This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at Competitividad y desarrollo sostenible: retos de la industria química

Inerco develops and applies technological developments which contribute to the improvement of the competitiveness of the industry

Competitiveness and sustainable development: challenges for the chemical industry

Patricio Navarro Blázquez
Director development Inerco01/12/2004

The current legislative framework of the European Union envisages an important array of new provisions and tools for planning and control of industrial activity with direct impact on its environmental aspects and security (IPPC, Seveso, Reach, Kyoto)(, etc.). These provisions derive important implications for manufacturers in the area of integrated pollution prevention and control, as well as the management of risks.

The social and legal pressure on environment and safety is increasing, but does not find the unprepared chemical industry. While some reports try to alarm the public, the chemical industry increases, year after year, the major effort in the continuous improvement of its environmental performance. To do this, often assume commitments that go beyond strict compliance with the legislation.

However, this is not the only challenge facing the chemical industry. These companies are facing the challenge of competing in a global market and, at the same time, be able to guarantee sustainable economic development, understood this as source compatible with the well-being and quality of life of the population, generating employment and wealth, persistent in timethe safety of workers and the conservation and rational use of resources.

The chemical industry increases year after year, the major effort in the continuous improvement of its environmental performance

In this difficult context, it is understood that the requirement of sustainable development requires chemical industry to consider - in defining their strategies and the implementation of their operational plans - not only the optimization of processes for the minimization of costs, but, in a more relevant way, factors such as the reduction of emissions and waste and energy consumption and the minimization of the risk.

Inerco reinvested most of the benefits in r & d

Improving the competitiveness

This is the scenario in which is the contribution of Inerco, which develops and applies technological advances of the art for the continuous process of improving the competitiveness of the industry to help.

And is that experience dictates that in order to respond to environmental challenges and security without losing competitiveness, the chemical industries need to have not only advanced, but also comprehensive solutions. For this reason, it is necessary to integrate engineering, environmental and safety services at the operational level.

In essence, this means developing a comprehensive project management, adding to the engineering design and Assembly management of authorisations: drafting of all documents for applying for permissions (nouns, urban planning, environmental impact, waste, waste)(, license of work, activity or opening) and a coordination of all the procedures before the competent bodies at the local, regional and national level to ensure effective public information of the projects, with a pragmatic approach, to avoid arguments and social rejection.

The new center of Tarragona allows Inerco be closer to their customers and their needs better

It's a framework, then, which acquired strategic importance the qualification of technicians responsible for developing each project, its experience and its ability to integrate all its aspects. And, moreover, a determined bet on innovation, because the problems that have to overcome the chemical industries are subject to evolution - very fast in many cases-.

Aware of these challenges, the enterprise policy of Inerco includes decision to reinvest most of the benefits in r & d and have increasingly better educated and more experienced technicians. Every year, Inerco technicians participate in a competition of innovation projects and development: it have left many of the products and most innovative services which the company has been able to offer chemical industry throughout its twenty year history.

Therefore, Inerco has consolidated its position of technological leadership which is based on its proximity to the industry, its entrepreneurial independence and the thrust of your organization.