Methyl acetate synthesis and hydrolysis is used to exemplify the design and scale-up of heterogeneously catalyzed reactive distillations using Katapak-S/-SP. Different equilibrium and non-equilibrium stage models and a rate-based model are compared in order to clarify the level of complexity needed to predict the process behavior. An equilibrium stage model accounting for reaction kinetics is the best choice for methyl acetate reactive distillation. Reliable information on fluid dynamics of the used reactive distillation packing is needed for the fluid dynamic design in order to assure a wide operation range of the reactive distillation column. To verify the process model, experiments on the synthesis of methyll acetate have been performed in columns with different diameters. As a case study, the model-based scale-up is described for an industrial methyl acetate hydrolysis process.