Over the course of their long existence solenoid valves have developed slowly but continuously so that they are opening up new fields of application. Today they are a central element in controlling fluids in a broad spectrum of different applications. One of the newer areas of application is in the life sciences. A new actuation technology now allows a significant reduction in size with no loss of performance.

Separlab, a Czech specialist in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), has standardized on Wanner seal-less Hydra-Cell multi-diaphragm pumps in its industrial-scale systems, using them to deliver solvents for the mobile phase and to inject sample mixtures. Learn why the company prefers such “specialists” over single-diaphragm and piston-plunger pumps in these applications.

GEA Wiegand has received two large orders for vacuum systems for the expansion of two Indian refineries. In the refinery sector particularly high emphasis is put on low-energy processes because the margins for the processing of crude oil consumer products are very small. In the inquiry the main focus was put on the total cost of ownership.

Praxair, an industrial gases company, builds a new 300tons per day air separation plant near Mumbai, India. With this new plant the company aims to profit from the growing demand for industrial gases in the Indian steel and chemical industry.

Borealis will move to the Feed-phase for a new, world-scale propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant, after concluding a pre-Feed feasibility study in June 2017. The facility is planned to be located at the existing Borealis production site in Kallo, Belgium.

Transporting powders, dusts, and granules requires reliable, clean and safe solutions that allow for flexible and gentle conveying processes — especially in hazardous environments. But there is a simple solution to this complex challenge: vacuum conveyors.

Coperion moves its Chinese extruder production to a new location: By February 2015, the company will have located to a new facility in the Nanjing Jiangning District. It's current production site in China will focus on R&D and Technology, Coperion explained.

Akzo Nobel's Specialty Chemicals business has completed the expansion of a production site in Denmark which supplies pharmaceutical grade salt for the healthcare industry.

Air Liquide Engineering & Construction has signed an equipment supply contract with Yulin Energy and Chemical Corporation of Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum Group, a large energy and chemical company in China.

Despite their fundamental differences, compressed air and vacuum technology do have some things in common: expensive technology is required in order to generate high or low pressures. Variable-speed drives are the technology of choice for compressors and vacuum pumps alike in order to keep operating costs in check. The demand for contracting quotations is also increasing.