Dominik Stephan

Price shocks, supply chain risks, and trade conflicts: When the unimaginable becomes everyday reality, can companies react at all? Do tried-and-tested strategies provide answers in uncertain times? And what exactly does VUCA stand for?

The chemical industry is in crisis, but pump and valve manufacturers are confident in the circumstances. Despite all the crises - after all, there will always be pumping. Read on to find out which three megatrends are now set to boost fluidics...

Using a decanter to produce biofuel from organic waste: Organic waste goes into the air - at least that is Bisviridi's vision. The subsidiary of the British biogas specialist Biotech4 wants to convert oil and fat waste into crude oil for biofuels. Process engineering plays a decisive role in this...

On a tour with the robot: anyone who wants to keep an eye on complex production facilities covering 4.4 square kilometers will hopefully be good on their feet - or have help from tireless colleagues made of sheet metal and plastic. At one of the largest refinery and petrochemical sites in Germany, in the middle of the Rhineland, the robots are already on the move..

It dyes jeans blue, is found in PUR foam and rocket fuel and is extracted from naphtha on a scale of millions of tons: Aniline. The versatile basic chemical is set to turn green thanks to bioprocess engineering - a project in Leverkusen shows how straw can be turned into plastic

While automation companies are enjoying growth, the mood among component manufacturers is more subdued, as fluidic suppliers are facing competitive pressure, energy crisis and supply chain risks. Yet, automation could point the way to the future and make suppliers and plant operators more successful...

In vitro meat, cultured meat, lab-grown meat or simply cultivated meat: artificially grown tissue meat in cell culture has been regarded as a future alternative to "classic" meat production for a number of years. However, the production of test-tube burgers is just as complex as traditional biotechnology - and just like biotechnology, it requires the right components.

Turning electricity into gas: a closer look at the key technology of the hydrogen revolution. Whether alkaline, PEM or high-temperature electrolysis, the oldest electrochemical process is to make the world of tomorrow possible. By 2021, projects with over 200 gigawatts of electrolysis capacity will be on the agenda. But what is behind these figures? What technologies are there, and where is the journey heading now?

Can hydrogen play out as chlorine chemistry’s trump card? — Safe, clean, and sustainable — Eurochlor’s position paper on its Mid-Century Strategy for the chlorine industry reads like green buzzword bingo. Yet it’s clear that if the European Union wants to become carbon-neutral by 2050, it will have to take chlorine chemistry into account. It’s just as well that electrolysis provides a sought-after co-product.

Shell and tube heat exchangers find their applications in a variety of sectors. However, one of the major constraints that stands in the way of optimizing its thermal design is the pressure drop. Here’s an overview of why the managing the pressure drop is an essential aspect of its design and what are the considerations that need to be met.

Cleaning in Place (CIP) has been around for approximately 50 years, and is commonly used in hygiene critical industries, such Food, Beverage and Pharmaceutical, to clean a wide range of plant. CIP refers to the use of a mix of chemicals, heat and water to clean machinery, vessels or pipe work without dismantling plant. The process can be one shot, where everything goes to drain, or recovery, which recycles most of the liquid. Overall, CIP can be a very efficient way of cleaning.

Europe’s chlorine industry enters the post-mercury era — The shutdown of the last amalgam systems are taken out of service in December 2017, a technological era will come to an end. However, with membrane electrolysis technology underway, it will not mean the extinction of the industry. Plant operators and engineers are moving on on to the next level of the chlorine (r)evolution, balancing sustainability, energy efficiency and safety.

Right application of blowers and compressors is very essential for the most optimised performance. A good system layout offers more power saving and higher efficiency. It is also important to make sure that proper care is taken during piping design and installation.

Temperature control is an essential conditions of many industrial processes. Pressure changes, nevertheless can quite drastically interface with temperature monitoring. Here’s a look at some controls that when used correctly give the desired results...

The chemical industry is leading the hydrogen race — no wonder that the light gas is also capturing the imagination at Achema. The mysterious green molecule of endless possibilities plays a decisive role at the leading trade fair for chemistry, the event organizers at Dechema believe.

The multiple dividing wall column separates multi-substance mixtures in a single equipment item, thus reducing investment and energy costs. So far, this complex device has remained a pipe dream, but that is about to change: The first plant worldwide has been put into operation and should come as close as possible to the thermodynamic optimum.

Digital pumps are here to stay: A recent study shows that the market for digital and connected pumps could nearly double in size within the next decade. But which trends and developments drive the market and what to expect of the next decade?

Protecting process systems from overpressure scenarios — Protecting valuable equipment and piping from overpressure is usually achieved by pressure safety valves. Yet, sometimes, these measures face limitations due to facilities constraints and other factors. High Integrity Pressure Protection Systems offer an alternative approach.

The following statements focus on the question if the use of organic heat transfer fluids creates the necessity to classify an explosion zone around the heat transfer system. They are based on a long experience in designing, manufacturing and doing maintenance, repair and technical service work on a huge variety of different HTF systems as well as on our knowledge of explosion protection regulations.

In the land of the rising sun, researchers have developed a new technology for small-scale ammonia production: The compact ammonia synthesis systems can enable smaller countries to establish their own decentralized NH3 production and could play an important role in the decarbonization of the industry. As so often, a sophisticated catalyst is the enabler.

Enablers of production – Same old in the “pump halls”? Not this time! If the production of tomorrow wants to truly unleash its efficiency potentials, pump experts are challenged. In fact, the largest exhibitor group at Achema is more innovative and digital than ever before.

The chemical industry is in crisis, but pump and valve manufacturers are confident in the circumstances. Despite all the crises - after all, there will always be pumping. Read on to find out which three megatrends are now set to boost fluidics...

How does pump manufacturer Grundfos plan to defend its global position as the number 1? And what is its management doing to prepare for future challenges? PROCESS asked Mads Nipper, CEO and Group President.

Capitalizing on the full potential of modern control techniques is vital to enhance production and remain competitive for any industry with complex processes. Advanced Process Control (APC) is a cutting-edge technology that maximizes operational performance and process profitability, thus enabling companies to gain more from their assets.

What do operators of the technology-focused process industry expect from a pump manufacturer? Well, they certainly expect in-depth application knowledge relating to all aspects of central production processes. Industry-specific know-how is and always has been an important driving force behind innovation at Grundfos. Today, other topics like resource efficiency and sustainability are gaining hugely in importance.

Fitness scheme for the plant: in a turnaround, every move must be right — When an “eternal” flame goes out for a while, something big is in progress: a refinery shutdown demands the utmost of operators, service providers and planners. When production comes to a standstill, the work of over 800 specialists really begins ...

Using a decanter to produce biofuel from organic waste: Organic waste goes into the air - at least that is Bisviridi's vision. The subsidiary of the British biogas specialist Biotech4 wants to convert oil and fat waste into crude oil for biofuels. Process engineering plays a decisive role in this...

Quo vadis process automation? — Every 18 months, the processor performance of a chip doubles. This statistical observation, which is described with Moore’s Law, also promotes the developments in the sensor and measurement technology at a fast pace. The following statement should fuel the necessary discussion regarding the future of process automation for users and suppliers.

Can hydrogen play out as chlorine chemistry’s trump card? — Safe, clean, and sustainable — Eurochlor’s position paper on its Mid-Century Strategy for the chlorine industry reads like green buzzword bingo. Yet it’s clear that if the European Union wants to become carbon-neutral by 2050, it will have to take chlorine chemistry into account. It’s just as well that electrolysis provides a sought-after co-product.

Pumping oleum is challenging enough — add a submersion depth of 11 meters, and things get really interesting. But a magnetically coupled sealless pump is up to the challenge, providing safe and reliable handling of hazardous liquids.

Start-Up Companies at Achema — Achema not only wants to be the world’s leading trade fair for the chemical industry, but also to provide a forum for start-ups. Because despite the unbroken innovative power of the industry, start-ups in the chemical industry have a hard time. Is there a lack of recognition, capital or simply the opportunities? Achema wants to change all that.

In order to meet rising hygiene standards as well as retain the freshness of food products for a longer period, the food packaging sector is always on the look-out for new packaging materials and technologies. Today, multi-layer films are preferred over single-layer packaging due to several factors. Read on to know more…

Turning electricity into gas: a closer look at the key technology of the hydrogen revolution. Whether alkaline, PEM or high-temperature electrolysis, the oldest electrochemical process is to make the world of tomorrow possible. By 2021, projects with over 200 gigawatts of electrolysis capacity will be on the agenda. But what is behind these figures? What technologies are there, and where is the journey heading now?

While automation companies are enjoying growth, the mood among component manufacturers is more subdued, as fluidic suppliers are facing competitive pressure, energy crisis and supply chain risks. Yet, automation could point the way to the future and make suppliers and plant operators more successful...

The current F-gas regulation forces plant operators and planners to rethink their processes: Alternatives to conventional refrigerants with their often high greenhouse gas potential are needed. But sometimes the good is so obvious: a new process with ambient air wants to exceed the requirements of the industry.

Due to the ever-expanding functionality of modern process control systems, their implementation no longer remains simple. To leverage the benefits of productivity enhancement tools available in the latest process control packages, a clear and complete software functional requirement specification document must be developed before configuring any process control system. Read on to know more…

Remarkable growth for America's leading trade show for paints and coatings: American Coatings Show & Conference 2012 saw 12% more attendees and 30% more exhibitors than in previous years at the joint fair and conference in Indianapolis. The organisers expressed their satisfaction with the development of the event.

Boosted by political support, the German biogas energy economy accounts for roughly one quarter of the total global installed capacity. Analysts of Global data expect this trend to continue, as the power generation from biogas in the country is projected to reach 28,265 GWh in 2025.

Price shocks, supply chain risks, and trade conflicts: When the unimaginable becomes everyday reality, can companies react at all? Do tried-and-tested strategies provide answers in uncertain times? And what exactly does VUCA stand for?

Project management can become the make–it–or–break–it–factor for engineering ventures, experts agree. While tight schedules and limited budgets put pressure on all EPC ventures, adapting the right strategy can help to make your project a success.

FDA regulatory compliance is a mission-critical requirement. If the FDA finds a manufacturer to be non-compliant to or in violation of FDA rules, the consequences can be severe with warning letters, mandatory product recalls, temporary shutdowns, criminal penalties and fines depending on the severity of the violation. These penalties imposed by FDA could seriously dent the manufacturer’s brand image and at times could even cripple the manufacturer financially.

Although, many methods are used for reducing the number of microorganisms from food and food products by using both physical and chemical principles, success of any such preservation method is greatly influenced by effective, efficient and ecological plant sanitation methods.

There is currently a lot of talk about mega-trends, such as globalisation. Our look at the trends will not centre on these headline issues. Read here what is on the mind of the process industry at this year’s ACHEMA.

Better make it double: Edwards Vacuum equips its new range of liquid ring pumps with not just one but two variable speed drives (VSD).

In vitro meat, cultured meat, lab-grown meat or simply cultivated meat: artificially grown tissue meat in cell culture has been regarded as a future alternative to "classic" meat production for a number of years. However, the production of test-tube burgers is just as complex as traditional biotechnology - and just like biotechnology, it requires the right components.

At the Interpack trade fair the German Association of machinery and industrial equipment manufacturers VDMA gave a brief outlook on the developement of the global market for pharmaceutical machinery manufacture industry. The VDMA expects future developement for producers of pharamaceutical machinery in the emerging countries.

Alternative sources of energy are becoming increasingly important alongside classic resources such as oil, natural gas, coal and nuclear energy. One alternative source of energy is industrial waste heat. The most popular way to employ waste heat is to re-use it directly within the manufacturing process, but another increasingly popular option is to generate electricity.

In this article we describe some essential analytical parameters and general lab tasks applied to analyze the aforementioned products. Some facts and explanations about the parameters, as well as some guidance on how to perform these tasks best, are presented.

Speciality chemicals company Clariant initiated a squeeze out process of the remaining stock holders of Süd-Chemie, already owning shares of 98.64 percent in the German company. With this acquisition Clariant gains a foothold in the catalyst's business where Süd-Chemie has a strong expertise.

What has advent of additive manufacturing in store for the process industry? – The 3D-printer becomes a gamechanger: While some companies set themselves apart by using customized materials or dream of the pill out of the printer, others fear the impending marginalization of the chemical industry. Gold rush or hangover? An industry is looking for answers between polymer filaments, prototypes and printed pills.

On a tour with the robot: anyone who wants to keep an eye on complex production facilities covering 4.4 square kilometers will hopefully be good on their feet - or have help from tireless colleagues made of sheet metal and plastic. At one of the largest refinery and petrochemical sites in Germany, in the middle of the Rhineland, the robots are already on the move..

One of the basic mantras when handling flammable liquids is to avoid free falling and splash filling at all costs. Dangerous electrostatic charges could otherwise cause an explosion with devastating effects. But how substantiated are these concerns? Recent experiments in Sweden and France came up with surprising results.

The word ‘Project’ can be used to describe an endeavor in which a number of tasks are performed in order to accomplish a particular objective. Projects are usually undertaken by an organization to achieve business objectives such as engineering, mechanical / construction services or research for new product development. This article talks about Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Projects in India and how the organizations are executing these projects using modern techniques and effective management.

Eco-friendly, limitless and CO2-neutral: Can synthetic fuel become the future of mobility? Power-to-X projects could be used to convert surplus electricity from renewable resources into clean synthetic fuels. While decision makers and politicians are still discussing the concepts feasibility, German engineering experts from Chemieanlagenbau Chemnitz (CAC) show what can be done …

According to the All India Plastics Manufacturers’ Association (AIPMA), the Indian plastics industry grows at an annual rate of 12-15 per cent. Manufacturers are increasingly focusing on customizing products in accordance with end-user needs. Here’s an overview of how cryogenic grinding is the means to a useful and cost-effective solution for fine grinding of plastics.

It dyes jeans blue, is found in PUR foam and rocket fuel and is extracted from naphtha on a scale of millions of tons: Aniline. The versatile basic chemical is set to turn green thanks to bioprocess engineering - a project in Leverkusen shows how straw can be turned into plastic

Not all milk becomes cheese: Whether in the dairy, during parts washing or in the hospital, the challenges for wastewater treatment are immense. It is therefore even more important that a modular system is equipped with the appropriate processes and technologies.

Deregulation of diesel prices is one of the big decisions taken by the government for the Indian oil & gas industry. It has various benefits for the public as well as private sector petroleum refiners. However, looking at the larger picture, it will also show positive results for the Indian economy as a whole.

For 140 years Linde has been setting standards in the world of gases and helping to make our world more productive — Gases have made it possible. Whether chemicals, metallurgy, food industry, processing industry or environmental technology, there is barely any sector that can do without the hidden champions from the tank or pressure cylinder. Here, the development of technical gases has been inextricably linked to the achievements of one man — and of the company that bears his name to this day. Since the development of the air separation process, Linde has constantly reinvented itself — and is now developing the solutions for the industries of tomorrow.