Process Engineering articles from October 2002

Process Engineering archives from October 2002

MSP Network for motor servicing. (News).
October 1, 2002... ABB's Motor Services Partner group has formed a new company, MSP Network, which will handle motor servicing for companies with multiple sites. This will give these companies a single point of contact, rather than requiring them to deal with...

Companies settle asbestos case. (News).
October 1, 2002... Over 200 companies, including Honeywell, have chosen to settle an asbestos lawsuit in the US before it came to trial. The suit, which involved over 8000 claimants, was to be heard in West Virginia, and could have led to the companies paying...

Sandvik merges UK operations. (News).
October 1, 2002... Sandvik Steel is to merge its UK sales unit with RGB Stainless, a distributor of stainless steel and speciality alloy pipes and fittings. RGB has been run as an independent business, but Sandvik feels the merger will give it a stronger presence...

ICI sells catalyst wing: Johnson Matthey buys 'non-core' Synetix division to increase its product range and capture markets in plastics and pharmaceuticals. (News).
October 1, 2002... ICI has agreed to sell one of its few remaining operations connected with heavy chemicals, its catalysts subsidiary Synetix, to Johnson Matthey for [pounds]26Omillion. The proceeds from the sale will be used to reduce ICPs debt. Synetix...

BP's OATS process wins European acclaim. (News).
October 1, 2002... BP's novel catalytic process OATS was one of three winners in the process' category of this year's European Environment Awards, announced in Budapest recently. OATS takes sulphur out of naphtha from fluid catalytic cracking, while leaving...

Elementis buys Occidental's chromium. (News).
October 1, 2002... Speciality chemicals firm Elementis has bought Occidental Chemical's chromium business for $46million, and believes that the deal will net in $10million per year in cost savings. Elementis, whose chromium operations are headquartered at...

Equipment sales setback. (News).
October 1, 2002... The contraction of the basic chemicals segment of the chemical industry is beginning to effect process industry suppliers, according to market researchers at the Mcllvaine Company. Sales of pumps, valves, filters, centrifuges, dust collectors...

Refinancing keeps it all in the family at Huntsman. (News).
October 1, 2002... Huntsman, the family-owned chemical major which owns many of ICI's former industrial chemicals operations in the UK, has completed a financial restructuring which slashes the company's debt mountain and maintains the Utahbased Huntsman family's...

Metering deal for Emerson. (News).
October 1, 2002... Emerson Process Management has landed an [pounds sterling]8million contract to supply oil and gas metering services to Conoco. The oil company has signed up Metco Services, an Emerson subsidiary, to supply the equipment to its Southern North...

Croda sheds solvents arm. (News).
October 1, 2002... Croda International has sold its Distillates solvent recycling, fractionation and distillation operation to solvent recovery specialist SRM for an undisclosed sum. SRM will take over operation of Croda's plant in Knottingley, West Yorkshire,...

Tyco wins sweet valves contract. (News).
October 1, 2002... Tyco Valves and Controls has been named as a preferred supplier for Danisco Sugar Northern Europe's largest sugar producer. The Danish company processes more than 1.2million tpa of beet sugar at refineries in Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Germany...

Proteomics wins Nobel Prize. (News).
October 1, 2002... The Nobel Prize for chemistry has been awarded to the inventors of proteomics, the study of how proteins interact with substances inside living cells. The prize is shared between John Fenn, of the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond,...

One-stop for pumps and mixers. (News).
October 1, 2002... Mixing specialist Chemineer has formed an alliance with pump maker Robbins and Myers which will allow water companies to purchase mixers, agitators and pumps from a single source.

CIA and trades unions join forces. (News).
October 1, 2002... The Chemical Industries Association has formally joined forces with the trades unions representing industry workers to oppose the inclusion of intermediates m the European Union's chemical policy White Paper. The GMB, T&G, AEEU, MSF and USDAW...

Shell and BASF open Singapore SM/PO plant. (News).
October 1, 2002... Shell and BASF have opened the largest styrene monomer/propylene oxide (SM/PO) in Asia, the Ellba Eastern plant in Singapore, shown right. Producing 550 OOOtp of SM and 250 000tpa of P0, the plant cost over $500million, and took over 15million...

UK and International Plant Cost indices. (News).
October 1, 2002... As of last month, the format of Process Engineering's PREDICT plant cost indices has changed. Full details of these changes were given in last month's issue (PE, September 2002, p11). The main composite UK index is shown as C in the table...

Electricity industry starts powering down for winter. (Comment).
October 1, 2002... They weren't to know of course, but it was rather ironic this month that Action Energy--the government backed initiative to promote energy efficiency measures--should publicise the start of its 'Energy Efficiency Week' on the very day that US...

Events.
October 1, 2002... 17 October Disinfection Measurement and Control is the subject of this meeting of the Sensors for Water Interest Group (SWIG). The workshop is designed to include many aspects of the subject including developments in measurement...

Look in glass. (Research & Technology).
October 1, 2002... One of the first lessons in any school science course will tell you that solids have a organised structure, but liquids are amorphous and disorganised, with molecules free to move anywhere within the bulk of the material. Not so, says James...

Home and dry for Anhydro. (Research & Technology).
October 1, 2002... Invensys subsidiary Anhydro is to invest some $4million in a new centre for research and development of drying technologies. To be located at the company's headquarters in Soeburg, near Copenhagen, the centre will focus particularly on...

Organic 'zeolite' theory holds water. (Research & Technology).
October 1, 2002... Zeolites are most familiar to industrial chemists and process engineers as catalysts, both in their own right and as a support material for catalytic substances. The material also has uses as a molecular sieve, however -- and researchers from...

Cutting the costs of catalysts. (Research & Technology).
October 1, 2002... Catalytic substances are vital for the chemical industry -- many, if not most, industrial reactions could not proceed without them; moreover, they help to maximise yields of useful products. But a major headache for the industry is that the...

A 'flexible friend' helps out Eastman. (Equipment in Action).
October 1, 2002... Needing a flexible containment solution to cope with its varied demands in reactor charging operations at its Peboc Division on Anglesey, custom and fine chemical producer Eastman found a flexible friend' in Hosokawa Vitalair. A...

Snow all year round in Milton Keynes. (Equipment in Action).
October 1, 2002... Once famous for its concrete cows and magic roundabouts, Milton Keynes now has another claim to fame. The town's indoor skiing and snowboarding centre, the MK Snozone, gives the opportunity to indulge in winter sports all year round--complete...

Bespoke bag handling fills the bill. (Equipment in Action).
October 1, 2002... When it wanted to replace its existing in-house 'big bag' system, PVC products manufacturer Marshall Tufflex set Stewardson Powder Handling some very specific requirements. The existing system was not coping with the increased throughput of PVC...

Ten million, not out. (Equipment in Action).
October 1, 2002... When first installed at a fine chemicals manufacturing plant in Middlesbrough in 1997, a series of seven Worcester Controls ball valves and Norbro actuators was given a target of achieving one million uninterrupted cycles. Now, five years and...

Partnership seals reactor repair. (Equipment in Action).
October 1, 2002... An alliance agreement between Nash Mechanical Seal Services and Chemical Reactor Services has solved a problem that a Yorkshire-based chemical company had on a Pfaudler glass-lined reactor. A VS40 mechanical seal fitted to the 13500 litre...

Flotronic 'tops' it off! (Advertisement Feature).
October 1, 2002... When Hazlewood Pizza were planning their new pizza factory at Deeside, they turned to Flotronic Pumps to handle their range of tomato toppings and as a result have now installed five Slimline Ultraclean pumps as part of the new plant. Part...

Faster, safer and greater flexibility with 'one-nut' pump. (Advertisement Feature).
October 1, 2002... Akzo Nobel UV Resins needed to improve their tanker unloading of Acrylic Acid. Having used Flotronic Pumps for many years throughout their site they asked FPL for help. The solution was a HiFlo 710 Series pump, complete with Rupture Protection...

Flotronic puts the 'double' into double diaphragm pumps. (Advertisement Feature).
October 1, 2002... Leading Air Operated Double Diaphragm pump company, Flotronic Pumps Ltd, achieve the 'double' with their Slimline Ultraclean Pump! Following their success in 2001, winning the prestigious Food Hygiene Award, they have now added the coveted...

Composites tackling tank repair. (Materials of Construction).
October 1, 2002... Resin composite-based techniques for repairing storage tanks and vessels are proving to be a cheaper and less disruptive alternative to welding, says Jim Cuthill from the FD Alliance Tank and vessel repair has traditionally relied on...

Keeping up the pressure: The Pressure Equipment Directive is now part of UK law, but it may still hold some unexpected pitfalls for unwary plant operators. Mark Niblett of ABB explains how to avoid them. (Pressure Equipment).
October 1, 2002... By now, anybody working regularly with pressure equipment is able, at the drop of a hard-hat, to offer chapter and verse on the implications of the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED). But very few of us would risk claiming expertise in this...

Axium Process -- A new force in customised fabrications. (Advertorial).
October 1, 2002... Newly formed Axium Process Ltd is starting life with over 100 man years of engineering experience in the supply and manufacture of high quality customised stainless steel components and fabrication. Axium Process provides a comprehensive...

Move with the times: dinosaur-like? Heel-dragging? How can the engineering industry be so reliant on constant innovation -- and at the same time so undynamic? Neil McPhater or AVEVA Consulting explains. (IT Strategy).
October 1, 2002... In a recent survey by AVEVA Consulting, almost half of respondents described the adoption of Internet technology by engineering companies in the process industry sector as 'dinosaur-like'. Digital technology, particularly the Internet, is a...

Managing information: Italian engineering contractor Snamprogetti has adopted a new document management strategy. Project manager Guido Enrico Cerrai outlines the benefits. (Document Management).
October 1, 2002... Addressing project information management and collaborative engineering.., improving integration in engineering processes... meeting clients' recurring requirements for a commercial engineering document management system--these were the main...

Scanning for safety: using 3D visualisation techniques, Transco is ensuring the highest standards of safety on all its sites. Glenn Halton explains how. (Plant Surveys).
October 1, 2002... Safety is Transco's top priority. On average, the company spends more than [pounds sterling]million a year in updating and maintaining safety on the UK's gas distribution network. Part of the funding is spent on educating employees and...

"Ultrasound" flowmeter EExcels in hazardous areas. (Advertorial).
October 1, 2002... The new KATflow 160 ultrasonic flowmeter from Katronic Technologies has proved popular for applications in hazardous areas throughout Europe. The innovative KATflow 160 is a purpose-built ATEX Zone 1 and 2 certified clamp-on ultrasonic...

Coriolis flowmetering comes of age. (Mass Flowmeters).
October 1, 2002... Despite their direct mass-reading capabilities, Coriolis flowmeters have long had their own particular drawbacks. But a new family of mass flowmeters is now set to sweep away those previous limitations. When the first Coriolis mass...

National on-site calibration service. (Field Calibration).
October 1, 2002... A national on-site calibration service launched by Dowding & Mills is aimed at greatly reducing downtime and increasing efficiency for those companies unable to move equipment such as ovens, environmental chambers, panels and gauges from the...

High pressure portable calibration. (Field Calibration).
October 1, 2002... The DPI 320/325 series of compact and rugged portable calibrators from GE Druck allow quick, dry pneumatic calibration of field instrumentation in situ, up to 200bar. Fully self-contained the calibrators feature an integral bottle...

Cleaning and calibration. (Field Calibration).
October 1, 2002... Mettler Toledo has launched a new modular system for cleaning and calibrating process sensors. EasyClean can monitor and control the automatic cleaning of process sensors and is a completely autonomous unit when used with retractable...

Two-in-one meter for the professional. (Field Calibration).
October 1, 2002... A new professional test tool from is said to provide a cost saving by combining two tools frequently used by process technicians who are responsible for the calibration and maintenance of process instrumentation. The 789 calibrator...

Mag meter checking. (Field Calibration).
October 1, 2002... A fully portable in situ calibration verification system for electromagnetic flowmeters has been introduced by Krohne. The Magoheck unit performs a complete functionality check on flow heads, signal converters and cables, capturing data for...

Small is beautiful. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... When the space for mounting sensors is at a premium, IFM Electronic can provide a complete and cost-effective solution. Its new range of miniature inductive proximity switches includes sensors in M8 cylindrical housings, and slot-in sensors for...

Alarmingly effective. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... ES-1, the new wide area electronic siren from Klaxon, has been designed to provide electronic warning over large distances, with the advantage of battery back-up. With a wide choice of signals, it is particularly suited for critical alarms such...

AC Fluid launches gas burner valve. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... The 'Gas-Valve' range of solenoid valves, manufactured by German company MV Automation, has been launched by AC Fluid Technology. Carrying CE approval (DIN EN 161) gas appliance directive for use with natural gas, these 2/2 way solenoid valves...

Low-cost continuous sensor. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Users of small industrial boilers need no longer be faced with the economic constraints of applying continuous on-line monitoring techniques for optimising energy efficiency, following the launch of ABB's [Analyze.sup.IT] AZ100 zirconica oxygen...

Wolf torches shed light, safely. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... The new Wolf ATEX safety torch range for use in explosive gas and dust atmospheres represents the ultimate combination of performance and safety. The T4 temperature class models, approved for use with long life halogen or xenon bulbs, offer up...

Reduce cost, maintain quality. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Renowned for its robust centrifuges, filters and dryers, Krauss Maffei is now offering a range of second-hand equipment at prices substantially lower than for new equipment. All second-hand machines are completely stripped down and checked,...

Vaisala showcases sensor range. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... The new catalogue and 'how to choose' guide from Vaisala lists the company's range of products for measuring relative humidity, dewpoint, carbon dioxide and ammonia gas and barometric pressure. New products include the HMT320 series of...

Lobe pumps for water. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Netzsch Pumps has launched a comprehensive range of Tornado industrial rotary lobe pumps for industrial applications in the environmental and water services industry. Designed primarily for treating municipal and industrial sewage, the pumps'...

The acid test. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... George Fischer's polypropylene and polyvinyliden fluoride piping, actuated valves and manual valves have been used to construct three automated acid batch mixing plants for LG Philips Displays. The plants supply, monitor and control the highly...

Totalisers run for five years. (Marketplace).
October 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...

Access control from Mistura. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Trapped key interlocks from Mistura Systems are ensuring worker safety on automated production lines at Albon Engineering. Access to each line's machines and robots is controlled by Mistura's tamper-proof interlock systems. 511 on enquiry...

Remote weighing. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Thames S de Maywood has become the worldwide distributor of the MobilEyes monitoring services for vessel weighing applications. MobilEyes uses patented wireless GSM technology to enable remote monitoring of all linked vessels with any Internet...

All-day drive hire from SDS. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Slater Drive Systems has launched a Drive for Hire' service, providing drives up to 500kW which can be delivered on site within a day. Available nationwide, the service is ideal for providing a replacement drive in the event of a breakdown. SDS...

Tribar measures mass flow. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... The Tribar is an automated flow meter developed by Torbar Flowmeters. It combines a rugged averaging pitot tube insertion flow meter with a three-way valve manifold and an industry standard programme differential pressure transmitter....

Enhanced features from dataTaker. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Engineers at dataTaker have enhanced some of the standard features on their existing range of data acquisition systems. Including 13 500 extra data points, improved memory retention, replaceable lithium batteries and SRAM PC card memory support...

IFM expands sensor range. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... IFM Electronic is now offering a comprehensive family of sensors that covers virtually any fluid monitoring requirement. The FM range now includes pressure and flow sensors with dual digital outputs; analogue output sensors, and a full range of...

Servomex lands order. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Modbus digital communications are now available on Servomex Group's successful 2200 oxygen analyser. Servomex recently announced its largest ever single order, when Lyondell Chemie Nederland, based in Rotterdam, bought 48 2200 paramagnetic...

NiMH batteries improve pumps. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... The Gilian 3500 air sampling pump from Quantitech of Milton Keynes, provides significant improvements to sampling reliability and ease of use. Gilian is the only pump supplier to use nickel metal hydride batteries, which eliminate premature...

Fewer pipes for mass flow meters. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Digital interfaces are now available for the EL-FLOW range of thermal mass flow meters from Bronkhorst. These compact instruments are available for single stream or multi stream gas flow control In assemblies that minimise gas panels and...

Keeping a lid on pressure. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Flow control specialist Bio-Chem Valve has produced a range of inert high pressure miniature isolation valves. Customised from standard designs, they can be used for critical flow applications up to 37.92bar, replacing pressure regulation...

Safer sampling. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Powder Systems has developed an innovative solution to the challenges of sampling hazardous and potent materials. The PSL Universal Sampler improves operator safety and product protection, achieving OELs of 1 [micro]g/[m.sup.3]. It can be used...

Spring is in the air for Instron. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Instron, a provider of testing equipment designed to evaluate mechanical properties of materials and components, is launching a family of user-friendly motor-driven spring testing machines. These perform setting and testing on tension and...

Multi-feature metering package. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Fluke has combined its top-of-the-range handheld 189 digital multimeter, the powerful Fluke View Forms software for analysing and reporting measurements, a ToolPak meter hanging solution and a soft carry case into a new money-saving package,...

Intelligent inspection. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... The RECON digital inspection system from Everest VIT is the first zero set-up, rugged and intelligent system for power generation, chemicals, food and beverage, gas transmission, petrochemical, pulp and paper and refining and production. It...

Pigs flying to new levels. (Marketplace).
October 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...

No glasses in new Javelin. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Ircon has introduced a plastic lens for its Javelin infra-red thermometer, for use in manufacturing processes where the presence of glass is prohibited. This enables the stainless steel bodied Javelin to provide accurate non-contact temperature...

Scout's honour for gas monitor. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... The new Scott Scout is much more than a multi-gas monitor, Its features include intelligent sensors, the latest lithium ion or standard dry cell battery, data logging and 'in-the-field' installed pump options, and its ergonomic body profile is...

Keeping mines water-free. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Sterling SPP has supplied several Autoprime highhead HH150 and XF200 pumps to Celtic Energy for removing surface water that collects at the lowest points in its surface coal mines situated in South Wales. The pumps clear the mines of water...

Mono cuts pump prices. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Further improvements to its manufacturing processes are helping Mono Pumps to pass on savings direct to customers, with the Hygienic S range pumps now available at their lowest ever price. 541 on enquiry card

New pH sensors are hot stuff. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Foxboro, a unit of Invensys Production Management, has introduced a family of pH sensors designed to improve operation in traditional problem areas within harsh process applications. The new Dolphin sensor line incorporates patent pending...

Avery launches ATEX range. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Avery Berkel has launched a comprehensive range of ATEX-approved weighing equipment, to offer a legally compliant solution to companies required to upgrade their hazardous area systems. Avery Berkels ATEX-approved high performance weighing...

Layton cracks US cleaning market. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Layton Technologies, the Staffordshire-based designer and manufacturer of industrial cleaning solutions, beat off competition from US firms to supply America's leading communication, defence and space technology organisation, EDO Corporation,...

Quiet jet mills require less energy. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Netzsch Condux Jet Mills are taking the place of spiral mills, unidirectional jet mills and wet grinding systems, the company says. This is because they require less energy and have a more favourable price to performance ratio. The machine also...

PCI launches clamp range. (Marketplace).
October 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...

Wonderware's servers. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Wonderware has launched a next-generation device integration software product family called DAServer. The first product in the family is the Allen Bradley Control Information (ABCIP) data access server. The ABCIP server provides...

Burners gain ECA approval. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Nu-way's Series X range of advanced gas burners, which has been approved for the Enhanced Capital Allowance, has been developed to meet current European standards. The Series X has a number of benefits including microprocessor-based control and...

Two-phase flow is no problem. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... The Foxboro CFT50 Coriolis mass flow transmitter allows flow meters to continue operating during two-phase flow. The transmitter is capable of performing in batch applications starting with empty flow tube conditions. 551 enquiry card

ATEX-complaint switch range. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Leading pressure safety systems provider Elfab has enhanced its Flo-Tel switch range to meet the European ATEX directive 100A. Using the intrinsic safety method of protection, the Intregral Flow-Tel has been awarded the highest level of...

More consistent Crocodile food. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Westfalia Separator has launched its new baby Crocodile decanter, the AD0103, for applications requiring a throughput of 1000 to 3000litres/hour. Its most significant feature is its use of the patented two-gear drive system, ideal in...

Customised data acquisition. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... National Instruments FREE DAQ DesignerTM 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...

New md at DMN. (Marketplace).
October 1, 2002... Marcel de Vlieger has been appointed recently as a managing director of DMN-Westinghouse, based in the Netherlands. He will be responsible for the worldwide activities regarding sales, marketing, R&D and production. He will also be responsible...