Process Engineering articles from November 2002

Process Engineering archives from November 2002

Bayer pharma chief quits. (News).
November 1, 2002... Frank Morich, head of Bayer's healthcare unit, has quit owing to the uncertainty surrounding the division. Morich will be succeeded by Rolf Classon, formerly head of Bayer's diagnostics unit. Since it withdrew its best-selling product, the...

TotalFinaElf sells paints. (News).
November 1, 2002... TotalFinaElf is to sell its paints operation, run by SigmaKalon, to a private investment firm, Bain Capital. SigmaKalon produces marine, anti-corrosion and industrial coatings as well as decorative paints.

GE Fanuc to buy Intellution. (News).
November 1, 2002... Emerson Process Management has agreed to sell its industrial automation software subsidiary, Intellution, to GE Fanuc for an undisclosed sum. The deal has still to be approved by national trade regulators. 'The addition of Intellution to the GE...

ABB to sell process arm. (News).
November 1, 2002... ABB is to sell its Lummus Global chemical engineering division along with the rest of its oil, gas and petrochemical businesses as chief executive Jurgen Dormann struggles to keep the company afloat. Mere weeks after replacing ousted chief...

SSP springs back into the Pump market. (News).
November 1, 2002... Eastboume-based Alfa Laval Pumps has restructured its business with the introduction of the SSP Pumps brand to its range of rotary lobe pumps. The SSP history can be traced back to the original rotary lobe pumps that came on the market in the...

BASF strengthens agrochemicals. (News).
November 1, 2002... BASF is to pay [euro]1.2billion for a range of agrochemical products from its rival, Bayer, which was orered to divest the products by the US Federal Trade Commission as part of its acquistion of Aventis Crop-Science. The package includes a new...

Safety first. (News).
November 1, 2002... Health and safety skills are the top training priority for chemical manufacturers, according to a survey carried out by workforce training business Capita Learning and Development. The second most important area for the chemical industry,...

Management buy-out signals new era for FCX. (News).
November 1, 2002... Flow control specialist FCX has gone independent from the Charles Baynes Group following a management buy-out. 'We will be able to develop FCX outside the public arena without the managerial and regulatory burdens of being a listed company with...

European procurement. (News).
November 1, 2002... Shell has established a new company to handle procurement of feedstocks and process chemicals across western Europe. Based in Rotterdam, the new Shell Chemicals Europe business will also handle sales contracts and supply chain management. ...

Modular plants. (News).
November 1, 2002... Emerson Process Management has landed a contract to design a control system for a series of 'fast track' modular pharmaceutical plants for Novo Nordisk Engineering (NNE). The plants, which will consist of multiple skid-mounted units, will use...

Waste not, recycle more. (News).
November 1, 2002... The UK will fail to meet its EU commitments to waste management targets unless the government accelerates its review of waste strategy, the Engineering Employers Federation has warned. While the Chancellor of the Exchequer is rumoured to be...

Netzsch offers one-stop-shop. (News).
November 1, 2002... Netzsch's ranges of progressive cavity pumps and rotary lobe pumps are to be available from a single source, as the company aims to help its customers reduce their costs. The pumps are aimed at the sludge and sewage treatment markets and for...

Albemarle to increase ATH. (News).
November 1, 2002... Albemarle has announced plans to increase capacity for fine precipitated aluminium hydroxide (ATH) at its plant in Bergheim, Germany -- already the largest ATH facility in the world. ATH is used as a smoke and flame retardant in wire and cable...

UK firm lands Sasol contract. (News).
November 1, 2002... Peter Brotherhood has been awarded a [pounds sterling]1 million contract to supply a reciprocating compressor system for Sasol's petrochemical complex near Johannesburg. The compressor is part of a system to recover hydrogen, which is currently...

Correction.
November 1, 2002... In a news story in our September issue, page 2, we stated that Roche had acquired diagnostics specialist Boehringer Ingelheim. The company acquired was in fact Boehringer Mannheim. Apologies to all concerned.

Contec joins MELSMART. (News).
November 1, 2002... Industrial IT supplier Contec has joined Mitsubishi's MELSMART initiative, which aims to bridge t e gap between automation equipment and customers' ERP systems. Contec's miniature PC systems will be integrated into Mitsubishi's Qn series PLC...

Lindsay takes on calbration chair. (News).
November 1, 2002... The UK Accreditation Service, UKAS, has appointed Lord Lindsay, former Conservative spokesman on green issues, as its chairman. He replaces Bryan Smith, who has retired after seven years in the post.

Allibert lands tanks order. (News).
November 1, 2002... Allibert Buckthom has bee awarded a contract to supply four Helix bunded bulk tanks to Gower Chemicals' Swansea acid dilution terminal.

Biopolymer boost. (News).
November 1, 2002... DuPont and biotechnology company Genencor have developed a microbe which produces the key ingredient in a DuPont polymer. The microbe converts glucose into 1,3-propanediol, the monomer for DuPont's Sorona GT polymer. 'This achievement...

Asset service for process. (News).
November 1, 2002... Britain's largest independent engineering services company, Dowding & Mills, is to join forces with a division of process plant manufacturer Howden Power to provide asset management services. The alliance will service the steel, cement, power...

Model analysis. (News).
November 1, 2002... A spin-off company from the University of Newcastle is offering chemical companies a computer test to determine whether their products are environmentally friendly. Enviresearch, based at the University's school of Biology, uses computer...

UK and international plant cost indices. (News).
November 1, 2002... The format of Process Engineering's PREDICT plant cost indices has recently changed, as detailed in PE, September 2002, p11. The main composite UK index is shown as C in the table above, and is now based on slightly revised component...

Health and safety remains at the forefront of processing. (Comment).
November 1, 2002... This month we report on the current status of the WAGR Project (see p18). This is the important work going on at Sellafield to decommission the Windscale Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor, the first such attempt to decommision a large-scale AGR. The...

Events.
November 1, 2002... 11-14 November Pharmaceutical Freeze Drying is the subject of a comprehensive four-day course to be staged by freeze drying specialist Biopharma Technology. The course provides practical, up-to-date information covering all aspects of the...

It all gels for corn catalysis. (Research & Technology).
November 1, 2002... Most industrial catalysts are mineral-based, whether created in a laboratory or extracted from a mine. Neither method is regarded as sustainable. But a team at the University of York's Clean Technology Centre has found a way to make highly...

Bloodworm fangs hold drug delivery promise. (Research & Technology).
November 1, 2002... A marine worm's gruesome method of feeding may provide a key to making lightweight but durable materials, according to researchers at the University of California's Santa Barbara site. The team has been studying the bloodworm, a venomous...

Sweet smell of success for perfume production. (Research & Technology).
November 1, 2002... Chemists at Valencia Polytechnic University in Spain have discovered a way to catalyse reactions which are important to perfume manufacturers. Avelino Corma and colleagues at the University's Chemical Technology Institute have found a...

Telecom switch destroys dioxin. (Research & Technology).
November 1, 2002... Fujitsu Technology has developed a dioxin-decomposition process which, it claims, is 100 times more effective than current methods of breaking down the carcinogenic substances. Combining plasma and catalyst technologies, the process can render...

Filtering out the problems. (Equipment in Action).
November 1, 2002... At the Manchester plant of Magnesium Elektron a fabric filter system from Luhrfilter has been installed to tackle the problem of emissions from the plant's melting furnaces. The magnesium melting process is a problem for most filtration systems...

Searching but the air leaks. (Equipment in Action).
November 1, 2002... To help its customers identify leaks in their compressed air systems and save electricity, Atlas Copco Compressors has purchased Ultraprobe ultrasonic leak detectors for each of its eight UK service centres. By using the handheld detector,...

Six-month payback from steam tracing. (Equipment in Action).
November 1, 2002... An initial outlay of [pounds sterling]35 000 has netted first-year savings of over [pounds sterling]70 000 for Eastman subsidiary Voridian after it called in Spirax Sarco to revamp an ailing steam trace heating system on its tank farm near...

Actuators the key to control. (Equipment in Action).
November 1, 2002... Surfactant manufacturer Stepan has installed a range of actuators and intrinsically safe position monitors from Tyco Valves and Controls at its new plant in Stalybridge near Manchester. The plant has been designed to minimise operational...

Hive of activity: the Windscale gas-cooled nuclear reactor has been shut down for over two decades, and engineers are now well into the task of dismantling the reactor core. (Decommissioning).
November 1, 2002... Over the past half-century, the eyes of the nuclear industry have often been focused on a remote, windswept corner of Northern England -- Windscale, and the surrounding Sellafleld complex -- and sometimes the attention has been for...

Handle with care: bulk solids handling plays an important role in many processes. From raw material import to final product storage, handling equipment needs careful selection. (Solids Handling).
November 1, 2002... By their very nature bulk solids are not that easy to move around. Some are easier than others, of course, and can flow -- either unaided or in pneumatic systems -- as easy as any liquid. But the design of handling equipment generally calls for...

Data mining: data mining techniques can complement the conventional expertise of process and control engineers in identifying ways of improving plant performance, as Jim Anderson and Alan McCullough explain. (Data Acquisition).
November 1, 2002... There are many ways to reduce energy consumption and to improve operational efficiency. Good energy management practice can reduce the costs of utilities, but once good practice is in place, significant additional savings can be realised by...

Keep control on the move. (Data Acquisition).
November 1, 2002... The Allen-Bradley MobileView Tablet T750 from Rockwell Automation is a fully portable HMI, human machine interface, that uses Ethernet radio frequency transceivers to give users total freedom to move around a plant while remaining in complete...

Hazardous area monitoring. (Data Acquisition).
November 1, 2002... Monitran has introduced an IS family of accelerometers, or vibration sensors, for use in Group I and II hazardous areas. Each of the three models in the family has full ATEX and EEx approval, is constructed throughout from stainless steel and...

Energy monitoring software cuts costs. (Data Acquisition).
November 1, 2002... WinEnergy from Siemens Automaton and Drives is a software package for gathering, monitoring, reporting and archiving energy usage information. Based on the Simatic WinCC Scada package, WinEnergy is designed to be a low-cost, entry-level...

Rental service for remote Corrosion monitoring. (Data Acquisition).
November 1, 2002... COOL, Cathodic Control OnLine, is a new remote monitoring scheme for corrosion protection systems. Available for rental from BAC Corrosion Control in partnership with Tecnosystem of Italy, the system uses SMS messaging and the Internet for...

Data logging is the key to energy savings. (Data Acquisition).
November 1, 2002... Studies by EnergAir have shown that the operating costs of running multiple compressed air installation without some form of management control could be more than 30 per cent higher than they should be. The company says that data logging holds...

Time-saving tool for maintenance. (Data Acquisition).
November 1, 2002... Maintenance engineers can save time spent on collecting plant data manually by using VibroWeb, according to its supplier Sensonics. Designed to operate on-line for monitoring sensors measuring vibration, pressure and temperature on plant...

No ducking these data. (Data Acquisition).
November 1, 2002... Cooking food products at the right temperature is as fundamental in industry as it is in the kitchen. A producer of ethnic foods discovered a temperature variance of more than 20degC in an oven, which was being used to cook duck, after testing...

Squirrels solve production problems. (Data Acquisition).
November 1, 2002... Magmex, manufactured by Omex Environmental, is a chemical used to correct and maintain the pH balance of water used in critical manufacturing processes. To ensure that its customers never ran out of such an important resource, Omex staff used...

Continuous progress: Stuart Nathan reports on Genzyme's record-breaking pharmaceuticals plant in Sussex, which uses innovative techniques to manufacture an unusual drug. (Genzyme Project).
November 1, 2002... Us pharmaceuticals company Genzyme is best known as one of the major biotechnology players. Its largest investment to date, however, has been in a plant based on conventional chemistry -- a large-scale manufacturing facility in Haverhill,...

Pearly whites: science fiction afficionados might think of nanotechnology in terms of microscopic robots. But in the real world, it's more likely to improve your toothpaste. (Nanotechnology).
November 1, 2002... Nanotechnology has been the subject of science fiction-inspired hype for almost a decade. Touted as the next revolution in science, it has been promoted as capable of almost anything, including tiny robots that would swim in the bloodstream and...

Cleaning the line. (Applications).
November 1, 2002... Nottingham-based toiletries maker PZ Cussons has halved its waste disposal costs and increased available production time by 20 minutes per batch by installing a product recovery and waste minimisation system. Designed by Martec, the system...

Biotech mixers speed up cleaning. (Applications).
November 1, 2002... Chemineer's range of mixers designed specifically for biotechnology applications is helping a major Irish pharmaceutical manufacturer to drastically improve energy efficiency. Installed as part of a sanitary batch process, the BTNS Biotech...

Phamasol improves process flexibility with twin vessels. (Applications).
November 1, 2002... Andover-based contract manufacturer Pharmasol has improved its process flexibility thanks to two new process vessels from Winkworth Machinery. Specialising in producing creams and lotions, the plant has to produce batches of widely-varying...

Water relief. (Applications).
November 1, 2002... lonics' Sievers Model 400ES TOC analyser provides Total Organic Carbon measurements that comply with the USP24 and EP2.2.44 regulations. Monitoring both TOC and conductivity in bulk water for injection and purified water, the analyser can also...

Driving demands. (Applications).
November 1, 2002... Pharmatech, which manufactures blending machinery for the pharmaceutical industry, has to meet exacting standards. Its machines often include rotating drums which hold off-centre loads weighing up to 3 tonnes, which can be called upon to stop...

Totalisers run for five years. (What's New in Process Engineering).
November 1, 2002... Beka Associates has introduced two new field mounting rate totalisers that will operate continuously for five years from internal replaceable batteries. The instruments simultaneously display rate and total flow in the same or different...

Fast response for flow/level. (What's New in Process Engineering).
November 1, 2002... A thermal flow/level switch from FCI is available from Allison Engineering. The NuTec has no moving parts and two-wire, loop powered electronics. The fast response flow switch is ideal for pump protection, seal leak detection and many other...

Quiet mills require less energy. (What's New in Process Engineering).
November 1, 2002... Netzsch Condux Jet Mills are taking the place of spiral mills, unidirectional jet mills and wet grinding systems. This is because they require less energy and have a more favourable price to performance ratio. The machines also produce less...

Custody transfer approval. (What's New in Process Engineering).
November 1, 2002... The Caldon LEFM multi-path ultrasonic transit time flowmeter has been developed for custody transfer applications in the petroleum industry. Tests overseen by Salisbury-based Caldon Europe have resulted in the granting of OIML R117...

Network diagnostic software. (What's New in Process Engineering).
November 1, 2002... Hirschmann Electronics has launched version 6.1 of the HiVision network diagnostic software -- an SNMP management shell for managing Hirschmann SNMP enabled equipment and also for monitoring all SNMP-capable devices linked to a network....

Customised data acquisition. (What's New in Process Engineering).
November 1, 2002... National Instruments FREE DAQ Designer TM 2002 CD takes users through a step-by-step configurator to select the optimal software and hardware products for their custom data acquisition (DAQ) systems. Users answer questions about their...

PCI launches Clamp range. (What's New in Process Engineering).
November 1, 2002... PCI-Memtech's range of Hygienic Clamp Seals and Fittings are manufactured to the highest standard and utilise seal materials of FDA approved EPDM, Silicone, Viton, PTFE or encapsulated PTFE. Hygienic Clamp Ferrules and blanks are manufactured...

Pigs flying to new levels. (What's New in Process Engineering).
November 1, 2002... Pig clearing of pipework has been used in industry for many years, but it is taken to new levels by IST Pigging Systems in terms of both cleanliness and the range of fittings available. Pig clearing can now be used in all applications from...

Butterflies for powder duties. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... The Mucon division of Kemutec Group has added an extensive range of competitively priced, proven design, butterfly valves to its powder handling products. The 'flagship' models are specifically designed for the pharmaceutical, dairy and food...

Annihilation from grinder. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... The Annihilator is a new low-cost grinder from Robbins & Meyers. It is designed for trouble-free performance in a wide variety of water engineering installations, including sewage lift stations, head works and sludge processing systems. It...

Custom assembly services. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... Weidmuller's customers can now take advantage of the company's expert custom assembly services, these range from kitting and bagging of preselected parts to feed assembly lines, through part rail assemblies to full panels and complete wired-up...

Bench or panel calibration. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... SI Pressure Instruments is now manufacturing a compact standalone benchtop pressure calibrator that can also be configured to fit a standard 19in rack mounting. The PC6-PRO-B is said to be ideal for use in manufacturing and laboratory...

Easy calibration for level units. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... The intelligent Klay Series 2000-Hydrobar S submersible level transmitters from Thermo Nobel are fully temperature compensated and equipped with strong flush diaphragms, which are laser welded to provide perfect long-term stability. Designed...

PED compliant products. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... By conforming to the Pressure Equipment Directive, Sabre Instrument Valves is continuing a rigorous quality control and product safety policy which the company applies across its entire range of double block and bleed valves, instrument valves,...

Monitoring sludge tanks. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... The SB-Chek from MD Instruments is an automatic sludge tank profiler which monitors the SS (mg/I, %) and Blanket Level (m) in various settlement tanks. It has unique autocalibration and checking facilities. MD also manufactures a number of...

Custom fittings for flowmeters. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... Titan Enterprises has developed a flowmeter for the Sterilox chemical sterilisation generator. The panel mounting doubles as the external delivery connection. Than FT2 turbine flowmeters have no metallic parts in contact with the metered fluid,...

Lab-scale extruders. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... A new generation of laboratory-scale twin-screw extruders has been introduced by APV Baker. Features to maximise control, data acquisition and management, and ease of operation have been developed to meet a clear need within the powder coating,...

Solenoids for any application. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... Whatever the application, the S-Series range of solenoid valves from MV Automation Systems is the ideal choice, says UK distributor AC Fluid Technology. There are two diaphragm designs available -- Viton or EPDM. 521 on enquiry card

Making child's play of valves. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... In line with its customised system solution strategy, Burkert Fluid Control Systems has introduced its largest globe valve -- a 4in model the size of a small child. With process connections ranging from orifice DN8 (1/4in) to the new DN100...

Making light of load cell work. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... The innovative LeverMount load cell assembly for process weighing applications is now available through the RS Components catalogue (and online at http://rswww.com). The assembly, manufactured by Thames Side-Maywood, was developed to allow fast...

Serial to Ethernet interfacing. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... The RG2-1TX is a new Rail Gateway product from Hirschmann Electronics that allows most electronic products with a serial interface to be connected to an Ethernet network at low cost. It conforms to all relevant industrial standards and...

Wall-mounting enclosures. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... Available in 15 standard colours and in a wide variety of application-specific versions, the new Spacial 3D product range from Sarel, a brand of Schneider Electric, sets new standards for convenience, ease of use and value for money in steel...

Level switches beat floats. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... Fozmula has introduced a new low cost capacitive liquid level switch. The S45 unit monitors coolant level within radiators giving an alarm signal in the event of any water-based coolant loss. The S46 performs the same functions but in oils or...

Torque limiter for extruders. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... Mayr Transmissions has introduced a low cost torque transducer coupling which measures the extruder head torque on a continuous basis via strain gauges to provide contactless power and data transmission. The device is designed to protect...

Dual-probe meter. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... The Vaisala HM70 is designed for measuring relative humidity and temperature in chambers and other demanding applications where accuracy is important. The hand-held meter comes with a choice of probes for use from -70[degrees]C to...

Manways in many shapes. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... Axium Process can offer a range of stainless steel manways for atmospheric and medium-pressure liquid, powder and grain applications. Manufactured from 316 stainless steel, they are available in rectangular, oval and circular form, with...

Earn while you learn. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... The Department of Chemical & Process Engineering at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow is inviting applications for its BEng Hons degree in chemical engineering by distance learning, which starts in January 2003. The course has been...

Economical image processing. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... The ICS100 Intelligent Camera Sensor from Erwin Sick bridges the gap between standard sensors and complex vision systems. It has many industrial applications including labelling and packaging and offers an economical alternative to PC-based...

Quality general-purpose valves. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... Suitable for the majority of process applications, the V2001 valves from Samson Controls show the company's usual solid quality. They can be delivered in sizes 15, 20, 25, 32, 40 and 50, each with two Kvs values. Available in cast iron or cast...

Move from drives to solutions. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... Unidrive SP from Control Techniques is a true motor processor catering for all motor requirements. Marking the evolution of AC drives from dedicated controllers of speed and torque to fully-fledged 'Solutions Platforms' in their own right, it...

Load cells for process weighing. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... The DGcell range of strain load cells from Sensors UK are available in capacities from 100g to 200tonnes, for both tensile and compressive force or weight measurement. A full range of load cell configurations is available including bean type,...

Solenoids have higher safety. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... A new range of solenoid valves certified to safety level of AK7/SIL 4 from Eugen Seitz is available in the UK through Alpha Controls. The valves have orifice sizes 2 to 12mm with 3/2 and 5/2 functions and pressure ranges from 0 to 8bar. They...

Gate valve wins over rotary. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... A vacuum separator, operating as part of a centralised vacuum conveying system on a municipal incinerator, has been restored to 'better than new' state following the fitting of a double flap gate valve from European Gate Valves. Even after...

Controller is business-card size. (Marketplace).
November 1, 2002... The expandable Telemecanique Twido PLC from Schneider Electric has a footprint the size of a business card and is designed for where space is at a premium. Suitable for applications requiring between 10 and 264 I/O points, the Twido has a...