Evonik announced that it is investing an amount in the upper double-digit million euro range in the expansion of its fumed silica capacities in Antwerp, Belgium.

Coperion's newly redesigned ZSK 26 Mc18 twin screw laboratory extruder has an increased torque of 15 Nm/cm3 and is capable of higher throughputs. With its unique setup it is also better suited to simulate the company's ZSK Mc18 series.

From Sensorex comes a new chlorine diagnosis tool: the FCLA7000 photometer, that enables spot tests of free chlorine and chlorine dioxide concentration.

BASF wants to forge digital links to connect manufacturers, service provide. The BASF 4.0 initiative will catapult the giant chemical company into the digital age. Included is a project with SAP built around a database which will be shared by suppliers, engineering partners and maintenance partners. In the future, information will flow in real time over digital communication links.

The Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) will be utilizing ammonia technology from Uhde in its new ammonia plant Ma’aden II, being built near the port of Ras al Khair in the Arabian Gulf. The 3,300 ton per day plant is scheduled for completion in 2016 and will be one of the largest of its kind worldwide.

During the “Factory Acceptance Test” (FAT) often expansions and adaptations are required which cost time and money. Now a new type concept for plant operating and construction companies forms the basis for even more efficient engineering, greater standardization and safety.

From shipyards to life-sciences: Automation manufacturers benefit from Korea’s industrial transition – Since the 1960s, Korea has seen an unparalleled transition from an agricultural country to one of Asia’s technology trailblazers. The technological edge secured the “land of the morning calm” a place among the world’s leading shipuilders, cars and electronics manufacturers and plant engineering specialists. After the shipping crisis and the declining crude price, Korea’s multinationals have set their sighths of life-sciences and process engineering. To promote the transition from shipyards to lab-floor, process understanding and state of the art technology are becoming the key enablers.

... the answers are unequivocal. Reliability is the top priority in the process 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…

Antwerp Port Authority and FPIM (Federal Participation & Investment Company) are to jointly acquire a stake in Nxt Port, the digital data platform for the port community. The port authority also announced that it would acquire the Nationale Maatschappij der Pijpleidingen (NMP) from its current shareholders Ackermans & van Haaren and Electrabel. With the takeover the port authority will gain ownership and control of 720 km of pipelines.