Hero background

The production site at
Domat/Ems

The production site at Domat/Ems lies at the head of the wide Chur Rhine Valley, surrounded by grandiose Swiss alpine scenery.

Corresponding to its location at the heart of the Grisons holiday region, it offers attractive work places and extremely high-quality leisure-time and relaxation potential in an attractive residential environment.

The EMS Group is represented at the Domat/Ems production site with the headquarters of EMS-CHEMIE AG and with the business units EMS-GRIVORY, EMS-GRILTECH and EMS-SERVICES. The business unit EMS-GRIVORY is leading specialist for high-performance polymers and creates system solutions in cooperation with customers. 

EMS-GRILTECH develops and manufactures fibers, hot-melt adhesives and fusible adhesive fibers for technical and textile applications, adhesion promoters for high-quality tires, cross-linkers for powder-coatings and reactive diluents.

EMS-SERVICES is responsible for the overall running of the production site and other businesses which are established here. It provides services in the fields of engineering, energy sourcing, maintenance, logistics, real estate, information technology, human resources, accounting and controlling as well as environmental protection and safety, mainly for the production plants of the business units EMS-GRIVORY und EMS-GRILTECH.

The production site in figures

  • 750,000 m2  area of the production site
  • 106,000 m2  roads and lots

What is manufactured at the site?

  • High-performance resins as granules
  • Fibers
  • Hot-melt adhesives
  • Adhesive yarns
  • Bonding agents for high-performance tires
  • Cross-linkers for powder coatings
  • Reactive diluents

Facility for combined road-rail transportation

EMS-CHEMIE AG has a transshipment facility for combined transport at its Domat/Ems site. It can be accessed by third parties by road and rail by arrangement.

Anlage für den Kombinierten Verkehr [pdf]

Planung und Zuteilung von Slots auf der Umschlagsanlage [pdf]

Quality Standards

Quality and customer satisfaction are given priority by EMS at the same level as safety and environmental protection.

EMS is proud of its high quality standards:

IATF 16949:2016 and ISO 9001:2015

The corresponding audits were carried out by the independent Swiss Association for Quality and Management Systems (SQS).

For EMS, quality is a prerequisite for sustainable customer satisfaction. The goal of our daily work is to satisfy market demand for qualitatively high-value products and services.
We achieve this goal with our employees. They ensure success through their expert knowledge, creativity, initiative and readiness to accept responsibility.

Quality is not a static state, but continually develops further. With this in mind, we optimise processes to satisfy new requirements.

EMS-CHEMIE

An incredible story

This unique exhibition shows in an impressive way for both young and old, experts and lay people, the eventful history of this traditional company located in the Grisons area of the Swiss alps: How did the manufacturer of "Emser Water" (substitute fuel made from waste timber) during the second world war develop into an international company producing high-performance plastics? Around 140 photographs, more than 300 historic documents, requisites and plant components as well as more than 600 examples of products and applications from all periods of the company's history let this exciting episode in Swiss economic history be experienced over an area of 1400 m2!

EMSORAMA – Science and Technology

Fascinating experiences

No prior knowledge is required to visit the EMSORAMA - on the contrary! The experiments will amaze and enchant you.

  • Over 50 experiments at 17 stations on a 400 m2 experimental area
  • For visitors of all ages
  • 90 - 120 minutes of independent discovery
  • Visits from 10 people
  • Booking is obligatory
  • Admission free of charge

We are looking forward to your visit.

Commitments

Organisation

EMS sets high standards for the safety of people and the environment. The central specialised department Environment and Safety (U+S) has the task of monitoring all matters regarding environmental protection and safety on the production site in Domat/Ems. Through training, advice and monitoring, the employees of the U+S department ensure that operational and legal requirements are completely satisfied at all times. Frameworks for action are laid down in guidelines. These are supplemented and substantiated with directives and regulations which are implemented by line management. The U+S experts carry out central tasks and support line management in an advisory capacity.

The range of tasks carried out by U+S include:

  • Environmental protection (waste disposal, cleaning of exhaust air)
  • Work safety
  • Plant and process safety
  • Production site security
  • Fire prevention, fire brigade, chemical accidents
  • Prevention and handling of incidents
  • Management of authorities and approvals

Commitments

Environmental protection and safety are of great significance to our industrial company - situated as it is near the source of the River Rhine amidst impressive mountain scenery,. Both as manufacturer of polymer construction materials and as an engineering company, we consider continual improvement of our processes and products to ensure the highest levels of environmental compatibility and safety, to be an on-going task and commitment.

Ensuring protection of the environmental and upholding safety levels are comprehensive tasks which cover all activities within the company. These start with careful selection and environmentally compatible transport of raw materials and ends with safe and clean handling, application and disposal of our products.

Guidelines regarding health, safety and environment
  • Sustainable development in economical, ecological and social matters is a main concern of company management.
  • Economic targets are not given preference over safety or health and environmental protection.
  • We develop environmentally compatible and safe products and processes.
  • We inform our customers about safe and environmentally compatible handling, application and disposal of our products. We recognise our responsibilities towards people and the environment during transfer of technology. We inform customers, employees and the general public about measures we have implemented in order to ensure protection of the environment and uphold safety levels. We work and cooperate openly with local authorities.
Responsible Care

We have committed ourselves to the worldwide initiative 'Responsible Care'. The principles followed regarding safety, health and environmental protection can be found in the enclosed PDF files which are available in the following languages:

German, English

Communication

We inform the general public, customers and employees about effects arising from our activities, measures which we have taken to ensure protection of the environment and safety levels as well as progress which we have achieved. The index figures are published together with a commentary annually under the title Data and Trends.

Data and Trends

The "Data and Trends" info sheet supplements the brochure Environmental Protection and Safety and provides figures about our efforts regarding environmental protection and safety at the work place.

Data and Trends 2020 [pdf]

Management

Environmental management

Management processes with regard to questions of environmental protection and safety are documented. In order to improve the effects of our activities on the environment, index figures are recorded, based on which the ecological efficiency of our activities are determined and monitored.

Risk management

With the goal of identifying and minimising any risks which arise from our activities, plants and processes are subjected to a risk analysis. We take all necessary organisational and technical measures to avoid and resolve incidents

Management of emergencies

If something should happen despite all preventive measures, the production site is optimally prepared to handle any kind of incident. Tank storage areas and locations where transfer of goods takes place are equipped with collection pans to collect any spilled liquids. All plants and warehouses are equipped with automatic fire alarms or fire extinguisher systems. Contaminated extinguishing water is collected in catch tanks. The EMS work's incident team and fire brigade are well equipped and form the central support point for chemical incidents throughout the canton. Regular drills are held with internal and external members carrying out exercises involving possible incidents.

Safety

Work safety

We have a very high standard of safety at the work place. On-going training and further education by internal and external instructors ensure that this also remains so. Regular monitoring of plants and equipment allows safety experts and maintenance personnel to ensure that the high standard of personnel safety is maintained and even improved. An active contribution from employees in questions regarding safety is important to us.

Employees and their representatives are included in the dialogue between positions responsible for working safety and protection of health. Clarification of accidents or near-accident situations is rated very highly. Under the motto "learning from mistakes" knowledge gained is publicised and prevention measures are implemented.

Plant and process safety

EMS has committed itself to safe operation of plants and processes. It is the mutual task of project engineers and safety experts to optimise projects and avoid mistakes right from the start of project work.

Based on the most important plant design drawings, an experienced team carries out a risk analysis for the complete project to determine any risks to people and the environment. In this way, weak points can be eliminated even before construction work is begun.

Before start-up all systems are tested carefully, with particular attention paid to monitoring and control equipment. Following successful trial operation and only after approval by internal and external experts can the specialist workforce take over. Periodical safety controls by the workforce and other experts guarantee a high standard of safety.

Product safety

We are committed to use of safe raw materials and products.

Some products which are used or manufactured at our production site may endanger people or the environment if they are not handled correctly. The tasks of the person responsible for handling of hazardous goods include safe transport, storage, use and correct packaging and labelling of these products. Safety Data Sheets providing information regarding safe handling of these products are readily available.

Environmental Protection

Prevention of water pollution

The production site at Domat/Ems is extremely well situated with regard to water: The River Rhine flows right by it and the mainly gravelly ground contains good groundwater reserves. This presents opportunity and responsibility at the same time: It is our intention to use as little of this economically and easily available water as possible and to avoid pollution wherever possible.

Polluted water from manufacturing and sanitary installations is cleaned in the mechanical-biological water treatment plant on the production site. In this plant we also treat waste water from the surrounding communities of Bonaduz, Rhäzüns and Tamins. The sludge produced is further treated in the treatment plant at Chur, dried and used as an alternative fuel source in the Cement Works Untervaz nearby.

Prevention of air pollution

Technical systems are consistently implemented by EMS in order to keep the air clean. Priority is given to avoiding pollution.

In processes where exhaust air cannot be avoided, tailor-made technology for cleaning of the exhaust air are developed and installed.

The U+S experts have the task of carrying out controls and regular monitoring of exhaust air emission levels. Measuring protocols and test reports are provided to the responsible authorities.

Waste disposal management

Together with customers and suppliers we are continually striving to eliminate residue materials and waste. Despite efficient processes and on-going improvements, these cannot, however, always be avoided.

Materials which we consider to be waste can represent valuable raw materials to someone else. Packaging materials are separated and collected (metal, glass, cardboard, paper, wood etc.) and made available for recycling. Where recycling is not possible or sensible, materials are utilised as an energy source. Residue materials often have a high combustive value, which can be made use of by cement works, incineration plants or high-temperature incinerators to save conventional fuels such as gas and oil.