 6), we introduce you to three of these visionaries. We also met with colleagues who recently received grant funds for their innovative project. The team from the LPT BU is looking for the perfect adsorbers that can separate lithium from the mixture that is produced as by-catch in geothermal plants. What makes this project special is that it involves lithium extraction in Germany (read all about it starting on page 20). Projects like these show that there is a lot going on at our company and that it pays to work together for the success of LANXESS. ENJOY! MIRKA STEIN HEAD OF INTERNAL RELATIONS Every edition of Xpress can also be found on the web here. The next Xpress will be published in June. Please send your ideas for topics or your feedback to: xpress@lanxess.com 2 Xpress | 01/2025 Publishing Information Published by: LANXESS AG, Corporate Communications Responsible under German press law: Claus Zemke | Cor- porate Communications | 50569 Cologne Editorial staff: Mirka Stein, Kathrin Achenbach, Annette Westhoff Layout and production: Westhoff Corporate Publishing, Bonn Printing: Küpper Druck GmbH & Co. KG, Cologne Photos: LANXESS, Adobe Stock Xpress editorial office, LXS-COM-ICOM, Kennedyplatz 1, 50969 Cologne, Phone +49-221-8885-2587, Fax +49-221-8885-6022, xpress@lanxess.com Xpress is printed on 100 percent recycled paper; only mineral oil-free inks are used. Forward-looking statements: This magazine contains for- ward-looking statements includ- ing assumptions and opinions of the company as well as state- ments reflecting the assumptions and opinions of third parties. Var- ious known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors could cause the actual results, financial position, development, or performance of LANXESS AG to differ materially from the ex- pectations expressed or implied herein. LANXESS AG does not guarantee that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does it accept any responsi- bility for the future accuracy of the opinions expressed in this docu- ment or the actual occurrence of the forecast developments. LANXESS AG does not assume any liability (either directly or indirectly) for the information, estimates, target expectations, and/or opinions stated herein, nor should readers rely on them. Furthermore, LANXESS AG does not assume any responsibility for any errors, omissions, or incor- rect statements in this publica- tion. Accordingly, no representa- tive of LANXESS AG, any of its group companies, or any of their respective bodies accepts any responsibility whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from the use of this document.
04 LANXESS Worldwide FOCUS 06 Shaping the Future They conduct research into more envi- ronmentally friendly solutions or work as process engineers hand in hand with researchers to ensure that a new idea makes the leap from the laboratory to real-world industrial applications. We would like to introduce you to three employees who, through their work for LANXESS, are offering some solutions to the challenges of our time. PEOPLE & TEAMWORK 12 Happy Birthday, LANXESS LANXESS recently celebrated its 20th anniversary – what’s your favorite memory from the past two decades? Employees share their stories. 14 Global Launch LANXESS went public on January 31, 2005. Teams worldwide celebrated and followed the virtual event in Co- logne. 16 Swarm Intelligence What are the benefits of networks? We asked the members of WinX. The answers speak for themselves. 18 Colorful Minds No two minds are alike – and that’s exactly what makes teams thrive. Nina Leibel explains how in an interview with Xpress. PRODUCTS & QUALITY 20 Extracting the New White Gold Government research funds are flowing, LANXESS has opened its sec- ond innovation hub in Thane, and the Innovation Excellence Stream itself is promoting creative ideas with a special budget. Teams can apply at any time. 23 Lancer/Success 23 Puzzles & Competitions 24 Quality Works Work up a sweat and smell something good in the process. 01/2025 | Xpress 3
LANXESS WORLDWIDE Aid for Flood Victims Spain/Germany. Flash floods and mudslides buried houses and cars, more than 156 km2 of land were flooded, at least 230 people lost their lives – the flood disaster in Spain at the end of October 2024, which was triggered by heavy rainfall, was the worst in the country’s history. Helpers are still working to repair the damage. To support their work, LANXESS has donated 200 kg of Rely+® Virkon®. The Spanish army has already delivered the highly effective disinfectant as part of an aid convoy to the region around Valencia, which has been hardest hit by the devastation. “A lot of work still needs to be done to help get things back to normal for many people,” reports Javier Morilla, Sales Manager in the MPP BU from Barcelona. “Numerous facilities, such as schools, daycare centers, hospitals, residential homes, etc., still need to be cleaned and disinfected before they can be reopened while maintaining at least a minimum level of health and environmental protection standards. Through our donation, we want to help the volunteers on the ground overcome these challenges.“ “Recent discussions may have raised doubts about the importance of diversity, but let me be clear: our commitment remains unshakable. We want to foster an environment in which every employee feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute. Equality is not just a principle to be upheld – it is the driving force behind our excellence.” Board Member Frederique van Baarle THE NEW YELLOW IS ACTUALLY GREEN Krefeld-Uerdingen. If a yellow color needs to shine perfectly, Bayferrox™ yellow pigments from the IPG business unit are the preferred choice. Now it is also available in a more environmen- tally friendly version, which is sold under LANXESS’ own Scopeblue label. Thanks to the use of more eco-efficient raw materials, the pigments have a significantly low- er carbon footprint than their regu- lar product equivalents – reduced by 35 percent. “Our low-emission yellow pigment product line is designed to help our custom- ers make their own value chains more sustainable,” says Daniela Schmitt, Head of Global Market- ing at IPG. “LANXESS was the first manufacturer to push ahead with the introduction of environ- mental product declarations for iron oxide pigments. Now, thanks to our new product line, we are further cementing our leading role when it comes to sustainability.” The new Scopeblue® pigments are particularly suitable for highly pigmented applications such as pigment pastes. They can be eas- ily incorporated into existing color formulations and have the same chemical composition and color. The functional properties are also no different from those of the regular Bayferrox® product types. 4 Xpress | 01/2025 S S E X N A L : s o t o h P
PREDICTED & SAVED Worldwide. Taking action before it’s too late. “We want to act early to prevent unplanned downtime from happening in the first place,“ says Bastian Höfer, Head of Predictive Maintenance, PTSE GF. Together with his team, he is introducing a predictive maintenance program world- wide. “With the help of AI and sensors integrated into the systems, it is possible to predict – with a very high de- gree of probability – when and why a compressor, agitator, or other system component might fail,“ he explains. Bas- tian Jana, Head of Production Supporting Solutions, IT GF, highlights one particularly noteworthy aspect: “The AI not only detects obvious anomalies such as a pump vibrating. It also analyzes com- plex vibration and temperature profiles in their interaction with other process variables.“ This is how it determines wheth- er machines or systems are deviating from their normal behavior and intervention is required. Possible outages are sometimes detected weeks in advance. Since launching the global rollout of the predictive main- tenance activities, the team has already achieved savings in the seven-digit range. The goal now is to monitor not only individual machines, but entire production processes with AI assistance. THREE QUESTIONS FOR BART GOOSSENS, Regional Sales Manager, LPT BU in Belgium. Resin to the Rescue Mr. Goossens, first of all, congratu- lations on securing the contract with the Belgian company De Watergroep. This makes LPT one of the first suppliers to offer ion exchange resins for the removal of PFAS from drinking water. How did you manage that? Bart Goossens: With my charm, of course! All jokes aside, we were able to demonstrate in application tests that our resins bind more PFAS than the ion exchangers from some of our competitors. Our Lewatit® TP 108 DW, for example, is more than 20 percent better than the next best competitor. That’s a powerful argument for our customers. I had heard early on that they wanted to treat drinking water in a nature reserve near Brussels. I immedi- ately saw this as a great opportunity to show a larger customer base how well our ion exchange resins remove PFAS from drinking water. And did it go well? Absolutely. Since securing the con- tract, we’ve already received several inquiries. This is one of the first and largest drinking water projects in Europe to use ion exchange resins for PFAS removal. In this respect, it naturally makes us stand out. The drinking water industry is actually conservative. But PFAS have become a major issue in recent years.* The general assumption is that the maxi- mum permissible concentrations are going to be reduced even further. That’s why drinking water suppliers are reacting. Public organizations are also exerting their influence. The mobile systems are highly flexible and can be up and running quickly. They can already be used while a large plant is being built. Or they can be used selectively until – as in our case – other, less affected sources of drinking water can be used. In any case, these modular water treatment systems are highly impressive: one of them can process up to 190,000 liters of drinking water per hour. Do you see potential for LPT here? Absolutely. So far, we have been particularly strong in the wastewater and industrial water sectors, where we also see further opportunities for growth. Mobile units are used here as well. We now want to expand our business with our ion exchangers in the field of drinking water treatment. PFAS are found throughout Europe and the United States. Americans have been using ion exchange resins to remove PFAS for years. A great deal of research is being conducted in this area. Currently, the spent resins contaminated with PFAS are incinerat- ed at high temperatures. But research- ers are looking for more sustainable solutions. We are in close contact and are preparing to ensure that our ion exchangers can be perfectly integrated into the new technologies. That’s the next step. And we’re ready for it. *PFAS is the abbreviation for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances: synthetic chemical compounds that have been produced on a large scale since the 1950s. PFAS can be found in fire extinguishing foams, textiles, frying pans, the paper used to wrap hamburgers, weatherproof jackets, electronics, means of transport, in the energy sector, and in medical devices. Studies sug- gest that PFAS could trigger various diseases such as elevated cholesterol levels, thyroid dysfunction and possibly cancer. In 2020, the EU introduced stricter drinking water guidelines for PFAS, and in 2023, the EU Commission presented a proposal to ban the entire group of substances. 01/2025 | Xpress 5
How can we use our products and ideas to help find solutions to the world’s problems? This is the question LANXESS wants to put at the center of its activities in the future. And the company is calling on all of its employees to do their part. SHAPING THE FUTURE Today we’d like to introduce you to three of our colleagues who have already achieved remarkable things in their respective areas: Thomas Klein, Hermann Womelsdorf, and Robert Gorgas. The world is spiraling out of con- trol, or at least that’s how it often seems at the moment. The war in Ukraine and the election of the new US president have resulted in disrup- tions the likes of which Europe has not seen in 80 years. As a company, how do you respond to all this? By reflecting on your purpose and remaining true to your values. As CEO Matthias Zachert explains: “In this uncertain world, we want our sus- tainable solutions to help ensure that we can all live healthy and safe lives on this planet, both now and in the future. We of- fer far more than just chemicals.” It is with this mission in mind that LANXESS is committed to making a contribution to so- ciety and providing solutions to the import- ant issues facing humanity. This includes the following areas, among others. 01/2025 | Xpress 7
FOCUS MOBILITY SAFE LIVING H T L A E H CLIMATE ACTION GLOBAL NUTRITION OUR SOLUTIONS FOR A SAFE AND BETTER WORLD The first is climate change. In this regard, LANXESS is not al- lowing itself to be dissuaded from its self-imposed goals by the current geopolitical upheavals. The group aims to make its production pro- cesses climate neutral by 2040. The BUs are already helping their customers achieve their own climate objectives by of- fering a range of new sustainable prod- ucts, such as those in the Scopeblue se- ries. In the field of renewable energies, the LAB BU supplies lubricants for wind tur- bines to extend their service life. With its Lewatit® product, LANXESS is moving into the area of green hydrogen produc- tion, and ion exchange resins can also help to filter carbon from the air. In recent years, several African countries have bitterly experienced how severely the global nutrition can be affected when a country like Ukraine suddenly stops deliv- ering its harvest. The world’s population is growing, so harvests need to yield more crops, and clean drinking water and food are needed. The precursors for crop pro- tection products from the AII and Saltigo BUs are making a contribution here. The urgency of the issue is leading to in- creased research activities in the BUs, for example, to develop more effective ad- sorbers to remove substances that are harmful to the environment and health from drinking water. Other major issues include health, mo- bility, and safe living. In all five of these areas, LANXESS already offers important solutions today. “But we need to increase our profitability here,” notes Zachert. “The Excellence Streams form our foundation for this” therefore Among other things, the Commercial Ex- cellence Stream provides tools and tech- niques to improve interactions with cus- tomers – and to better understand our customers and the chal- lenges they face with their own customers. “This in-depth knowledge is necessary so that we can also develop products, ser- vices, or business models that are tailored to the market and our customers,” says Zachert. Our knowledge of both the mar- ket and our customers drives innovation that fuels the company’s sustainable, or- ganic growth. “Previously, we grew through acquisitions, but now we want to do it through our own efforts,” says Zach- ert. “To achieve this, we need to abandon our old silo mentality and fight together as ONE LANXESS.” This also means that we have to let go of old habits when we gain new insights. It is crucial that we respond to new require- ments quickly. “Nothing is more obvious today – the world and the markets are changing at a tremendous pace. What’s true today may be outdated tomorrow. We want to be among the winners and ideally stay one step ahead of developments.” This new mindset requires that we all em- brace an entrepreneurial spirit, remain flexible, and be open to new ideas. “Let’s create the best LANXESS of all time and strive for excellence in all areas. Let’s look forward to going down this path to- gether,” Matthias Zachert urges all em- ployees. We hope that when you read the following stories about our three innovators shaping the future, you’ll be inspired to follow in their footsteps. 8 Xpress | 01/2025
TOOK IT TO THE STREET The LAB business unit’s Mannheim labo- ratory achieved two major successes in the fields of mobility, environment, and health. Laboratory head Thomas Klein reports: “It had been clear to us for some time that we needed a new raw material for our lu- bricant additive Additin® RC 8103. This was because the raw material 2-ethylhexa- noic acid used to date is considered to be harmful to health (reproductive toxicity), which was not ideal for our additive. To- gether with the application technology team in Mannheim, I have now succeeded in replacing this petrochemically pro- duced raw material with a naturally occur- ring fatty acid. This means that not only does the new version not pose any health risk, but also that the share of renewable carbon has been increased in the version with ethylhexanoic acid from around 80 percent to 90 percent. We see this as great success. Familiar Product, New Application Additives for asphalt are another area I have been exploring for many years. We have developed a product based on sulfur carriers, which we manufacture in Mann- heim, that allows us to lower the tempera- tures at which asphalt is processed in road construction. This results in fewer harmful fumes, and we can more easily comply with the new emission limits. An extremely positive side effect is that the lower tem- peratures also effectively reduce the as- phalt mixing plants’ energy consumption and carbon emissions. Another cli- mate-friendly aspect is that our product is now based on more than 90 percent re- newable carbon – this gives us a very strong competitive position. We owe this success in product development to our outstanding teamwork here in Mannheim and to some excellent contributions from students at several universities with which we work closely. Initial Real-World Tests We’ve already had the additive included in the German Federal Highway Research Institute’s (BASt) list of pilot products and have also tested it in real-world conditions at an asphalt mixing plant operated by Kurpfälzer Asphalt-Mischwerke (KAM) in Heidelberg. These tests confirmed that our product is highly effective at reducing the temperature when asphalt is compact- ed. Now our partner KAM is testing, among other parameters, what the opti- mal dosage is, i.e., how to achieve the maximum effect with the least possible additive. Our goal is for our LANXESS ad- ditive to be used in a real road construc- tion project in Germany this year, thereby demonstrating its capabilities. Since the issue of road construction and temperature reduction during asphalt pav- ing transcends national borders, however, we intend to roll out our application global- ly under the direction of Li Xing from the USA.” THOMAS KLEIN LAB laboratory, Mannheim “We want our additive to be used in a road construction project before the end of this year. Thanks to our strong partners, we are confident that it will.” Focus on health: Klein’s research has made it possible to lower temperatures in order to reduce harmful fumes. 01/2025 | Xpress 9
FOCUS TURNED A SETBACK INTO A COMEBACK HERMANN WOMELSDORF Site Manager in Latina, Italy “It was unusually quiet at the site when the news spread in 2024 that we would have to discontinue our oldest product line. But we recovered from the initial shock and together we put all our energy into a new, highly challenging task.” Antioxidants improve the properties of lu- bricating oils and also extend their service life, thereby helping the environment. In 2024, the Latina site had to suddenly ramp up production of this additive to a level never seen before. Site Manager Her- mann Womelsdorf reports on how they did it. Seized the Opportunity “The year 2024 was a challenging one for us here in Latina. An important product line was discontinued. This hit us hard, as it had generated excellent returns for many years since the site was founded in the 1970s. But it was precisely at this sad moment that we were offered the chance to acquire a customer in Europe that the LAB BU was no longer able to supply from Asia due to the uncertain delivery situation (Suez crisis). That said, we had never pro- duced such large quantities of the desired antioxidant Naugalube™ 438L in our N-Plant since it initially went into operation in 2017. Instead of 200 tons per month, the target was now 400 tons. Neverthe- less, we said yes. We were optimistic that we could do it. That’s because a year before in 2023, we tested a new catalyst for the antioxidant. Our Global Process Development team in Elmira, Canada, had determined in labora- tory tests that this catalyst could acceler- ate the production process due to its high- er activity. The test at our plant confirmed this. Even with the new catalyst, the addi- tive retained the desired properties, only the reaction was significantly faster. In 2023, this wasn’t so important to us be- cause orders were slow. We also still had some of the old catalyst in stock. Not ev- erything went smoothly from day one, of course, but we managed to identify and fix the problems quite quickly. We were able to fulfill the order. In fact, during peak peri- ods, we were producing 500 tons a month. This success in ramping up a plant to such a high production volume in such a short time was an incredible team effort by the entire site. Everyone pulled together. The order was our chance. This was also re- flected in the surprisingly good figures at the end of the year. A Valuable Experience This was a valuable experience for the workforce. When a formerly highly lucra- tive product line disappears, it weighs heavily on the overall mood. But 2024 taught us that it’s worth trying new things, even if there may not be an immediate need for them. Beforehand, in 2023, we sensibly invested the time available to us – given the overall market situation – in testing the catalyst. That paid off in 2024.” Antioxidants are in demand worldwide and are added to oils. 10 Xpress | 01/2025
SET A NEW STREET STANDARD to adapt In Bitterfeld, Robert Gorgas is researching ways ion exchange resins for future applications. He does this for one main reason – he wants to advance environmental issues: “I’m convinced that chemistry has a funda- mental role to play in creating our green future. That was also the reason why I de- cided to study chemistry and ultimately why I accepted a job at LANXESS two years ago. I want to use my knowledge and work to promote sustainability issues such as the circular economy. And that is precisely what I can do as a researcher at LPT. We are currently in the process of launch- ing a new version of Lewapol that can filter PFAS more thoroughly and efficiently from wastewater. We developed and tested the fundamentals for this in the laboratory and in our pilot plant in Bitterfeld – our core area of expertise is the production of mon- odisperse ion exchange resins, which all have exactly the same size. For our new product, we further reduced the size of the already small Lewapol pellets by 20 per- cent, which more than doubles their ca- pacity. To achieve this, we worked closely with the laboratories in Leverkusen and Jhagadia. This is because we see a large market for this product, as environmental regulations will become increasingly strin- gent in the coming years. Now our col- leagues in Jhagadia have successfully manufactured the new product on a large scale for the first time – with positive feed- back from our first customer. We plan to produce the first batch in Germany in the middle of the year. Filtering CO2 from the Air Air purification is another area with consid- erable potential. In this field, we are al- ready working closely with a manufacturer of CO2 air filtration systems and have set up a new laboratory in Leverkusen that specializes in this area. Our ultimate goal is to filter low-concentration quantities of carbon dioxide out of the air on a large scale – such as in downtown areas or near industrial facilities, for example. This is something that we can achieve particular- ly well with our ion exchange resins and where we have a clear advantage over our competitors. We are currently in the pro- cess of adapting the properties of our pel- lets to the new medium. Even though we still have a lot of work ahead of us, we will certainly see initial successes quickly thanks to the close collaboration between the laboratory and production – across all our locations. Still Plenty of Potential For me personally, I always find it impres- sive to see how an idea makes its way from initial tests in a test tube to the first test batch in the plant. In this respect, I feel very fortunate to have joined LANXESS at this time when the company is looking to in- tensify its activities in the area of new de- velopments and innovation. At IAB, we want to be at the forefront of these issues. “Even after 80 years of experience pro- ducing ion exchange resins in Bitterfeld, there’s still plenty of potential we can lever- age together.” ROBERT GORGAS Head of Process Research, LPT BU, Bitterfeld, Germany “We want to filter low-concentration quantities of carbon dioxide out of the air on a large scale. This is something we can achieve particularly well with our ion exchange resins, giving us a clear advantage over our competitors.“ Has a passion for research: Gorgas in the lab. He is working on ion exchange resins that have a positive impact on our environment. 01/2025 | Xpress 11
FOCUS HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LANXESS! What comes to mind when you think of our company? What’s your favorite LANXESS memory and what are your hopes for the company over the next 20 years? This is exactly what we asked our readers around the world – and we received many very personal answers. Here’s a small sample. Dedication and Passion “It’s hard to believe that it’s been two decades since LANXESS went public. So much has happened since then, so much has changed and grown – and yet one thing remains the same: the dedication and passion that connects us all. My favorite memory isn’t really tied to a specific moment, but rather to the feeling I experience every day when I work with my amazing colleagues. Some of us have been on this adventure together for many years, and we’ve experi- enced – and laughed – a lot together. It’s the sense of community that makes me proud to be part of this story. For the next 20 years, I wish LANXESS continued success, inno- vative strength, and a strong community that drives us to achieve great things. May we continue to tackle new challenges with enthu- siasm and passion in the future, while always keeping our roots and values in mind.” TAMARA GIRBARDT, Supply Chain Management, AII BU, Cologne, Germany KEEPSAKE “In my office, on a shelf, I still have the little bull Lanny in a container that I ‘inherited’ from the maintenance team in P 21.” CLAUDIA OVERDICK, PTSE GF, Leverkusen, Germany 12 Xpress | 01/2025 Dawn of a New Era “I started at Lanxess in May of 2004. At that time, the compa- ny was still called Bayer. During my job interview, I learned that the organization would soon be undergoing a restructuring pro- cess and getting a new name. Since I was still fairly young, I didn’t ask too many questions and was just happy to be given the opportunity to be part of this exciting process. When the new company was founded, it initially remained nameless. After a short time, the name Lanxess came up. It was an exciting time. Then the corporate colors were de- fined and I remember that we repainted the buildings in the new LANXESS look. Twenty years later and here I am, still with the company. I started as a Quality Assistant and now I’m the HR/Administration Man- ager for the Merebank site in South Africa. After all this time, Lanxess remains an important part of my life, and I’m very grateful for that.” LAURA HARIPARSAD, Administration Manager, Merebank, South Africa
GERMANY A Very Special Encounter “Almost exactly 20 years ago, I had an encounter at my workplace that I still remember to this day. At the time, I was working in a technical laboratory at the Porto Feliz site. We had a testing ground near the Tietê River, and as I was on my way there, a young deer suddenly appeared very close to me. We stood there for a while, looking at each other. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my camera with me, so instead I ingrained the moment in my mind so clear- ly that I can still recall every detail today. It’s import- ant to know that deer are quite rare in Brazil. That’s why I’m very grateful for this special encounter. Just like I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with my many current and former colleagues at LANXESS, some of whom I’ve been friends with for a long time. I’m sure that together, we can create a bright future for our company.” TÂNIA R. MORENO, IPG BU, São Paulo, Brazil An Amazing Team “When I think about LANXESS, the first thing that comes to mind is the warm, appreciative way people treat each other. I got married about a year ago and when I came back to the office on the first day after the wedding, my coworkers were busy hanging up balloons, written messages of congratulations hung all over the place, and my desk was decorated with paper hearts. Since I arrived a little early that morning and the “work” was still in progress, I pretended not to have seen anything but I was really touched. I had tears in my eyes that day from all the gifts and beautiful wishes. I’m very grateful to have met so many wonderful people at the company and to be part of a team that spans dif- ferent countries, nationalities, cultures, languages, etc. Each of us adds our own special value, talent, ideas, and passion. This inspires me again and again, and makes every day special in its own way.” LI FOONG WEE, Global IT Controlling, IT GF, Leverkusen, Germany 01/2025 | Xpress 13
PEOPLE AND TEAMWORK GLOBAL LAUNCH! Many teams worldwide celebrated LANXESS’ 20th anniversary at a virtual birthday party on January POLAND P ITTSBURGH GERMANY 14 Xpress | 01/2025
on January 31. BRAT ISLAVA TURKEY IND IA ITALY VIRTUAL AND ANALOG CELEBRATIONS On January 31, decorative cakes, small sweet treats, and other yummy good- ies suddenly appeared on the desks of LANXESS employees at sites, subsidiar- ies, and offices around the world – often with coworkers watching the virtual birth- day celebration together on their screens. Around 3,000 employees worldwide took part in the birthday celebration, which was streamed live from our headquarters in Cologne. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the event, which also featured livestreams from Board Member Hubert Fink and Asia Representative Michael Rockel in Mumbai, India and from Board Member Frederique van Baarle in Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Patel Yogesh, LPT BU, from Jaghardia, India, wrote: “I’ve only been with LANXESS for four months. But I don’t feel like I’ve only been here for such a short time. I feel like I’ve been with the company for years – that’s the culture at LANXESS!“ SW ITZERLAND 01/2025 | Xpress 15
FOCUS SWARM INTELLIGENCE Groups of like-minded people make better decisions together and find solutions to complex tasks faster than lone wolves. This principle, which applies to fish, ants, and bees in the animal kingdom, can also help at work. The 20 or so internal networking groups at LANXESS, in which participants share ideas and information on specific topics and interests, are a prime example of this action. One of these groups is the international women’s network WinX, which has now established local networks in all of our regions. How do they benefit you and the company? We asked their members. MYRIAD BENEFITS – NOT ONLY FOR WOMEN “Together we can effect positive change. I’m firmly convinced of that. That’s why we’ve set ourselves the goal of building a strong WinX network for the EMEA region, in which participants can network, exchange ideas, and support each other in achieving their goals across functional and national borders. We’ve already created a SharePoint that serves as a central hub for important information on topics such as work-life balance, cultural diversity, and building your personal brand. That’s a good start, but we want to keep improving. Which is why we’ll soon be conducting a survey to find out the topics and offers that are important to participants. One thing that’s important to us is that we aren’t an initiative exclusively for female employees! We welcome every new member who gets involved in the network – whether man or woman.” Global Brand and Market Manager, COM GF, Trafford Park (England) RACHEL MARSHALL, OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE “As a young professional, WinX helped me recognize my strengths and aspirations for my career path, while also providing a more holistic view of our company. I’ve been active in the network since the kick-off meeting for the Americas region in 2022, and pro- vides me with a safe space to network, discuss ideas with others, and receive valuable feedback. In particular, the Young Professionals Special Interest Group has helped me better understand my professional aspirations and build my self-confidence to the point where I recently dared to venture out of my comfort zone. After six years in finance, I decided to embark on a new journey in BU marketing at the end of 2024! So I hope that the network will continue to grow and that even more women will have the opportunity to achieve their personal and professional goals in the future.” ASHLEY MILLER, Marketing Specialist, MPP BU, Pittsburgh (USA) 16 Xpress | 01/2025
NOTICEABLY MORE DIVERSE “What WinX and I have in common is that we both started at LANXESS at nearly the same time, namely almost three years ago. I joined LANXESS as an SAP analyst when the regional network in India was just being established. I attended one of the sessions as a participant and immediately decided to get more involved. In the meantime, I’ve become part of the local group’s leadership team and am very proud of what we’ve achieved together. It’s inspiring to see a growing number of my male coworkers ac- tively participating in the network and doing their part for greater inclusion. At the same time, it’s rewarding to see the progress of UrJA (Your Journey to Adapt) project, which aims to promote diversity in the coun- try - the percentage of women at LANXESS sites in India has been significantly increas- ing. I view these real, visible changes as a great success and I believe together we will achieve even more!” EVITTA CHERIYAN, Senior SAP Analyst, IT GF, Thane (India) LEARNING, SHARING, NETWORKING Are you interested in topics like artificial intelligence or sustainabil- ity? Are you looking for motivation to achieve your fitness goals or tips and tricks on how to best use the digital tools at LANXESS? Then why not check out the Communities page on Xnet? There you’ll find an overview of the internal networks that currently exist across the com- pany in which employees share their knowledge and exchange ideas. Your colleagues in these groups look forward to you joining them! INSPIRING ACHIEVEMENT “LANXESS has taken a clear position on diversity and inclusion by set- ting itself the goal of increasing the percentage of women in leadership positions to 30 percent by 2030. And I’m sure that WinX will play an important role in achieving this goal. In our local network for the APAC region, we’ve organized many fantastic events in recent years, from career workshops to knowledge sharing and an open house day at the AADC in Shanghai. By sharing our experiences, insights, and success stories in career development, we can strengthen and inspire each other. This will certainly benefit not only the participants in the network, but the entire company.” AMANDA TANG, Head of Global Logistics APAC, Shanghai (China) EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES – NOT JUST ON PAPER “I’m a huge advocate of mixed teams in various forms in order to combine the best ideas, working methods, and capacities. This also means that we not only accept differences – including those between women and men – but also use them to our advantage. At LANXESS, we’ve made a great deal of progress in this area, but we still have a ways to go. In this context, it’s important to address both tangible issues, such as an inade- quate number of toilets and/or showers for female production workers, and more abstract issues, such as the lack of female role models in management positions or technical occupations. To do that, we need both broader engagement on the part of our managers and a suffi- cient ‘push’ from our female employees. If both are in place, we will make further, perhaps even major, progress on the issue of equal opportunities in 2025.” THOMAS DULETZKI, Head of M&A GF, Cologne (Germany)
PEOPLE AND TEAMWORK COLORFUL MINDS* People with autism hate Christmas parties; those with ADHD are always nervous and constantly late for meetings; dyslexia is just another word for stupid. These are just three examples of the prejudices faced by neurodivergent individuals. Yet thinking differently can lead to better, more creative solutions – and this in- cludes at work. In this interview with Xpress, Nina Leibel explains why. Nina, you were diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 21. Nevertheless – and that is actually the wrong word – you were a manager at a renowned auditing firm and have now founded neosity, a successful, neuroinclusive career network. How does your neu- rodivergence affect you in your day- to-day work? Nina Leibel: Needless to say, my ADHD is always with me and it isn’t something I can just switch off when I head into the office. And it took me a while to accept the “problems” that my diagnosis caused: It’s hard for me to make small talk, for ex- ample. I often need an “additional task” to help me stay focused during long meet- ings, and if my coworker’s dog barks in the background during a Teams meeting, it can throw me off track. When I was just starting my career, this made me feel inse- cure for a long time. I was always focused on trying to fit in and was constantly afraid of talking too loudly or too quickly. This is called “masking,” and is extremely ex- hausting and often very frustrating. In the meantime, however, I know exactly how I function, and I would even say that my ca- reer would certainly not have progressed so quickly without me having ADHD. What you experienced at the begin- ning of your career is probably what many people with neurodivergence experience – and according to statis- tics, it’s no small number at around 20 percent of the population. What would be your advice to them: how does one best handle their diagnosis in a professional context? Well, you certainly don’t have to come right out and announce it to the world. A diagnosis is always a life-changing experi- ence that you first have to come to terms with. Your entire department doesn’t need to know all the details. Nevertheless, it is important to openly communicate your strengths and weaknesses to the rest of the team, even though this certainly will take some courage. Otherwise, it can quickly lead to frustrating experiences. For example, I’m really good at structuring projects for others, while my own desk is a mess. And while I fail at meticulous orga- nizational tasks, I really come into my own when deadlines are looming and a project has basically already fallen apart. Fortu- nately, I’ve always met with a great deal of understanding from my superiors and I’ve been given the freedom to do things the way I see fit. How would you describe a work envi- ronment that’s been specifically de- signed to be neuroinclusive? It’s actually quite simple: everyone should be given the opportunity to organize their work according to their own preferences as much as possible. For some, head- phones are helpful in reducing distrac- tions. Others are simply more productive in a familiar home environment than in an open-plan office. And nobody should be forced to go to the cafeteria at lunchtime, NINA LEIBEL Nina Leibel and her company neosity want to empower neurodivergent talents and support companies in creating neuroinclusive work environ- ments. To mark the International Day for Tolerance, she was a guest keynote speaker at LANXESS at the end of last year. 18 Xpress | 01/2025
because it can be extremely exhausting for people who are sensitive to interper- sonal tensions. Clear communication within the team is also crucial: What are the expectations of my role? What is the top priority right now? Phrases such as “asap” can easily lead to misunderstand- ings, which is why it’s better to set specific deadlines. The great thing is that these tips don’t just benefit neurodivergent peo- ple. After all, having a safe space in which everyone can communicate their needs benefits everyone on the team. During your time at the consulting firm, you led a team that consisted of 70 percent neurodivergent employ- ees. And you regularly posted top sales figures. Indeed. This clearly shows that diversity of thought often leads to innovative solu- tions. This is because you cover a much broader range of perspectives and expe- riences and can draw on a wide variety of strengths – from strong analytical thinking to precision and an eye for detail, as well as composure in stressful situations. In times marked by a shortage of skilled la- bor, it is becoming increasingly important for companies to overcome their reserva- tions about the topic and to also address neurodivergent talents. Otherwise, they risk missing out on a great deal of poten- tial. From my point of view, it starts with an inclusive job listing on a company’s web- site. And AI solutions like ChatGPT prove that it’s really not that complicated – they have long offered the ability to activate “neuroinclusive language.” LANXESS is explicitly committed to promoting diversity in the workplace. This flyer contains helpful tips for creating a neuroinclusive work environment as well as further links on the topic. DID YOU KNOW...? ... Neurodivergent is the term used to describe individuals whose neurological development and function differs from that of the majority of people. This includes, for example, autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and developmental coordination disorder (DCD). ... While ADHD is diagnosed in boys at an average age of 7, affected women often do not receive this diagnosis until they are 35 years old. ... By the age of 12, neurodivergent individuals have had around 20,000 more negative experiences than neurotypi- cal individuals. ... Similar to fingerprints, no two brains are the same. Ac- cording to scientific surveys, around 20 percent of people are neurodivergent. *The rainbow infinity sign is the international symbol of the neurodiversity movement. 01/2025 | Xpress 19
PRODUCTS AND QUALITY EXTRACTING THE NEW WHITE GOLD Lithium deposits even exist in Germany – a team from the LPT BU wants to extract it and is researching suitable solutions. Now they have been granted state funding to do just that. But that’s not the only area where the Innovation Excellence Stream initiatives are having an impact: The Board of Management is supporting attractive research projects, and in Thane, CEO Matthias Zachert recently opened the new Indian Application Development Center. One of the goals of Innovation Ex- cellence is to foster the perfect conditions for ideas to flourish, and it has already achieved some initial successes. In Leverkusen, for example, the LPT business unit is re- searching specific adsorbers and ion ex- change resins that are designed to bind lithium. “We are currently screening for suitable materials,” explains Stefan Neu- feind, Head of Business Development and Applications, LPT BU. The project has now received a boost because of the research funding it was granted last December. LANXESS had submitted several research project proposals within the framework of a project sponsored by the German Fed- eral Ministry for Economic Affairs and the Ministry for Economic Affairs of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia entitled “Local Integrated Battery Value Creation for Euro- pean Independence” (“LiB-EU”). “It was immediately clear to us that our project was a perfect fit,” says Neufeind. This is because the adsorbers are designed to extract the tiniest amounts of lithium from geothermal brines. These brines are used in geothermal power plants in the Upper Rhine Plain in southern Germany to gen- erate heat and electricity. Compared to the salt lake brine in Chile’s Salar de Atacama, for example, the concentration of lithium in southern Germany is more than ten times lower. “If instead these lithium deposits – which to date have simply been pumped back into the earth unused as a byproduct of heat generation – were actually extract- ed, we could ultimately end up making a significant local contribution to meeting lithium demand,” explains Neufeind. This is probably also what convinced the jury that decided on how to allocate the re- search funds. After all, Germany wants both to promote electric mobility and to be- come less dependent on lithium suppliers in other parts of the world. LANXESS was granted almost half of the total research funds, which amounted to tens of millions of euros. We consider this a great success, of course,“ says Ratha Anton, who is man- aging the finances of the research project as a whole. But as always, the devil is in the details. “The adsorbers currently avail- able on the market wear out very quickly. We recognized this weakness and are now looking for materials with a longer lifespan and greater stability,“ says Neufeind. The aim is to develop an adsorber that can 20 Xpress | 01/2025
Dresden successfully extract lithium directly from geothermal brine on an industrial scale. “Our aim is to have a large-scale plant built by the end of the project – that is, by 2029.” After all, an adsorber like this would also be extremely valuable for lith- ium battery recycling. At the same time, LPT is also working on another research project that was granted funding. Its aim is to develop a sustainable process for producing acid scavengers and selective exchangers that remove contaminants from battery chemicals intended for recy- cling in an environmentally friendly way. Stuttgart Lithium in Germany The largest lithium deposits in Germany are located in the Upper Rhine Plain and in the aptly named Erzgebirge, known as the Ore Mountains in English. Particularly in the Upper Rhine Plain, geothermal power plants are flushing lithium from a depth of 3,000 metres to the surface as a mere byproduct. The LPT BU is researching the perfect adsorbers to extract the coveted light metal. 01/2025 | Xpress 21
PEOPLE AND TEAMWORK “In addition to LPT, we also have the PLA BU and the Corporate Development Group Function on board,“ says Ratha Anton. Another funded project aims to achieve Europe’s independence from phosphorus imports through recycling – using a pro- prietary LANXESS process that is currently being developed to recover phosphorus in a cost-effective and energy-efficient man- ner. This is namely a problem for which a number of interested parties are seeking a solution. Like them, the PLA team is also counting on the phosphorus obtained in this way, which they could then use in their new phosphorus-based flame retardants for electric vehicles, which are still in the de- velopment stage. To implement this project, the team behind it is now looking for a stra- tegic partner. As Ratha Anton explains, the funding approvals for these LANXESS re- search projects are a clear sign that: “Other stakeholders believe in us, recognize our innovative strength, and ascribe an import- ant role to us in the industry. We are proud to play an important role in Europe’s battery value chain and raw material security.” ESTIMATED LITHIUM DEPOSITS New deposits are constantly being discovered, as in India. The figures also vary greatly from institute to institute. 21 20 SELECTED COUNTRIES (in millions of tons) 12 11 7.9 6.8 5.9 3.2 3 2.9 10.3 Other Bolivia Argentina USA Chile Australia China India Germany DR Congo Canada 3 2 0 2 , y e v r u S l a c i g o l o e G S U : e c r u o S The new global innovation hubs are another approach adopted by the In- novation Excellence Stream to improve LANXESS’ innovative capacity by creating optimized structures. The model for this is the AADC in Shanghai; a second one was recently established in Thane, India (IADC). Another such hub is planned in Leverkusen, Germany, and a fourth in the United States. Anyone developing solu- tions for local markets should be on the ground locally, if possible – this is namely the only way to identify changing market trends at an early stage and develop cus- tomized solutions for local markets quick- ly. “At the same time, the IADC promotes organic, innovation-driven growth,“ said CEO Matthias Zachert at the official open- ing ceremony in Thane. The two business units LAB and MPP have been conducting research there since day one, and in the future, the IPG and PLA BUs will probably also be based there. In addition, the PTSE 22 Xpress | 01/2025
Official opening in Thane by CEO Matthias Zachert. Center: Matthias Zachert and Namitesh Roy Choudhury (left), Country Representative, LANXESS India, are shown around the new laboratory by an employee. Right: The state-of-the-art facilities in Thane make it possible to leverage local expertise and respond quickly. GF is setting up its central analytical cen- ter for all business units at the IADC. This will enable solutions developed there to be quickly vetted. After all, this is another key reason for the new hubs – to get solu- tions to market quickly. To achieve this, it is ideal to be able to respond locally and to optimize development with timely cus- tomer feedback. After all, customers don’t want to wait ages for an innovation. And to show them just how serious LANXESS is about this, the Customer Experience Center has also been set up right at the IADC. Here, meetings with customers are held right next to the laboratories. “This is research you can touch,” says Balaran Khot, head of PTSE in India. PUZZLES & COMPETITIONS! LANXESS MEANS... Lancer: Getting FIT Since January 2, all employees in Italy, France, the UK and CEE, and most employees in the Netherlands, have been using the LANXESS SAP system L4P to conduct their business. “After a great deal of preparation, extensive testing, and dedicated collaboration by everyone involved, we have successfully taken this important step,” says Michael Tabriz- ian, FIT Program Manager, IT GF. After the successful rollout in EMEA, work is now continuing on two projects that have already been launched: In the APAC region, the companies in China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore will start working with the L4P system at the beginning of October. In the LAT- AM region, the companies in Argentina and Brazil are on the agenda, as are the ones in Mexico, Belgium and South Africa as well as Anderol. Success: Award-Winning LANXESS won over a jury of experts engaged by the German business newspaper Handelsblatt: The company was awarded the “Lighthouse Tribute” award for its outstanding climate strategy. LANXESS scored particularly well with the jury thanks to its comprehensive climate action program and the system- atic integration of climate-related issues at the Board of Man- agement level. The jury also praised the fact that LANXESS is deliberately prioritizing investments based on their carbon footprint. “With transparent reporting and an open dialog on environmentally relevant topics, the company is reaffirming its role as a trailblazer and role model for how to implement a successful and responsible transformation,” the jury explained in its decision. Congratulations! JOIN IN AND WIN WHERE WAS THE SECOND INNOVATION HUB OPENED? a. In Thane, India? b. In Leverkusen, Germany? c. In Shanghai, China? Three portable and rugged lamps for indoor and outdoor use are up for grabs. Join in and send an email with the correct answer to to xpress@lanxess.com. Participation is only open to employees of LANXESS and its subsidiaries (excluding Cor- porate Communications employees). Only one entry per participant allowed. All decisions are final. The solution will appear in the next Xpress. The winner of the quiz in Xpress 04/2024 was Alexander Wagner, Leverkusen, Germany. The right answer to the second question was c. 01/2025 | Xpress 23
QUALITY WORKS. WORKING UP A SWEAT Nasty cold and flu viruses usually enter our bodies through the nose. If their surprise attack is success- ful, we’ll usually be down for the count a short time later. But if you get your body’s defense mechanisms in position in time, you have a chance of nipping the attack in the bud. Regular saunas have been proven to strengthen the immune system. This is because the heat in a sauna increases your internal body temperature, creating a kind of “artificial fever.” And this stimulates the immune system to produce more white blood cells. These, in turn, play a key role in defending against infections and diseases. Studies show that regular sauna-goers suffer from colds and other infections less often. In addition, sauna bathing trains the blood vessels, which dilate in the heat and have to contract again when they cool down. These processes strengthen the cardiovascular system, can partially reduce high blood pressure, and lead to the release of endorphins. This is how sweating in a sau- na can improve your mood and your sleep, and stud- ies suggest that it can even help prevent dementia. To make the experience itself as pleasant as possible, pouring water infused with different scented essen- tial oils over the heated rocks can help. For example, the scent of birch is said to have an anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effect, mint is refreshing and stim- ulating, and orange promotes blood circulation and causes you to sweat even more. The origin, quality, and purity of the oils is important, particularly when it comes to sauna fragrances. After all, they are distributed over the entire body by the steam that rises when the infused water is poured over the rocks, and they penetrate deeply into the body when breathed in. The Flavors & Fragrances BU produces natural fra- grances of particularly high quality and purity. Sold un- der the brand names Kalama®, Purolan®, Kalagard®, and Purox®, numerous scents produced by the busi- ness unit are used in essential oils for saunas.