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 and hazardous locations expert at Pepperl+Fuchs.
May 07, 2023•14 min•Ep. 28
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.
Oct 26, 2022•16 min•Ep. 27
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.
Oct 19, 2022•12 min•Ep. 26
Part one of a three-part series aimed at helping you develop a sound cybersecurity plan focuses on assessments and training.
Oct 10, 2022•21 min•Ep. 25
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 for industrial automation applications, especially for those targeting hazardous or classified area...
Oct 03, 2022•24 min•Ep. 24
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 owner user side and the other half on services and technology.
Sep 08, 2022•23 min•Ep. 23
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 sensors with AI capabilities and human expertise.
Aug 25, 2022•33 min•Ep. 22
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.
Jul 22, 2022•37 min•Ep. 21
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 instruments and services for the biopharmaceutical, chemical and food industries.
May 26, 2022•18 min•Ep. 20
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 Augury, a machine health solutions provider that combines advanced sensors with AI capabilities and h...
Mar 23, 2022•16 min•Ep. 19
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.
Feb 17, 2022•22 min•Ep. 18
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.
Dec 31, 2021•27 min•Ep. 17
Efficient conveying solutions that protect workers from hazardous dust, fumes and odors.
Nov 30, 2021•11 min•Ep. 16
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.
Oct 25, 2021•16 min•Ep. 15
Solution promises to reduce sensor maintenance, improve process performance, and ensure a safe work environment in the chlor-alkali industry.
Oct 21, 2021•14 min•Ep. 14
While liquid tank level is one of the basic measurements used in process plants, its importance cannot be overstated. Incorrect high level measurements can cause vessels to overflow leading to lost product, a safety hazard or an environmental problem. Incorrect low level measurements can burn out pumps and can cause problems with inventory control. Enter differential pressure level measurement, which infers liquid level in a vessel by measuring the pressure generated at the bottom of the vessel....
Aug 04, 2021•16 min•Ep. 13
The use of surrogate testing is a valuable tool in ensuring that contained dust collectors are meeting several requirements including environmental, employee health and safety and production cleanliness and efficiency. Traci Purdum, executive digital editor of Chemical Processing, spoke with David Steil, pharmaceutical market manager at Camfil Air Pollution Control, to better understand surrogate testing. David has a Bachelor of Science degree in safety and industrial hygiene. He spent more than...
Jul 13, 2021•26 min•Ep. 12
Pardon the pun, but check valves are fairly straight forward -- they ensure flow in only one direction. In most designs, the upstream fluid force pushes a spring-loaded poppet open, allowing flow. An increase in downstream or back-pressure force drives the poppet back into the seat, stopping reverse flow. But their simplicity shouldn’t be taken for granted. Chemical Processing spoke with Brian Strait, Business Development and Marketing Manager at Check-All Valve Mfg. Co., and learned that not al...
Dec 02, 2020•9 min•Ep. 11
One of the most commonly used compounds in the chemical industry is water – not only as a solvent in processing, but also as an energy carrier in the cooling or heating cycle. Monitoring water quality can predict performance and protect equipment. Chemical Processing spoke with Amanda Scott, product management leader for the Sievers* product line at SUEZ --Water Technologies & Solutions, we discovered how implementing critical control points, such as total organic carbon (TOC) analyzers for ...
Sep 17, 2020•28 min•Ep. 10
Many chemical companies are striving to improve the reliability of vacuum systems, lower total cost of ownership and meet regulatory requirements for emissions standards and noise reduction. To address these demands as well as specific vacuum technology problems, vendors are responding with novel applications of established equipment as well as new technologies. Enter dry vacuum pumps. Chemical Processing chatted with Busch Vacuum Solutions ’ Jason Stiel, Ph.D., chemical and pharmaceutical sales...
Jul 23, 2020•30 min•Ep. 9
What are human factors? Dave Strobhar -- founder and principal-human-factors engineer for Beville Engineering – defines human factors and offers sound advice going forward.
Jul 30, 2019•5 min•Season 1Ep. 8
In this Minute Clinic, we tackle font size requirements in regard to alarm management.
Jul 25, 2019•6 min•Season 1Ep. 7
This Minute Clinic episode offers straight-forward solutions to help operators make better decisions.
Jul 25, 2019•9 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Diagrams and line labeling could save thousands of dollars when it comes to operator performance.
Jul 25, 2019•6 min•Season 1Ep. 5
In this Minute Clinic, we learn how to calculate total operators required to cover a post position.
Jul 24, 2019•4 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Many companies use targets to drive design and that can lead to negative consequences.
Jul 24, 2019•9 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In today’s Minute Clinic, we learn about alarm redundancy without alarm duplication.
Jul 24, 2019•5 min•Season 1Ep. 2
