Canadian PROCESS EQUIPMENT & CONTROL NEWS
For the last few decades, process manufacturers have been dealing with the effects of workforce changes, and there are few signs of relief in the foreseeable future. All that to say, companies have no choice but to find ways to operate with fewer people.
The air-operated double-diaphragm (AODD) pump has been a godsend for operators in the industrial space who need a cost-effective, reliable, and safe pump technology for a wide range of liquid-transfer processes. These processes can include such rough-and-tumble utilitarian applications as those found in the mining, water/wastewater, and oil and gas industries, as well as those hygienic food and beverage, pharmaceutical and cosmetic operations that require a bit more finesse.
A new cannabis processing facility in Southern B.C. needed a pumping solution to move highly viscous cannabis oil throughout their processing equipment. The pump needed to lift the oil with a low flow rate of < 2 l/m and handle the high viscosity and high temperature of 8,000 cSt @ 110°C to 10,000 cSt @ 80°C.
Companies are adapting to the transformation of the chemical manufacturing industry by the digital world. This transformation coincides with challenges either to a specific organization, or the existing technology and resources. Other areas include meeting increasingly demanding standards and practices, challenges that are faced by all companies.
While tools like Internet of Things (IoT), block chain and Industry 4.0 were growing at a strong and steady pace, COVID-19 hit. It was a powerful accelerant for companies who needed to do more with less people and resources. Technology is a solution to worker shortage.
Since shredders are designed for specific material types and sizes, their cost correlates not only with their power but also with the maximum size of material to be shredded. So, when shredding large tires or oversize scrap is necessary, an initial size reduction step with a separate shear system is often the solution.
The competitive and price-sensitive orange juice market demanded that a juice and citrus products producer boost operational efficiency. Due to a recent new contract to produce juice for a major beverage supplier, the producer also had to expand production capacity by adding 40 tanks to an existing plant area.
Calibration is a vital component of process industries, and most process plants have some sort of system in place for managing instrument calibration operations and data. However, the systems and processes can be very different even within the same company across different plants. Methods often differ greatly in terms of cost, quality, efficiency, accuracy of data, and level of automation.
Validation plays a significant role in some of the world’s most critical industries. From life sciences to aerospace and food and beverage, the process ensures that the equipment being used in their respective fields performs within certain parameters.
When the PC-based controls on grease metering and monitoring systems began showing their age, a leading semi-trailer manufacturer knew it was time for a change. Every time the control system failed, the operators would have to get in there with a manual grease gun and flow meter and pump the grease out of a barrel.
