In contrast to lithium-ion cells currently in use, solid state batteries will consist only of solids and will no longer contain flammable liquid electrolytes. A cooperation between Empa and the Fraunhofer ISC aims to remove the most important technological barriers to the industrial production of solid-state battery cells.

K2016, the leading fair and expo for plastics and polymers wants to set the industry’s new course between shale gas, feedstock fluctuations and the internet of things — New raw materials. Energy prices. Demand fluctuation: Business as usual is no option for the global plastics industry. The branche is nevertheless cautiously optimistic at the sector fair K — Industry 4.0, light-weight construction and recycling management still promise new perspectives.

With the establishment of the new plant in Azerbaijan, the company aims to meet the growing demands of high-density polyethylene in the domestic market as well as export the remaining 75 % to the Turkish and European markets.

Ametek Fluoropolymer Products has launched a new generation of Q-Series filled fluoropolymer heat exchanger tubings with improved performance in severe environments.

Wear of impellers is a problem that is often encountered in mixing applications. It is possible, however, to maximize the lifetime of agitator components by implementing appropriate measures with respect to their shape, coating or solid ceramic design or a combination of the above.

Bulkflow Technologies is a world leader in the indirect heating and cooling of powder and bulk solids in many industries worldwide (chemicals, polymers, fertilizers, detergents, minerals, oilseeds, grains, food products, sugar and biosolids). In the last few years, Bulkflow has introduced this technology to the sugar industry, where it has been established as a proven and effective method of cooling sugar crystals before storage and packaging. The Bulkflow system can be installed as either a primary or a secondary cooler, and is readily adaptable to plant retrofits.

Bayer Technology Services wants to stay on the growth curve. For that to happen, the company has to find the right balance between its internal and external customer base. Dr. Dirk Van Meirvenne, who took over as CEO on June 1st, answered a series of questions from PROCESS Editor-in-Chief Gerd Kielburger.

BASF commissioned Rockwell Automation to modernize an automation system in a loading bay used for polymer dispersions at the company’s Ludwigshafen Verbund site in Germany. With only eight months to plan the new system and just three days for commissioning, the project required an extraordinarily structured approach and an intensive test phase. The result is a system with high levels of flexibility and availability as well as easier maintenance.

Users increasingly look at the foreseeable lifetime costs of a planned investment when making their investment decisions. Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is, in that regard, always also a question of how good the seal engineering is. How long do seals in fact last? The Parker Seals group has developed processes which not only investigate this question, but provide the answers. They make forecasting of lifetimes possible where previously they were impossible in this way.

Celanese announced the expansion of its Pibiflex and Riteflex TPC (thermoplastic co-polyester) production unit at the Donegani facility in Ferrara, Italy. This step is intended support the continued growth of its global engineered materials business.