Process Optimization at IOI Oleo GmbH
The German production site of IOI Oleochemical is one of the leading European providers for oleochemicals. Besides active ingredients for pharmaceutics, emollients, emulsifiers, texturizers, and a large selection of multifunctional ingredients for cosmetics, IOI Oleo GmbH provides special esters and additives for the food industry. Process auxiliaries and greases for technical applications as well as basic oleochemicals, e.g. polyunsaturated fatty acids, complete our portfolio.
Furthermore, with their production capacities in Wittenberge and Witten, IOI is one of the leading providers of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) in Europe. For the Witten production plant, divis was asked to solve a task concerning the production process of an important product which is produced in a batch process and subject to highest quality requirements.
The task was to identify the essential parameters which influence the product quality and to give recommendations on how to set the process parameters in order to consistently get a product of ideal quality. This setting is called the “golden batch”.
To achieve this, we used machine learning methods to analyze the data of 29 batches, each as multivariate time series with nine sensor signals which are recorded in 20sec intervals. Based on this, we determined the influencing parameters and their dependencies, and built forecasting models for the product quality. These models enabled us to find the main parameters and the optimal setting. During the second project phase, the results are now used within the technical environment.
Thomas Kummer, COO of IOI Oleo GmbH, about the results, “Thanks to the AI-experts of divis, we are now going the crucial step for the optimization of our product. We are very impressed by the results. The cooperation was very pleasant and we experienced the team as highly competent and efficient. We are using this approach also for other products of IOI Oleochemicals and are looking forward to further cooperation. We recommend divis as a competent partner. Next to the professional competence of Thomas Bäck’s team, we are also impressed by their ability to focus on our technical requirements and to employ AI-methods specifically, just as required by the task.”