(Photos: PROCESS)
Automation

Internationalisation – Challenges and Chances; an Interview With NAMUR Chairman Wilhelm Otten

The times in which one could optimise process developments or regulation in isolation are long past. Nevertheless, there is still obviously a lack of mutual understanding between chemical/process engineers and the colleagues in process automation technology. What is the reason for this, and how can it be changed? NAMUR chairman Wilhelm Otten, leader of business line technology at Evonik Industries, faced this and many further questions by PROCESS—and makes a clear plea for process automation technology.

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Operational Excellence is a team effort.  (Picture: Fotolia, [M]-Anetzberger)
Excellence Initiative

Clariant Excellence Initiative Produces Corporate-wide Shake-up

Specialty chemical producer Clariant believes that it is now on equal footing again with its competitors after a series of painful cutbacks. The Clariant Excellence Initiative, launched in 2009, forms the nucleus of an improvement process which extends to all areas of the corporation starting with production. PROCESS spoke with Dr. Michael Riedel, who is in charge of the Excellence Initiative, about the challenges created by the change process.

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Storage tanks are difficult to empty or “strip” of highly viscous media. (©leungchopan - stock.adobe.com, Netzsch)
Screw Pumps/Tank Storage

To the Last Drop – How Pumps Can Become Efficiency–Enablers for Tank Farms

How screw pumps strip out even highly viscous media – When emptying an oil or fuel tank (a process refferd to as stripping), quite often residual product of the highly viscous media is left behind. But does it have to be that way? Pumps with excellent intake at low NPSHr values can in fact completely empty tanks – even of crude oil and bitumen. And one technology in particular outperforms the rest...

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