The reliability of technical test methods and models designed to forecast the behaviour of components under stress has increased over recent years. Nevertheless, insufficient maintenance or unsuitable strategies still sometimes result in failures and significant damage in process plants. The right overall strategy must be customised to each plant, taking individual features into account. This approach helps to reduce both costs and damage.

Heating or cooling of granulate or powder bulk materials plays a crucial role in
a wide range of production and processing applications. The following article describes current enhancements to and the advantages of a bulk material heat exchanger which is based on indirect heat exchange and a lean
design.

The Gravejo (Poland) plant of particle board manufacturer Pfleiderer was too frequently replacing high-pressure pumps on its production lines. The pumps play an essential part in the main continuous production process, delivering resinous glue to nozzles where it is sprayed on to the wood fibers.

Ethernet-based communication systems are gaining ground in automation engineering. Their ability to integrate network structures across whole companies provide important benefits. An Ethernet-based technology that takes account of the special requirements of the process industries is now available in the form of Profinet.

Users increasingly look at the foreseeable lifetime costs of a planned investment when making their investment decisions. Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is, in that regard, always also a question of how good the seal engineering is. How long do seals in fact last? The Parker Seals group has developed processes which not only investigate this question, but provide the answers. They make forecasting of lifetimes possible where previously they were impossible in this way.

The CSL30 laser coder from Linx Printing Technologies is providing a craft beer start-up with an enhanced coding and marking solution to support its growth. Edinburgh Beer Factory is benefitting from improved codes, reliability, and ease of use from the Linx CSL30, which also has the potential to handle more production and new bottle sizes as the business continues to expand and enter export markets.

Celanese announced the expansion of its Pibiflex and Riteflex TPC (thermoplastic co-polyester) production unit at the Donegani facility in Ferrara, Italy. This step is intended support the continued growth of its global engineered materials business.

With an aim to meet India’s new Bharat Stage VI low-sulphur emissions standards, Indian Oil has chosen Emerson as its automation contractor. The global technology and engineering company will be responsible for modernising and enhancing emissions control operations of the company’s refineries.

Developing shale gas and tight oil resources may result in lowering the CO2 emission. However, exploring the oil may pose risk to the environment. Hence, countries have to be careful while taking the decision of exploring this hidden shale gas and oil. World Resources Institute (WRI) gives some recommendations.

Material flow problems in coal fired power plants are not so uncommon: Coal gets stuck in bunkers, hoppers and hold or forms material bridges within the conveying system. But there is something that can be done about it: Modern vibrator systems can help to get bulk materials flowing freely again...