ChemAnalyst Talks with Mr. Frank Wittchen, Vice President & General Manager, Imerys Graphite & Carbon
Imerys, the world’s leading supplier of mineral-based specialty solutions for industry, generated €3.6 billion in revenue and employed 12,400 people across 40 countries in 2024. The Group provides high-value-added and functional solutions to diverse industries and fast-growing markets, including energy transition, sustainable construction, and consumer goods. ChemAnalyst spoke with Mr. Frank Wittchen, Vice President & General Manager of Imerys Graphite & Carbon, about the company’s strategy for advanced graphite and carbon solutions amid the global energy transition. Drawing on his more than 15 years of experience in the carbon and graphite industry, Wittchen highlighted the growing importance of conductive carbon black and graphite in lithium-ion batteries, energy storage, electric mobility, and other advanced technologies. He also discussed Imerys’ Energy Recovery Plant in Willebroek, low-carbon solutions such as SU-NERGY™, circular manufacturing, regional supply-chain resilience, and collaborations with Cnano and ShanShan. Looking ahead, Imerys aims to expand its production footprint, develop next-generation materials, advance low-carbon manufacturing, and strengthen its role as a key partner in the global energy transition.
Complete Interview with Mr. Frank Wittchen
Q1: Please provide an overview of your professional journey and leadership experience within the advanced materials and graphite & carbon industry, and how these experiences have shaped your strategic vision for Imerys Graphite & Carbon in supporting industrial decarbonization, electrification, and sustainable manufacturing globally.
Mr. Frank Wittchen: Having joined the carbon and graphite industry more than 15 years ago, I recognized that these materials are irreplaceable enablers across numerous technological applications.
Looking at the challenges of our future on our planet, in particular in light of climate change, these products play an important role in the development and deployment of today’s and future technologies.
Hence, the strategy of Imerys Graphite & Carbon is linked to key global megatrends. Our ambition is to be the partner of choice for energy conversion and storage technologies like Lithium-Ion batteries for cars or battery storage, fuel cells, redox flow batteries, lithium capacitors for data centers, various applications in the polymer field for high-voltage power cables, and many more.
Through our solutions, we actively enable the global energy transition.
In parallel, we remain committed to reducing our own environmental footprint through innovative production processes and carbon-neutral graphite solutions.
Q2: What is the strategic significance of the newly inaugurated Energy Recovery Plant in Willebroek, and how does this project align with Imerys' broader sustainability, decarbonization, and operational excellence objectives?
Mr. Frank Wittchen: This plant is a lighthouse project for Imerys Graphite & Carbon, as it represents a step change in our production process optimisation, maximising resource efficiency and minimising our climate and emissions impact, directly supporting Imerys’ sustainability 2030 roadmap.
The newly inaugurated Energy Recovery Plant in Willebroek holds major strategic significance because our Willebroek production plant is the world’s largest manufacturing site for high-quality conductive carbon black, e.g. for lithium-ion batteries.
Q3: The Willebroek facility converts industrial syngas into electricity instead of flaring it. From both an environmental and commercial perspective, how transformative is this approach in improving resource efficiency, reducing emissions, and enhancing the competitiveness of industrial manufacturing?
Mr. Frank Wittchen: From an environmental perspective, capturing and converting syngas into power eliminates waste, while best-available flue gas treatment technology sets a high baseline for local air quality management. With the energy we power 40.000 nearby households.
Commercially, it turns an operational byproduct into an asset. The Energy Recovery plant is another puzzle piece to ensure supply security for our customers, e.g. through our own power generation.
Q4: The project represents a long-term collaboration between Imerys and E.ON. What key factors made this partnership successful, and how important do you believe strategic collaborations between industrial manufacturers and energy providers will be in accelerating the global energy transition?
Mr. Frank Wittchen: The mutual trust and respect between our two companies, coupled with sound professionalism, have led to this remarkable success, achieved by our passionate people.
Collaborations of this model will be critical across energy-intensive industries seeking industrial innovation to accelerate the energy transition.
Q5: With the integration of advanced DeNOx and DeSOx emission control systems, how does Imerys balance regulatory compliance, environmental stewardship, and operational performance while maintaining global competitiveness?
Mr. Frank Wittchen: We balance regulatory compliance and environmental stewardship with global competitiveness by treating sustainability as an enabler and differentiator.
Global battery OEMs and industrial customers prioritize suppliers that offer operational stability, high material quality, and compliance with stringent environmental standards.
By enforcing high environmental standards globally and preempting regulatory changes, Imerys Graphite & Carbon becomes the reliable partner of choice.
Q6: High-purity carbon black and advanced graphite materials are becoming increasingly important for lithium-ion batteries, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems. How do you see demand for these materials evolving over the next five to ten years as electrification continues to expand?
Mr. Frank Wittchen: Our journey will for sure continue. The demand for our products is increasing constantly.
Over the coming decade, conductive carbon black and graphite demand will be shaped by increased demand, stricter technical specifications, and our ability to enable innovations together with our customers.
Our conductive additives are set to gain greater significance for battery performance as requirements for longevity and performance capabilities progress.
At the same time, regulatory policies, such as the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, are pushing automakers and battery manufacturers to secure localized, traceable supply chains.
Q7: As battery technologies and energy storage applications continue to advance, how is Imerys positioning its graphite and carbon solutions portfolio to meet evolving customer requirements for performance, sustainability, and supply chain resilience?
Mr. Frank Wittchen: Our team of scientists and engineers collaborates directly with customers day to day to support enhancing their competitive edge in their respective markets.
As the only company globally that offers both Carbon Black and Synthetic Graphite, while possessing deep expertise in Natural Graphite, we are uniquely positioned to drive optimal performance, sustainability, and supply chain resilience.
For performance, our focus is on premium conductive additives and high-performing innovations, delivering top-level quality for battery makers who don’t compromise.
We maintain a dual focus on sustainability, both from a product standpoint, offering low-carbon alternatives like SU-NERGY™ (derived from forest residues with up to 60% lower CO2 emissions), and from an operational standpoint, for example, leveraging CO2-free-powered manufacturing in Bodio, Switzerland, and energy recovery to power our plant in Willebroek, Belgium.
Finally, Imerys Graphite & Carbon reinforces supply chain resilience through a "close-to-customer" production footprint across Europe, North America, and Asia, as well as ongoing capacity expansions to directly support demand.
Q8: Circular economy principles are becoming increasingly important across the industrial sector. How is Imerys integrating resource efficiency, waste valorization, and circular manufacturing practices across its global graphite and carbon operations beyond the Willebroek project?
Mr. Frank Wittchen: Imerys integrates circular economy principles across its global graphite and carbon operations by embedding bio-sourced feedstocks, internal waste stream valorization, and high-yield process controls directly into its manufacturing footprint.
At our Bodio facility in Switzerland, for example, we pioneered SU-NERGY™, a synthetic graphite line that replaces traditional fossil-based feedstocks with forest residues, cutting product carbon emissions by up to 60%. More to come on low-carbon products in the next few months.
Governed by our SustainAgility™ framework, these efforts ensure that resource efficiency and material circularity are standard operating practices that directly lower lifecycle emissions.
Q9: The European industrial sector is facing rising energy costs, stricter environmental regulations, and increasing sustainability expectations. How do these factors influence Imerys' long-term investment strategy and future manufacturing footprint?
Mr. Frank Wittchen: In response to European energy volatility and regulatory shifts, Imerys is aligning its long-term strategy around operational efficiency, cost competitiveness, and regional supply security. The company is directing capital investments toward energy-efficient manufacturing and critical raw material markets while modernizing its core asset base to ensure full compliance with evolving European standards. Imerys secures its industrial position and mitigates long-term operational and regulatory risks.
Q10: As industries increasingly prioritize localized, low-carbon supply chains, how do you see the role of advanced carbon materials evolving in supporting electric mobility, renewable energy infrastructure, and next-generation industrial applications?
Mr. Frank Wittchen: Advanced carbon materials are fundamental to the energy transition. Imerys Graphite & Carbon is responding by evolving our portfolio toward low-carbon solutions while strengthening our regional supply chain. This strategy increases resilience and reduces reliance on non-European imports, ensuring close alignment with strategic frameworks like the EU Critical Raw Materials Act.
Q11: Digitalization and advanced process optimization are transforming industrial operations worldwide. How is Imerys leveraging digital technologies and data-driven manufacturing to improve energy efficiency, operational reliability, and sustainability performance across its production facilities?
Mr. Frank Wittchen: Imerys Graphite & Carbon leverages digital technologies to enhance efficiency and reliability across our sites, enabling more conscious, data-driven decision-making. For instance, we employ data-driven Design of Experiments (DoE) to optimize production, which has enabled us to reduce experimental costs while identifying the precise process parameters for high-quality production. Another example is in R&D, where we have implemented a centralized analytical workflow using the OneLIMS platform, digitalizing the entire material lifecycle, significantly reducing administrative tasks and ensuring consistent, high-quality data generation.
Q12: Looking beyond this milestone, what are the key priorities within Imerys' innovation roadmap for developing next-generation graphite and carbon solutions that address future customer needs while supporting global climate goals?
Mr. Frank Wittchen: Our innovation roadmap for next-generation graphite and carbon solutions centers on our strong R&D team, strategic partnerships, and close collaboration with our customers. Furthermore, we develop low-carbon solutions and full lifecycle transparency.
To unlock next-generation battery performance, we are co-developing Carbon Black and Carbon Nanotube solutions with Cnano, while simultaneously partnering with ShanShan to produce Anode Active Materials in Bodio, Switzerland, combining world-class technology with our material science expertise to build a resilient, competitive European supply chain.
Furthermore, our roadmap prioritizes low-carbon innovations like SU-NERGY™, a synthetic graphite derived from upcycled forestry residues that delivers up to 60% lower cradle-to-gate CO2 emissions without compromising high-purity performance.
Underpinning all of these advancements is our SustainAgility™ framework, which embeds lifecycle assessments into every stage-gate product development to provide fully audited, transparent product carbon footprints and ensure complete regulatory readiness for our customers.
Q13: Considering the growing demand for battery materials, industrial carbon products, and advanced mineral solutions, what is your outlook on the global graphite and carbon market over the next three to five years? Which end-use industries and regions do you expect to drive the strongest growth?
Mr. Frank Wittchen: The market outlook over the next three to five years remains very positive, supported by expansion in energy storage, electric mobility, and technical industrial applications. The energy transition is on its way, and our products are an integral enabler for it.
Q14: As Vice President & General Manager of Imerys Graphite & Carbon, what is your long-term vision for the business, and what strategic investments, technological advancements, or industry partnerships do you believe will be most critical in shaping the future of sustainable advanced materials and low-carbon manufacturing?
Mr. Frank Wittchen: As Imerys Graphite & Carbon, we will further invest in our business by expanding our production footprint and capacity.
We are extremely happy to have partnered with two leading companies in their field, as previously mentioned, Cnano and ShanShan, and expect to drive material development forward together.
As a global business with European roots, we will support all our customers on their journey.
I have complete trust in our competent and dedicated team at Imerys Graphite & Carbon; they make all the difference.
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