Innovators at Work: Meet Adrien Trousse
What is your academic background (university, major, degrees)? I earned an engineering degree in Fibers & Biomaterials from Grenoble Institute of Technology – Pagora.
How long have you been with Ahlstrom? Eight years. I started my career with Ahlstrom in 2016 as an R&D Engineer at the Brignoud plant in France. In 2019, I was hired as Process & Quality Engineer at the Malmedy plant in Belgium. In 2021, I moved to the Pont-Evêque R&D center as an R&D Engineer in the Fiber Expertise & Pilot Facilities team. Last December, I had the opportunity to move up and become the Head of this team!
What are the responsibilities under your job title? My responsibilities are to lead a team of eight experts and technicians focused across two areas – Fiber Processing and Surface Treatment – along with corresponding assets: a pilot paper machine, a pilot refiner, a polymer pilot unit, and two pilot coaters. My daily role involves coordinating pilot activities, providing technical guidance, and participating in R&D & CapEx projects with our Business Units.
What is your current focus at work (e.g., specific innovation or solution)? Our pilot assets are used partly for the small-scale production of Lab & Life Sciences products, and we have a record high volume of DNA collection cards to be produced in the first quarter of this year.
Why is this work important for customers; what need/problem does it solve? Collection cards enable the collection, transport and long-term preservation of DNA which is useful for a variety of applications in forensic science and precision medicine. Thanks to collection cards, biosamples can now be stored at ambient temperature and no longer need to be kept in energy-consuming freezers.
Ahlstrom is focused on addressing global trends (clean air & water, personalized healthcare, sustainable packaging & protection, decarbonization of buildings, electrification) to drive growth. Which trend is your work related to? Our team supports every business unit, so our work relates to all global trends. We make a significant impact in personalized healthcare through the small-scale production of top-of-the-range products, including DNA collection cards.
Do/how do pilot facilities set Ahlstrom apart from its competitors and/or what advantages do pilot capabilities offer our customers? Our pilot capabilities are very valuable for customers because they allow us to speed our response time on product development projects and generate prototype material that can be processed directly on their machines. Our pilot assets are also used for process innovations that address megatrends, like reducing waste and decreasing the carbon footprint of our plants.
What emerging technology or market most interests you? Alternative fibers, especially those derived from waste materials, have great potential to further reduce the environmental impact of our products.
What excites your most about Ahlstrom’s future? Our commitment to address megatrends through safe and sustainable innovation.
What do you consider to be the highlight(s) of your career so far (job titles, patents, awards)? I am very proud to have contributed to significant CapEx projects in Ahlstrom, including an upgrade of the Malmedy wetlaid machine to manufacture Filtration grades, and ramp-up of the CHI30 wetlaid machine which produces nonwovens for tea bags and coffee pods.
What do you like to do in your free time to relax? My family and friends are very important to me, so I spend a lot of time with them. I also enjoy nature sports, especially running, mountain biking, and skiing.
This article is part of a series that showcases Ahlstrom’s visionary experts, the minds behind our cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions.