Training Courses and Programs
Training Courses held in Switzerland
We conduct comprehensive technical training courses every two years in Thun (Switzerland), designed to support knowledge transfer and operational excellence. These courses provide participants with the essential understanding of anode production and performance, focusing on the following topics:
- What are the requirements of the aluminium industry, and what opportunities and constraints arise for suppliers?
- How are anode raw materials linked to the resulting anode quality?
- How can anode performance be improved by optimizing processing parameters in the paste plant, bake furnace, and rodding area, and how does this impact smelting costs?
- What are today’s trends in terms of technology and raw material availability?
Over the past 40 years, professionals with diverse backgrounds (including managing directors, executives, area managers, superintendents, supervisors, project managers, laboratory managers, process and research engineers, technologists, and procurement specialists from the global aluminium, petroleum coke, and pitch industries) have attended training courses conducted by R&D Carbon.
Registration to our 11ᵗʰ International Training Course in September 2026 is now open.
Training Courses held at Customer Sites
We provide customized technical training courses directly at customer sites to support knowledge transfer and operational excellence. These courses cover key aspects of anode production and performance, including industry requirements, raw material impacts, process optimization, as well as current technology and raw material trends.
With more than 40 years of experience, R&D Carbon has trained professionals across the global aluminium, petroleum coke, and pitch industries.
About your Lecturers
Dr. Markus Meier: joined R&D Carbon in 1991 after graduation as a mechanical engineer at the ETH in Zurich and completed his PhD about anode cracking in 1995. As today´s Vice President Technical Services he brings knowledge to the plants to increase the performance of the carbon products with technical audits, process optimizations and training courses. He strongly believes that educated and skilled operators are the biggest asset of every plant.
Peter Sulger: graduated in electric and electronic engineering at the technical school of Rapperswil in 1985. He joined R&D Carbon in 1996. He is well recognized in the industry for his expertise in anode furnace design and operation. Today he is the Vice President of Process and Data Analysis. He is responsible for all technical services related to the bake furnace and the firing system including audits and optimization trials.
Julien Wyss: joined R&D Carbon in 2010 after graduating with cum laude in mechanical and materials engineering at the Technical School of Sion. He now serves as Chief Technical Officer, leading the evaluation and development of advanced carbon solutions for the metal industry. With vast hands-on experience, he oversees all testing activities in the laboratory and pilot plant, while assisting in development of next-generation carbon test equipment.
Francesco Baccalà: graduated in chemical engineering from EPF in Lausanne in 2018 and specialized in carbon chemistry and electrochemistry. He joined R&D Carbon in 2021 as Process and Research Engineer. As part of the Technical Services Team, he conducts technical audits and provides continuous support to benchmark operations worldwide. He actively contributes to innovation in the industry through R&D projects on novel technologies and materials.
