...began over 30 years ago with a brilliant idea
Transferring powders as if they were liquids
OUR STORY
The pioneering force in high containment powder transfer and handling technologies
Dec's unique concept of using vacuum and pressure to move powders through tubes formed the basis of the original PTS Powder Transfer System® that has provided the platform for worldwide success and innovation.
Frederic F. Dietrich, Sr. and his two sons, Yves and Frederic, founded their family business, Dietrich Engineering Consultants (Dec), on August 21, 1987, with a groundbreaking concept to safely convey powder and feed reactors.
Revolutionary PTS
over 5000 units installed in the world
This evolved to PTS Powder Transfer System® that has revolutionized powder handling and greatly improved containment and process efficiency of bulk material transfers throughout the pharmaceutical and other powder-based industries.
In the first few years the company operated in low-key mode, as the Dietrichs developed other businesses while perfecting their technology. By April 1991, Dietrich Engineering Consultants was ready to move into their first office and laboratory in Lausanne, on the shores of Lake Geneva, with Yves, a graduate economist, heading management and marketing of the new product.
In 1995, the younger Frederic joined his brother as full time technical director, just ahead of the move to larger premises in nearby Crissier.
Complementary Technologies
From the first system sold in 1992 to stable supplies in 1995, Dec established as an acknowledged leader in the field of reactor feeding, setting new technological standards.
While competitors have attempted to imitate the system, PTS remains unmatched in terms of efficiency, safety and quality, further strengthened by continuous investment in developing complementary technologies such as the DCS® Drum Containment System for the emptying or filling of drums with highly hazardous substances.
This has opened new applications in the field of high-containment handling of highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredients (HPAPIs).
As technical director, Frederic Dietrich has played a leading role in these further developments that have made Dec a forerunner across a range of powder handling and process containment solutions in reactor feeding, emptying, filling, dosing, blending, sampling, micronizing, milling and isolator technology.
International Expansion
By 2001, the 12-strong company was ready to move to its present headquarters in Ecublens, since when its workforce and worldwide business have expanded rapidly.
In July 2003, Dec celebrated the sale of its 1000th PTS system to the pharma giant Bayer. Until 2005, foreign orders were handled directly from Switzerland but the mid-2000s saw the addition of various overseas operations, starting in 2005 with the opening of an Indian production factory dedicated to the local market and a sales structure in Ireland, closely followed by the establishment of further subsidiaries in the UK and Poland.
In 2008, Dec acquired the product portfolio of the Jetpharma group, adding process isolators and micronizing technology to the group's portfolio.
Since then, Dec has added further subsidiaries, notably in the USA and Germany (2009), in China (2014) and expanded its Polish subsidiary into a production facility. In 2019, takeover of Bectochem Consultants & Engineers Pvt. Ltd. material handling division and merger with Dec India into DecBectochem Pvt. Ltd. 2020 Dec acquired Inno4Life based in Breda, The Netherlands, specializing in pharmaceutical packaging equipment.
Today, 400+ people work on contributing to the success of the company with a global coverage in over 40 countries by an international agency network oriented to providing local customer support and service.
Although many new products have been added through the years, Dec Group continues as an innovative, global solution provider, still focusing on the quality and technical versatility that has driven 30 years of success.
