With WirelessHART and ISA100.11a, suppliers support two different, but very similar, industrial standards. In Asia a third standard is currently emerging. First came the fieldbus war — now we are bracing ourselves for the wireless clash. PROCESS interviewed Dr. Wolfgang Morr, General Manager of NAMUR, and Martin Schwibach, Chairman of the NAMUR working group “Wireless Automation”.

Microbiologists, biochemists, and chemical engineers need to cultivate organisms in a highly controlled manner. As such, bioreactors have become integral to the pharmaceutical, food, and chemical industries. In order to successfully fulfill experimental requirements, suitable conditions and parameters must be provided, which include accurate temperature control, i.e., heating and cooling.

It sounds like a scene from a science fiction movie: A newly developed method produces customized molecules in the reactor according to a building plan – to some extent the 3D printer for chemistry. Although the “Chemputer” was actually supposed to synthesise customized medicine, British defence and aerospace multinational BAE has secured the method. Now drones are expected to be developed in the chemical bath.

Industry is under pressure to develop sustainable processing methods. With this in mind, the List kneader processor provides an alternative to the stirred-tank reactor for the production of polymers, allowing solvents to be eliminated from the reaction step. The kneader processor is also an alternative to the extruder for polymer devolatilization.

Acquisitions are only ever as good as the business they generate. From that point of view, Zeppelin Anlagebau made the right move when it took over Reimelt Henschel around a year ago.

Fluid Components International’s ST50 Series air/gas flow meter is suitable for the measurement of air and natural gas for industrial blowers & dryers in diverse industries such as food/beverage, pharmaceutical, powder/bulk solids, tobacco, etc.

Mc Dermott International has bagged a technology contract which includes basic engineering and technology licensing as well as detailed engineering and material supply of heaters for Irkutsk Oil Company’s 650 KTA ethylene plant in Russia.

Pall Omega T-Series ultrafiltration membrane cassettes provide the high throughput and product recovery, plus low levels of extractables, that biopharmaceutical manufacturers need to handle higher protein concentrations.

Chandra Asri has obtained an investment of 1.7 billion dollars to develop its second world scale integrated petrochemical complex in Indonesia. The project will include a cracker unit, polymerized olefins and related facilities and utilities.

Vianode has entered into a lease agreement for an additional building at the Herøya Industrial Park in Porsgrunn, Norway with an aim to fast-track the potential expansion of battery materials production in Norway.