Stamicarbon

Stamicarbon specializes in innovative technology for the production of fertilizer. The company licenses this technology to urea, ammonia, and nitric acid plants, among others. V.O. supports Stamicarbon in protecting its intellectual property.

The company traces its origins back more than seventy years to DSM. It is now the licensing and IP center of NEXTCHEM® Sustainable Technology Solutions, which in turn is part of the Italian Maire Group. Customers use Stamicarbon’s technology to build new fertilizer plants or to make existing plants more efficient and sustainable. The fertilizer helps promote the growth of plants and crops, among other things. In this way, Stamicarbon contributes to food security.

Intellectual property as a foundation

Stamicarbon is a global leader thanks to its innovative and energy-efficient technology for the production of urea. In addition to fertilizer for plants, urea has other applications as well. One such application is AdBlue®: clean diesel fuel, which requires highly pure urea.

With proprietary technology, in-depth expertise, and customized solutions, Stamicarbon supports customers throughout the entire lifecycle of their industrial facilities. “We are the architect of the plant, not the contractor,” says Jan Willem Goedmakers, Head of IP at Stamicarbon. “We design the process and ensure it is built exactly as intended.” To convince customers, Stamicarbon must share its technology. Goedmakers: “Protecting our intellectual property is therefore not a supporting measure, but fundamental to us.”

‘Good IP protection isn’t just about patents. It’s about a way of collaborating that truly advances innovation.’

Jan Willem Goedmakers – Stamicarbon

Patents as a prerequisite

This requires a balance. For a licensor like Stamicarbon, their globally registered patents form the foundation. “They protect our technology and processes. But the know-how required to implement that technology is even more important to our customers. That’s something you can only keep confidential.” In addition, the patents also serve a marketing function. Goedmakers: “The number of patents we register allows us to demonstrate our innovative strength.” Goedmakers views the fact that Stamicarbon relatively often faces oppositions from competitors as confirmation of their patent strategy. “When an opposition is filed, I know that a patent is strategically relevant.”

Working together as one team

Stamicarbon has been collaborating with V.O. for many years. The division of roles is clear: Stamicarbon identifies and develops inventions, while V.O. drafts the patent applications and manages the entire process from filing through opposition and portfolio management. “We truly operate as one team,” says Goedmakers, himself a European patent attorney. “Especially in oppositions, the combination of our technical experts, the internal IP team, and V.O. often makes the difference.” According to Hajo Kraak, a patent attorney at V.O., Stamicarbon is a highly professional client. “Their product is, in fact, highly specialized knowledge. But thanks to our close collaboration, our team has become well-versed in their technology. And we’re on the same page, because Stamicarbon has in-house staff with patent expertise.”

Goedmakers sees V.O. as a partner willing to grow alongside the company. “They understand our market and seamlessly adapt their workflow to our needs.”

CO₂ Stripper technology

Stamicarbon’s “CO₂ Stripper technology” from the 1970s is considered the standard for urea production. In addition, Stamicarbon has developed a superior, corrosion-resistant steel grade—E-type duplex stainless steel. With the original method, the steel suffered severe corrosion due to the high pressure.