SCD GmbH is a recently founded company directed to the trade, development and production of high-performance specialty chemicals.
We also provide most knowledgeable support to the industry in the chemical process development of functional chemicals as well as consultancy in the use and application of photoinitiators and flame retardants for polymers. In our development concept, we put strong emphasis on the following attributes:
- Ecology – by using environmentally benign chemical processes
- Safety – by avoiding use of harmful materials and dangerous procedures
- Economy -by using cost-efficient and simple transformations
- High quality standards – by using reliable processes
We primarily specialize in photoinitiators, triggering radical, cationic, and anionic polymerization. The photoinitiators (photo-catalysts) are thus used for photocuring of coatings, adhesives, inks, printing and for dental applications.
Another important area we actively pursue is the development of environmentally benign halogen-free flame retardants for polymers.
About
Our team has been working at former world-leading photoinitiator manufacturing companies Ciba and BASF in the research, development and marketing of photoinitiators. The team has more than 25 years of experience.
Indeed, most of the commercial photoinitiators currently used in the market were originally devised by our team while at BASF and its predecessors Ciba and Ciba-Geigy. Additionally, special focus of our R&D activities is on organophosphorus chemistry. We are closely interconnected with a number of renowned academic institutions with high expertise in the field.
Reinhard H Sommerlade
Founder and Executive Director of SCD GmbH
Reinhard is an Organic Chemist by education. He spent several years as a production chemist and Process Research / Process development chemist at Ciba and BASF. Many of the currently running specialty chemical manufacturing processes have been designed by him. Reinhard holds a diploma as well as a PhD degree in Organic Chemistry from Philipps- University, Marburg, Germany.
Dr. Eugene V Sitzmann
Senior Expert Photoinitiators
Scientific Adviser & Research Coordinator
Dr. Eugene Sitzmann is currently responsible for technical marketing support. He is based in Wyandotte, MI USA. Prior to joining SCD, Eugene worked at Ciba / BASF on the application development of photo-latent curing agents for inks, coatings and adhesives.
Dr. Kurt Dietliker
Senior Expert Photoinitiators
Scientific Adviser & Research Coordinator
Kurt Dietliker studied Organic Chemistry and worked for more than 25 years in research on photoinitiators for Ciba-Geigy, Ciba Specialty Chemicals and BASF. During this time, he was involved in the development of various photoinitiators that are nowadays commercially available. He has also worked during 8 years on basic research of new photoinitiators as Senior Scientist with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), bridging the gap between academic (ETH) and industrial (BASF) research. He has active collaborations with various academic research groups, and works as consultant on photoinitiators for industrial partners.