Chemical companies are filling up plant order books: Between 2005 and 2015, global investment in the sector increased by nearly a factor of three and currently stands at more than $ 200 billion. Most of these plants are based on conventional design and construction, but the engineering departments at chemical companies and EPC contractors are about to make major changes to the engineering process.

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.

Covestro has chosen L&T Technology Services as one of its major engineering services partners to implement digitalization based Engineering Programs across their global locations. The ER&D services company has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract by the client to execute these engineering transformational programs.

Evonik plans a new production plant for methionine for dairy cows in Mobile, Alabama. The company expects additional growth opportunities for the global amino acid business to come from animal feedstock.

Designed with polarographic technology, the FC80 Free Chlorine Sensor from Electro-Chemical Devices eliminates the need for expensive reagents while providing highly accurate free chlorine measurement performance for applications in municipal drinking water and various industrial water treatment processes.

The historic deal is GE’s largest transactional power generation services contract in Latin America. Through this agreement, GE will service power generation equipment in Petrobras’ 11 power plants.

PROCESS Innovation Award nominates the Champions of Innovations 2015 — A smartphone that understands pumps? A virtual chromatography process? An innovative material? These and many other developments have the potential to fundamentally change the industry. Anyone believing that all significant inventions in the process industry have already been made is much mistaken: At Achema 2015, we have searched for the innovation champions — with surprising results.

Hidden champion and pump manufacturer Lewa is operating in almost all parts of the world—Nikkiso of Japan acquired the German company in 2009. Lewa has in-depth expertise in metering systems. Its innovative strengths and willingness to continually evolve lay the foundation for sustained business excellence. The company operates under the direction of a three-man German/Japanese senior management team. Chief Marketing Officer Stefan Glasmeyer provided an insight into the underlying strategy.

With Smartsens, Krohne has unveiled the first family of analytical sensors that eliminates the need for external transmitters, thus allowing users to rule out some of the typical problems that affect analytical measurement. A revolution in analytical measurement, Krohne states — but read for yourself ...

Lean Six Sigma is a methodology used all over the world. It aims to improve efficiency and eliminate waste and activities not valued by the client. Dinnissen is developing process technologies, designs and automation systems specifically for production companies, which uses the concept for mixing powders, granules and granulates...