Digital twins are either a must-have for any self-respecting engineering consultant; or they are dismissed as the latest shiny object dreamed up by VC-fueled ‘constructech’ mania. On the one hand, digital twins are important enough to warrant their own National Digital Twin Day; on the other, proponents are accused of ‘digital-twin-washing’ Bim just like they ‘green-washed’ their eco-sustainability credentials, driven by fear of missing out.

The 2022 edition of Ipack-Ima is just around the corner. Taking place in Milan from May 3–6, the event marks the return of exhibitors and visitors, serving as a meeting point for demand and supply of processing technologies, packaging solutions and materials. Valerio Soli, President of Ipack Ima, tells us about the many meanings of an exhibition that brings together the various stakeholders in a complex production chain.

Pharmaceutical packaging between flexibility and turn key approaches —  This pharmaceutical packaging market is growing rapidly and pharma machinery manufacturers are leaving no stone unturned to explore the many dimensions of this critical sector. A ramble through this year's novelties.

The European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) has recently published its third progress report on the implementation of its Reach Dossier Improvement Action Plan. With this report, the companies involved in the action plan aim to update and enhance the data in ‘Reach’ registration dossiers.

Under the terms of the agreement, L&T and HydrogenPro will set up a joint venture in India to carry out gigawatt-scale production of alkaline water electrolyzers based on HydrogenPro’s technology for the Indian market and other global markets. The move is in line with the country’s aim to become one of the world’s largest green hydrogen hubs.

Under a MOU signed between Aker Carbon Capture and Microsoft, both the companies will jointly work together to explore opportunities in the Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) market by offering services based on the technological expertise of the two companies.

Aiche Ammonia Safety Committee, one of the most prominent associations of chemical engineers, has appointed Casale’s Chief Executive Officer, Federico Zardi, as its member.

Chemieanlagenbau Chemnitz has been awarded an engineering, procurement and construction management contract by PVC manufacturer Kem One for developing a green chlor-alkali electrolysis plant at Fos-Sur-Mer in France. The new plant will replace the company’s existing diaphragm electrolysis plant to produce chlorine, caustic soda and hydrogen.

Shell has begun operations of a 20 MW hydrogen electrolyzer in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, China. The electrolyzer will produce green hydrogen which will be supplied to fuel cell vehicles for the upcoming Olympic Games. Post the games, hydrogen will be supplied to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region’s public and commercial transport which will help to decarbonize its mobility sector.

The EU chemical industry stresses that chemicals are vital to the region’s industrial transformation and sustainable competitiveness. Europe requires a strong chemical industry to deliver on the Green Deal and Cefic is therefore, collaborating with the European Commission and other stakeholders to co-create a dedicated green deal transition pathway for the industry.