From process understanding to preventive maintenance: Fluid technology in the Industry 4.0 age — Digitalisation and connectivity open new ways of understanding for fluid processes — but with that come new challenges for those involved. Only if we manage to shift our attention from alarm based punctual attention to constant information, we can create additional value. The chance is there …

Under the agreement, Air Liquide will offer a technology licence as well as basic engineering for a hydrogen production unit which will be installed on the Balikpapan refinery site in Indonesia.

BASF and the Research and Development Center of Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC R&D Center) introduced three co-developed electric concept cars, featuring futuristic designs that address the needs of Chinese customers. This is the first time the German-based group co-developed a concept car together with a Chinese OEM.

With an annual production capacity of 45,000 tonnes, the massive plant will offer hydrogen peroxide in three concentrations – 35 %, 50 % and 60 %. The firm also has plans to invest 103 million dollars in the next 3-5 years for capacity expansion of the chemical complex.

The second largest producer of food in the world is India. The Indian food processing industry accounts for 32 per cent of the country’s total food market. The value of this industry is estimated to be around $121 billion, and it currently employs 13 million people directly and 35 million people indirectly. Chairman, CII National Committee on Food Processing and Chairman & Managing Director, Rasna India, Piruz Khambatta takes us through the several aspects of this industry and the hopes of making India the food factory of the worlds. Excerpts of the interview…

Dupont is investing more than $ 80 million to build a new manufacturing facility in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu Province in East China. The facility will produce compounded high-end engineering plastics and adhesives to serve customers in transportation, electronics, industrial and consumer products markets.

Lanxess is investing in its ion exchange resin production facility at the Leverkusen, Germany, site. The company is optimizing its process technology and operating efficiency for a eight-figure Dollar amount. The project is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2019.

Exxon Mobil has started operations of a new unit at its Antwerp refinery in Belgium to convert heavy, higher-sulfur residual oils into high-value transportation fuels such as marine gasoil and diesel.

“Flexible, Fast and Future Factory” — the F3 Factory is a vision for the future of chemical production. Ambitious projects such as these need partners that can keep the time. Flexibility, speed and efficiency are demanded from plant and components alike — automation suppliers therefore have to leave the trodden path ...

On completion, the new facility is expected to produce 30 tonnes of high purity liquid hydrogen per day. The plant is being established owing to the increase in demand from multiple sectors.