Separators are almost always present wherever there are oil and gas production facilities because, depending on the nature of the reservoir, oil, gas and water will be present in varying proportions. [ + ]

Process control and automation technologies are increasingly under threat from sophisticated and well-funded criminal groups. Many of these groups use sophisticated techniques to disrupt or sabotage an organisation's operations. [ + ]

Existing clean-in-place (CIP) processes are time intensive and waste large amounts of energy, water and chemicals. In Part 1 of this article the risks and costs associated with inefficient CIP processes were discussed, but new innovations in CIP technology can now allow plant operators to cut costs in an environmentally friendly manner while still conforming to regulatory safety standards. [ + ]

Poor alarm management can lead to serious consequences in process plants. The integrity and effectiveness of alarm management can be crucial in either assisting the operator by indicating abnormal situations quickly and simply, or otherwise by distracting, confusing or failing to notify the operator of abnormal situations. [ + ]

Over the past few years there have been many challenges to our industry - the merging of trades through multiskilling, the emergence of the internet and the reduction in jobs as companies have sought to become more competitive in a shrinking world market. [ + ]

In Europe, safety, efficiency and compliance with European regulations are major criteria in critical applications such as burner management systems. For this reason, one refinery decided to invest in new fuel gas lines and safety systems for its heaters and furnaces to make the units safer and more efficient. [ + ]

Emerson has helped an LPG terminal in Mexico to implement terminal automation with safety and fire systems, in just one week, including an integral control system, 100% monitoring of the operations and compliance to all international environmental and safety requirements. [ + ]

Maltra Foods, one of the largest contract blenders, needed an automatic, centralised printing system for its seven production lines to ensure detailed information and delivery accuracy for customers on its continually expanding SKUs. [ + ]

Cybersecurity scenarios that once seemed fantastic are now a part of history. [ + ]

Every error detected too late costs money. At BMW in Munich, defective wheel housings were previously only recognised at the out feed of the press line. With the help of SICK, BMW now checks every component for cracks after the first drawing process in the lead press. [ + ]

Over the next seven years the industrial operational workforce is predicted to undergo a number of key changes, including a 40% reduction in operational experts. [ + ]

George Weston Foods' production facility in Castlemaine, Victoria, palletises 9000 cartons/h using 16 ABB robots serving 32 pallet stations. [ + ]

Clean-in-place (CIP) processes are often intensive and waste large amounts of energy, water and chemicals. New innovations in CIP technology allow plant operators to cut costs in an environmentally friendly manner while still conforming to regulatory safety standards. [ + ]

Vision systems are a primary consideration for any manufacturer who is looking to improve quality or automate production, but choosing systems that match your application and ownership requirements can be confusing. [ + ]

Objects around you are increasingly being embedded with a myriad of sensors and actuators - from your roadway, to your body, to industrial processes. Kevin Ashton (from Proctor & Gamble) used the term ‘internet of things’ to refer to everyday objects autonomously communicating with each other. [ + ]