Chemical Processing Distilled

In the chemical industry, understanding the health of rotating equipment is crucial for safety and productivity. Regular inspections, compliance with regulations and proactive maintenance are vital for equipment reliability. Ares Panagoulias, the director of condition monitoring and test lab at Hydro Inc., emphasizes the importance of data in assessing equipment health. He advises using remote mon...

In this episode, Traci and Dave discuss the importance of reducing emergency procedures in chemical processing for better operator training and performance. They explore the benefits of streamlining procedures, emphasizing that about 90% of emergency steps are common across various situations. Dave advocates for simplified, condition-based procedures to enhance operator response during high-stress...

Helping operators learn from past incidents and use pattern recognition to make better decisions faster will improve safety and efficiency.

SICK AG's David Inward on Chemical Industry Emissions Monitoring 

In this podcast episode, Dave Strobhar discusses an innovative approach to calculating operator needs and the impact of automation on staffing in the process industry. He emphasizes the importance of assessing the consequences of tasks not being performed rather than just counting tasks. Special conditions and cross-training are also explored as factors influencing operator requirements.

Chemical Processing Notebook is a new column and associated podcast presenting talking points from various industry experts on a wide range of topics. This first CP Notebook column focuses on the impact PFAS regulations are having on the supply chain, from the upstream chemical producers to the downstream manufacturers using per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their products.

In this episode, we're tackling the misconceptions around alarm targets and operator workload. Dave Strobhar debunks the myth that hitting a specific alarm target means operators are maxed out. He emphasizes that these targets are tools to assess alarm systems, not workload indicators.

In the evolving world of chemical processing, companies face a formidable challenge as they strive to keep pace with ever-evolving industry demands, develop novel formulations and deliver innovative products to market. Meeting customer needs often requires adjustments to production processes, including new plants, facility expansions and equipment upgrades. The successful execution of such project...

The physical properties of hydrogen differ highly from other gases. Plant operators are therefore faced with major challenges due to the necessary adaptations that need to be made. To help us understand the challenges and options available, Chemical Processing spoke with Frank Flow, head of analyzer products and chemical industry at Flexim Americas Corporation.

In this podcast episode, Traci and Dave discuss a study that shows advanced process control (APC) can lead to a degradation of operator skills. The study found that after just a week of using APC, there was a 10% loss in skill level, and after two weeks, there was a 50% loss. The data suggests that operators should periodically run the plant without APC to maintain their skills. The Center for Ope...

Analytical equipment needs to be robust, reliable and responsive in order to detect change and enable corrective action. It also should be easy to use and provide high uptime. When considering process organics monitoring, there’s a lot to unpack. To help make sense of all the capabilities, Chemical Processing spoke with Amanda Tyndall, senior product manager at Veolia Water Technologies and Soluti...

Keeping workers safe in hazardous environments requires constant communication. Add to the equation that many locations are also harsh industrial settings means ensuring the right communication equipment is appropriately rated while providing the needed functionality is paramount. To better understand how to select the right equipment, Chemical Processing spoke with Ryan Brownlee, product manager...

In this final episode of our three-part cybersecurity series with Matt Malone, ICS/OT cybersecurity consultant at Yokogawa, we talk about team strategy and old notions.  

Malware programs or endpoint protection programs are great tools. But in the same way that if you're a king sending an army out to battle, you're not going to have your soldiers storming the battlefield in a helmet and their underwear.

Part one of a three-part series aimed at helping you develop a sound cybersecurity plan focuses on assessments and training.

In this episode, we're going to try and get our arms around understanding and addressing risks and how proper equipment and training are key for safe operation in hazardous areas. Joining me to share his expertise is Ryan Brownlee, Global Compliance and Technology Consultant with Pepperl+Fuchs. In that role, he provides guidance in regard to current and new technology and product compliance trends...

In this episode of Solution Spotlight Traci Purdum, executive editor of Chemical Processing, speaks with Floyd Baker, vice president of Antea, a global software and services company specializing in asset integrity management software with digital twin.  Floyd has been working in the asset integrity management industry for his entire career of over 40 years, with half of that time spent on the owne...

No longer a warm-fuzzy concept, sustainability is increasingly becoming as good for the bottom line as it is for the environment. To explain how AI-driven solutions that target machine and process health can help with strategy and results, Chemical Processing spoke with James Newman, head of product and portfolio marketing with Augury, a production health solutions provider that combines advanced...

For corrosion-resistant heat-transfer materials in harsh and high-temperature processes, there are additional requirements to consider. To help explain existing and emerging technologies to meet specific process and plant conditions, Chemical Processing spoke with Gregory C. Becherer, senior vice president of Twinsburg, Ohio-based CG Thermal.

Safety, accuracy and reliability are paramount in the development and testing of fine and specialty chemicals. Add to that the need for regulatory compliance, and it becomes clear that proper tools are needed. To understand how lab instruments can complement the process, Chemical Processing spoke with Mitesh Chhana, Regional Business Manager Lab Weighing, EMEA, at Sartorius, a provider of instrume...

When it comes to machine maintenance, digital tools promise a lot — from improving safety, meeting production targets and eliminating unplanned downtime to filling skill gaps and regulating supply-chain issues. But simply alerting users to machine malfunctions isn't enough to transform your business. To gain insight, Chemical Processing spoke with Tim Sykes, heavy industry machine health lead at A...

Supply-chain issues, global competition and the need to deliver high-quality products are challenges facing many chemicals manufacturers today. To meet these challenges, you must keep track of inventory, improve operations, make better products and drive smart, sustainable growth. It’s a tall order but the right tools will help.

Utilizing maintenance data to make key business decisions results in improved equipment reliability, optimized costs, improved safety, and environmental impacts. However, there are many challenges due to a lack of know-how, resources, and data quality issues. To understand and mitigate those challenges, Chemical Processing spoke with Manjish Naik, Product Manager at GE Digital.

Efficient conveying solutions that protect workers from hazardous dust, fumes and odors.

Grabbing samples of hazardous chemicals in liquid and gas states is challenging but necessary. Manufacturers rely on quality samples to ensure products specs and operators rely on this equipment to help them grab those samples. But not all sampling platforms are the same.