Visit to the research and production facilities of Ranido and KV Catalysts within the INOVO project

During the two days we visited Ranido's research and development centre in Technopark Kralupy nad Vltavou and KV Catalysts' production plant in Karlovy Vary.

Ranido, which this year celebrates 20 years since its foundation, is an example of successful integration of research, development and industrial practice in the field of catalysis. During the visit, we had the opportunity to discuss with Pavel Kukula, founder and director of Ranido, and Luboš Hubal, director of operations at KV Catalysts, who were at the birth of both corporate entities and still significantly influence their direction today. The tour of the quarter pilot plant was led by Jaroslav Padevet, who shared with us valuable practical experience in the development and testing of catalytic materials.

During the tour, we gained a comprehensive overview of the entire catalyst life cycle - from laboratory research, through semi-operational stages to full-scale industrial production. Particularly valuable was information on material scaling requirements, forming and drying technologies, or quality control requirements in industrial production.

From the perspective of researchers who work with catalysts predominantly under laboratory conditions, the experience was very inspiring and provided deeper insight into the practicalities and challenges of industrial applications. Discussions on common topics and possibilities for future collaboration were enriching for both parties.

We would like to thank the entire Ranido and KV Catalysts team for their time, helpfulness and sharing of know-how. These visits make a significant contribution to linking academic research with the needs of industrial practice and to strengthening collaboration in the field of sustainable environmental technologies.