Ketjen, provider of advanced catalyst solutions and technical expertise for the refining industry, announced a strategic partnership with Imubit, an industrial AI software company, to provide refiners with real-time, actionable catalyst intelligence for fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) and hydroprocessing (HPC) units. The collaboration combines Ketjen’s catalyst and refining expertise with Imubit’s industrial artificial intelligence platform to help refinery operators improve operational performance, process stability, and profitability.
Combining Catalyst Expertise with Industrial AI
Under the partnership, Ketjen will integrate its proprietary catalyst models, laboratory data, technical analysis, and domain expertise with Imubit’s closed-loop, real-time digital optimization platform. The solution will be delivered through Ketjen’s iKet Connect portal, which forms part of the company’s expanding digital services portfolio for the refining sector. By combining process data with catalyst intelligence, the platform will provide refinery teams with near-real-time analytics, expert recommendations, and operational insights tailored to current plant conditions.
Real-Time Insights to Improve Refinery Performance
The integrated platform is designed to help refiners make faster and more informed operational decisions based on live process behaviour and catalyst performance data. According to Henri Tausch, Chief Commercial Officer at Ketjen, the partnership enables refiners to directly connect Ketjen’s catalyst expertise with live refinery unit data. He stated that the collaboration will help customers improve operational stability, optimize catalyst performance, and enhance overall refinery profitability through timely and data-driven decision-making.
AI Platform Continuously Monitors Refinery Operations
Imubit’s industrial AI platform provides secure and continuous connectivity to refinery systems while continuously learning from live operational data. The platform uses artificial intelligence to monitor process conditions, detect performance deviations, and quantify their impact on refinery operations in real time. At the same time, Ketjen’s technical experts incorporate advisory models and catalyst optimization strategies into the system, enabling refinery teams to make targeted operating adjustments and improve unit efficiency.
Refiners Gain Faster Visibility into Operational Changes
Gil Cohen, Chief Executive Officer of Imubit, said the AI platform is specifically designed to understand the complex behavior of refining units using real-time operational data. He added that when combined with Ketjen’s catalyst expertise, refiners gain earlier visibility into performance changes along with clearer guidance on corrective actions and optimization opportunities.
Pilot Deployments Underway in North America and Europe
The companies have already initiated pilot deployments with refinery customers across North America and Europe. Following the initial rollout, Ketjen and Imubit plan to expand deployments to additional refinery sites and global regions in 2026.
Digitalization Continues to Transform Refinery Operations
The partnership reflects the growing adoption of AI-driven digital technologies in the global refining industry as operators increasingly seek advanced tools to improve energy efficiency, operational reliability, and profitability. As per the press release, as refineries continue to modernize operations and optimize complex processing units, real-time catalyst intelligence and AI-enabled process optimization are expected to play an increasingly important role in the future of industrial refining.
