Founder Stories: Detecting contamination in pipes from outside - ToPerform's smart solution for industrial pollution
ToPerform
“The principle is actually incredibly simple. We use the law of thermodynamics”, explains Fabian Company excited. The founder of ToPerform has developed a technology that can measure and predict pollution in industrial pipes without interrupting the production process. An innovation that could save the chemical industry millions. The prototype phase is running at full speed and is showing promising results. But how do you come up with something like that?
A problem that no one could solve
Fabian's path to this insight began during his career in the industry. At Royal DSM and later at Friesland Campina, he was annoyed by the inefficient approach to pollution in production lines. “We often cleaned more than necessary, which reduced my production time. And no one talked about saving production time.”
There was a fundamental problem: factories cleaned installations on time schedules, not actual pollution. “We have a symptom and we are treating symptoms”, says Fabian. At a renowned dairy research company, he asked: “Why don't we start by seeing if something needs to be cleaned at all?” The answer was always: “That's not possible. You can't see how pollution is created.” That challenge stimulated him.
From interim to entrepreneur
With a background in chemical technology and computer science, Fabian worked for big names in the industry, but always bumped into the limits of what was possible within these organizations.
“The further I got, the less I had to say. I didn't have a free base at all, I was just a mailman”, he talks about his time as plant director. He quit his job and continued as a self-employed person. In 2016, he started as an interim manager, where he found the freedom to make real change. “As an interim worker, you can take steps much faster and you are independent. That's different than when you're employed.”
The basis for ToPerform was created in 2020, when he launched his idea for predicting pollution. An internship student from Saxion University helped with the first developments. “He is now my model expert and has stuck around”, Fabian says visibly proudly.
Sensor that changes the rules of the game
The breakthrough moment came in June 2021, when Fabian got into a conversation with someone inside an American chemical company, who has now become the launching customer. “They had pollution stuck in a pipe and said: it's worth a lot to us if you can fix that.”
The development took an unexpected turn when Fabian ended up in hospital with a ruptured aorta in October 2022. “I was in the gym, did a deadlift, and then my aorta burst.” This life-threatening event forced him to reflect on his priorities.
Contrary to all expectations, the launching customer took up the project again when Fabian came out of the hospital. In May 2023, they built a first test setup with promising results.
Simple concept with big consequences
Fabian compares the principle behind ToPerform's technology to home insulation: “You have a stove with energy that heats your living room. When you install insulation, it gets warmer inside.”
They apply this law of physics to pipes: “On the inside, a layer of contamination is created that acts as an insulator. If we apply heat to the outside, the insulation layer makes the pipe warmer.” By measuring this temperature change, ToPerform determines the thickness of the contamination layer. The big advantage: their sensor can be installed on the outside without disrupting the production process. “Within fifteen minutes, we started our measurements.”
For the chemical industry, where downtime can cost millions per day, this represents a revolution in maintenance. “If something strange happens in the process, you get a signal that you need to clean earlier. If it can go on longer, you can choose to postpone it.”
Always one step further
What started in 2020 as a one-man business with an intern has grown into a team of six. “In January 2024, it was still me and a student before ten hours. Now we have six men.” Since January 2025, the prototype has been running in the factory at our launching customer. “We measured pollution from January to April. We know we've measured pollution because we've also seen it physically.” The next step is certification. “You can't sell a device that isn't certified. We are now working to further develop it so that the sensor can be used in potentially explosive environments.”
International interest is growing rapidly. With the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands, ToPerform carried out tests for use on ship walls, where deposits can lead to 15% more fuel consumption. They presented their technology at the Hannover Messe and are talking to international customers. “It can suddenly go fast.”
The entrepreneur behind the innovation
For Fabian, entrepreneurship means freedom above all else. “The concept 'entrepreneur' has changed for me. You don't have to have a company to be an entrepreneur. I was always entrepreneurial, but it wasn't appreciated or understood in my work environment.”
His health situation brought an important realization: “If I fall over, it was a great idea. Then a few people know: that guy always had something nice, but I'm not sure what it was. Fortunately, I'm still here and, of course, I'm going to continue with this.”
The future and philosophy of TopForm
When Fabian looks ahead, he sees a company that is active worldwide. “We want to deliver our product all over the world, and we also have a lot of partners who use our product.”
An open philosophy forms the basis of Fabian's vision for the future: “We believe in open source and secure data sharing”, he insists. “We are not proud of the fact that the data has to be in the cloud with us. That data model must be incorporated into our applications. But the customer is free to link more data to it or want the data back.” This transparent approach distinguishes ToPerform from traditional suppliers. “It's about the value you can create from data, not owning it.”
This approach reflects Fabian's broader view of entrepreneurship. “The company is bigger than me”, he acknowledges. “At the moment, I still have to wear it, but I'm becoming less and less important. I also think it's cool that the company can be its own.” He sees with an open mind whether ToPerform will still be independent or integrated into a larger whole in five years: “If takeover is the best choice, that's okay too.”
Lessons for starting entrepreneurs
“Remove those limitations that you create for yourself. Often, we limit ourselves with thoughts like “I can't do that.” whether “I'm not good at that.” whether “That costs too much money.” According to him, these self-drawn boundaries are exactly where the opportunities lie.
His experience with a life-threatening situation only reinforced that message. “I'm saying in my mind these days: the worst thing that can happen to me is that I won't wake up tomorrow. Then there's no challenge too big to slow me down either?”
He does nuance: “You have to take every constraint and obstacle into account, but that's also where the most valuable opportunities lie. Don't use restrictions as an excuse not to start. Small steps, framing and trying, then somewhere it will work.”
Interview & text by Lars Meijer