4th International
Hosokawa Powder
Technology Symposium

SUSTAINABLE
PRODUCTION OF
FUNCTIONALPARTICLESWELCOME TOAUGSBURG!

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4th International
Hosokawa Powder
Technology Symposium

Message from the Organizer,
It is a great pleasure to announce that theto promote the exchange of technicalInternational Hosokawa Powder Technology

information and knowledge among worldwide

Symposium entitled “Sustainable production ofresearchers and engineers engaged in thefunctional particles” will be held at Dorint-Hotelwork of handling powder and particles. The

Augsburg on Thursday 14 of September, 2023

first one was held at HOSOKAWA ALPINE AG

as a part of special events to celebrate the 30

in Augsburg in 2014 on the occasion of 20 ththth

anniversary of the Hosokawa Powder Technology

anniversary of the Foundation. And then theFoundation. This foundation was established insecond one (2017) and the third one (2019)Japan for the purpose to promote science andwere held also successfully in USA and China,technology in the field of powder and particle

respectively.

processing and characterization on the basisof the fund donated by the late Mr. Masuo

While the environment surrounding the world is

Hosokawa. It annually presents the “KONA

changing dramatically these days, technologicalAward” to a prominent researcher with aninnovation is steadily progressing to a great

excellent contribution to the advancement inextent and the importance of powder science

this field and supports active researchers by

and engineering is considerably increasing

financial funding.

more and more. I hope that this symposium willbring the participants new tips and ideas which

This symposium is the fourth one to be held

will lead to innovative and fruitful R&D andoutside Japan by our foundation, which aims

engineering work in academic and industry.

Yoshio Hosokawa
President
Hosokawa Powder Technology Foundation

SPEAKER Akira Watanabe
Akira Watanabe is a vice division director of Powder Technology ResearchInstitute at Hosokawa Micron Corporation in Japan. He received Ph.D.
degree of engineering from Osaka University, Japan in 2008. He has been
engaged in developing new powder machine and processing.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GERMANY AND JAPANFROM THE VIEWPOINT OF THE POWDER-RELATEDINDUSTRY, AND SDGS
I worked in Germany for two years as a researcher

Compared to ten years ago, the capacity ofand work in Japan for approximately two decades

production is sharply increased due to the spread of

as a researcher and an engineer in powder-related

electronic devices such as smartphones and electricindustry. Based on my experience and thought,

vehicles. Secondary batteries are significantly related

firstly, the difference between Germany and Japan

to SDGs. Finally, I would like to describe what is

is introduced in a general way. Secondary, fromlikely to happen in the future in this field throughthe viewpoint of the powder-related industry, thecurrent inquires and market information.

difference is discussed again.
As an example, the processes of positive electrodematerials for secondary batteries are brought up.

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SPEAKER Christoph Thon
Christoph Thon is a research associate in the group of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Carsten
Schilde from the Institute of Particle Technology (iPAT) at Technical Universityof Braunschweig, Germany. He focuses on the application and developmentof AI techniques in the context of process engineering, specifically in thecontext of comminution, in close concert to experimental investigationand computer simulations such as CFD or DEM. Methodological focal
points are neural nets, evolutionary algo-rithms, hybrid modelling as wellas surrogate modelling, with the goal to amplify the incorporation of data
driven techniques in modelling and R&D processes with respect to modeltransparency, efficiency and physical soundness.

GRAPHITE SPHEROIDIZATION LEVERAGING AI IN PROCESSENGINEERING: OVERVIEW OF MULTIFACETED APPLICATIONSAND SYNERGETIC INTEGRATION OPPORTUNITIESThe unprecedented surge in Artificial Intelligencecomputational capacity. In addition, AI finds use in(AI) capabilities, characterized by breakthroughs

calibration tasks, e. g. to efficiently identify fitting

in deep learning technologies and the exponential

parameters for DEM simulations, such as frictions or

growth in data collection and processing power,

coefficients of restitution. Such AI applications can

has led to transformative applications in process

also allow for the substitution of some experimental

engineering, among others in the field of powder

efforts via other, less challenging, ones. In addition,technology. This presentation delves into the

AI allows for the translation between different

multifaceted applications of AI in this field, withexperimental and numerical approaches, opening

a focus on the integration of AI in processes

further opportunities in time and cost reduction.

of powder technology and on how different

Regarding the issue of AI’s black box nature, hybrid

AI approaches, such as predictive modellingor physicsinformed AI models offer solutions,and AI driven process control, also considering

engendering physically consistent models that

accompanying experiments and simulations, canenhance transparency and understanding.

achieve great leverage.
In summary, the application of AI in process
Predictive and surrogate models often are theengineering, particularly in powder technology,

primary use of AI. Acting as quick to applyis catalysing accelerated progress, cost reductions,digital twins, they enable rapid iteration andand enhanced mechanistic insights. Not only

virtual experimentation, substantially assisting

does it optimize existing practices but also sets

optimization, design and control engineering.

a foundation for future process engineering

Moreover, they offer robust alternatives tobreakthroughs.

demanding computational simulations, addressing
challenges related to data constraints and
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SPEAKER Dr. Ir Gabrie.M.H. Meesters
Gabrie Meesters is a professor in Chemical Engineering in the Product andProcess Engineering group at the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the TU Delft.
His focus is on Solids Processing and on Product Design. He graduated from
Bio-Process Technology (1987) and did a PhD (1992) on droplet formation
both at the TU Delft. He worked for 27 years at DSM research. The last 23 years
he had a 0.2 fte appointment at the TU Delft in Chemical Engineering and
0.8 fte he worked at DSM Research in Delft. There he held several jobs in
product design and fulfilled 12 years of Science Management in the Food and Nutritional cluster of DSM.
Since January of 2019 he moved fulltime to the TU Delft. His research at the TU Delft has always been directed
into designing products and processes related to particulate systems.
He holds over 20 patents and more than 60 refereed papers. He supervised 15 PhD’s, 14 Engineering
Doctorates (EngD), over 80 MSc’s many BSc’s students. He has organised several international congress and was
the chairman of the world congress on particle technology (WCPT) and the Partec in 2010. He was involved inmany international and national projects and is often seen as a speaker at many conferences. He was for
8 years the European editor for the particle technology journal KONA.

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CURRENT TRENDS IN PARTICLE TECHNOLOGY
Particle processing, which involves the manipulation

Scaling and integration: As particle processing

and control of individual particles, is an area

technologies advance, one of the primary challengesof technology that is expected to face several

will be to scale up the processes to handle larger

challenges in the next decade. Here are some of thevolumes of particles.

key challenges of which some will be discussed inthis talk in more detail:Particle manipulation and assembly:
Manipulating and assembling individual particles

Scaling and integration: As particle processing

into desired structures or patterns is anothertechnologies advance, one of the primary challenges

significant challenge. Developing advanced

will be to scale up the processes to handle larger

techniques such as optical traps, microfluidics,

volumes of particles.

and robotic systems will be crucial to overcome
these challenges.

Particle detection and characterization:
Accurately detecting and characterizing individual

Energy efficiency and sustainability: Particle

particles is crucial for effective particle processing.

processing techniques often require significant
energy inputs and generate waste by-products. In

Contamination control: Particle processing often

the next decade, there will be a growing emphasis

involves working with highly sensitive materials oron developing energy-efficient processes anddevices, where even a small level of contamination

sustainable manufacturing.

can have a significant impact on the final productor performance.

Integration with other technologies:
Particle processing is often integrated with

Modelling and control: Artificial Intelligenceother technologies and disciplines, such as(AI) and machine learning has the potential to

microelectronics, biotechnology, and materials

revolutionize the field of particle processing by

science. Developing effective interdisciplinary

providing advanced tools and techniques toapproaches and collaborations will be vital forenhance various aspects of the process.

addressing complex challenges and unlocking newopportunities in particle processing.

Particle-fluid interactions: Understanding andcontrolling the interactions between particles andfluids is essential for effective particle processing.
Overcoming challenges related to particle
agglomeration, sedimentation, and dispersion willbe crucial for achieving efficient and controlled
particle processing.

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SPEAKER Konrad Opelt
Konrad Opelt received his master degree in Material Science at TU
Darmstadt in 2016. In 2017, he became a research fellow in the
Department of Magnetic Materials at Fraunhofer IWKS. There he is
responsible for the grinding technology. His scientific focus is on thegrain boundary engineering of Nd-Fe-B magnets. In 2020, he started a
PhD in cooperation with the research group Functional Materials ofProf. Oliver Gutfleisch at TU Darmstadt.

PROCESSING TECHNIQUES FOR RARE EARTH
MATERIALS AND THE EFFECT ON MAGNETIC
MATERIALS PERFORMANCEIn recent years, the importance of high-performance

size of the sintering powder for Nd-Fe-B magnets.

rareearth (RE) based permanent magnets has

Conventional sintering powder has an averageincreased rapidly since they are used in generators

particle size of D50 ~ 5 µm. If the particle size isof wind turbines or electric motors of electricaldecreased to finer powder sizes like D50 ~ 3 µm thevehicles (EV) underlining their standing forcoercivity (resistance against demagnetization) of

overcoming global climate change. Especially thethe final magnet is increased, allowing the usage atdemand for Nd2Fe14B-type magnets shows anhigher operating temperatures, or on the other sideenormous increase because of their high criticality

decreases the amount of HREs in the magnets.

due to geopolitical reasons. If they are used in EVs,

Another significant approach is the so-calledeven more, critical heavy REs (HRE) like Dy or Tb are

2-powder method (2PM). Hereby a coarser powder

necessary because they allow the usage at elevated(D50 ~ 5 µm) and a finer powder (D50 ~ 2.5 µm)

temperatures up to 200 °C in the traction motors.

are blended and sintered afterward. Important is,

Therefore, a lot of effort in research and industry

that only the fine powder includes HREs leading to ais done for decreasing the criticality of sinteredspecial microstructure of the final magnet where the

Nd-Fe-B-based magnets.

HREs are only located at defined regions, allowing

One important approach to reduce the criticality

to decrease the amount of HREs, too.

and finally the costs is to decrease the particle

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SPEAKER Hermann Schmidt
Hermann Schmidt studied process technology and bio process engineering
at the University of Applied Sciences in Nuernberg Germany and works
as Operations director of the Pharma division at Hosokawa Alpine AG in
Augsburg, Germany. He has been working in the field of powder handlingand grinding sector for pharma products more than 30 years and has
extensive experience with various aspects of GMP and containment
production subject. His experience ranges from smallest R&D systems up to
multi-ton cell culture media plants including powder handling, containment,
cleaning and sterile processes.

SPEAKER Appachu KodiraA Chemical Engineer by training, with over 40 years of industrial experience.
I have been part of Cell Culture Media industry for nearly three decades.
I have been involved in the design of numerous Cell Culture Media
manufacturing facilities on multiple continents. Extensive operational
experience with start up and running of Cell Culture Media plants.

THE FUTURE OF CULTIVATED MEAT AND THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF CELL CULTURE MEDIA
Cultivated meat is on the cusp of breakthrough,media is an essential part of the cultivated meatwith great potential for transforming the foodeco-system. Production at the scale will be required

industry. As the world continues to increase its

to make a significant contribution to the successanimal protein consumption, grappling withof this industry. This requires a complete rethink ofenvironmental degradation, industrial meat farms

the manufacturing processes of making cell culture

and viral contamination, cultivated meat offers amedia. The promise of massive transformation ismore sustainable alternative. The challenges ofscary and while sceptics raise caution, we have an

augmenting the existing protein meat supply with

opportunity to be part of the solution.

new technologies is well on its way. Cell culture

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SPEAKER Eric Emmert
Eric Emmert is Senior Sales Manager Food Division pulses and local grains
business segment. Eric has more than10 years of experience in global sales
and market development in B2B and B2C in both Asian- and MENA working
environments He has a first degree in Mechanical Engineering at university
Kaiserslautern and an MBA in Marketing from university of Münster.

SPEAKER Remy Kriech
Remy Kriech is the Global Technical Sales Advisor of Bühler’s pulses
business segment. He has 25 years of experience in manufacturing,
engineering, technology and sales. Remy started his Bühler career in 1998
as a Polymechanic Apprentice. After completion of the apprenticeship hebecame instructor for apprentices. In the last 12 years he has gained a lotof experience in the role of area sales manager for Milling Solutions andPulses Protein Solutions, contributing to tackle the increasing number ofopportunities in the plant protein environment. He is currently focusing and expediting the development ofinnovative technology solutions to extract the full potential of pulses (peas, beans, lentils, chickpeas and lupins) as
a protein ingredient and valorize the resultant side-streams. Remy holds an Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher
Education in Business Administration.

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DEEP DIVE PULSES PROTEIN –COMBINATION OF DRY AND WET EXTRACTION
Meat substitutes using different protein sources

us yellow peas, fava beans, lentils and Chickpeas. To

than animal proteins have been existent for a longachieve that the pulses have to be separated into atime – in the past however the texture and flavour

protein (rich) and starch (rich) fraction. This can bewere not mimicking real meat. These products weredone in a wet or dry process. The dry process utilizes

therefore tackling a small niche of vegan consumer

the different size of the starch and protein particles

who was willing to sacrifice taste and texture for theto achieve the separation. As the particle size

sake of animal protection. However, over the last

distribution varies not only from plant to plant, but

decade, the increase in vegan and vegetarian foodalso from location to location and variety to variety

varieties and with that the market for meat and dairy

different results may be obtained. When it comes toanalogues has increased steadily. On one hand down

the wet process the process mainly used works withto healthier and cleaner lifestyle and on the other for

the isoelectric precipitation. The separation benefits

sustainability thoughts, namely, to reduce the CO2from the adjustment of the pH value of the wet

footprint of the consumed foods. Often the plant-intermediate product. Both extraction methods havebased products are generated by combining the righttheir own USPs which will be further elaborated inamount of fat, starch, protein, etc. from pulses such

this session.

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SPEAKER Dr. Marilena Mancini
Dr. Marilena Mancini is senior scientist responsible of the research topics
graphite and carbons for battery applications and recycling of battery
materials at the Accumulators Materials Research (ECM) Department of ZSWsince 2013. She is working in the field of Li-ion batteries for 17 years, withexperience in academy and industry. She obtained her PhD in Chemistry in2009 from the University of Camerino (Italy). She is active in several national
and international projects on different topics related to Li-ion batteries,
with experience in cathode and anode materials and with specific focus onparticle design and electrochemical analysis methods. She is a co-author of
one patent and several original scientific papers on the Li-ion battery topic.

SPEAKER Benjamin Biber
Until June 2016: Graduation in environmental and process engineeringwith a master´s degree at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences.
Since October 2016: R&D Manager in the powder processing divisionof Hosokawa Alpine with a focus on the development of graphite
rounding processes.

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SPHERONIZATION OF NATURAL GRAPHITE –BACKGROUND AND NOVEL PRODUCTION PROCESSThe demand for rounded graphite for lithium-

production plant, as they need a large number ofion batteries will increase rapidly in the next

auxiliary equipment like filters and blowers.

years, mainly driven by the growing number of

Therefore, we present a newly developed rounding

electric vehicles and energy storage systems.

process for natural graphite that has lower specificNatural graphite will be a key material to meetenergy consumption and higher yield compared to

the forecasted demand. Due to the required

existing processes. Another advantage is the smallergraphite particle properties and morphology, suchfootprint of the new developed process for an

as fineness, tap density and BET-surface area, aindustrial scale production plant.

spheroidization process is essential to produce
battery-grade natural graphite.

These advantages are realized by dividing thecomplete grinding and rounding process into

Nowadays, batch-wise operating classifier mills or

three independent unit operations: grinding,continuously running classifier mill cascades arespheroidization and dedusting. This makes it

used for spheroidization. For natural graphite inpossible to optimally adjust the number of machines

particular, these processes are not very efficientand their size to each other. This gives the option

due to their low yield and high energy demand.

to reduce the total number of machines andFurthermore, these processes have a huge spaceequipment in the spheroidization process.

requirement when talking about an industrial scale

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SPEAKER Carsten Schilde
Carsten Schilde is a renowned professor at the Institute for Particle
Technology (iPAT) at the Technical University of Braunschweig. He specialises
in particle technology and process engineering. His academic journey beganwith a PhD on “Structure, Mechanics and Fracture of Nanoparticulate
Aggregates” under Prof. Dr.-Ing. Arno Kwade, and led to a key role as a
research associate and then professor for “Particle Simulation & Functional
Structures” at the iPAT. Schilde’s research involves the use of advanced
simulation techniques and artificial intelligence. With over 130 publications, a Google Scholar H-index of
26 and over 2000 citations, his contributions to the field are substantial. His work has been recognisedwith the prestigious Friedrich Löffler Award in 2019. Alongside his academic endeavours, Schilde has been
demonstrating leadership as the director of Lion Engineering since 2020. As of 2021, he has also been
appointed to the prestigious Heisenberg professorship for Digitalisation of complex systems in process andproduction engineering.

PARTICLE TECHNOLOGY IN LIB RAW
MATERIALS PROCESSING
This keynote presentation examines the key role ofmedia mills and the dispersion of conductive

particle technology, emphasizing comminution andadditives, such as carbon black, emphasizing thedispersion, within the lithium-ion battery (LIB)

vital role of particle technology in LIB production.

lifecycle. Through a broad lens, it explores the

Looking forward, the presentation casts light on thecomplex applications of milling and classification

potential of mechanochemical synthesis, particularly

techniques in active material production fromfor solid electrolytes.

primary raw materials and spent LIBs. Recycling ofAs the global demand for battery cells continues to

end-of-life (EOL) batteries is highlighted, focusing

rise, sustainable mineral processing and recyclingon the multi-step process involving shredding,

processes are underscored, not only to meetseparation, and milling of battery cells to derive

environmental goals but also to ensure a consistent‘black mass’.

material supply and establish a closed material cycle.
The essential role of milling and dispersion

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The presentation underscores the importance oftechniques in cathode and anode material production

milling processes in the synthesis of cathode active

is emphasized, significantly influencing the electro-

materials. The increasing use of natural graphite as

chemical performance of LIBs. Envisioning thean anode material requires specialized milling andfuture, it posits a shift towards semi-continuous andclassification. It further discusses the production ofcontinuous processes, marking a new era in LIB raw

nanosized silicon through nanomilling in stirredmaterial processing.

SCAN ME for your Feedback

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SUSTAINABLE
PRODUCTION OF
FUNCTIONALPARTICLESQUESTIONS?
Please contact us:
symposium@alpine.hosokawa.com

Peter-Doerfler-Str. 13 – 25
86199 Augsburg, Germany
www.hosokawa-alpine.com