Eric Thaels Email & Phone Number

Laakdal, Flemish Region, Belgium

Westerlo, Flemish Region, Belgium

Free for new opportunities from October 2021

Rayong, Thailand

I was recruited in July to advise the Science & innovation department for polyolefin product development. After finalizing the development project with De Bonte, I moved to Thailand 1st of October 2014 to start for PTTGC, working with around 100 researchers for process & product development on PE, PLA, PS. End uses are Film, Fibre, Injection/Roto/Blow molding, Thermoforming, Pipe and Wire & Cable. Key deliverables are: - Development of new polymer products - Build-up technical facility of pilot processing lines - Support and improve pilot compounding facility - Advisory role on improving organization of Development & Technical service support to the business unit. - Support the group with Customer, Supplier, Machine manufacturers and University contacts.

Laakdal 2430, Belgium

Production manager: Production of prefabricated concrete infrastructure products. Production site around 70 people. - Increase output of the new facility. - Improve efficiency and structure. - Reduce waist % and upgrade quality by educating and training workforce.Project manager: Development of a new type of polymer concrete together with Shell (Netherlands): - Define the necessary properties on laboratory scale. - Installing laboratory and pilot facility for pre marketing samples. - Develop economical production methods for final products. - Produce premarketing products and reference products. Reference projects are produced for railroad, sewage and agro industry to be approved on durability.When I left to join PTTGC the development phase was finalized and the project is ready for up-scaling.

Bangkok Metropolitan Area, Thailand

Main responsibility was to start-up the extrusion production unit for fine filament spinning. The filament production was moved from Europe to Thailand.- Upgrading the production to European standard. Improve the organizational structure and efficiency of Bang Po factory. - Training of the workforce.- Set-up QC lab to meet customer requirement.- Buying and installing new extrusion equipment. Upgrade installed equipment and improve maintenance.- Upscale new spinning technology for microfilament PP.- Find Asian raw material suppliers to replace European sourcing. Responsible for buying the raw materials.- Cost/efficiency calculation.- Development of new products in technical textiles: Products approved for, Bayer/ Samsonite / Mahidol University / Medical filtration. - Responsible for customer contacts in Europe/USA. - 2008- 2009: Worked as advisor for NSTDA, National science & technology development agency (Thammasat University). Nanotec department project: Bi-component spinning and texturing pilot line.- Set specification of the machines (Extrusion line, texturing line and test equipment).- prepare together with civil engineering team the lay out of the building to house the machines and testing equipment.- Help to start–up the machines and training engineers and technicians.

Hulshout, Belgium

Started as plant manager, in the new company Marfil (17 % shareholder). I was responsible for installing the POY extrusion system, texturing lines and utilities. Marfil production was started May 1997 based on a new technology to produce synthetic fibre for textile and automotive applications. - Hire work force. - Running 24h/ 7 days week production. - cost calculation production. - Organizational structure. - Buying raw materials. - Product development: Products developed for Samsonite, Smart Mercedez, Helly Hansen, Bekaert textiles, Umbro and Decathlon.From 1999 I became the managing director of the company. A second production unit was started and we worked together with a Polish texturing company. In 2005 we started testing a new extrusion system for improved quality and colour stability based on technology developed by myself. Products are tested and approved in automotive industry.In 2006 the production was moved to Asia (Thailand) due to better operational costs.

Brussels And Beringen, Belgium

Neste joined together with Statoil to become Borealis. Today it is one of the biggest polyolefin producers in Europe. I continued my job as Technical service & development engineer. During this period we were re-allocated from Brussels to the production Plant Beringen (Belgium). I was responsible for:- Moving laboratory, pilot plants and training of new operators for textile applications.- Product owner of all nonwoven products. - Give technical support to sales and customers for Europe and Asia.- Improving fibre product mix and optimize production on the different plants.- Working with and steering teams at different production locations (Portugal, Norway, Finland and Belgium (Antwerp and Beringen).

Brussels Area, Belgium

Neste took over the production unit from Himont in Beringen, Belgium. At the site they installed an extra PP and PE polymer production unit. Beside the Belgium site they had already PE production in Finland and Sweden. Further investments were made in PP production at Finland and they acquired a petrochemicals site at Portugal (Cracker, PP and PE). Skill centers for the different end applications of the polymers were put in to place. Goal was to develop own polymer production technology (Borstar technology).During this period I specialized in fibre-end-use applications. 1987-1989: Development engineer fibre applications. - Starting up the technical laboratory for fibre applications.- Approving and installing fibre spinning pilot line. - Planning and managing testing on the pilot line.- Development of new polymer types for fibre applications.1989-1993: Technical service & development engineer nonwovens applications. When I took over the technical responsibility for nonwovens, Neste sold around 5000 tons of material to this market. In 1993 we sold 80000 tons of material and were the biggest supplier to nonwovens in Europe. Main responsibilities: - Development /testing of all nonwoven fibre types based on polyolefin’s.- Give technical support to sales team and help customer to start up with new machines and new polymer types. Handling claims of nonwovens customers and did the grading of off-spec materials.- Product owner of all products in PP and PE for the nonwoven market.- Eureka projects for better thermo bonding (Neste Patent).- Eureka project for High tenacity (>12 Cn/dtex) fibre based on polyolefin extrusion process (Neste Patent).- Melt blown: developed high MFR (800 MFR) pelletized materials for melt blown based on underwater pelletizer which was perceived to be impossible. Today they are still market leader for this product with the highest margin for fibre applications. - Run industrial trials at machine manufactures.

Beringen

I started my first job in August 1986 after finishing my education end of June. I was employed as lab technician in the technical laboratory. Responsibilities were: - Chemical and mechanical testing of new products and competitors products.- Develop new test methods, writing procedures of test methods.- Preparing new polymer formulas. - Compounding of new products.

A1 Degree Chemistry, Chemistry

Kandidatuur, Agriculture Eng