The Growth Trajectory of Industrial Agitators

With the demand growing for agitators from the chemical industry, the industrial agitators market has witnessed a growth spurt. This apart, with technology taking massive strides, there has been an increase in the acceptance and use of industrial agitators. This has accelerated the growth of the industrial agitators sector.

However, it should be noted that the main restraining factor for the industrial agitators’ market growth is the cost of maintenance and installation.

The space for top-mounted agitators may witness a growth spurt in the coming years. The fact that top-mounted agitators are used in pressurised and atmospheric tanks in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food and beverages sectors, among others, there could be a spike in traction in the market.

Also, installing top-mounted agitators is comparatively easier as compared to bottom-mounted and side-mounted agitators. read more..

Why Pet Packging Is The New Rage

PET bottles have been around for many years now, in fact it has been manufactured for close to 42 years, globally. It should be noted that lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury and arsenic are not required when manufacturing PET bottles or resin. Since these are not used, the packaging is a safer alternative.

Also, PET does not contain phthalates of any kind. It should also be noted that colorants used in pharma PET bottles are FDA-compliant. Therefore, PET conforms to a number of regulations on colorants for food contact materials.

If a comparison is made between PET and pharma glass bottles, then PET is the more environment-friendly one. PET is devoid of hazardous substances. Also, no leachants cross the permissable limits. In addition, Lead (Pb) leaches out less from PET bottles as opposed to glass variants. read more

Providing Protection against Corrosion

Why is there a need for corrosion-resistant coating? It helps protect metal against degradation that results due to moisture, oxidation, salt spray or exposure to industrial or environmental chemicals. Corrosion-resistant coating provides additional protection to metal surfaces and prohibits contact corrosive materials and chemical compounds.

What are some of the benefits?

Corrosion-resistant coatings serve a purpose as they ensure metal components last longer than the time span they are given. Considering metal component operate in harsh applications, these corrosion-resistant coatings provide like no other. including Some of these coatings are made from the unique fluoropolymer coating which acts as a protection against extreme chemical applications for a long time, thereby ensuring proper functioning for a long period of time.Some of the corrosion-resistant coatings available include corrosion resistant steel coatings, that helps match the performance requirements of an application.

Global demand

Corrosion and its various forms costs the global economy $3 trillion per year. The present world market size corrosion-resistant coatings has crossed the $12 billion mark. With an increasing demand for mining and energy resources, the market growth is expected to be around 4.5% per annum.

Also, there has been a growth in nanocoatings owing to their ability to provide chemical and abrasion resistance with excellent adhesion, while also meeting regulatory requirements. Some of the main growth markets include water filtration and treatment, wind turbine coatings and oil and gas pipeline coatings.

It should also be noted that there is a burgeoning market for budget-friendly non-epoxy-based corrosion-resistant coatings. These coating are in demand because they provide protection against temperature swings, road salt and acid. Therefore, metals that come in contact with this kind of corrosive materials could do with some added coating.

Australia’s vanadium project breaks new ground

Australian Vanadium (AVL) has been successful in producing its first batch of vanadium electrolyte from its commissioned pilot plant at the University of Western Australia.This is another milestone for AVL’s energy storage plan as the product has the potential to be used in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRBs). What are VRBs? They are energy storage devices that have been designed to store energy generatedfrom renewable sources.

However, the company does not plan on stopping there. The proposal for a larger plant will be studied to assess its feasibility. The company plans to deliver vanadium products like batteries to end users, while also supplying and processing raw materials from the Gabanintha vanadium project in Western Australia.

The journey

The company has been using the pilot plant to test and verify the manufacture of vanadium electrolyte products that are deemed suitable for third party VRB. The company plans to supply vanadium electrolyte to VRBs that are being sold in Australia, New Zealand, and other Pacific and Asian countries.

However, ASL has also been approached by European battery manufacturers who seek electrolyte supplies for the long term. A number of additional vanadium electrolyte batches will be analysed and produced over time. Before that step, the company intends to gather information from the testing, which includes reviews by vanadium battery manufacturers and researchers.

By successfully installing the pilot plant, the company has taken a leap in the right direction as far as its strategy is concerned to become a player in the vanadium market. The development of a commercial plant in Australia is in sync with the company’s strategy to involve investors in the energy storage value chain, while also providing cash flow opportunities.

Pilot Plant to Drive Ox-Combustion Carbon Capture

In a bid to push forward the commercialisation of a first-of-its-kind carbon capture technology, a thermal facility will test a way to capture CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants. It will soon start operations in Ottawa, Canada.

The project is being jointly undertaken by the US Department of Energy and Natural Resources Canada. Both countries will come together to test oxy-fired pressurised fluidized bed combustion (oxy-PFBC). Officials from both countries believe the new process will be able to capture CO2 economically and efficiently, as opposed to other technologies. If the pilot plant results are successful, it will help boost the oxy-PFBC process to commercial use.

What is Oxy-PFBC?

It is based on the oxy-fuel combustion process, which makes use of pure oxygen as opposed to air in the mission to burn fuel and manufacture heat. [Read more.....]

Pharmaceutical Packaging with a Twist

A number of renowned pharmaceutical customers are opting for innovative primary packaging products to meet their global requirements. In fact, a number of companies are offering pharma glass and plastic packaging products that are registered with the FDA. These innovative packaging products have been manufactured according to stringent quality parameters to ensure longevity and client satisfaction.

Plastic and glass rank among the best, and primary packaging material choices for liquid and solid dosage pharmaceuticals. Therefore, it becomes necessary for companies to produce pharma glass and plastic packaging that meets requirements.  

In addition to ensuring durability, most of the packaging comes in interesting shapes and sizes. Therefore, these companies are also about providing visual appeal, in addition to functionality. [Read more...]

The Corrosion-Resistant Resin Market Looks to do Brisk Business

There are a number of industries globally that incur heavy losses that can be attributed to corrosion annually. How is corrosion harmful? It can become an impediment and pose as a hazard to people and property. In a bid to prevent such damage, corrosion resistant resins come into use. They help minimise these damages that affect equipment, structures, and machinery. These can be identified as the main drivers for the corrosion resistant resins market.

Going solely by the type, the epoxy segment is touted to lead the CRR market during the forecast period. Why is epoxy touted to do so well? It has cost-efficient and has superior physical properties. In fact, it is preferred over other variants of corrosion resistant resins.

Corrosion Resistance

This apart, the composites application segment is touted to grow at the highest CAGR during the period under forecast.  Going by the application, the composites segment may grow at the highest CAGR between the period from 2016 and 2026. Considering more businesses are adopting lightweight materials, these composites are now being used more often instead of traditional metals, mainly because they are cost-effective and do not require much maintenance. Most manufacturing companies’ R&D departments are in the process of conducting researches to open up and expand the application area of Corrosion Resistant resins. Once this kicks into high gear, it will in all probability drive the market during the forecast period. All one can do now is wait and watch to see how it goes.

Ontario Pledges $4.5 Million For Bio-Refinery Pilot Plant

In August, the Ontario government made its intentions clear about investing $4.5 million into a bio-refinery pilot plant with the aim to produce eco-friendly products in the area of Thunder Bay.

Pilot Plant

The financial aid will allow FP Innovations to set up a pilot plant, which will aid in producing green chemicals from wood to be used in the construction and mining industries, thereby replacing petroleum-based chemicals. Government officials believe that this financial investment will give Ontario's forestry sector the boost it needs to create jobs for the residents of Thunder Bay.

When the project hits the ground running, it will help Ontario’s pulp and paper industry to become more sustainable and profitable. How can they achieve it? By making the big shift from newsprint to the use of other products, said Pedram Fatehi, the industrial research chair in green chemicals and processes at Lakehead University.

Fatehi was quick to point out that the paper industry has been struggling because newsprint was their major product. He added that the consumption of newsprint is very low at the moment. Therefore, they want to do their best to convert the current process into something that will be more profitable and sustainable. If this plan comes into fruition, it will definitely be a win-win for everyone involved.

The proposed pilot plant will be set up at Thunder Bay plant of Resolute Forest Products, which has also pledged an addition amount of $3.5 million for the project.According to media reports, the new plant will help with mass production and the commercialization of green bio-chemicals that have been derived from wood

The Industrial Agitators Market is expected to Skyrocket by 2024

If one thought the industrial agitators market was doing well at the moment, there’s more good news in store. According to a report by Grand View Research, Inc, the –mark global industrial agitators market may well touch the USD 3.46 billion by 2024.

The industrial agitators market will likely witness a significant growth because of rapid industrialization in growing economies like India, Brazil, and China. What is the primary factor driving this growth story? The increased industrial activities in these countries are boosting the demand for agitators that are highly-efficient.
Agitators are most commonly, and efficiently, used in the chemical, food and beverage, and wastewater treatment applications. Therefore, the move to embrace mixing and blending technology in process industries is expected to drive the market over the period.

What are industrial agitators? They are the machines that help process the products in industries for the job of mixing liquids, promoting the reaction of chemical substances and increasing heat transfer. The demand for advanced and customised devices which are specific to the end-user application will help drive market growth. Wastewater and chemical treatment industries have a huge complex agitation demand. This has helped spike the demand for these devices.

industrial agitators

The report also suggested the following:
The top entry segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 6.5% from 2016 to 2024.These industrial agitators are highly durable. This apart, increasing adoption in the oil & gas and chemical industry will help boost the overall industry growth. Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing region because of the growth in the industrial sector. Favourable government policies will also help boost regional demand.

Decoding the Nutsche Filtration and Drying Procedure

Drying and filtration are widely regarded as crucial operations in a number of industrial processes that require separating liquid from solid matter.  It should be noted that solids can easily be discharged directly into a dryer. However, in the case of an agitated nutsche filter/dryer, the function of drying is carried out by the same equipment.

Nutsche filtration can be termed as a batch filtration technique that makes use of vacuum or pressure in a closed vessel. What are some of the benefits associated with using this technology? They include product isolation, reduced product handling, minimal operator exposure, in addition to environmental protection against solvent vaporization. This apart, the containment level supplied may even comply with GMP as well as other safety and health requirements that companies face the heat for.  It is for these reasons that the nutsche filter/dryers are more popularly used in pharmaceutical, dye and paint production, waste water treatment and fine chemical applications.

The basic steps that constitute the drying and filtration process in nutsche dryers/filters include:
Filling or Charging is the first step. It involves transferring the product to be filtered from the primary location to the filter/dryer.

Nutsche filtration | nutsche dryers/filters

The filtering step involves using pressure and/or vacuum to force liquid through the filter media and solid bed.
The displacement washing process involves the spraying of fresh wash liquid on top of the solid cake. One should take care not to disturb the surface. The liquid is usually pushed through with pressure or vacuum.
Reslurry washing is usually performed if dissolving of impurities or additional extraction is necessary.
The smoothing process usually follows the filtration or wash process, most notably after the final wash. The agitator comes in handy to close cracks and compress the cake to ensure minimal residual moisture.
The drying or cooling process is done to ensure the solid is evacuated into a second dryer in order to complete the drying, as well as the cooling process.  In agitated nutsche filter/dryers, both functions are combined. In fact, drying may even take place in the same vessel.  In order to make this a success, the vessel surfaces are heated.  The types of drying that can be conducted include vacuum drying and convection drying.
The discharging process is the final process. This is carried out through the valve/port which is placed on the vessel sidewall.  

Why the Shift from Pharma Glass to Plastic?

Why the Shift from Pharma Glass to Plastic?

Pharmaceutical packaging  has undergone a shift in market preference, with manufacturers preferring plastic to pharma glass. This is the case primarily with the injectable devices segment. The change in preference has triggered a recent shift in product portfolio of certain renowned parenteral packaging supplier companies. This has been done to meet market demand.

A number of important tests were carried out to ascertain if it would be feasible to shift shifting from pharma glass to plastic.

 The factors that influenced the shift to plastic include: -
One of the primary reasons that triggered the shift includes advancements in the drug formulation stage. This led to an increased drug complexity as well as quality challenges that arise due to the use of glass, which includes breakage, delamination , in addition to siliconization, among other factors. The problems that glass face have also proved to be a cause of concern for pharma players’ injectable drug’s packaging procurement. Why is it a problem? It can be attributed to the supply base, which is characterized by long term contracts.

Here are some of the main reasons why parenteral packaging is necessary:
Drugs are administered primarily through intravenous, intradermal or the intra ocular formats - called parenteral drugs. These drugs differ from conventional oral and extra dermal drug intake. Parenteral drugs help to cure diseases like cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes and other diseases. Therefore, in these cases, injectable is an effective method of administration.

 Also, parenteral packaging is among the fastest growing pharmaceutical packaging formats. Therefore, the shift to plastic does not come as a big surprise. In fact, Industrial Agitators for the pharmaceutical industry have helped the sector boom. These industrial agitators are used for a number of mixing operations.  

The Many Uses of Industrial Agitators

Agitators, as the name suggests, can be best termed as instrumental devices which places liquids, semi-fluids and fluids into an “agitated state” with the help of a stirring motion. Since the advent of gadgets and machinery, agitators have become a staple in households owing to their various functions. It should be noted that industrial agitators perform the function of putting things in motion. Industrial agitators have made a significant impact in the food, chemical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. They help blend liquids, promote reactions of chemical substances while also induce heat transfer with the help of heating and cooling. Since they are corrosion resistant, wear and tear will not be a major issue. 

Industrial Agitator

One of the most common uses of industrial agitators is in the drilling and concrete mixing process. In the drilling process, agitators are used for drilling into mud and other substances. The mud agitators are used to drill deep underground with the intent to mix mud and soil with water so as to ensure the easy removal of mud and soil away from the opening. 

In the concrete mixing process, agitators are usually latched onto the interior of a concrete holding tank that is them mounted on a large vehicle, especially trucks. The agitators placed inside the tankers starts a rotating the concrete inside without allowing the cement to dry before reaching the construction site. These agitators are usually corrosion resistant due to the materials used to construct them.

Industrial agitators come in a variety of sizes and designs that are suited for different applications. Agitators have greatly benefited the mining industry due to their ability to improve existing mixing systems. The use of agitators in paint mixing applications has had a significant impact on the commercial paint industry over the years.

How to Improve Your Industrial Mixing Process

Are you thinking of expanding your manufacturing business in food & beverages, chemical, pharmaceutical, or cosmetics industry? If yes, then mixing of constituents, such as liquids, chemical substances, or even heat, becomes a key element of your manufacturing process. This is where Industrial Agitators play a key role. However, there are certain important attributes to keep in mind before deciding on the type of agitator set-up to be purchased:

Type of Agitator Machine to be used:

Based on the ‘type of mixing’ to be undertaken, the agitator set-up is decided. Be it between liquids, gas with liquid, solids with liquids, or even liquids with solids & gas, a common element between these is the requirement of a Corrosion Resistant lining in the agitator tank. This not only helps extend the agitator set-up’s life but also ensures the sanctity of the constituents being mixed.

Some of the popular Industrial Agitator Equipments include mechanical agitators, rotating tank agitators, agitators working with a pump blasting liquid, static agitators, and agitator mixer padole type, among others. So, it is imperative that based on your existing infrastructure (explained below) and the business requirement, you select the appropriate agitator machine set-up.

Fitment in the existing machine set-up:

Another decision that needs to be made is whether the inclusion of the agitator machine fits into your existing machine set-up. For example, in case of agitators for liquids, the preferred placement is vertically on top of the tank or horizontally on the side of the tank. As a result, it is important to consider how new agitator system will fit into the existing set-up. Further, if you plan on changing the mixer constituents, depending on what you plan to mix, the tank needs to be made Corrosion Resistant, if not already. This in in turn, will require you to re-think the speed of your manufacturing expansion.    

Corosion Resistant & Industrial Agitators

    

The Benefit of a Pilot Plant in Speeding the Commercial Process

Have you ever asked yourself why you needs a pilot plant for research and development? In fact, a number of processes are scale dependent. It can be quite a challenging experience to transition from small-scale operations to a large scale production plant. The transition needs to be smooth but the initial setting up can be a big scare.

A huge production plant is sometimes built based on information which is gathered at the small unit. However, the kinetics may differ considerably and the reactions may not be up to par. However, sometimes the best laid plans may not go according to plan. The worst case scenario could be that uncontrolled heat build-up could lead to abnormal reactions and possible explosions even if some materials are corrosion-resistant.

This cannot be attributed to human error, rather it could be a process that went wrong. The process takes a different turn when there is a change. It is also not possible at times to forecast these problems as they may be too complex to comprehend. A pilot plant can be very helpful as far as minimising error is concerned. Therefore, experiments can be studied more thoroughly without posing a major risk. The pilot plant does not only provide data before increasing scale of production, it serves other function. This include:

Corrosion resistant

1. It helps in making an authentic comparison with commercial grade raw material against the grade counterpart in the laboratory. During a lab study, the use of raw material and catalyst is not very big. Therefore, a highly pure grade can be used for the experiment. However, when it comes to a production plant, using pure materials would be feasible. Commercial grade material is best used.

2. The plant can be used for the production of small product quantities which can be used as raw material for market testing. The plant can be used to produce quantities which can be used to study the reaction process which might follow. It is one of the best ways to test a product in the real market. Samples can be handed out to customers to gauge their reactions

3. The quality of waste and by-products can be studied, in addition to assessing their saleability.

4. Waste generated can also be studied to determine if waste treatment is necessary. This will help understand the economics associated with the process.

5. A pilot plant will help come up with a more detailed mass balance. It will allow companies to give yield estimates. Lab experiments normally generate a sizeable number of erroneous mass balances due to the fact that quantities are much smaller. When it gets down to a full-blown production, the values are much higher.

6. A pilot plant will give you the liberty of producing specialty chemicals that may be appreciated by a more niche market. Therefore, it can safely be said that a pilot plant can help a business go from lab testing to high production plant faster without posing much of a risk. It also aids in keeping in focus the economics involved in setting up a large scale production because corrosion-resistant products may not translate to saleability.