Chemical Industry Journal 26 by Distinctive Media Group Ltd

ISSUE26

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| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

www.chemicalindustryjournal.co.uk

| foreword |

Welcome Karen Southern Editor

Editor Karen Southern karen.southern@distinctivegroup.co.uk

Design Distinctive Media Group Ltd, 3rd Floor, Tru Knit House, 9-11 Carliol Square, Newcastle, NE1 6UF Tel: 0191 580 5990 distinctivegroup.co.uk

Advertising Distinctive Media Group Ltd, 3rd Floor, Tru Knit House, 9-11 Carliol Square, Newcastle, NE1 6UF Tel: 0191 5805990 David Perratt Business Development Manager email: david.perratt@distinctivegroup.co.uk Tel: 0191 5805471 distinctivegroup.co.uk

Continuing shockwaves will concentrate the mind like nothing else ‘It’s great to see the industry back together!’ is this year’s CHEMUK tagline.

The current situation looks set to concentrate the mind like nothing else in the history of the chemicals trade, with the industry genuinely lying on the cusp of a new era.

It is indeed – and while the Expo has only been around for four years, we’re all too painfully aware of the huge amount of upheaval thrown at the chemicals industry in that short time span.

Apart from green energy, what other solutions might help ease the transition to a new normality?

Now added to the volatile mix is the horrific situation in Ukraine, where the humanitarian disaster has sent shockwaves throughout the world. Global supply chains have been further rocked by the war, as sanctions against Russia bite and Ukrainian manufacturing grinds to a halt. What impact will this have on the future direction of agrichemicals, for instance? Russia is the second largest fertiliser exporter in the world (together with Belarus, it accounts for over 40 per cent of global potash exports). This sudden cut-off in supply will quickly reverberate through the global food chain. Plus, with energy costs already spiralling, companies face even higher production costs in regions which rely heavily on Russian gas and oil. This could well be a huge catalyst for a switch in energy ‘loyalties’.

Distinctive Media Group Ltd or Chemical Industry Journal cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies that may occur, individual products or services advertised or late entries. No part of this publication may be reproduced or scanned without prior written permission of the publishers and Chemical Industry Journal.

In theory, chemical companies with a strong renewable portfolio should have access to better energy security than most, but the truth is that green investment has generally lacked focus and direction in the industry. Many businesses have a commendable long-term vision for carbon neutrality, but the struggle lies in setting out (and achieving) immediate aims.

As Yoav Kutner of Oro Inc explains on page 50, the industry is amazing at materials innovation, but much slower at embracing digitalisation. ‘Use technology to drive growth or be left behind with an uncompetitive, vulnerable sales process’ is the stark choice he makes. Building a winning price strategy is also a key to survival. On page 58, Robert Price of Pricefx maps out how businesses can maintain focus until a degree of stability returns to the market. In much more positive news, the pioneering work of Michabo Health Science Ltd – an ‘Omics’ spinout at the University of Birmingham – will accelerate safety assessments for new and existing industrial chemicals while helping to actively phase out vertebrate animal experiments. More detail on this highly cost-effective chemical safety breakthrough can be found on page 22. Please feel free to drop me a line with story ideas and contributions at karen.southern@distinctivegroup.co.uk.

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| contents |

HydRegen’s proprietary enzyme platform implemented into sustainable chemical processes

features

Chemical manufacturers must take application security more seriously

ANYmal X – the first Ex-proof legged robot

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| contents |

contents

www.chemicalindustryjournal.co.uk

welcome

4-5

Contents

14-15

cyber security

issue 26

Stephane Konarkowski, security consultant at Outpost24, warns that cybercrime is a massive and growing threat to the industry.

22-25

environmental & health and safety Mounting pressures across the globe to allow more costeffective, higher throughput, non-vertebrate chemical safety testing are at last bringing much needed change. The world’s first Ex-proof legged robot could be a game changer for operations and safety in the chemical and oil & gas industries. Chemical Industry Journal looks at its potential.

40-42

green chemicals Bioscience company HydRegen focuses on sustainable chemical manufacturing using their proprietary enzyme based redox platform.

50-52

INDUSTRY 4.0 For years, chemical manufacturers and distributors enjoyed a relatively stable industry. However, the last two years have forced chemical companies into a choice: use digital technologies to drive growth or be left with an antiquated, easily disrupted sales process.

56-57

INGREDIENTS AND BLENDING The phosphine ligand is available on the kilo scale for the first time, providing scientists with a powerful solution for crosscoupling chemistry.

62-65

SUPPLY CHAIN Business plans and targets for 2022 need to be redrawn in the face of persistently volatile market conditions. Robert Smith, of Pricefx, explains how businesses can maintain focus in these challenging times. New and increasingly stringent regulations, combined with disruption from Covid, Brexit and the Ukraine crisis, are causing ongoing issues for the industry.

69-76

ChemUK 2022 The event, now established as the UK’s only major expo for the UK chemical industries, will showcase 300+ specialist exhibitors and 100+ expert speakers across two co-locating shows; ‘The Chemical, Process & Plant Engineering Show’, and ‘The Chemical Industries Supply Chain Show’.

Building a winning pricing strategy in today’s highly volatile market

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| news |

Ingenza collaborates with Johnson Matthey for efficient industrial enzyme synthesis Biotechnology company Ingenza has successfully concluded a project with Johnson Matthey to develop new efficient approaches for the production of industrially-relevant enzymes – including cytochrome P450 – through judicious selection of suitable microbial hosts. Ingenza combined its panel of microbial hosts, including Pichia pastoris, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis with its visABLE® platform, and a proprietary predictive codon modification algorithm to select favourable genetic elements and significantly increase expression of the candidate enzymes. This approach was combined with automated high throughput screening of thousands of colonies performed at the Edinburgh Genome Foundry, using highly sensitive functional enzyme assays designed by Ingenza to rapidly identify the optimally performing clones with the highest level of enzyme secretion and activity towards different substrates. Dr Ian Fotheringham, Managing Director at Ingenza, commented: “We have thoroughly enjoyed working closely with the team at Johnson Matthey over the last six months. “We truly value this relationship, and the ease of communication between our companies has been critical to the project’s success. We look forward to a continued collaboration with Johnson Matthey, sharing our expertise and knowledge while consistently delivering our services.” Dr Martin Hayes, Biotechnology Lead at Johnson Matthey, added: “We are very happy with the outcome of our collaboration with Ingenza, which has resulted in the successful expression of two very valuable enzymes.

Ingenza was able to promptly deliver cell banks of different microbial strains, along with comprehensive reports, enabling us to conduct our in-house work in a timely manner. “The company’s team of experts has shown great capacity to help us on this project, and we look forward to working with Ingenza again in the future.” More details at ingenza.com.

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| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| univar |

Univar Solutions completes multi-million-pound investment in UK business Leading distributor of speciality chemicals and ingredients, Univar Solutions, completes a multimillion-pound investment to optimise efficiency, reaffirming its commitment to safety and sustainability in the UK market. The leading global speciality chemicals distributor holds a prominent position in the UK’s chemical sector. Collaborating at the intersection of science and technology, Univar Solutions partners with customers of all sizes to bring innovative products to market that help keep communities healthy, fed, clean and safe. Despite the combined challenges of Brexit, REACH, and Covid-19, Univar Solutions has maintained a significant presence and position in the strategically important European market. It achieved this because of its exceptionally strong customer base, global supplier networks, and high service levels. The UK, therefore, remains a key priority and leading light in Univar’s chemical distribution business across Europe. “We are committed to the UK business,” says Steve Jones, General Manager of UKI at Univar Solutions. “Our team has shown its full dedication and unwavering work ethic to deliver on our investment timeline through incredibly challenging times,” Jones adds.

INVESTMENT ENHANCES EFFICIENCY, RELIABILITY, AND CONSISTENCY Chemical distribution consumers seek reliability first and foremost. They also expect exceptional service, transparent communication, and an expansive portfolio of high-quality products. With the current uncertain and challenging landscape as a backdrop, Univar Solutions UK launched an initiative to understand how it could better serve its customers now and in the future. After a comprehensive review, the UK organisation identified an improved strategic way of managing and running its chemical distribution.

The realignment, operationally speaking, consolidated Univar Solutions UK into specialist hubs at Middlesbrough (in the Northeast) and South Kirkby (in West Yorkshire). By enhancing and upgrading these pivotal sites, Univar Solutions has increased its overall capability to deliver an exceptional chemical distribution service across the UK. The investment saw the company implement new manufacturing and filling equipment. The increased storage capacity of their tanks and upgraded filling heads ensures they can fill more containers in a shorter timeframe and enhance the overall process with inline blending. It has improved its layout and available space for tanker movements, optimising capacity and increasing flexibility.

“We want to do the best for our customers and the best for our suppliers in challenging times—our investment demonstrates a fundamental part of that goal,” details Jones.

“The beauty of this new investment is that we can do bigger, longer production runs and fill containers quicker and more efficiently,” says Jones.

As part of its multi-million-pound investment, Univar Solutions has upgraded and enhanced its existing infrastructure and accelerated its plans to revitalise and re-envision how it can consistently provide an exceptional service to its customers. This significant and strategic investment enables the company to develop its continued growth with production efficiencies, safety enhancements, and operational scale, all the time providing uninterrupted value to its UK customer base.

It also re-uses existing storage tanks, bunds, and equipment to segregate product grades and incoming product streams. Simultaneously the company has invested in bringing semi-automation to its UK business to maximise efficiency, investing, for example, in automated barcoding technology for its warehouse.

IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES AND IMPLEMENTING ROBUST SOLUTIONS As a result of the review, Univar Solutions looked to replace and upgrade its existing Caustic, Sodium Hypochlorite, Sulphuric, Nitric, Acetic and Hydrochloric Acid plants.

SECURING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Reducing its carbon footprint is a crucial sustainable action for the chemical distributor. As a UK leader in chemical and ingredient distribution, Univar aims to reach a 20% absolute reduction in carbon dioxide equivalent (C02e) emissions by 2025 and 40% by 2030. It also strives to achieve net-zero direct emissions by 2050.

Aerial shot of the Univar Solutions Middlesbrough distribution hub

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

One of the new fleet of DAF trucks in Univar Solutions colours

| univar |

It’s clear from its investment in new operational hubs that Univar Solutions is committed to driving sustainability through increased efficiency. But it’s also committed to utilising renewable energy. “In addition to the install of solar arrays in other parts of the EMEA region, the UK business recently switched to a renewable electricity tariff” says Phillip McEvoy, Operations Director for the UK, Ireland and Nordics. Univar Solutions UK has also just announced the acquisition of an entirely new and upgraded fleet of trucks. It opted for extra sustainable design features across the new fleet, such as digital side mirrors to reduce drag. “The difference in design, the better fuel efficiency and air quality these engines produce, along with more efficient sites and equipment, contributes massively to our overall sustainability goals,” McEvoy continues. More fuel-efficient vehicles are a big part of Univar’s sustainability plans. The investment, therefore, doesn’t stop at just trucks. The company’s entire forklift truck fleet (FLT) is moving from diesel to electric, with the current first phase of integration now underway. Univar has opted for the latest lithium-ion battery technology, further reinforcing its ecocredentials. “Our investment demonstrates that Univar recognises the need to reduce its carbon footprint as part of our sustainability programme,” says Jones.

REAFFIRMING SAFETY AS A TOP PRIORITY Univar Solutions’ top priority and guiding principle is distributing chemicals safely. Safe transport and storage of products, safe operational practices and safe working conditions enable Univar Solutions to protect its

employees, customers, suppliers, communities and the environment. Univar Solutions’ investment has seen the company build several additional safety features into its forklift fleet. The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, for example, can identify the presence of humans and prevent driver errors, safely stopping trucks. The new truck fleet has now been fitted with an enhanced telematics system, providing drivers with analytical insights on how safe and efficient they are driving. In addition, the new equipment in the production sites is safe and futureproofed with enhanced overflow protection, safety trips, and emergency stops.

STRONGER SITES, SUPPLY CHAINS AND SERVICE Univar has further established itself as a leading company in the UK chemical industry by heavily investing in its operational efficiency so it can consistently provide exceptional service levels to its customers today and in the future. Furthermore, it has demonstrated an absolute commitment to its “serious about safety” mantra and taken substantial steps to meet its sustainable goals. “As the UKI leading chemical distributor, we are fully committed to this business, the people and its infrastructure to ensure maximum value and excellent customer service for suppliers and customers alike,” says Jones. “This most recent significant investment once again demonstrates our commitment as we look to ensure our assets are as safe, sustainable and efficient as they can be,” Jones concludes. univarsolutions.com/sustainability univarsolutions.com/safety

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| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| news |

New chemistry uses existing technology to print stretchable, bendable circuits on artificial skin Stanford researchers have developed a technique that reprograms cells to use synthetic materials, provided by the scientists, to build artificial structures able to carry out functions inside the body. Chemical engineer Zhenan Bao and her team of researchers at Stanford have spent nearly two decades trying to develop skin-like integrated circuits that can be stretched, folded, bent and twisted – working all the while – and then snap back without fail, every time. Such circuits presage a day of wearable and implantable products, but one hurdle has always stood in the way. Namely, “How does one produce a completely new technology in quantities great enough to make commercialization possible?” says Bao. Bao and team think they have a solution. In a new study, the group describes how they have printed stretchable-yetdurable integrated circuits on rubbery, skin-like materials, using the same equipment designed to make solid silicon chips – an accomplishment that could ease the transition to commercialisation by switching foundries that today make rigid circuits to producing stretchable ones , according to Stanford News. The process, further allowed the researchers to squeeze more than 40,000 transistors in a single square centimetre of stretchable circuitry, but the team thinks double that number is within reach. While that would still be a far cry from the billions of transistors that can be squeezed into the same area on silicon chips, it would be enough to create simple circuits for on-skin sensors, bodyscale networks and implantable bioelectronics with applications yet to be imagined. “Our method improves elastic-transistor density by more than 100 times what anyone else has achieved so far. And it does it with excellent uniformity in the transistors while sacrificing nothing in electronic or mechanical performance,” according to postdoctoral researcher YuQing Zheng, co-first author of the paper.

OLD PROCESS, NEW CHEMISTRY A major advantage of the Stanford process is that it can be done with the same equipment used to make silicon chips today. The process, known as photolithography, uses ultraviolet (UV) light to transfer an intricate, electrically active geometric pattern – a circuit – onto a solid substrate, layer by layer. It’s a complex, multistep process of coating, exposing with light, chemical etching and rinsing that leaves behind the all-important circuit. This method has worked for decades in the semiconductor industry but, to date, the chemicals used to dissolve and wash away the light-resistant materials also wash away the skin-like polymers that are the foundation of stretchable circuits. By developing new photochemistries that work on these stretchable materials, Bao’s team is teaching triedand-true manufacturing equipment to do new tricks. In fact, the Stanford process even does away with some of the steps necessary in silicon manufacturing. It all adds up to a remarkable result. “Our process is more efficient and might be able to produce stretchable circuits more cost-effectively than rigid ones,” said postdoctoral scholar Yuxin Liu, co-first author of the paper.

Lab mates in the Bao Research Group at Stanford demonstrate the flexibility and stretchability of their artificial skin made using their newly created printing method. (Image credit: Yuqing Zheng)

DENSE AND DURABLE The team used the new process to produce flexible circuits of roughly the same electrical performance as transistors used for current computer displays – useful for practical applications – then tested their materials for durability and performance. Stretching the circuits to double their original dimensions, both parallel and perpendicular to the circuit direction, the newly printed materials showed no cracks, delamination or, most important, decline in function. Electrically, the transistors remained stable, even after 1,000 repeated stretches. “With improvements in transistor density, this process could lead to new applications for flexible circuitry,” said postdoctoral fellow Donglai Zhong, a co-first author on the study. Other Stanford authors include postdoctoral scholars Deyu Liu, Hung-Chin Wu, Jinxing Li and Helen Tran; research engineer Chenxin Zhu; laboratory director Jeffrey B.-H. Tok; and doctoral candidates Shayla Nikzad, Shuhan Liu and Zhiao Yu. The study was funded by the Stanford Catalyst for Collaborative Solutions, Stanford Nano Shared Facilities and the National Science Foundation. More information at baogroup.stanford.edu.

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| epal |

Wooden pallets - at the heart of sustainable business To mark EPAL’s 30th anniversary year, Felicity Smith, national secretary for EPAL UK & Ireland, tells us how the pallet - a 60-year-old invention - will form the backbone of the green recovery. The wooden pallet is 60 years old. While there are no lavish festivities planned, nor any specific date to hold them on, logistics professionals understand why it is worth celebrating milestones such has those. When you have the responsibility for moving goods between locations wooden pallets have an essential role to play in the process.

WOODEN PALLETS IN THE UK: KEY FACTS 27kg of carbon (0.9kg in every kg of wood) is stored by a typical wooden pallet 48.3 million wooden pallets repaired in 2019, a 5 per cent rise on 2018 44.9 million pallets manufactured in 2019 Every cubic metre of wood reduces the carbon footprint of your business by approximately 2 tonnes

Pallets allow products to be batched up, loaded and transported easily and safely, while maximising space and efficiency, saving suppliers and their customers time and money. Pallets made from wood are also the most environmentally friendly and least expensive option. This is why economists have acknowledged pallets as one of the cornerstones of free-flowing international business during the past six decades. Wood’s low cost, versatility, hygiene credentials and wide availability have helped this material maintain 90 per cent of the UK pallet market for many years. And its superior sustainability is increasingly important to businesses, too. The environmental credentials of products for companies of all kinds are receiving more attention as governments rebuild their economies in the wake of COVID 19. Principles of reducing, reusing and recycling; cutting emissions and favouring sustainable materials such as wood are becoming central to the policies made in locations including the EU and the US. Pallets clearly perform well when measured against these core environmental standards.

REDUCE Pallets are made from smaller logs and ‘falling boards’ from the sawmilling process. According to the Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation (TIMCON), the sector uses around one third of the UK’s timber output, part of a system that sees every part of a sustainably harvest tree used. Sophisticated software packages also help manufacturers design and build pallets to optimal measurements for strength and efficiency.

REPAIR Wood makes repair and reconditioning of pallets easy; damaged boards and blocks can be replaced, so pallets can be kept safe and in useful service. This is a simple process that extends the pallet’s lifespan and allows it to be used many times – and often for many years.

WOOD: A UNIQUE STATUS The UK government acknowledged the unique status of wood in November last year when it released its interim packaging recycling targets for business. Wood was the only material whose target was decreased – from 48 per cent to 35 per cent; the recycling targets were increased for all other materials.

EPAL UK & Ireland oversees the EPAL open pallet pool in the UK and Ireland region. Internationally, EPAL oversees 500 million EPAL Euro pallets and 20 million box pallets, making it the world’s largest open exchange pool.

REUSE Truly sustainable businesses must optimise their pallet use before recycling them. According to TIMCON’s annual wood packaging market survey, 48.3 million wooden pallets were repaired in 2019, growth of 5 per cent on the previous year, increasing opportunities for reuse. Repair is a key part of the pallet pooling model, where pallets are repaired for reuse. In EPAL’s case, the pallets are owned by the owner and repaired to an ‘as new’ specification before being sold on to the new user.

RECYCLING When a wooden pallet has become damaged to the point when repair is no longer possible, this is the right time for recycling. Pallets are recycled by industries such as panels and composite block, made into animal bedding, or sent to biomass generators for renewable energy. There are an estimated three billion wooden pallets in circulation in the UK and EU region combined - with an annual production of around 500 million. Responsible manufacturers use certified sustainable wood (PEFC or FSC certified sources) to reduce its overall carbon footprint further. In Europe, the packaging and pallet industry uses approximately 20 million cubic metres of this every year. Each pallet stores approximately 27kg of carbon. Wood is still the least expensive raw material – despite recent market-driven price rises – which will clearly continue to be a decisive factor for many businesses as they realign after the pandemic. However, the above credentials will also make pallets manufactured from wood a key part of the businesses’ strategies to become more sustainable and fulfil their climate obligations in the important months and years ahead. www.epal.eu

MAXIMUM SAFETY FOR TRANSPORTING CHEMICAL PRODUCTS

EPAL CP1-CP9 pallets: strength and security for chemical supply chains. ISPM15-compliant as standard. uk-irl.epal-pallets.org

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| cyber security |

Chemical manufacturers must take application security more seriously the threats coming from ransomware groups, nation state hackers and business rivals.

Stephane Konarkowski, security consultant at Outpost24, warns that cybercrime is a massive and growing threat to the industry. Chemical manufacturing as a broad term encapsulates a wide variety of processes and procedures that manifest in a global multi-billion-dollar industry. These organisations are crucial to our way of life, producing essential services and products required for critical national infrastructure (CNI). Imagine your life without any of these essentials if cybercriminals were able to disrupt the production or infiltrate the information technology (IT) systems of these core products and services. Cybercriminals have been targeting these organisations and the supply chain in recent years including Brenntag, a chemical distribution company, which was forced to pay a $4.4 million ransom to the Darkside ransomware gang. With the cost of a cyberattack expected to rise globally to $10.5 trillion by 2025, the chemical manufacturing industry is becoming increasingly vulnerable, and must be aware of

As cybersecurity budgets are stretched to cope with other operational security controls, it is essential that decision-makers within the manufacturing vertical utilise their budget more wisely to prevent unsecured assets from becoming prime targets.

With the challenge of the pandemic, chemical manufacturing played a pivotal role in the production of vaccines and medicines. This means that an attack on a chemical manufacturing plant could impact human lives. In fact, the need for better cybersecurity in the industry is well recognised, with US Congress’s push for the ‘Strengthening American Cybersecurity Act of 2022’. This cross-party act would require chemical manufacturers and distributers as well as other businesses supplying CNI to report a cyberattack within 72 hours. However, manufacturing companies should not wait until a law is mandated to secure an area within their digital ecosystem that is often overlooked – web applications, as the exploitation of unpatched software is now the prime reason for a data breach for the industry.

SIZING UP THE EXTERNAL ATTACK SURFACE In order to ascertain the state of application security Outpost24 has conducted a detailed analysis of the internet exposure and security posture of the biggest chemical manufacturers in the EU, uncovering concerning levels of vulnerabilities and weak spots in their digital footprint. The findings reveal a rather large external attack surface for top chemical manufacturers, with a total of 22,507 internet exposed web applications over 6,175 domains. When these were scanned, a percentage of them were identified as testing/staging environments that shouldn’t be exposed. Additionally, some of the applications were utilising outdated components which contain known vulnerabilities, a major security issue used by threat actors for ransomware attacks. There was even evidence of compromised web applications where user credentials and password have been unknowingly disclosed in the deep and dark web, waiting to be exploited.

TOP ATTACK VECTORS IN CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING APPLICATIONS Amongst the most common attack vectors in web applications, the following were identified as the biggest risks in their web applications: Security mechanisms (SM): When data sent over the internet between the user and the application wasn’t encrypted it can allow eavesdroppers and hackers to

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| cyber security |

intercept traffic and steal sensitive information such as passwords and payment details in transit. Failure to implement such basic security protocol for external web applications shows that there is still a gap between DevOps and security. Degree of distribution (DOD): Another critical issue found within the web applications of chemical manufacturers is how an application spans across multiple domains. Distribution also increases the number of potential attack vectors. Distribution makes such issues more likely as it requires the application to work around the same-origin policy enforced by web browsers to separate resources of different origins. Active contents (ACT): Active content increases the attack surface on the client side, requiring the user to have plugins in place and adding client-side code and processes to the application. This in turn increase the risk for cross-site scripting as flaws and outdated components that allow these attacks in web browsers are widespread With such large volumes of assets and critical operations at stake, attack surface management should be made a top priority for chemical manufacturers, as annual scans

quickly becoming inadequate to identify real-time security issues, leading to delays in detection and remediation of critical security issues. The attack surface is a sprawling landscape as more and more applications become interconnected and distributed across the cloud. Not to mention sophisticated hackers today are automating reconnaissance at an industrial scale to identify their next victim. To combat these challenges, companies must work to achieve complete visibility and continuous assessment to remove the risk before attackers exploit them. As cybersecurity budgets are stretched to cope with other operational security controls, it is essential that decisionmakers within the manufacturing vertical utilise their budget more wisely to prevent unsecured assets from becoming prime targets. More advice about cyber risk management solutions is available at outpost24.com.

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| ast |

Hyve™ – Your Experiment, Your Process, Automated The Future of Laboratory Robotics has Arrived. Applied Scientific Technologies (AST) of Stokesley, North Yorkshire announce Hyve™, a new way of deploying automation in your lab whilst keeping the scientist at the centre of its activities. The evolution of Laboratory 4.0 has created huge potential for industrial and collaborative robots (Cobots). Hyve™, a Collaborative Autonomous Robot, is designed to discover advancements in formulation chemistry and biotechnology, specific for integration and automation in laboratory environments. Hyve™ is unique in the turnkey, laboratory automation marketplace. An early adopter, one of the world’s leading beauty and cosmetics companies use Hyve™ for product stability testing, however Hyve™ was developed originally for pharmaceutical and biotech companies illustrating the are many markets this autonomous collaborative robot is suited to. Hyve™ can be a stand-alone system or operate together in a Beehive-like architecture to form a production line. Our early adopter stated that “Hyve fits into the lab environment easily and works well alongside our scientists who find the Hyve very easy to work with”. “By introducing Hyve™ to the laboratory testing arena it has helped in stability studies and extracting analytics that were otherwise impossible or took 10 times longer,” said Garry Lofthouse, Director of AST. “Previously, data was available to the operations team after two to three years. This is significantly reduced due to fully automated accelerated testing and in-line analysis. Results are now seen in two to three months! The impact of environmental conditions and accelerated testing scenarios on the product is crucial, ensuring quality manufactured goods are developed retaining the quality and shelf-life required by both manufacturer and the consumer” Lofthouse added. Hyve™ is a unique design concept and is a userfriendly robot that can be configured for the cosmetics, pharmaceutical, healthcare, biotech and food and drinks market. It can be adapted and redeployed easily so as your requirements change, Hyve™ can change too! This is due to its modular construction, consisting of a base system with plug in modules/segments, each segment can be configured or re-configured with different lab equipment and processes, which means it is particularly favourable for those in an R&D environment where change in research demand is high. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Thing (IoT) technologies future proofs this system. Hyve™ is compatible with Over-the-Air updates, system diagnostics and performance dashboards. The use and automation of processes to capture data is deployed in the IoT cloud-based on-board software Hyve™ allows AST to offer the first ‘off-the-shelf’ modular, collaborative robotic system, reducing production costs, improving reliability and ultimately increasing speed to market. Hyve™ has the same availability as an off-theshelf platform and reflects identical scalability of a larger integrated platform with the same level of flexibility of a bespoke solution.

drugs and incorporating classic lab equipment such as balances, pumps, pH meters, Heaters/Chillers, digital pipettes, stirrers and more. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies future proofs the system to address changing market demands and expectations. The interface is similar to configuring a tablet for example an iPad or Android tablet, rather than needing a qualified software professional to change the code. The use of collaborative robotics makes the system more of a robotic scientist rather than a machine in a laboratory that needs operators with scientific esoteric knowledge to run. Applied Scientific Technologies (AST) is an emerging company founded in 2017 Stokesley, North Yorkshire. It has founded by two directors from the sister company, Applied Integration UK Ltd which was founded over 15 years ago. AST was established to develop new applications for robotics platforms and they are innovative specialists in robotics, automated control systems and hardware integration into life and physical sciences, industrial, laboratory and medical applications, supporting their digitalization and automation journey. Since the launch of Hyve™, the company has been overwhelmed with potential clients looking to use the collaborative robot as part of their automation strategy. Hyve™ is available to purchase now. For more information on the product please call our Applied Scientific Technologies team today on 01642 717550, visit our website www.appliedst.co.uk or alternatively email us at sales@appliedst.co.uk.

Some of the segments already developed which can be attached to Hyve™ include sample preparation for consumer products like haircare, inks, paints, catalysts,

Applied Scientific Technologies® - Laboratory Digitalisation & Robotics

www.appliedst.co.uk

Your Experiment Your Process Automated

Instrument USP Dedicated Software

Remote Operation

Modular System

Moveable Segment

Effortless Teaching

6-axis Robotic Arm

Compact Footprint

Collaborative Robot

Laboratory Automation Turnkey lab automation enters the digital age and IoT. The Hyve™ autonomous, collaborative robot is designed to work inside traditional laboratories and quite literally alongside lab personnel without the need for clumsy programming tools and large, safety-cage constructions. The collaborative robot (co-bot) at the heart of the Hyve™ complies with all the safety regulations for the collaboration of humans and robots.

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

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| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| novaflex |

Novaflex – Process Flow The Novaflex Group is a market leader through excellence in product innovation and a commitment to continuous advancement in hose and connector solutions.

COMPOSITE HOSE

EXTRUDED THERMOPLASTIC DUCTING Novaflex offer a wide range of ducting products for air and dust control, light material handling and wet or dry fume control, and many other applications. Novaflex ducting is lightweight, flexible and economical.

COUPLINGS Novaflex composite hoses are manufactured to meet British and European standards BS5842, BS3492, and BS EN 13765. Novaflex composite hoses and assemblies hold Lloyd’s Register Certified Type Approval for BS EN 13765:2018. Novaflex have manufactured composite hoses in the UK since 2008 and supply thermoplastic composite hoses in diameters ranging from 1” to 12” in lengths of up to 40 metres. Hoses are made to a wide range of specifications for a wide range of chemical, application, and customer requirements.

RUBBER HOSES

Drawing on decades of real world application experience, the NovaFlex® Hi-Flow™ Dry-Release™ ‘HDC®’ Couplings optimise every area of function and design to deliver a truly innovative and reliable safety product. Safety Breakaway Couplings by Novaflex® provide the highest standard of safety technology to protect personnel, critical assets and the environment. Fittings are also available in a range of threaded and flanged designs specifically designed to work with our range of Novaflex hoses. www.novaflex.com

The Novaflex rubber hose range includes material handling, chemical, food grade, and mining hoses, as well as a range of expansion joints and connectors. Novaflex rubber hoses are available in a wide range of diameters in EPDM, UHMWP, Teflon, Nitrile, and Viton, for resistance to chemicals, abrasion, heat and corrosive conditions. Hoses are manufactured in North America and comply with FDA, 3A, USDA, and REACH standards.

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| mobile apps |

New analytical approach leverages real-world data to anticipate molecular causation of adverse drug reactions Molecular Health and collaborators at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Takeda Oncology, and thinkQ² have published a triad of articles that describe and prove the concept of a novel systems approach to elucidate molecular mechanisms of drug toxicities using real-world data (RWD).

David Jackson, PhD, Chief Innovation Officer at Molecular Health

“We have established an approach that transforms realworld, in-human treatment outcomes and safety data into extensive datasets to better characterise desirable and undesirable interactions between molecular pathways and drugs,” explains Dr David Jackson, Chief Innovation Officer at Molecular Health and co-author on all three articles. “The studies demonstrate a standardised strategy to extend mechanistic modelling and systems pharmacology into drug safety and mode of action assessments that has relevance for drug development and a variety of other contexts.” In an article published in CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology, the research groups at Molecular Health and University of Florida discussed the principles and future potential of applying a reverse translational strategy in drug development to investigate drug effects at the molecular level, understand causality, and anticipate prevalence of adverse effects. They then demonstrated the approach in two subsequent articles authored with collaborators at Takeda Oncology and thinkQ². By mapping population-level adverse drug reaction data extracted from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System back to molecular pathways and target profile data, the two proof-of-concept studies examined potential causes of cardiotoxicity and of colitis associated with well-known targeted cancer therapies. Using this analytical method, the authors developed hypotheses about different molecular mechanisms that accentuate or attenuate adverse effects depending on the nature of drug-drug combinations or on a drug’s target. Dr. Sara Kim, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutics, and Professor Emeritus Dr. Lawrence Lesko led the research collaboration. With nearly 20 years of experience directing Clinical Pharmacology at the U.S. FDA, Dr. Lesko is a renowned systems pharmacologist and Founding Director of the Center for Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology at the University of Florida in Lake Nona. He said: “Registries of adverse events constitute a diverse, massive and valuable data source that has not been tapped into to generate and assess molecular hypotheses about causality. The expansion of adverse event information coupled with biological and chemical data, as demonstrated in these studies, is an improvement over traditional pharmacovigilance and can inform future clinical trial designs and personalized medicine.”

MERGING MOLECULAR KNOWLEDGE WITH POST-MARKETING ADVERSE EVENT REPORTS TO ASSESS DRUG SAFETY The first proof-of-concept study, published in Clinical and Translational Science (CTS), analysed mechanistic hypotheses in light of cardiotoxicity reports from

About Molecular Health Molecular Health is an international biotech IT company based in Heidelberg, Germany, that has been developing innovative software in the areas of in silico and precision medicine since 2004. Details at molecularhealth.com

patients on trastuzumab (Herceptin) combined with one of four other medications. A monoclonal antibody, trastuzumab targets HER2 and is used to treat breast cancer and advanced stomach cancer. Corroborated with experimental findings in the literature, the study suggested that trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity may be enhanced by doxorubicin via mitochondria dysfunction in cardiomyocytes, whereas the combination with tamoxifen, paroxetine, or lapatinib may diminish the undesirable effect by increasing antioxidant activities. The second proof-of-concept study, published in CTS: Clinical and Translational Science, investigated autoimmunity associated with immunotherapies. The immune checkpoint inhibitors ipilimumab, nivolumab, and pembrolizumab are used for a broad range of cancers and treatment is often accompanied by severe colitis. Results of this study revealed that differences in mode of action – ipilimumab inhibits CTLA-4 whereas nivolumab and pembrolizumab target PD-1 – accounted for a threefold higher reporting rate of colitis linked to ipilimumab. Mapping chemical and biological data to adverse events reports suggested that ipilimumab may unblock the immune response earlier, leading to heightened T-cell activation.

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The BCMPA is a Founder Supporter & Headline Sponsor of CHEMUK Visit the BCMPA stand and meet our exhibiting members: Airedale Chemical, Cod Beck Blenders, Libra Speciality Chemicals, Maker Industrial, Project 7

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| environmental & health and safety |

‘Omics’ spinout brings new era in chemical safety Mounting pressures across the globe to allow more cost-effective, higher throughput, non-vertebrate chemical safety testing are at last bringing much needed change. The US Environmental Protection Agency has made commitments to reduce vertebrate animal testing, and in 2021 the European Parliament adopted a Resolution calling on the European Commission to establish an EU-wide Action Plan for the active phase-out of the use of animals in experiments. University of Birmingham spinout, Michabo Health Science Ltd, talks to Chemical Industry Journal about its novel work to accelerate the safety assessments of industrial chemicals. The company’s founders, Professor Mark Viant, Chair of Metabolomics, and Professor John Colbourne, Chair of Environmental Genomics have specialised for two decades in developing novel laboratory and computational methods to deliver higher throughput precision toxicity testing.

However, complementing conventional grouping with grouping based on biological response data, which provides molecular information of the mode(s) of action (MoA) of chemicals, can significantly increase confidence in the grouping hypothesis2,3.

BIOLOGICAL RESPONSE DATA

FAILED RISK ASSESSMENTS

The team at Michabo Health Science has been working with chemical regulators since 2018 to develop a procedure to incorporate molecular data into chemical grouping. This New Approach Methodology (NAM) uses laboratory and computational methods developed over the last decade by researchers from the University of Birmingham’s School of Biosciences.

“Grouping and read-across” is the most widely used nonanimal testing method for industrial chemicals in Europe. It is based upon having toxicity data for one chemical (the source substance) that can be copied across to predict the toxicity of the chemical that is being risk assessed (the target substance). To do this reliably, however, the two chemicals must be categorised as belonging to the same group; the scientific justification for this is called the “grouping hypothesis”.

NAMs are methods that bring greater robustness, throughput and mechanistic knowledge into risk assessment, and enable more relevant decision making for human health and the environment, and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)’s ECHA’s Director of Hazard Assessment has recently commented positively on the conceptual progress being made in NAMs for regulatory chemical risk assessment4.

Conventionally, forming a group has been attempted by comparing the chemicals’ physico-chemical properties and/ or structures, and if they are similar enough, then the toxicity data can be read across from the source to the target.

Central to the company’s NAMs are ‘omics’ technologies, which measure thousands of molecular responses to chemical exposure, coupled with data interpretation procedures to analyse the molecular data to group chemicals and predict their potential hazards.

Michabo Health Science focuses on supporting the regulation of groups of chemicals, thereby reducing the costs associated with vertebrate animal testing – and speeding up risk assessment for new and existing chemicals.

Yet regulators currently reject the majority of industry’s risk assessment dossiers, and commonly cite lack of confidence in the ‘grouping hypothesis’ as a reason for rejection1. Professor John Colbourne

Professor Mark Viant

Omics technologies were developed over 20 years ago and have become a central pillar of biomedical research and more recently for medical diagnostics. Deployed in chemical safety science, they can also measure a broad range of molecular responses of a biological test system to chemical exposure. The NAMs employed by Michabo Health Science include transcriptomics – which measure how thousands of genes in a cell, tissue or organism respond, providing information on the ‘upstream’ parts of a chemical’s mode-of-action. Michabo also uses metabolomics, which characterise how thousands of small-molecule metabolites involved in biochemical processes respond to chemical exposure, providing information on the ‘downstream’ MoA, which is closer to traditional measures of adversity.

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| environmental & health and safety |

Mass spectrometers in Phenome Centre Birmingham, University of Birmingham, used by Michabo Health Science to measure metabolomics data for chemical grouping.

NEW CHEMICAL GROUPINGS

THE WAY FORWARD

The company’s approach to forming chemical groups involves quantitatively comparing these ‘molecular fingerprints’ from omics technologies and putting chemicals with similar molecular fingerprints into the same group. This is conceptually like the widely used approaches for comparing structural fingerprints, such as Tanimoto similarity, that can be used to put structurally similar chemicals into groups.

Michabo Health Science is working with both industry and regulators to define where the chemical groupings using NAMs sit within the regulatory process.

Working with chemical regulators, the company has demonstrated the new approach in a case study to predict the toxicity of an azo dyes. By applying omics technologies and in-house data analysis tools, the team quantitatively determined the optimal source substance from 6 possible azo dyes – to read-across its toxicity data to the target azo dye. Advances in chemical grouping is a key part of the new 20 million Euro PrecisionTox project, led by Professor Colbourne at the University of Birmingham, which focuses on the development of new testing strategies for next generation risk assessment5. Lying at the heart of PrecisionTox is the application of both transcriptomics and metabolomics technologies for assessing the effects of chemicals across several non-animal test systems. Michabo Health Science is one of 13 partners in PrecisionTox, providing expertise in omics-based chemical grouping, and tasked with conducting further case studies and developing guidance documents for the chemical industry. Professor Colbourne comments: “There are simply too many chemicals to assess using traditional methods, and grouping will reduce both the time and number of animals needed for chemical assessment. Professor Viant added: “We are particularly excited that the PrecisionTox project includes lawyers, economists and scientists, we need to consider the deployment of omics-based grouping from all angles and to ensure it’s a win for all stakeholders.”

The value of omics technologies has recently been recognised by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)’s Chemical Safety and Biosafety Programme. The OECD describes several applications of omics technologies to chemical safety6, and published a draft Omics Reporting Framework in 20217, which is intended to help the chemical industry report their omics data to chemical regulators. Details at michabo.co.uk.

REFERENCES: 1.

Fourth report under Article 117(3) of the REACH Regulation. https://echa. europa.eu/documents/10162/0/alternatives_test_animals_2020_en.pdf/ db66b8a3-00af-6856-ef96-5ccc5ae11026. Accessed at 22.3.22.

Integrative Chemical-Biological Read-Across Approach for Chemical Hazard Classification. DOI: 10.1021/tx400110f

Toward Good Read-Across Practice (GRAP) guidance. DOI: 10.14573/ altex.1601251

https://chemicalwatch.com/374408/echa-hazard-chief-happy-withconceptual-progress-on-nams. Accessed at 22.3.22

https://precisiontox.org/. Accessed at 22.3.22

https://www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/testing/omics.htm. Accessed at 22.3.22

Progress towards an OECD reporting framework for transcriptomics and metabolomics in regulatory toxicology. DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2021.105020

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| environmental & health and safety |

ANYmal X – the first Ex-proof legged robot The world’s first Ex-proof legged robot could be a game changer for operations and safety in the chemical and oil & gas industries. Chemical Industry Journal looks at its potential. ANYmal X is designed and certified for use in hazardous and potentially explosive environments. Created by Swiss robotics company ANYbotics, the robot looks set to automate routine inspections for infrastructure where flammable and potentially explosive matter is processed. These inspections often have to be carried out close to potentially hazardous environments, meaning all onsite equipment must be Ex-certified as safe for use. All equipment used in these areas must be guaranteed not to cause an explosion, even in the presence of high levels of combustible substances. Robot inspection solutions reduce HSE risks and OPEX, including the high cost of moving inspection specialists offshore. ANYmal X tasks could include visual inspections and automated readouts of analog instruments such as gauges, liquid level, and lever positions, advanced thermography and vibration analysis, and 3d infrastructure scanning. It is also equipped with gas detection sensors and integrates as an end-to-end solution through its software API with asset management software and digital twin platforms. Plant operators could potentially benefit from reduced manual input, less human exposure to hazards, no facility inspection shutdowns, less unplanned downtime, improved workflows due to better data tagging, automatic reporting, and insights that enable swift operations changes. The robot was unveiled at the recent Offshore Technology Conference in Malaysia, with the signing of a commercial agreement between ANYbotics and PETRONAS which

“Integrating autonomous robots into Oil & Gas and Chemical workforces is now not only possible, but effortless.”

aims to scale deployment and promote ANYmal across the industry until 2025. Péter Fankhauser, CEO, ANYbotics, said: “Several partners are including ANYmal X in their inspection and workforce planning. We are thrilled about this industry-wide impact to improve the safety and efficiency of operations in Oil & Gas and Chemicals through our robotic solution.” Energy company PETRONAS has been spearheading the integration of autonomous, legged Ex-certified robots with the needs of the oil and gas industry by partnering with ANYbotics to co-develop ANYmal X since 2019. Additionally, several global operators have already signed up for the ANYmal X onboarding program, including Equinor, Petrobras, Woodside and Shell. Ex-certified robots are typically bulky, slow, and lack the mobility required to navigate the complex, multi-level nature of typical industrial facilities. The challenge of packing all inspection robot capabilities and performance into an Ex-proof system was a serious undertaking and required ANYbotics to completely rethink how they develop robots. “Having ANYmal X Ex-certified up to Zone 1 will really enable us to bring the robot very close to our process area, and that’s where you create value,” said Iskandar Al-Thani Mahmood, Manager (Robotics), PETRONAS. For safe usage in hazardous and potentially explosive environments, all systems need protection against any gas ignition. Robots work with motors, electronics, batteries, and in ANYmal X’s case, self-contained systems, so temperature control requires complex thermal management. No suitable components exist yet, so ANYbotics developed the necessary high-performance components for their advanced thermal management system. In addition, the ANYmal X drivetrain needed multiple-redundancy protection. Such systems are not typically found in robots, so the team effectively re-engineered standard heavy machinery protocols to meet their weight, mobility, and Ex-requirements. “Integrating autonomous robots into Oil & Gas and Chemical workforces is now not only possible, but effortless,” claimed Mario Mauerer, CTO Hardware, ANYbotics. Details at ANYmal X.

Mario Mauerer, CTO Hardware, ANYbotics.

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| environmental & health and safety |

ANYmal X can navigate complex structures such as industrial stairs, steps, and narrow passages

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| vega |

A new choice for radar level sensors: VEGAPULS 6X Traditionally, the search for a suitable level sensor begins by thinking about things like: what solution would be best for my application? How can I ensure I choose the correct and most reliable device for a successful outcome on my project? Of course non-contact radar offers great answers for all of these questions. This is often followed by thoughts and investigations about the properties of the product to be measured, could it influence a sensor, as well as the installation and operating environment. Furthermore, process conditions like: temperature, pressure, the presence of abrasive, aggressive materials, corrosive chemicals, or dusty conditions and build up in bulk solids, may also give cause for concern. Many of these details are often well known to the user. What they can be less sure about is, “Which model is best?”. Sometimes differences can be subtle. Would the highest specification option, perhaps with exotic materials, be the right choice to be on the safe side? Or a basic design, that seems to fit the job, but what if it’s not up to the performance needed? These and other questions make one thing clear: with such wide ranges, selecting the right one can be difficult. Customers have to match up their application conditions to the large variety of radar sensors, models, antennas and frequencies on offer. A user needs a good understanding of the market, but they are often the first to admit they are not experts. It takes know-how, experience and time, to avoid making bad investments and get a reliable measuring system.

With VEGAPULS 6X there is now only one radar sensor – but it is suitable for all applications

“ONE FOR EVERYTHING” So its time to challenge this laborious, stressful and timeconsuming process. It’s being turned on its head with a new radar sensor generation. Florian Burgert, one of the closely involved radar product managers says. “We now offer one radar level sensor for all applications, regardless of liquids or bulk solids: it’s called a VEGAPULS 6X. The sensor selection is simpler than ever, in a few mouse clicks and key strokes, your selection is selected and tailored to suit. Of course a radar specialist is on hand for advice and consultation; online, by phone or in person.” This new way of selection makes it easier for the customer and specialist to collaborate, too. At the heart is not just the first, but a second-generation in-house radar chip designed specifically for level measurement. “The result consolidates three decades of radar experience”, says VEGA product manager Jürgen Skowaisa, “In scope and functionality, this chip is unique. With low energy consumption, super-high sensitivity, universal applicability, as well as a direct connection of chip and antenna system, this delivers maximum performance.”

ALL-ROUND PROTECTION For safety, VEGAPULS 6X offers SIL 2/3 with class-leading functional safety characteristics to IEC 61511. It also offers a first in “cybersecurity”, meeting IEC 62443-4-2 standard for system security, but at the sensor level. The continuous, internal self-diagnosis system is one of the most comprehensive in the market, delivering higher plant availability, and also better sensor performance.

FOCUSING ON THE APPLICATION Jürgen sums up: “It’s about maximum simplification. Until now, there were many different sensor models for an application. With the VEGAPULS 6X, there is just one sensor

for all.” Even setup and commissioning, is reduced to a minimum. “Our customers can even order a sensor ready calibrated and pre-set for the application. Which means it just needs installing and connection.” adds Skowaisa. “It doesn’t get any easier than that.”

A PROVEN PLATFORM This brand new radar still maintains its roots in the well-established plics® platform, with compatibility and close affinity to all existing process devices from the manufacturer. This offers benefits of familiarity and commonality, and future cross-platform developments, perfectly demonstrated with the Bluetooth option brought out in 2018, which was instantly compatible to all plics® transmitters from 2002.

A RADAR MADE FOR PEOPLE This latest radar level technology features five main innovations: higher (cyber and process) safety, better self-diagnosis, new dedicated radar chip technology with wider application capabilities for simpler selection and adjustment. Jürgen Skowaisa summarises; “Our technology has reached such a high level today that reliable measurement is no longer the issue. With VEGAPULS 6X, you get the right sensor for the application, but we still pride ourselves that our engineers are always there for customer support, partnership and collaboration.” Jurgen concludes, “Now, the user no longer has to worry about model numbers or technology – with 6X the measurement will simply work.” More information available at www.vega.com/radar info.uk@vega.com

OVER 1 MILLION INSTRUMENTS IN USE WORLDWIDE

BORN, WHERE VALUES ARE VALUED. THE 6X®. AVAILABLE NOW! Technology is only as good as the people who make it. That’s why the new VEGAPULS 6X is the result – made by over 1,800 valuable employees, 60 years of valued measurement experience and every value that is intrinsic to VEGA.

VEGA. HOME OF VALUES. www.vega.com/radar

STAND:

E29

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| lauda |

lauda provide precise heating and cooling solutions LAUDA – Experts In Thermal Control And Measurement Providing Innovative Solutions For Thermal Process Control, Chilled Water Applications, Water Baths, Freezers, Incubators, Shakers, Stills, Tensiometers, Viscometers And Contact Angle Measurement. LAUDA continues to provide an expanding range of feature-rich, future proof solutions with energy efficiency and connectivity front of mind, serving a diverse range of industries including chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, oil and gas, composites, automotive, aerospace food & beverage, brewing, digital printing, laser and beyond. LAUDA’s new range of water chillers has been designed not only to comply with the new Eco-design directive, but to surpass it through the innovative use of variable speed modules that automatically reduce their duty cycle in line with the cooling demand hence reducing energy consumption and running costs, giving a tangible return on investment for the user, whilst ensuring full compliance with the latest regulations on refrigerant (fluorinated) gases. Further portfolio expansion delivers the new LAUDA ‘Versafreeze’ ultra-freezers, (deep-freeze storage down to -85°), and higher power ‘Integral’ process circulators, (process control from -90 to 320°C with >25kW of cooling @20°C), with pressure overlay options to increase the working range of water / glycol up to 140°C. Furthermore, for applications requiring customised solutions tailored to individual requirements, we offer a made-to-measure design service using a long-established

and highly skilled team. Project engineering is a core competence of LAUDA and using the modular engineering approach we can design and scale a system specifically matched to the application needs. With the capability to provide accurate heating and cooling in the range -150 to +550 °C using a variety of proven modules including heat transfer systems, process cooling systems, secondary circuit systems, fired heaters and molten salt plants, we are able to provide unique, costeffective solutions unparalleled by others. Beyond temperature control, LAUDA has a well-established suite of solutions for measuring viscosity and surface/ interfacial tension aimed at the development of polymers, oils, and surfactants. We look forward to hearing from you. Contact details: T: +44 (0)1780 243118 E: info@lauda-technology.co.uk www.lauda-technology.co.uk www.linkedin.com/company/lauda-technology-ltd www.facebook.com/LAUDA.UK/ https://twitter.com/lauda_uk

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| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| blended products |

we offer speciality chemical expertise, exceptional service and positive attitude At Blended, we have been supplying specialist chemicals and gases for almost 20 years. The company prides itself on offering the optimal ‘blend’ of speciality chemical expertise, exceptional service, and positive attitude that customers can rely on. From Anhydrous Ammonia and Carbon dioxide to a line a glycol-based heat transfer fluids, a team of industry experts and a full-service testing laboratory, Blended are the ideal partner to supply your chemicals and gases. We have developed strong relationships with our clients and endeavour to provide the best, ongoing service with the food and drink industry, heating, and cooling sector and even wastewater treatment plants. Whatever the challenge, we have the equipment, resources, and people to meet your project needs. Coolblend, by Blended, is a complete range of highperformance heat transfer fluids that can be used in a wide variety of applications requiring the need for glycol based heating and cooling liquids. Our new line of cleanings solutions: Serviceblend includes pre-cleaner, biocide, and online cleaner as a highly effective biocidal flush. This product works optimally with our glycol-based products but also as a stand-alone product for servicing and maintenance of equipment. As part of our ongoing service to our customers, we provide glycol testing for prevention, protection and catching any issues as early as possible, resulting in significant cost saving benefits. Maintenance is minimised as the threat of a costly shutdown that would be necessary if a problem escalated into a system failure is vastly reduced. An example is testing on shipments before they leave the premises to allow for benchmark figures to be given and, if anything is detected in the tests, it means low-cost preventative maintenance can be undertaken now.

OUR RIGOROUS TESTING INCLUDES: pH levels check The most common route of glycol decay is oxidation, this route causes the formation of acidic chemicals which are corrosive. Under normal circumstances corrosion inhibitors will prevent corrosion from small amounts of acidic compounds. Many corrosion inhibitors are most effective at basic pH levels and if the formation of these acidic compounds lowers the pH it can reduce the effectiveness of the corrosion inhibitor or in some cases stop it working entirely. Measurement of the glycol pH allows the monitoring of the situation so preventative action can be taken if needed. Determination of iron content If corrosion is occurring inside your system, then this can be accurately monitored via the iron content of the glycol. Most systems are built with steel and if the metal begins to corrode this can be readily detected by increasing iron content in the glycol mixture. Our spectroscopic method allows for very accurate determination of the iron content in samples. Review of conductivity This measurement allows for determination for dissolved salts in the glycol mixture.

These dissolved solids promote corrosion and can indicate that incorrect water is being used for the loading or top up of the system. Undertake refractometry This provides an accurate measurement of glycol within the system. With this information it should be possible to determine if a leak has formed on your system somewhere. As water is used to top up the system as per usual (due to water loss) the glycol content will decrease. It is key to maintain glycol levels to keep the frost protection for your system. Assess Turbidity This is a measure of how cloudy the glycol is. Most problems that can occur in your system be it corrosion or otherwise will cause the glycol mixture to go cloudy. Turbidity measurements allow you to measure this and determine if your glycol is becoming contaminated with suspended solids. Ammonia Presence Testing Using our advanced spectroscopic equipment, it is possible to determine if the glycol has been contaminated with ammonia. This would be indicative of cross contamination between primary and secondary refrigerant. There is no doubt that pre-emptive testing should be a core part of any maintenance plan as it saves suppliers and companies both time and money. Blended Products is delighted to offer this service free to its customers but if you are not yet a customer and would like to know more, Blended is still happy to help. Keep an our out for technical manager, Ben France, upcoming whitepaper explaining more on this subject at www.BlendedProducts.com

Coolblend, a range of secondary refrigerants, heat transfer fluids and cleaning products This range contains premium multi-metal corrosion and scale inhibitors that are BuildCERT (NSF) approved and endorsed by the Energy Saving Trust

N N Heat transfer fluids

Nitrogen Packs

Anhydrous Ammonia

Carbon Dioxide

New: Serviceblend

Call the team on 01652 680555

Visit our website blendedproducts.com

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| ras |

What triggers a review of Hazardous Area Classification and DSEAR Risk Assessment? The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) is a set of rules and regulations which must be followed by employers to ensure risks from fire, explosion and similar events are sufficiently reduced. DSEAR applies to all workplaces where dangerous substances are present, used, or produced. A dangerous substance can be any substance that has the capacity to create a fire or explosion or result in the corrosion of metal. These substances are inclusive of flammable liquids, gases and dusts. DSEAR assessments are required to be carried out by not only large corporations, but also medium and small sized businesses. Employers must reduce the risks associated with the dangerous substances by: Identifying all dangerous substances produced, used or stored onsite, including potential mixtures of incompatible substances. Assessing the risk in the workplace due to dangerous substances. Classifying those areas where explosive atmospheres may be present. Introducing control measures to eliminate or reduce the risks. Ensuring control measures are in place to mitigate the effects of any incident. Ensuring procedures/training are in place to deal with incidents involving dangerous substances. In order to ensure that the site in question continues to manage their risks appropriately, it is important that the risk assessment and supporting documentation is routinely reviewed. There is no legal requirement in terms of how often a DSEAR assessment should be reviewed, however, it is recommended that at least every 3-5 years is a sensible timeframe to ensure any changes in the work environment which could increase the likelihood of a serious accident are properly considered and do not go unnoticed. It is important that this happens, as over the years lots of small insignificant changes, can creep into being cumulatively substantial ones. There are many possible reasons which can stimulate the need for a review, one of which is changes to the plant or processes which are carried out on a plant. Not all changes are obvious, consider changes to the team, old equipment being replaced, changes to materials stored, changes to process conditions and changes outside of your control in the surrounding areas. A change to process equipment or process conditions has the potential to impact hazardous area zoning and therefore have a knock-on impact for required ignition controls. Changes to raw materials could lead to the introduction of a substance with a lower flashpoint and therefore impact zoning requirements. Changes near an establishment such as industrial developments beyond the site boundary may affect the potential consequences or frequency of ignition.

research, publications or learning from incidents. Industry research may impact the extent of hazardous area zoning which has specifically been the case recently for high flashpoint liquids following research around flammability of mists. Ensuring that effective management of change (MOC) processes are in place at the site may be an important first step in triggering the need to review DSEAR documentation. But question your process, would wider industry changes trigger a review of your DSEAR assessment? How do you keep up to date with industry news and learnings from incidents? It is important that any DSEAR assessment is reviewed at regular intervals, to ensure it remains fit for purpose. Only when hazards are properly understood are they effectively managed. The review process should go beyond a paper exercise. Reviews are a great opportunity for continued risk reduction. Technology is always improving, meaning that since your last review there may be better measures available to you. James Park and Carolyn Nicholls enquiries@ras.ltd.uk

Other changes which may result in the need to review your DSEAR assessment may include a change in knowledge and understanding. This may come from wider industry

RAS RISK & HAZARD MANAGEMENT

Understanding and facilitating the effective management of risk is our core business. Our expertise covers the full range of risk assessment and management services across:

Safety Risk

Business Risk

Environment Risk

Only when the risk facing an organisation is well understood can it be effectively managed.

Key to the successful identification, assessment and management of risk is engagement with the right

people, using the right processes at the right time. We believe we are different to many of our competitors and our approach is distinctive, we don’t always walk the well-trodden path but look at each client’s particular risk context and develop a tailored solution, working in partnership with our client. We work across all aspects of risk, from Quantitative Risk Assessments and Predictive &

Consequence modelling, through to the ‘softer’ risks which may affect an organisation’s reputation.

+44 (0) 1244 674 612 • enquiries@ras.ltd.uk • www.ras.ltd.uk

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| news |

Upramolecular chemistry breakthough for more efficient perovskite-based solar cells

Supramolecular chemistry which deals with multimolecular systems, (in particular halogen bonding, ie the intermolecular interaction involving halogen atoms (I, Br and Cl) in organic molecules) can help improve the performance of perovskite-based solar cells, enabling them to achieve high levels of efficiency and high stability. This is the conclusion of researchers at the Politecnico di Milano who have published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition. Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites - ionic compounds consisting of small organic cations and metal halides have been known about since the 19th century, but they have only recently been used in optoelectronics for the construction of lasers, diodes, photodetectors and solar cells. In particular, the first perovskite-based photovoltaic cell was produced in 2009 and since then there has been intensive research into achieving an efficiency of more than 25%, which would surpass even the silicon that currently dominates the photovoltaic market. The low cost and excellent performance of perovskites make them very attractive for photovoltaic applications, but there are still a number of problems that prevent these materials from entering the market. First of all, there is their low stability when it comes to air and humidity. In addition, the presence of defects, i.e., imperfections in the crystal lattice, can generate ‘trap states’ that interfere with the movement of charge

carriers (electrons and holes) generated by light within the material, trapping them and causing electrical energy losses. Generally, these trap states are unbound halide ions that can move under the effect of an electric field and recombine with holes. The study conducted at the Politecnico showed that the use of additives capable of forming halogen bonds with the halide ions present in perovskites provides significant advantages for the development of solar cells with better crystallinity and greater stability. Halogen bonding enables fluorinated molecules to be introduced, which passivate the surface halides to produce hydrophobic and waterrepellent perovskites. In this way, trap states are blocked and efficiency is increased. In addition, the surface modification of perovskite with bifunctional molecules capable of forming halogen bonds enables better integration of the perovskite within the solar cell, facilitating the generation of electrical current. From the data reported, it appears that halogen bonding has considerable potential for the development of a new generation of solar cells based on perovskites. However, a better atomic/molecular understanding of these materials is needed to fully exploit the advantages of halogen bonding. The paper was written by Gabriella Cavallo, Giancarlo Terraneo and Pierangelo Metrangolo of the Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering ‘Giulio Natta’ of the Politecnico di Milano in collaboration with Laura Canil and Antonio Abate (an alumnus of the Politecnico di Milano) of the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin fur Materialen und Energie.

“The low cost and excellent performance of perovskites make them very attractive for photovoltaic applications, but there are still a number of problems that prevent these materials from entering the market.” 34

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| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| dachser |

Michael Kriegel

Chemical logistics in challenging times Chemical logistics face the challenges of changing supply chains, digitalisation, and growing sustainability requirements. Challenges accelerated by the pandemic have made a stable network a critical success factor. Michael Kriegel, Department Head DACHSER Chem Logistics, provides an expert opinion on the implications the current global supply chain problems are causing for the sector. The chemical industry is known as one of the most successful and competitive industries, and its growth trend is consistent. Despite the industry growth, logistics services have been under considerable strain over the past two years due to disruptions to supply chains, shortages of materials, and capacity bottlenecks. It is now necessary to use predictive planning to manage these difficulties so that supply chains can run without interruption. Companies are currently in crisis mode, focussing entirely on procuring capacity at affordable rates and working with their logistics partners to find solutions for maintaining their supply chains. But, the medium to long term plans include companies planning structural changes to their sourcing patterns. Last summer, Dachser conducted an internal survey that revealed that 70 percent of customers polled were considering regionalising their supply chains. Generally, the pattern is that the first chemical companies relocate production to the region with their largest sales markets; however, this will take some time and in no way heralds the end of globalisation. Reshoring or regionalising the supply chain completely would be suboptimal, not to mention risky. However, this is about more than just regionalism; ensuring the stability of logistics networks and uninterrupted supply chains calls for logistics networks with flexible structures.

Our job as a logistics provider is to respond with alternatives while also expanding our own transport capacity, a crucial factor in avoiding or dealing with bottlenecks. A robust and balanced transport network, one remaining effective and controllable, even under the stress conditions caused by pandemics or other infrastructure capacity constraints, is vital. Environmental sustainability is another timely consideration. Currently, Dachser is investing significantly in research and development in this field. While we have several electric vehicles deployed in city centres, there are still only a handful of zero-emission heavy trucks available on the market; and are required to distribute groupage shipments of chemical goods in the main carriage. So the main leverage we have to make chemical logistics more climate-friendly is still to optimise transport capacity. Ultimately, there’s nothing worse for the climate than empty runs. Additional issues we foresee in the future, over and above those we’ve already touched, will be driver recruitment, digitalisation and supply chain resilience and the corresponding network mindset. The current bottlenecks are giving many companies a wake-up call. They want to and must position themselves to be more resilient if they want to improve the protection of their supply chains against potential dangers. IT security and IT resilience will also be among the top priorities because secure data, and the exchange of that data, keep the physical supply chain moving. dachser.co.uk

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| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| green chemicals |

HydRegen’s proprietary enzyme platform implemented into sustainable chemical processes Bioscience company HydRegen focuses on sustainable chemical manufacturing using their proprietary enzyme based redox platform. The company has received £385,000 in new funding from the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S), alongside private investors, to work in collaboration with pharmaceutical and fine chemical companies that want to reduce their costs and environmental impact.

new chemical processes. HydRegen will work alongside UK-based pharmaceutical and chemical company Almac Sciences, part of the Almac Group, to evaluate a joint technology development project for large-scale manufacture of a commodity chemical.

Development of greener and less wasteful processes is at the forefront for many companies who are under increasing regulatory, policy and financial pressures to improve their sustainability. HydRegen is addressing unmet needs in the chemical sector, most specifically around the challenges associated with redox reactions*, their waste generation and use of toxic metals.

The project will use enzyme technologies from both companies in a multi-enzyme system to develop a low-cost manufacturing process, producing cost effective green alternatives to commodities.

The newly raised funds will enable HydRegen to invest in the people and resources required to develop and scale up its platform and subsequent implementation into

Since spinning out from the University of Oxford in 2021, HydRegen has focused on implementation of their new strategies for reducing the environmental impact of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing, by switching the power source for biocatalysis from glucose to hydrogen gas. With a vision to replace finite resources,

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| green chemicals |

like metals, with environmentally and economically sustainable alternatives, HydRegen believes it must focus on lowering the barrier to entry for evaluation and scale up of redox bioprocesses. This is something that Governments around the world are also pushing for as they encourage energy intensive businesses to share expertise and come up with radical new innovations to help reduce their carbon footprint. Contributing £300,000, UKI2S is a national seed investment fund that nurtures innovative businesses, providing the patient, long-term committed capital and strategic advice they need to flourish. Dr Holly Reeve, CEO at HydRegen said: “We are very excited to have received the funds required for us to take our enzyme platform to the next stage and move another step closer to commercialising our technology in applications that will help

“We look forward to working with HydRegen towards the implementation of a sustainable multi-enzyme system for the manufacture of a commodity chemical and demonstration of the process at scale.” PROF. TOM MOODY, VP TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT & COMMERCIALISATION, ALMAC

our clients meet their Net Zero goals. This additional funding provides us with a huge opportunity to work with world leading speciality chemical companies on scaling up the production of our biocatalysts and ultimately, licensing our technology across a wide range of applications. This research and testing could help HydRegen to become part of the ‘advanced manufacturing tool-box’ across the chemical industry.” Prof. Tom Moody, VP Technology Development and Commercialisation at Almac, added: “We look forward to working with HydRegen towards the implementation of a sustainable multi-enzyme system for the manufacture of a commodity chemical and demonstration of the process at scale.” Andy Muir, Investment Director at UKI2S, said: “Backing companies with sustainability at their core is a major priority that will help shape the economy and human lives in a positive way. We are delighted to support HydRegen’s innovative platform that aims to catalyse the much-needed transition to net-zero chemical manufacturing and improve the pharmaceutical industry’s impact on the environment.” *Redox reactions are a type of chemical reaction characterised by the transfer of electrons between chemical substances. Redox (reduction-oxidisation) is the gain of electrons, or decrease in the oxidation state, of a chemical substance.

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| green chemicals |

Lithium plant seeks to lower ‘eco’ impact

Europe’s first lithium refinery is aiming for production of lithium hydroxide with the lowest possible environmental impact. The partnership between sustainable supply chain provider Circulor and cleantech company Rock Tech Lithium will provide supply chain provenance and emissions traceability for the plant in Brandenburg, which is expected to produce 24,000 metric tons of lithium hydroxide a year – enough for the batteries of half a million electric vehicles. Circulor’s work will precede the EU’s battery regulation, which takes effect as early as 2024. “A sustainable and resilient raw material supply chain is increasingly important to our automotive customers, and we are proud to work with Rock Tech to deliver their product with clear proof of origin and embedded CO2 emissions,” said CEO and founder Douglas Johnson-Poensgen. “As the automotive industry prepares for the EU Battery Directive and battery passport provisions, we’re very pleased to support Rock Tech in pioneering low-carbon, European-produced lithium hydroxide.” Rock Tech Lithium CEO Markus Brügmann added: “With the holistic documentation of our value chain, we create a decisive added value for our customers. “Customers have information about the origin and life cycle assessment of our lithium hydroxide at all times. Based on

the work of Circulor and Fraunhofer UMSICHT, Rock Tech will create a material passport for its product.” Dr Ilka Gehrke, of Fraunhofer UMSICHT which is also collaborating on the project, explained: “We will carry out the life cycle assessment (LCA) of Rock Tech’s production processes. Extensive collection and analysis of their data not only allows Rock Tech to make the production of lithium hydroxide more sustainable, but also supports them in implementing subsequent process optimizations in the most energy and environmentally friendly way possible.” Fraunhofer UMSICHT specialises in climate neutral energy systems and circular products, and is part of FraunhoferGesellschaft, Europe’s largest organization for applied research and development services. The Rock Tech and Circulor partnership also entails traceability and CO2 tracking for Rock Tech’s planned recycling at the facility, aiming to become Europe’s first closed loop supplier of lithium hydroxide. Currently, only one percent of lithium from batteries is recycled worldwide. By 2030, Rock Tech Lithium aims to achieve 50 percent of its materials to come from recycled batteries.

“Customers have information about the origin and life cycle assessment of our lithium hydroxide at all times. Based on the work of Circulor and Fraunhofer UMSICHT, Rock Tech will create a material passport for its product.” 42

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| march may |

Why choose a Magnetic Drive pump? Mag-drive pumps are a suitable pump if the application in question requires the complete containment of the process fluid being pumped (liquids that are corrosive, explosive, flammable, toxic, ultrapure and/or expensive).

Advantages of magnetic drive pumps: Very low risk of fluid emissions from the pump Low maintenance seal less design No mechanical seal materials selection choices No expensive seal support systems

MAGNETIC COUPLING: Instead of having a shaft that passes through the body of the pump, which requires a dynamic seal, the pump has one assembly of external magnets attached to the shaft of the motor and a second assembly of internal magnets attached to the impeller inside the pump body. When the motor rotates, the magnetic field generated between the two magnets means that the impeller turns in the pump body. The liquid to be pumped is therefore contained within the hermetically sealed pump housing without the risk of any leaks from the shaft seal. This means there is no direct or indirect path through which any fluids or gases can escape which can pose a risk to both operators and the environment.

DESIGNS: Mag-drive pumps made out many different metallic and non-metallic materials, giving a wide choice for excellent chemical compatibility. They can be configured for applications with low & high temperatures, high system pressures, Atex certification and self-priming ability.

Magnetic coupling means no damages to the motor if pump gets jammed Quick wet end and service replacement Low customer Life Cycle Costs

CONCLUSION: To conclude, make sure you consider the Life Cycle Costs of ownership of the pump you purchase. Initial cost is a small part of the overall ownership cost. It is important to understand that mag-drive pumps are not a cure for all difficult liquid applications. Improper selection will cause more problems than they were intended to solve and will cost a plant dearly. Pump users are advised to make use of the technical expertise of the pump manufacturers and their appointed sales distributors. www.marchmay.co.uk

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| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| tw metals |

TW Metals to Showcase High-Performance Metal Solutions at CHEMUK TW Metals, a global supplier of high-performance metals, has recently announced that they are due to exhibit at CHEMUK 2022 for 2 full days of jam-packed knowledge sharing and innovation discovery. Showcasing their metal supply chain solutions to the chemical and processing industry from the 11th to the 12th of May, the team is excited to be connecting with industry professionals at the NEC, Birmingham. One of the UK’s largest exhibitions for the chemical and processing industries, attendees will find a full team of TW Metals raw material specialists, who are proud to partner with clients to deliver quality metals and processing services, where and when they’re needed. Supporting the Chemical, Processing, and Fabrications industries, the Speciality Distribution business unit has a particular focus on materials for critical and hazardous environments and is dedicated to finding supply chain solutions that are both economically beneficial and designed around exacting demands/criteria. With over 30 strategically placed facilities across the globe, TW provides clients with access to a complete range of materials which includes Nickel Alloys, Stainless Steel, Duplex, Titanium, and Aluminium in Tube, Bar, Sheet, Plate, Pipe, and Extrusion forms. With raw material supply playing a valuable role in delivering customer projects on time, service is key. Mike Street, Vice President for Speciality Distribution – Europe

says: “Increasing the speed in which we can process material in-house is essential for our continued growth and value proposition. We have spent the last few years investing in new technology which has transformed the way we service our customer’s needs including installing a new TRUMPF TruLaser 3060 Fiber Laser Cutter at our Birmingham facility. Alongside our range of traditional cutting saws, the TruLaser is ideal for processing our corrosion-resistant and heat-resistant nickel alloys and stainless steels, which extend from thin-gauge, up to 25mm thick, and for Stainless Steel – up to 30mm. It also gives us intricate cutting abilities and has transformed the speed in which we can turn around and deliver project-critical material. I’m so thrilled to be showcasing our innovative processing capabilities and metal solutions at CHEMUK, and can’t wait to connect with the industry once more.” TW Metals processing capabilities include cut-to-size programs, material testing, deburring, laser cutting, waterjet cutting, PVC sheet coating, and much more. To discover TW Metals’ full range of high-performance metal solutions, meet the team at CHEMUK this May, on booth C5 – located to the right of the visitor’s entrance. Meet the team on booth C5 at CHEMUK 2022 or for more information, contact their sales team today on: Tel: +44(0)2380 739333 Email: info@twmetals.co.uk www.twmetals.co.uk

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| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| uniper |

Partnership is key How to master your energy transition to carbon neutrality.

Author: Mechanical Engineer, Jeff Parr-May prides himself in a longstanding career in the energy sector. Since Jeff joined Uniper he is helping Uniper customers deal with the many challenges of their inevitable energy transition to carbon neutrality. Many UK companies are planning to decarbonise their production facilities. This is important when considering two-thirds of emissions are energy-driven. However, there are several risks businesses need to consider as part of their long-term decarbonisation strategy, such as rising energy prices, identifying and accessing the capital required to make the transition to net zero, and the potential for commodity prices to become even more volatile. If an energy strategy is not a core part of a company’s operating business, navigating these challenges could make achieving net zero more difficult.

A CONSIDERATION: ELECTRIFICATION TO DECARBONISE BUSINESSES Decarbonisation remains a priority for many businesses, but sometimes ambitious goals can be countered by a lack of energy industry know-how and implementation expertise. So, how can decarbonisation be achieved? One starting point is electricity, which can help to reduce emissions. Adding to that electrification may help also to reduce costs as electrical equipment is less costly and more reliable for many industrial applications. Moreover, electrification as part of a diversified energy portfolio management offers the possibility of using the advantages of a market with a different structure than gas. However, to take advantage of this, you need to not only understand the market mechanisms of electricity, but also consider storage capacities, either on the electrical side or the steam side of your process. But then electricity isn’t suitable for all usages. So if you need high-temperature heat or steam what are the

alternatives to natural gas? Hydrogen is one option, provided there will be a reliable supply and connection to the hydrogen grid, and you have long-term storage. Biofuel and biochar could also be a way forward. And carbon capture and storage could also be an option. The options outlined make it clear that there is no one silver bullet for decarbonisation. Rather, different approaches must be combined in practice. And this not only applies to the example of electrification, but also to other options such as fuel diversification or the recycling of waste streams.

TIME TO START YOUR DECARBONISATION JOURNEY It couldn’t be clearer that companies will have to scrutinise their energy strategies to kick-start their decarbonisation journey. To ensure a secure and reliable supply of energy, clean gas, energy storage and other flexible solutions must be explored alongside renewable energy solutions. In addition to wind turbines and solar collectors, one possibility could be highly efficient gas-fired combined heat and power plants, which generate heat and electricity simultaneously, and can achieve efficiencies of up to 90 percent. These facilities are particularly suitable for supplementing a company’s own energy supply and effectively reducing CO2 emissions. Still the question of financing remains - because in addition to expertise and patience, the energy transition requires significant investment. Uniper can help secure financing and act as a developer, implementing and operating low-carbon or carbon-free energy systems together with industry. Against the background of this complexity, companies are actively seeking out advice and assistance. This is where the experience of utilities like Uniper in the energy market and their expertise in energy generation can be of great benefit for businesses. Keeping this in mind I am convinced that partnership is the key to your successful energy transition to a net zero future. decarbsolutions.uniper.energy/en

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| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| news |

Huge energy problem still not tackled The chemical industry is disappointed by the Government’s lack of support to help tackle energy costs, says a leading UK trade organisation. The Chemical Industries Association responded to last month’s Spring Statement by saying: “Whilst we welcome some measures such as commitment to create conditions for economic growth, reform of R&D tax reliefs and increase to the employment allowance, a huge problem was not tackled or mentioned by Government - support for business on energy costs.” Chief Executive Steve Eliott explained: “We urgently await not only the delayed ‘Energy Security Plan’ that the Chancellor referred to, but also the long-promised Government confirmation of the future compensation scheme for energy-intensive businesses faced with significant indirect carbon costs. “The existing scheme closes in a matter of days, leaving huge uncertainty for our companies having to compete globally, including EU competitors now benefiting from increased support from the Commission.” A recent survey by the Association also reveals a fall in activity in the British chemical industry, while still achieving growth. Steve added: With energy prices increasing by at least 500% for many companies over the past 12 months, raw material costs rising by an average 30% and shipping delays showing little sign of easing, these are the most challenging times in recent memory for UK chemical businesses. It is perhaps remarkable then that the industry continues to show some growth – a tribute to the fantastic performance delivered by every worker in our sector, right across the UK.”

Head of Economics, Tom Warren said: “Over 95% of respondents experienced an increase in raw material costs in Q4, with 79% expecting that raw material costs will continue to rise through Q1 2022. He continued: “89% of respondents experienced an increase in energy costs in Q4, 71% expect them to continue rising through Q1 2022. The costs for a trade-intensive sector are also escalating, with “74% of respondents reporting that the cost of importing increased in Q4 2021 while 67% reported increases in the cost of exporting – a situation not expected to improve in Q1 2022.” Steve concluded: “The scale and cumulative impact of these rising costs will inevitably put pressure on investment decisions for UK chemical businesses, many of which are headquartered overseas. Whilst it’s true that many of these price rises are also being felt around the world, we do urge the Government to act now to address costs which are within its control.”

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| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| industry 4.0 |

A warning to the chemical industry: harness the power of digital tech or be left behind For years, chemical manufacturers and distributors enjoyed a relatively stable industry. However, the last two years have forced chemical companies into a choice: use digital technologies to drive growth or be left with an antiquated, easily disrupted sales process. Yoav Kutner, CEO, Oro Inc., explains why digital B2B commerce is proving to be a significant growth opportunity for the chemical industry and why it will likely gain even more traction in 2022. After being hit hard by supply chain disruptions and a severe drop in end-market demand over the course of the last year, more than 90% of executives in the chemicals industry expect1 digitalisation to result in evolutionary, revolutionary, or disruptive change. The German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) stated that “the industry is gradually changing from a supplier of materials to a provider of solutions and services”, and an EY survey shows that digitalisation in chemicals is starting to accelerate. While the chemical industry has been on the forefront of driving materials innovation, notoriously it has been slower than other industries to move its sales processes online. However, leaders in the chemical industry are now beginning to push the button on digitalisation of business processes. In the boardroom, digital transformation is now viewed as more than a means to improve efficiency or customer experience – it’s the catalyst for innovation and value creation. Today, a new, more competitive environment is taking shape. The industry is highly diverse in size, geographic reach, business model and customer type; while evolving technology, business practices and customer expectations are quickly raising the bar for B2B practices. Chemical enterprises are feeling pressure from greater competition, rising commodity prices, changing regulatory requirements and most importantly the push for sustainability. These trends are driving the greater adoption of digital strategies and will continue to be a key investment driver in the years ahead. According to Deloitte2, highperforming chemical companies that derive the most value out of innovation typically utilise digital technologies to create a better customer experience.

“Today, a new, more competitive environment is taking shape. The industry is highly diverse in size, geographic reach, business model and customer type; while evolving technology, business practices and customer expectations are quickly raising the bar for B2B practices.”

Digital transformation is disrupting B2B commerce in the chemicals industry, bringing in efficiencies through better price transparency, reliability of the supply chain, knowledge of the underlying chemistry and regulatory guidelines for targeting end applications. Companies and platforms must be part of these ecosystems if they are to be even remotely relevant across the chemical industry value chain.

AZELIS One organisation that has embraced digital technologies is Azelis - a specialty chemical and food ingredients distributor operating in 56 countries and serving more than 45,000 business customers, with annual sales of £1.95 billion. Its customer-oriented digital strategy focuses on growing relationships within its ecosystem and optimising complex supply chains. This allows the company to better understand various market trends, keeping the product portfolio and solution focus customer-centric. Heli Kilpala, Group Strategy and Digitalisation Director at Azelis, says: “We have seen a twofold efficiency gain with digital tools, both for employees and customers.” Digital tools such as ERP, CRM, MDM, PIM and eCommerce have enabled data centralisation. Centralising information around data governance and processes has eliminated many duplicated efforts. The result is added freedom from routine tasks, more time for value-added activities, better focus on customers and the agility to quickly react to trends. A digital-first approach meant that Azelis was wellequipped to pick up market activity, react to new customer needs, and plan production accordingly. Azelis also took the opportunity to accelerate the deployment of digital platforms such as its e-Lab, a virtual collaboration center to optimise formulations, and a customer portal with both eCommerce capabilities, technical and informational insights.

CUSTOMER PORTAL Traditionally, chemical sales are an in-person activity. Azelis realised that moving some aspects online could improve the journey and experience for suppliers and customers. The process, however, wasn’t easy. Regulatory and compliance requirements vary between locations and chemical products. Chemical customers must do extensive research and collect documentation about their products, so the discovery process can be long. Its new portal – developed with implementation partner Smile - is

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| industry 4.0 |

the central depository where customers can find high-quality technical information, products, formulation, and samples, and the most up-to-date information for their projects. The first portal launched in July 2020 with new rollouts every month, and 38 portals currently in operation.

BENEFITS OF DIGITALISATION Here are just a few of the broad benefits that chemical distributors experience with digitalisation. Improved agility The pandemic shattered global supply chains, leading many manufacturers and distributors to think more locally. Companies in the chemical sector need the agility necessary to pivot to new, adjacent markets as they are identified. Data informs insights into processes and production lines to identify where and when retooling futureproofs the company. Increased efficiency Today, everyone from startups to tech giants leverages digital tools to enhance decision-making, introduce new products, and reduce data silos. As competition increases, brands will be pushed to increase efficiencies wherever possible, reduce costs, and preserve value. Digital tools automate processes, centralise data, and allow everyone to work more efficiently. Enhanced customer experiences Chemical companies must adopt a broad range of digitally enabled processes and practices to be more effective in marketing and reach customers. In today’s digitally connected world, chemical companies are no longer measured by their ability to launch new products. Instead, experience leaders enhance customer journeys with greater transparency, shorter buyer cycles, logistics services, and other value-added products.

COVID-19 AND BEYOND The relative health and diversity of the chemicals market means that the industry will continue to grow through 2022 and beyond. While traditionally the industry has been a late digital adopter, we now have hard evidence that eCommerce sales have been on a growth trajectory in recent years. Long before the pandemic, the chemical industry was inching towards digital transformation at a glacial pace as a means to supplement offline channels. The impact of Covid-19 accelerated the development and adoption of digital technologies. Before starting the conversation with your digital commerce vendor, understand how your digitalisation strategy fits your organisation and ecosystem and identify how improved processes will benefit your partners and customers. oroinc.com/uk/b2b-ecommerce

REFERENCES 1.

How long before the digital disruption reaches the chemical industry? https://www.ey.com/en_uk/advancedmanufacturing/how-long-before-the-digital-disruptionreaches-the-chemicals-industry.

Innovation in chemicals https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/insights/industry/oiland-gas/chemical-innovation.html

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| industry 4.0 |

Evonetix demonstrates novel enzymatic DNA synthesis method

Dr Raquel Sanches-Kuiper VP of Technology at Evonetix

Proprietary thermally-controlled synthesis chemistry will enable production of high quality DNA at scale, making it a key milestone in the development of Evonetix’s benchtop DNA synthesis platform. EVONETIX LTD (‘Evonetix’), the synthetic biology company specialising in semiconductor technology for DNA synthesis, has achieved enzymatic DNA synthesis capability with its proprietary, thermally controlled synthesis chemistry. The culmination of a three-year development program, supported by Innovate UK and in collaboration with Durham University, the results demonstrate that Evonetix’s unique, semiconductor array-based platform is compatible with both chemical and enzymatic DNA synthesis, enabling the production of scarless DNA sequences that are directly compatible with downstream processing. Synthetic biology is expected to impact many industries, but the production of high-fidelity DNA at scale, without the need for post-synthesis error correction, has remained a challenge. Evonetix‘s novel approach re-engineers traditional phosphoramidite synthesis chemistry to use thermal, rather than acidic, control of deprotection reactions. This approach enables parallel synthesis of thousands of sequences on a single chip. The research was directed by Dr Raquel Sanches-Kuiper, VP of Technology at Evonetix, whose enzyme engineering team has focussed on the development of enzymes that can incorporate Evonetix modified nucleotides efficiently. The

programme was completed in collaboration with Dr David Hodgson, Associate Professor of Chemistry at Durham University, whose group was involved in developing the modified nucleotides for enzymatic synthesis in Evonetix silicon arrays. Dr Raquel Sanches-Kuiper, VP of Technology at Evonetix, said: “We have, for the first time, demonstrated thermally controlled enzymatic DNA synthesis. Our approach brings together thermally controlled synthesis and error detection, allowing for high-throughput assembly of high-fidelity gene-length DNA at scale. Our synthesis platform can now be used with both enzymatic and chemical synthesis, allowing us to smoothly integrate our enzymatic approach as this technology develops. Our unique, on-chip, synthesis and error correction platform will overcome many of the existing challenges in current approaches to de novo gene synthesis.” Dr David Hodgson, Associate Professor of Chemistry at Durham University, added: “We have been able to combine our world leading expertise in nucleotide chemistry with the novel Evonetix approach for enzymatic DNA synthesis, enabling cleaner, simpler synthesis reactions that will ultimately allow for scaled production of high-quality synthetic DNA with revolutionary applications across industry and research.” Simon Rowland, Innovate UK, commented: “Engineering Biology was identified in the 2021 UK Innovation Strategy as one of the key technologies that will deliver future economic success in the UK. The rapidly growing synthetic biology market is estimated to reach $40 billion by the mid-2020s. Innovate UK supports businesses and research institutions to drive business investment into R&D and is proud to have supported Evonetix and the development of this game-changing innovation in DNA synthesis.” Details at evonetix.com.

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www.desmi.com • desmi@desmi.com

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| training |

TfS launches learning hub for chemical companies and suppliers Together for Sustainability (TfS), the industry-led initiative for sustainable chemical supply chains, has launched a free capability-building and learning service for member companies and suppliers.

The TfS Academy is open for member companies’ employees and selected supply chain partners to build on their existing knowledge to stay abreast of the latest recommendations and expectations in the area of sustainable procurement.

The courses include e-learnings, guidelines, webinar recordings, and quick reference guides, and are divided into six areas: health and safety, environment, sustainable procurement, labour and human rights, management, and governance.

TfS President Bertrand Conquéret said: “The TfS initiative is based on the belief that procurement is a key enabler in making supply chains and businesses at large more sustainable. Therefore, it is essential that we empower our procurement teams and supply chain partners by equipping them with the right sustainability knowledge and expertise.

The TfS Academy curriculum aims to meet the learning needs of the TfS community, based on analysis of the most pressing issues of interest. Topics covered include water and waste management, managing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting biodiversity, preventing forced labour, transparency and ethics, and embedding sustainability standards in procurement processes.

“The TfS Academy intends to do just that, opening its doors to buyers and suppliers at all levels to boost their sustainability skills in key areas enabling them to apply their learnings at work and drive Sustainable Leadership.”

“The courses include e-learnings, guidelines, webinar recordings, and quick reference guides, and are divided into six areas: health and safety, environment, sustainable procurement, labour and human rights, management, and governance.”

These are suitable for all levels of experience (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) and roles (from blue-collar to C-Suite), and range in length and breadth, allowing each learner to follow along at their own pace. The TfS Academy will help suppliers prepare for or followup on TfS Audits and Assessments and supporting buyers from TfS member companies in their ongoing dialogue with suppliers to improve sustainability performance. Learn more about TfS’ commitment to ongoing capability-building, as well as other activities, in the 2021 Activity Report. Details at tfs-initiative.com.

Apeiron exists to create a positive impact in this world. Regulatory compliance is our point of departure. We then go the extra mile to drive long-term improvement for human health and environment, with added value for society. We do this by means of incremental improvements or, even better, by creating a step-change.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we can look back and say that our out-of-the-box thinking helped make a paradigm shift?

Like neural networks in our brain create innovative ideas, we build connections across networks of people who want to bring about the transformation.

How can we help you? SUSTAINABILITY Looking for ways to change away from our today’s throwaway society, Circular Economy is a more regenerative approach focused on re-using material in order to slow down depletion of our natural resources. Our search for sustainable chemicals and technologies drives long-term improvement for human health & environment. We are passionate about closing the loop by enabling re-use and recycle.

REACH & CLP We provide the strategic, scientific and regulatory support that is required for the implementation of your REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction) and CLP obligations. We guide you through all REACH processes with the required knowledge, expertise and industrial experience. We support you in the compliance with the regulation and help you to achieve a sustainable use of chemicals.

BIOCIDES From active substance approval to product authorisations… We offer the strategic and regulatory insights and scientific knowledge required to support the implementation of your Biocidal Product Regulation (BPR) obligations. Apeiron-Team is your partner for your BRP obligations on national and European level.

APEIRON-TEAM – Address Berten Pilstraat 4, 2640 Mortsel, Belgium Phone +32 3 808 20 67 Email info@apeiron-team. eu

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| ingredients & blending |

The QPhos ligand.

Sinocompound announces commercialscale production of QPhos ligand The phosphine ligand is available on the kilo scale for the first time, providing scientists with a powerful solution for cross-coupling chemistry. Advanced homogeneous catalysts and ligands producer, Sinocompound Catalysts Co., Ltd, has made phosphinebased QPhos ligand available in kilogram quantities for commercial use. With this ligand now accessible on a large scale, scientists can incorporate QPhos-based catalysts in their drug discovery, screening and process development programs to optimise and streamline product development. Pharmaceutical companies invest significantly in drug development to optimise product synthesis and expedite market innovations. QPhos is a promising ligand in metal-catalyzed crosscoupling reactions, which are fundamental to construct carbon-based bonds featured in most drug scaffolds. However, until now QPhos has not been readily available in commercial quantities, hindering its adoption in process development and scale-up programs.

“There’s an enormous amount of untapped potential in ligands that scientists simply can’t access on a large scale, so they discount them from their screening programs,” explains Dr Carin Seechurn, Associate Director – Technology Solutions, Sinocompound. “Our capability to scale-up the QPhos ligand represents a significant milestone in improving ligand accessibility for researchers. As we continue to expand our manufacturing processes, we’re excited to provide more overlooked ligands and products commercially.” QPhos is a robust dialkylarylphosphine ligand developed by Professor John Hartwig for metal-catalysed cross-coupling reactions¹. Bulky and electron-rich, it performs excellently in many transformations including α-arylation of carbonyl compounds and late-stage C-C bond formation. For more information on Sinocompound’s scalable ligand development solutions, visit en.sinocompound.com.

“Our capability to scale-up the QPhos ligand represents a significant milestone in improving ligand accessibility for researchers. As we continue to expand our manufacturing processes, we’re excited to provide more overlooked ligands and products commercially.” 56

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| ingredients & blending |

‘Hotspot mapping’ accelerates early-phase drug design CCDC, Exscientia, and Oxford University are collaborating on an automated, quantitative method for informing the design of compound selectivity across protein families.

The amount of structural data on protein drug targets continues to grow. However, successfully mining this data to form testable hypotheses that drive drug discovery can prove challenging. Selectivity for the target protein is a crucial property in the development of new therapeutics. In a recent paper in the Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling, authors from the CCDC, Exscientia, and Oxford University show how an automated process leveraging ‘ensemble hotspot maps’ can identify key structural differences that contribute to the selectivity of a compound for one protein over another.

THE POWER OF HOTSPOT MAPPING TO ADVANCE DRUG DESIGN

LEVERAGING REAL-WORLD, EMPIRICAL DATA FOR RELIABILITY The script used to generate the hotspot maps is a Python package called ‘Hotspots API’, which leverages the data in the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) via CCDC’s IsoStar library of interactions. The CSD is the world’s repository for small-molecule organic and metal-organic crystal structures—containing over 1.1 million structures from x-ray and neutron diffraction analyses. IsoStar is a web application that uses the CSD to generate thousands of interactive 3D scatterplots that show the probability of occurrence and spatial characteristics of interactions between pairs of chemical functional groups.

Hotspot mapping quantifies the propensity for compounds to exploit interactions in a preferred binding site—providing a 3D grid of data to help score and prioritize compounds. The power of this method lies in how it finds key interactions during early-phase drug discovery and then distils the information into easily interpretable results.

Dr Jason Cole is a Senior Research Fellow at CCDC. He said: “Using CSD data for this type of analysis provides different insights from energy-calculation-based methods, as the interactions observed in the CSD are influenced by more than their strength.”

Chris Radoux is Head of Structural Bioinformatics at Exscientia and a co-author on the paper. He explained: “Adding hotspot maps early in a drug discovery project can provide a molecular blueprint using the protein structure alone.

STUDY IMPACTS

“This can be used to help determine how druggable a given pocket of a target protein is and to prioritise fragment starting points for compound design. The highest scoring interactions can then be used to guide computational methods and algorithms.”

“Hotspot maps use empirical data to assess protein binding sites to understand the druggability of the pocket, prioritise drug design, and spot differences in similar proteins that might drive compound selectivity”. 57

Exscientia is a global leader in pharmatech, which sits at the interface of advanced AI application and complex drug discovery. They have implemented the hotspot mapping in-house within multiple drug discovery programs and use it to guide target validation and drug design. In addition, a research team at the University of Cambridge recently published in Nature how they used fragment hotspot mapping to identify structures that may assist in designing DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit inhibitors, which show potential as cancer therapeutics.

READ THE PAPERS Mihaela D. Smilova, Peter R. Curran, Chris J. Radoux, Frank von Delft, Jason C. Cole, Anthony R. Bradley, and Brian D. Marsden, J Chem Inf Model, 2022 62 (2), 284-294. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00823 Curran, P. R. et al. “Hotspots API: A Python Package for the Detection of Small Molecule Binding Hotspots and Application to Structure-Based Drug Design.” J. Chem. Inf. Model. 2020, 1911. DOI: doi.org/10.1021/acs.jcim.9b00996 Liang, S., Thomas, S.E., Chaplin, A.K. et al. “Structural insights into inhibitor regulation of the DNA repair protein DNA-PKcs.” Nature, 2022 601, 643–648. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04274-9

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| kluber |

What is Green Chemistry? Is this just a buzz word used to create a more positive image of the Chemical Industry, or is it a true concept that is influencing Chemical Companies to adapt their behaviours and activities at their production sites? Green Chemistry is more than just aiming towards substantiable operations and reducing GHG emissions, Green Chemistry has 12 clear principles that touches various topics: including of course sustainability, efficiency, and environmental, but also extending to subjects like safety and the circular economy. Klüber Lubrication is part of a chemical company itself and since the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 where the Green Chemistry concept was born, Klüber Lubrication has never stopped improving its processes according to these 12 principles, in fact Klüber Lubrication has created their own sustainability matrix to measure progress in this regard. Local production, local material sourcing, installation of solar energy, optimized processes, less wastage and implementing a safety-first philosophy, these are just a few things we do to support Green Chemistry, but what about our Handprint? Lubrication is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Green Chemistry, but lubricants can have a positive impact on at least half of the 12 Green Chemistry principles.

PRINCIPLE #10: DESIGN FOR DEGRADATION A Chemical Park has many applications that represent a higher risk of contamination for the environment, such as the tracks and switches on the railway network, the pumps and hydraulic systems at the water treatment plant, or the conveyors and cranes at the maritime shipping terminal. By using Biodegradable lubricants for these applications risks can be reduced. Many people are still skeptical about the performance of EALs (Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants), resulting in an unwillingness to move to these types of lubricants. The truth, however, is that EALs can outperform conventional lubricants based on mineral oils. Our full range of Klüberbio products can improve the reliability of your components and are available for all applications that pose a risk to the environment.

PRINCIPLE #1: POLLUTION PREVENTION From spills caused by over greasing, seal failure, or the disposal of endof-life lubricants, there are several reasons why lubricants could become a source of pollution in a chemical plant. The use of mineral lubricants for example which have a shorter service life because of their bad resistance to oxidation and temperature and therefore generate more waste. Our Compressor and Gearbox oils on the other hand can extend service life by up to 6 times and reduce grease consumption by almost 800%. When it comes to seals, a lot of pollution comes from lubricants leaking out of seals because of incompatibility between the oil and elastomer material, however by calling on the expertise of our partner companies, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies and EagleBurgmann who have developed the Lube n Seal approach when we recommend a lubricant for a specific application it is possible to maximize the lifetime of your seals.

PRINCIPLE #11: REAL-TIME ANALYSIS FOR POLLUTION PREVENTION By focusing on digitalization solutions for our customers, we are now able to offer an online, real-time oil condition monitoring service. By installing units/sensors on critical equipment we can quickly raise a signal about a potential problem, premature and catastrophic failures can then be caught and addressed before they happen, saving costs on spare parts and disposal. We also have remote sensors available for sending alarms when a leak is detected on different applications like pumps, mechanical seals or gearboxes.

PRINCIPLE #5: SAFER SOLVENT & AUXILIARIES The use of conventional lubricants on some applications could represent a danger and risk to life as some mechanical components operate in enriched oxygen, chlorine, cryogenic, aggressive, or sour environments and need special attention to avoid the risk of toxic vapors, fire and even explosions. Specialty lubricants from Klüber Lubrication based on Perfluoropolyether (PFPE) chemistry for their chemical inertness, BAM approvals (oxygen service) and superior resistance to extreme temperatures alleviate these concerns. The selection of an oil for gas compressors can also be challenging due to the clogging of pressure release valves or problems with downstream catalysis because of an unexpected reaction within the process. Depending on the gas stream of your process, our compressor specialists will help you find the best product for your application.

PRINCIPLE #12: ACCIDENT PREVENTION: An oil change or manually greasing a bearing might not be among the most dangerous tasks a maintenance team face, but synthetic lubricants can save your team anything from 3-6 lubrication runs, which can reduce the risk of injury that can be caused by slippery floors, tripping or falling. It is also not uncommon for some applications in Chemical production plants to be in hazardous areas representing a danger for workers due to out of reach applications making lubrication tasks impossible. Klüber Lubrication has the solution for maximum safety of your employees and for ultimate reliability of your equipment, our Klübermatic smart lubricators will automatically deliver the best lubricant, in the optimal quantity and at the right intervals.

PRINCIPLE #6: DESIGN FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY

At Klüber Lubrication, our quest to reach Green Chemistry excellence is never-ending. We are proud of what we achieved over the past 90 years and hope to help even more chemical companies like us revamp the image of this industrial sector that is part of our daily existence.

In the Chemical Industry several high energy consumption applications have the potential for energy savings by converting to synthetic oils, but synthetic oils are only beneficial if they have better coefficient of friction and better viscosity behaviour versus temperature.

Let’s collaborate, take the Green Chemistry concept to the next level, and make this world a better place to live for us and the future generations.

KlüberEnergy and Klüber Efficiency Support are designed to help our customers reduce their GHG emissions and save energy costs – average energy savings can be between 2-4%. We have 300 cases of proven energy savings using products developed with energy efficiency in mind and have generated up to 7% energy savings using our special lubricants based on Polyalkylene glycol or water-based chemistries.

Jonathan Venditti, Chemist Global Market Manager – Chemical Industry Klüber Lubrication München

Moving ahead together. Extreme Conditions and High Demands on Machinery Requires Expert Solutions Our special lubricants resist high temperatures and corrosive or solvent media which helps to support plant availability/uptime, process reliability, reduction in maintenance time and longer re-lubrication intervals. Through direct consultation and world-wide experience we help our customers select the right lubricant for the right application to extend the service life of the lubricated components. Applications in focus include Gas compressors, air compressors, fasteners used on flanges, ball valves, pump bearings, mechanical seals, and gear boxes. info@uk.klueber.com

We are going to be at CHEMUK @ the NEC, 11th – 12th May, STAND # M33.

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| news |

Government supports expansion of Croda’s lipid systems manufacturing facility Croda International has been awarded a £15.9 million grant by the UK Government to expand its manufacturing facility in Leek, Staffordshire. The company, which is matching the investment, will focus on enhancing the development of high-purity lipid systems – essential delivery systems for next-generation nucleic acid drugs such as mRNA vaccines. On-going investment will be made in assets and capabilities to support pharmaceutical customers with leading solutions for the delivery and enhancement of novel therapeutic drugs, vaccines and gene therapies. It will also materially strengthen the UK’s supply chain in this critical area and ensure that the country is well prepared in the event of future health emergencies The expansion will include building a state-of-the-art lipid system synthesis facility and enhancing innovation and analytical laboratory capabilities at Leek. The site specialises in the production of lipids, that are currently used in a number of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, as well as other Croda health care technologies such as speciality excipients. The investment will expand the range of speciality lipids produced at the site and add significant additional production capacity. Lipid systems offer significant potential beyond COVID-19 as the preferred delivery system for gene editing and mRNA therapeutics. The range of applications for lipid systems is expected to expand rapidly as the platform develops

through clinical trials to commercial launches of new RNA-based applications, such as flu vaccines and cancer treatments.. The Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Kwasi Kwarteng said: “The development of mRNA technology for use in vaccines and essential treatments has been one of the greatest scientific leaps forward since the start of the pandemic, and the potential for its use in future therapies – potentially treating cancer and heart disease – is remarkable. “I am therefore extremely pleased to announce this support for Croda, a market leader in the manufacture of essential mRNA components, and the only manufacturer of lipids currently operating in the UK.” Croda Life Sciences president Daniele Piergentili said: “We are grateful to the UK Government for its support for this important project. It shares our belief that lipid systems offer significant potential for the safe and efficient delivery of next generation vaccines and therapeutic drugs. This investment will meaningfully enhance our lipid system capability and manufacturing capacity, ensuring that Croda plays a central role in both the development and future supply of this important delivery technology.”

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| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| perry process |

FINDING VALUE IN YOUR SURPLUS PROCESS PLANT & EQUIPMENT There are many situations in which you may find your company has surplus process equipment. These could include changes in production, machinery upgrades, or a plant closure. You may wonder whether selling the equipment is worthwhile. Can your old machinery really be worth much? You may be surprised just how much value could be gained by selling your unused process equipment. Used process equipment can have a good re-sale value, and never more so than now. Rising costs of new materials and long delivery times are pushing up the price of used equipment. Selling the machinery will definitely give you a much greater return compared to its scrap value. There are buyers ready to buy your surplus machinery today. So how do you find out what value is in your surplus process equipment? The age of the machinery is not always the main influence. There are several factors which determine the re-sale value of process equipment. Working with a reputable machinery dealer who has industry experience and can offer you several selling options will give you the chance to maximise the return, and will make the process as straightforward as possible. If you work with a company who can buy outright from you, the machinery can be taken off your hands quickly, freeing up cash and space immediately.

disposal options available to help you sell your machinery as quickly as possible and for the best market price. You can even use the value of your unwanted process equipment to offset the cost of buying another machine as part of a comprehensive trade-in service. Other options available include outright purchase, a consignment sales agreement, an equipment listing service, and a full asset disposal package. Their experienced buying team can offer advice on the best option for you. Perry can take care of every step of the process including the removal and transportation, allowing you to concentrate on your business.

Perry Process Equipment Ltd are a UK dealer of used process machinery for the chemical & pharmaceutical industries. Established in the UK in 1990, they are the European Headquarters of the PERRY Group, a trusted name in the used process equipment market. Perry has a number of

Perry Process Equipment Ltd buy all types of used process equipment as well as complete process plants and lines. They will be exhibiting at CHEMUK 2022 and welcome you to visit their stand G30 to meet the team and find out more about their services.

Perry has been buying and selling used & refurbished process plant and equipment since 1932 to the chemical, pharmaceutical and food processing industries. We can help your company save time & money on your process equipment.

Perry Process Equipment Ltd Station Road Aycliffe Business Park Newton Aycliffe County Durham, DL5 6EQ 01325 315 111 ppel@perryprocess.co.uk www.perryprocess.co.uk

Visit us at CHEMUK 2022 Stand G30 Main Equipment: Centrifuges - Dryers - Evaporators - Filters - Heat Exchangers - Mills Mixers & Blenders - Reactors - Tanks & Vessels - Plants & Lines

Capabilities: Mechanical Refurbishment - Equipment Testing - Immediate Delivery Flexible Payment - Trade In - Equipment Disposal

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| chemical supply chain |

Building a winning pricing strategy in today’s highly volatile market Robert Smith

Customer Services Executive at Pricefx

Business plans and targets for 2022 need to be redrawn in the face of persistently volatile market conditions. Robert Smith, of Pricefx, explains how businesses can maintain focus in these challenging times. The chemical industry worldwide has been under siege by an ever-evolving series of challenges, including shortages of raw materials, supply chain bottlenecks, shipping and trucking delays, unprecedented cost increases and inflation, plant shutdowns and restrictions on movement, and a whole lot more. Just when it seemed it was time for things to settle down, a resurgence of Covid in some regions of the world, as well as war-related sanctions, have become the latest hurdles. Every factor has led to fluctuating (mostly increasing) prices and cost increases… so is it possible to stay on target? Ripple effects are easily seen in the industry. As an example, the shortage of urea is affecting industries worldwide,

including those fuelled by fertiliser and diesel. Urea is needed in Diesel Exhaust Fluid to keep diesel to run cleanly. China, the world’s largest producer of urea, stopped exports of the product because of fuel costs and the decline of diesel access. Another factor to this problem is the shortage of labour to drive these diesel trucks. Also a main ingredient in fertiliser, urea is needed for crops and field production, affecting spikes in food prices, and shortages around the world. Now, fertiliser is further stressed by Russia’s position as a significant supplier to some regions of the world. To appropriately suit up for what’s to come for the rest of this year, chemical industry players need to review and adjust their strategic pricing plans – often. Achieving margin goals that support earnings must take precedence but need ongoing focus to ensure success.

COMMODITY VS. SPECIALTY PRODUCTS Our current challenges should not deter producers of specialty products from seeking recognition of differential value, with pricing reflecting the differences. It’s actually more important to emphasise this in dynamic environments. Many commodity product areas need to prioritise recognition of increases in underlying costs and frequent price changes for nimble pricing actions to achieve margin goals. Be particularly sensitive to significant changes in logistics costs, which should drive surcharges or targeted cost recovery actions.

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| chemical supply chain |

DATA AND TECHNOLOGY Data, analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning are making it a lot easier for players in the chemical industry to forecast data on pricing and sales. These technologies help companies move more quickly on adjusting prices, empower their sales teams, and become more successful in attaining margin and earnings goals. If you aren’t using such technology now, this is a great time to evaluate and implement it – your competitors are likely onto this strategy.

FOCUS AND MEASURE To accommodate and anticipate our constantly shifting circumstances in the market, a laser focus is imperative on certain metrics to monitor forecasted outcomes and progress on pricing. When business plans and pricing plans are in place, you’ll want to keep the following metrics on the front burner as this will help your business adapt when things go off course in the market. In addition to the usual and preeminent metrics around revenue, volume, contribution margin, earnings, and direct and indirect costs, here are some additional focus areas of importance to keep your business on track in 2022: Distribution costs Workforce shortages leading to increased payroll and wage bills, increased fuel costs, shortages in truck, ship, rail, and even a pallet deficit have led to cost increases. 2022 has shown us these issues are continuing to give the industry a run for its money. Businesses must be vigilant in cost oversight and should pass on these increased costs to meet margin and earnings goals. These types of costs are often overlooked in some company pricing systems. Place these costs front and centre, especially now, so you can be agile and flexible with corresponding pricing actions. Delivery percentage What percentage of your goods are arriving on time? If your chemicals are being delivered late, how late? Over the past year, customer satisfaction in this arena has been increasing

in importance, so it’s imperative to get this percentage right. Understanding your on-time delivery percentage is worth a premium and should be reflected in your pricing strategy. Customer retention Data and analytics that monitor business gains and losses will determine the health of your company and help with customer retention. Are you losing customers by not being able to deliver your chemical products on time and they are heading elsewhere? Or alternatively, are your customers staying put with you because they consider ‘it is better doing business with the devil I know’. Leverage data and analytics to constantly monitor business gains and losses, and the reasons for them. It costs a lot less to retain a customer than to find a new one. Utilise learnings to retain current customers and gain ones that align with strategy. Brass tacks Every winning pricing strategy will always include a strong foundation of the usual suspects – total revenue, volume, earnings, contribution margin, and direct and indirect costs. Remember, for the pricing team, contribution margin is the holy grail – it requires attention at the customer, market, and product level, and for the total business. What is of primary importance is that as we make adjustments to plans and tactics, these must be clearly communicated to all stakeholders with highly visible metrics to ensure everyone is pulling together toward the adaptations in plans and goals. Robert Smith has 30 years’ experience in the chemical manufacturing industry, with responsibility for setting pricing to drive profitable revenue growth for the majority of his career. Details at pricefx.com.

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| chemical supply chain |

The value of trade associations in the chemical supply chain New and increasingly stringent regulations, combined with disruption from Covid, Brexit and the Ukraine crisis, are causing ongoing issues for the industry. Tim Doggett, Chief Executive of the Chemical Business Association (CBA), discusses their impact and explains how trade associations can help companies in the sector deal with change and disruption. Chemicals play a fundamental role in society. Used in virtually all sectors and industries, they have a direct impact on everything from agriculture to technology, and practically every aspect of our daily lives. Without them, our way of life would be impossible, which is why the chemical supply chain is so important. When issues arise, great swathes of industry are affected, as are the countless endusers who rely on their products and services.

UNDERSTANDING TRANSPORT The undisrupted transport of chemicals is vital if companies are to have the raw materials they need. To reduce risk and find solutions to problems that arise, companies need a thorough understanding of the complexities and issues faced in transporting chemicals to, from and within the UK, EU, and rest of world. Trade associations offer guidance, training, and practical support on bureaucracy and paperwork, changes to import and export rules, regulation and compliance, security (site, transport, and personnel), and best practice. The carriage of dangerous goods by road is regulated by the ‘International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road’ (ADR) and may require the appointment of at least one ‘Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser’ (DGSA) Trade associations may also provide this service through their own teams of qualified DGSAs, who offer support on many ADR related enquiries, such as the preparation of documents, classification, labelling or carriage requirements.

OVERSEAS ADVOCACY Trade associations also have years, in some circumstances decades, of experience providing chemical businesses with representation and consultancy for overseas security and government agencies. They can provide advocacy not just within Westminster and Whitehall, but also in Brussels, where they can have effective working relationships with legislators, policymakers and regulators.

HIGH-LEVEL REPRESENTATION With all the noise of government, chemical businesses must engage with organisations that have a voice at the top table and which can provide direct advice, evidence, and

Tim Doggett Chief Executive of the Chemical Business Association feedback to all levels of the government, including ministers and departments such as the DfT and DIT. Lobbying on behalf of the industry, trade associations have gained some significant and important outcomes. Most recently, these include the introduction of various short and medium-term remedies for the HGV driver shortage and the announcement by DEFRA that it would consult on extending the deadlines for UK REACH and explore the possibility of a new data model that would deliver the appropriate levels of data to support UK REACH registrations. Organisations like the Chemical Business Association (CBA), the Chemical Industries Association (CIA) and the British Coatings Federation (BCF) work independently to support their members, but also collaborate when there is appropriate mutual interest. All three are members of ‘The Alliance of Chemical Associations’ (ACA) which consists of trade associations representing companies operating in many sectors of the industry’s supply chain. The ACA member trade associations represent some 1,400 companies, the majority of which are SMEs in the UK. These companies have a combined annual turnover of £45 billion and employ 170,000 people.

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| chemical supply chain |

THE IMPACT OF COVID AND BREXIT

DEALING WITH THE UNKNOWN

Two of the most critical challenges thrown up in the past two years have been supply chain disruption and regulation changes.

Covid and Brexit highlight the fact that the chemical industry must develop the agility and resilience to deal with ongoing change and unexpected disruption. The latest example of this is the Ukraine crisis. With its industry grinding to a halt – and likely to take many years to recover -- as well as the unprecedented sanctions imposed on Russia, yet more havoc has been wreaked on the supply chain.

Brexit and Covid have exacerbated what has been a growing problem for many years: the lack of HGV drivers. While demand for transport has continually increased, the number of qualified HGV drivers has dwindled, with those retiring not being replaced by newer recruits and others leaving the industry completely. Prior to the last two years, low pay, lack of facilities, difficult working conditions and a generally poor perception of an HGV career have undermined efforts to retain and recruit drivers. With Brexit, the situation deteriorated even further as the number of EU drivers working in the UK plummeted. Meanwhile, those drivers still delivering chemicals have faced additional disruption through Covid infections, isolation requirements, lockdowns and travel restrictions. Brexit has caused additional issues with the trading and transport of bulk chemicals between the EU and UK. Aside from more paperwork and bureaucracy, there are also regulatory changes – with UK REACH, for example – that will continue to arise as EU and UK regulations begin to diversify over time. As a result, some of the chemicals that many UK companies rely on today may be prohibited or become commercially unviable in the future. It is a scenario that could lead to significant manufacturing challenges and even mean some products are no longer available.

Ukraine, for example, is the largest supplier of noble gases used in the production of semiconductors, while Russia plays a vital role in the production of commodities such as urea as well as metals including palladium, titanium, phosphate rock and scandium, which are essential in numerous production processes. While trade associations can do nothing to stop the conflict in Ukraine, they do assist companies at the sharp end of the disruption by providing evidence or expertise to government on specific issues, or in assisting in facilitating the opening of potential new trade networks. One UK chemical trade association, for example, is currently in discussion with the German Embassy and Indian High Commission to promote trade with the UK. These organisations also provide ongoing support to individual businesses while representing the interests of the chemical supply industry to governments at home and abroad. More details at chemical.org.uk.

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| reach global |

TURKISH KKDIK; “NO DATA NO MARKET” RULE UNDER DEADLINE PRESSURE AND LACK OF LEAD REGISTRANTS too The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change (MoEUCC) has recently sent a warning message to all potential registrants; “Chemicals cannot be placed on the Turkish market after the deadline of 31 December 2023 unless they are registered.” This confirms once again that registration dossiers should be prepared and submitted to MoEUCC as soon as possible. Recently, there is a lot of communication traffic within the SIEFs in Turkey. However, fifteen months after the pre-registration deadline of 31 December 2020, many substances have not been registered by the lead registrants yet. The lead registrants declared to the Ministry their lead role through online Chemical Registration System (KKS) if there is no objection from SIEF members. In case there are more than one lead candidates, members voted for them. On the other hand, for a significant number of substances no lead candidate appears in KKS. Some of the leaders have already prepared and submitted their dossiers to the Ministry. The process takes quite much time considering dossier creation processes on KKS, i.e. Chemical Safety Report preparation & certification, translation and data licensing for Turkey. One should keep in mind that it is also taking some time for the Ministry to review and approve the dossiers. Therefore, the Ministry is urging the manufacturers, importers and Only Representatives to prepare their registration dossiers and not to leave their submissions to the last minute.

FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENT ON DOSSIER ASSESSMENTS BY THE MINISTRY The Ministry reviews submitted registration dossier and if there is any missing information, the registrant receives a feedback through KKS with a list of requested corrections & updates which need to be done within 7-10 days. If requested by the registrant, the Ministry might extend the given deadline. The Ministry highlights two important points in its latest announcement on update procedures in KKS: Updates must be processed on submitted substances page in KKS. The registrants should not edit &submit the dossier in substance management page as it will create a new registration submission. If the dossier cannot be updated within the given deadline, it will be rejected as per in Article 20 (2) (ç) of KKDIK and the registration fee will not be reimbursed.

However, you will be pre-registering with “good intention” to meet the regulation and Ministry is tolerant for such late compliances.

POTENTIAL CO-REGISTRANTS ARE WAITING FOR SIEF AGREEMENT & LOA FEE INFORMATION As there are ongoing discussions between data owners in EU and Lead registrants in Turkey, although the lead registrants do prepare their dossiers in KKS, they cannot submit before getting the right to use their REACH data for KKDIK. A few EU consortia have updated their existing data sharing agreements for UK and Turkey and determined LoA costs. Lately, potential co-registrants are wondering the timeline in order to not the leave their submissions to the last minute and waiting for other details to be clarified such as; substance information profiles (SIPs) and SIEF agreements as well as Letter of Access (LoA) fees. Data sharing, cost modeling, determination of LoA fees, financial management and legal issues are all needed to be well and urgently assessed under KKDIK. Since 2008, as RGS Group of companies, we are assisting manufacturers in over 55 countries to comply with international chemicals legislations. We joined our forces with Chemservice Group to establish ChemAdvocacy Turkey (CATR) in April 2021 to independently coordinate the administrative and technical processes of the SIEF management with the Lead Registrants, and the relevant consortia in the EU. Currently, CATR is transposing its EU REACH, K-REACH, UK REACH experience on Consortia Management, Data Management, Financial Management into KKDIK. If you have any questions on Turkish chemicals regulations, do not hesitate to contact RGS for more details on our services. REACH Global Services Group Hilal Sevinc Deputy Director www.reach-gs.eu

KKS STILL ALLOWS COMPANIES TO “PRE-REGISTER” Unlike EU REACH, there is no “late pre-registration” mechanism according to KKDIK. Late pre-registration terminology is not used by the Ministry. But currently the Ministry’s KKS online system still allows companies to pre-register after the deadline of 31st December 2020. This particularly aims the manufacturers, Only Representatives or importers who are placing chemicals on the market for the very first time as of 2021. Other companies who already placed chemicals on the market had to meet the deadline of 31 December 2020. If you already placed the substance on the market and pre-register now, this will be considered as a pre-registration beyond the official deadline and the date of the submission will clearly be seen on KKS by the Ministry.

Each customer is a “project” deserving a tailor made solution that best suits its needs!

• EU REACH & Turkish KKDIK OR Services • SIEF-Consortia Management • Chemical Safety Report & SDS Authoring • EU Cosmetics Regulation RP Services • CPNP Notification• PIF Preparation & Safety Assessment • K-REACH, CSCL, MEP Order 7, TCSCA Representations

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| news |

Expanded range of nucleic acid extraction kits for pathogens detection AMSBIO has added several new products to its range of magnetic bead based nucleic acid extraction kits for pathogens detection. The MagSi-NA Pathogens MSP (Multiple Sample Pooling) kit sets a benchmark for automated isolation of nucleic acids (RNA and DNA) from respiratory samples. Sample pooling is useful in times of high testing and low infection prevalence where traditional sample screening methods are not cost-effective. This will be particularly effective in school and healthcare settings where periodic and comprehensive testing of large numbers of asymptomatic individuals is needed to ensure rapid detection and control of outbreaks. In ‘pooled testing’, samples from many patients are collected and pooled before viral RNA extraction and PCR testing. If pooled samples are determined to be negative, this eliminates the need to test patients individually. Transmission from patients in positive pools can then be prevented through isolation and re-testing. This will allow labs to process more samples while simultaneously reducing reagent costs and saving time. Traditionally one of the main disadvantages in sample pooling has been the risk of false negative results due to dilution caused by classical sample pooling methods. The MagSi-NA Pathogens MSP kit overcomes this issue by using a non-dilutive technique to sequentially capture all viral RNA present in any of up to six samples, all in a single magnetic bead pellet. Rapid and complete recovery from each sequential sample is ensured by very-high-strength magnetic bead technology. The result is a nearly six-fold increase in sample throughput and savings of up to 80% on extraction and PCR reagent costs. This is achieved

without any reduction in sensitivity or increase in false negative rates. The kit provides a solution for the automated isolation of nucleic acids (RNA and DNA) from a wide range of samples using magnetic particle processors. The automation-ready rQ MagSi-NA Pathogens kit, consisting of conveniently pre-filled deep-well plates, will also help labs increase throughput and allow for the preparation of up to 96 samples in less than 20 min. The pre-filled plates can be used directly in PurePrep 96, 32, 16 or KingFisher automated, nucleic acid purification systems for the extraction of pathogenic DNA and RNA to reduce handson time and minimises errors to achieve consistent and reproducible results. AMSBIO has also introduced a CE-IVD marked version of the existing popular Mag-Si NA pathogens kit. The new MagSi-DX Pathogens kit has been specifically validated for SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic workflow and is ideal for labs requiring CE-IVD products for use in human diagnostics. CE-IVD marked versions of MagSi-NA Pathogens MSP and rQ MagSi-NA Pathogens are scheduled for release in the coming months. All these new kits are based on AMSBIO’s MagSi-Na Pathogens kit which uses strong magnetic beads to allow fast magnetic separation even from viscous human respiratory swabs and saliva samples to achieve consistently high yields of viral RNA, ideal for use in SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics. More information at amsbio.com/magsi-na-pathogens-kit.

11th & 12th May 2022 The NEC, Birmingham, UK PRE-REGISTER FOR FREE ENTRY!

CHEMUK2022 The Supply Chain Expo & Speaker Programme for the UK’s Chemical Industry

FREE ENTRY

WHEN ERED PRE-REGIST

2 Packed Days 350+ Leading Exhibitors Latest Plant & Equipment Chemicals & Materials Sourcing Supply Chain Networking 100+ Expert Speakers Panel Sessions & Keynotes NEW FOR 2022 Bio-Innovation Zone

Headline Partner

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Supporting Partners include:

YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THIS YEARS EXPO www.chemicalukexpo.com

11TH & 12TH MAY 2022 REGISTER FREE AT WWW.CHEMICALUKEXPO.COM

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| chemuk 2021 |

CHEMUK 2022 PRESENTS ‘THE CHEMICAL, PROCESS & PLANT ENGINEERING SHOW’ & ‘THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES SUPPLY CHAIN SHOW The CHEMUK 2022 EXPO returns on the 11th & 12th May 2022 at the NEC in Birmingham. The event, now established as the UK’s only major expo for the UK chemical industries, will showcase 300+ specialist exhibitors and 100+ expert speakers across two co-locating shows; ‘The Chemical, Process & Plant Engineering Show’, and ‘The Chemical Industries Supply Chain Show’. Show organiser, Ian Stone, comments: “CHEMUK is deliberately set out to be a total industry meeting point, creating a fusion of cross-sector energies, inputs and connectivity, however we also recognise the contrasting needs of attending ‘engineering & plant technical management’ and the wider ‘industry supply chain’ focused attendees, on themes such as supply chain chemicals & ingredients, logistics & outsourcing, HSE, regulatory compliance, R&D management and more…. Separating into two complimentary yet contrasting exhibition shows can only help to get attendees locked into discussions with their primary targets quicker, as well as providing an easy ‘under one giant roof’ experience to take in the broader trends of the sector”

The Chemical, Process & Plant Engineering Show The Chemical, Process & Plant Engineering Show will showcase latest technology and specialist services to attending UK plant, process, control & engineering professionals across the chemical and wider process industries embracing: Process Plant / Chemical Unit Equipment / Process Ancillaries & Consumables

Mixing, Agitation & Dispersion

CHEMICAL 4.0 / Digital / Automation

Metering & Dosing

Plant Energy Management

Chemical Processing Tanks / Storage Tanks

Catalysis & Reaction Engineering

Conveying/Feeding / Materials Handling

Heat Exchanger technology / Thermal transfer innovation

Industrial dryers

Control Valves & Actuators / Digital & Automation

Bio-Chemical Process Engineering

Pipes, Hoses, Tubing & Fittings

Process Design / Modelling, Scale-up & Pilot Plant

Flow Technologies

Predictive Maintenance / Condition monitoring / Asset management

Filtration & Separation

Plant Safety Systems Process QA / QC …and more

Current Exhibitors already booked into the show include; FESTO, Schenk Process, Endress+Hauser, Applied Scientific Technologies, GEMU Valves, Moody Direct, Gericke, APEX Pumps, Atlas Copco, AVT Pump, Carbis Filtration, CDR Pumps, Elaflex, Falck Fire Services, HRS Heat Exchangers, VEGA Controls… and many others. Partners supporting the show include GAMBICA, BPMA - British Pump Manufacturers’ Association, BVAA – The British Valve & Actuator Association, Process Intensification Network, NEPIC, Chemicals Northwest and the Tank Storage Association... to name a few

Show Feature: CHEMICAL 4.0 Stage – The Digital Opportunity Reflecting the tectonic shift towards digitized operations, CHEMUK 2022 will present a dedicated speaker programme covering Digital Adoption Strategies, Process Automation & Robotics, Big Data & Process Data Management, AI & Deep Learning, IIoT/VR, Digital-driven sustainability, and lots more.

| CHEMICAL INDUSTRY JOURNAL |

| training |

The Chemical Industries Supply Chain Show The Chemical Industries Supply Chain Show will showcase specialist exhibitors to attending Product Development, R&D, Supply Chain, Operational and Logistics teams from across the chemicals, chemical products & chemicals-dependent industries, covering: Chemicals, Raw Materials & Ingredients

Toll / Contract / Outsourcing/ White & Private Label Services

Chemical Logistics & Transportation

R&D/Laboratory, Analytical & Testing

HSE Management & Regulatory Compliance

Skills, Training & Recruitment

Specialist Chemical Labelling

Business & Operational Support

Major names already booked into the show include: BTC Europe, Brenntag, Surfachem, Robinson Brothers, Kimia UK. Cod Beck Blenders, Airedale Group, Briar Chemicals, Libra Specialty Chemicals, NCEC, AirSea Containers, Knoell, RAS Risk & Hazard Management, Lakeland Laboratories, Rutpen… and many others.

Partners supporting the show include the CBA – Chemical Business Association, BCMPA – The Association for Contract Manufacturing, Packing, Fulfilment & Logistics, BIOVALE, Chemicals Northwest, NEPIC, CATCH, Royal Society of Chemistry… to name a few.

Show Feature: ‘CHEMLAB’ Programme CHEMLAB will showcase specialist exhibitors providing Laboratory solutions & services, embracing Research & Development, Testing & Analysis, Process Design & Optimisation through to QC/QA Laboratory testing, serving the industrial chemicals & chemical products industries.

Expanded Sustainability & Circular Economy agenda at CHEMUK 2022: New for 2022 is the dedicated ‘Sustainability Stage’, hosting panel sessions and feature presentations embracing critical themes such as chemical recycling & sustainable chemical processing, together with ‘green chemistry’ innovation and transition to bio-based products. Also new for 2022 will be the ‘Bio-Based Chemicals & Processing INNOVATION ZONE’, showcasing breaking innovation start-ups, university spinouts etc, with exciting concepts.

DATES FOR THE DIARY CHEMUK 2022 takes place on Wed 11th & Thu 12th May 2022 Venue: NEC - National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, B40 1NT Opening Times: Day 1: 9.30am – 5.00pm Day 2: 9.30am – 4.00pm

Registration for CHEMUK 2022 is open now. Register for your FREE entry badge at www.chemicalukexpo.com

chemuk2022 See us at stand

F11

Chemlink Specialities, a member of HARKE GROUP, is a dynamic company offering an application and formulation led approach to chemical distribution. We are supported by a comprehensive range of products from quality manufacturers.

Adams LubeTech Limited, manufactures and supplies Lubrication Equipment. We have an unrivalled reputation as a manufacturer of single point “Lubricators and Oilers”, and export to over 40 countries worldwide. Adams also supply Centralised Lubrication Systems Equipment, and with our parent company LIONOIL, can provide design, build, installation, and maintenance services for High Specification Lubrication Systems. Solutions have been designed to deliver controlled lubrication to a few, or even, thousands of points, enhancing plant reliability, reducing lubricant consumption and maintenance costs. Applications areas include most industrial sectors such as, Chemical, Food, and machine applications. We are a certified ISO 9001:2015 company. www.adamslube.com

Our unique service covers an extensive spectrum of industries ranging from HI&I, Cosmetics and Personal Care to Autocare and Pharmaceuticals.

Addi-Tec offer a sophisticated range of performance chemicals to the Plastics, PVC, Paints, Coatings, Geo Textiles and Formulator Industries. Our approach is to work closely with processors to ensure we meet ever more stringent technical and regulatory demands at a reasonable cost. We are ideally placed to assist you in overcoming technical problems and achieving long term improvement and commercial benefit.

Visit us at ChemUK! Stand K11 chemlink.co.uk

addi-tec.co.uk

See us at stand

Visit u s on stand

M35

J55

Find outsourcing partners for your chemical projects Whether you’re searching for companies to help with formulation, blending, tolling, filling, repacking from bulk, export packing, distribution ... there is bound to be a BCMPA member who can help.

Dura-ID Solutions help you comply to changing regulations with ease. A full solution allows you to print in-house, reducing pre-printed label waste when an ingredient or percentage changes in a product. A rollfed solution will allow you to utilise an applicator on your filling line, reducing the manpower and time associated with labelling product. With access to various exclusive materials, a number of our print solutions are fully 3-part BS5609 approved, but only when used in conjunction with our labels. Come and see our print solutions in-person on Stand J55 and talk to our experts about how we can help. www.dura-id.com

Search our database of members and the services they provide on bcmpa.org.uk

BCM573_Chem_Ad_sm.indd 3

See 18/12/2019 us at stand

B27

BPMA has been supporting UK and Irish suppliers of liquid pumps and pumping equipment since 1941. Its mission: • To be the effective voice of the pump industry • To satisfy the needs of the members • To encourage the active participation of the members • To maximise the membership of the Association BPMA helps the pump sector through the provision of technical support, standards updates, knowledge transfer and independent pump training, which includes two world-class e-Learning courses, six lecture-based courses, as well as on-site and bespoke pump training. In 2019, BPMA launched Flow, a unique quarterly magazine packed with news, innovations, insight and applied technology for users of pumps and pumping systems. Come along to Chem UK, see what BPMA has to offer and pick up a free copy of Flow. www.bpma.org.uk

10:46

See us at stand Gericke have developed a wide range of specialist powder handling applications for the chemical industry, incorporating advanced technology and superior performance features to satisfy the industry’s need for improved economy and safety. Each customer has its own process flow. Gericke specialises in the raw material reception, storage, silo discharge and recipe preparation. Gericke’s conveying technology is gentle and preserves the quality of the raw material from tank unloading through to storage. Screw feeders or belt weighers are adjusted to the characteristics and particle size of the ingredients. Continuous or batch mixers for mixing of the starting powders and challenging liquids. www.gerickegroup.com/en

J28

www.chemicalukexpo.com

exhibitors See us at stand

See us at stand

Over 20 year’s experience ISS Projects (UK) Ltd (Stand E33) provide specialist Liquid Level Management solutions to industry throughout the UK and Europe. We design, install and upgrade all types of tank gauging systems and provide planned preventative maintenance and annual calibration/validation services. Our safety professionals can design and verify Safety Integrity Level (SIL) systems and have experience of working in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive on top tier COMAH sites. For remote telemetry we use off the shelf units giving real time levels, alerts and trending using GSM technology to provide seamless integration with existing site infrastructure.. www.issprojects.co.uk

J50

E33

RAS Ltd is an independent firm of risk experts specialising in major accident hazards. RAS work with a number of the leading companies in the oil and gas and specialist chemical sectors to help them manage their safety, environment and business risks. The RAS team includes specialists from a variety of backgrounds, enabling us to develop bespoke solutions to any risk problem. Our services span the breadth of risk management, from helping our clients to understand their risks through hazard identification and risk assessment, to helping them prevent, control and mitigate these risks according to the principles of ALARP and emergency response planning. ras.ltd.uk

See us at stand

J53

F11 Progressive approach to reciprocating compressor lubrication Series progressive automatic lubrication system for cylinder and packings with full monitoring of each lube point. Tailor made to customer specifications and needs:

Whether studying the chemistry of life, or developing the advanced science behind modern technology, chemical scientists use their expertise to improve our health, our environment and our daily lives. Collaboration is essential. We connect scientists with each other and society as a whole, so they can do their best work and make discoveries and innovation happen. We publish new research. We develop, recognise and celebrate professional capabilities. We bring people together to spark new ideas and new partnerships. We support teachers to inspire future generations of scientists. And we speak up to influence the people making decisions that affect us all. We are a catalyst for the chemistry that enriches our world. www.rsc.org

• Modular compact systems or complete skid • Brand new systems or overhaul and improvement of systems in place www.lionoil.be

See us at stand

G12

Chemical Dosing & Transfer Solutions from Lutz-Jesco Lutz-Jesco manufacture drum pumps, flowmeters, dosing pumps/ systems, chlorine dioxide & electrochlorination systems and process controllers for use within the Process, F&B, Pharma, Plating, Water, Wastewater & Leisure industries. Drum pumps for safely transferring fluids are available from stock in PP, PVDF, Hastalloy C, Aluminium, 316SS, 316SS Sanitary with a variety of motors, 110v, 230v, air with manual speed control, ATEX and newly released the B1/B2 Battery versions with rechargeable batteries and chargers for total portability. Chemical dosing pumps & Disinfection systems with multiple types of control options are available for client led specifications in today’s demanding applications including remote connectivity. www.lutz-jesco.com/en | www.lutzpump.co.uk

www.chemicalukexpo.com

PRECISE, RELIABLE POWDER PROCESSING SOLUTIONS » WEIGHING & FEEDING » SIFTING & SCREENING » MILLING & GRINDING

Visit us at:

C15

» DENSE PHASE CONVEYING » MIXING & BLENDING » EXTRUSION

enquiries@schenckprocess.co.uk www.schenckprocess.com

chemuk2022

KEY exhibitors See us at stand

See us at stand

M33

L43

In the chemical industry the demand for speciality lubricants continues to increase due to higher demands on processes and the extreme conditions involved. Conventional lubricants could be dangerous when exposed to oxygen, aggressive or cryogenic environments. Our speciality lubricants have a positive impact on plant safety by resisting high temperatures and corrosive or solvent media.

Your Partner for Energy Transition to Carbon Neutrality

We help our customers select the right lubricant for the right application to extend the service life of components and support plant availability/uptime and reduce maintenance times for Gas compressors, air compressors, fasteners used on flanges, ball valves, pump bearings, mechanical seals, and gear boxes.

The market for innovative, highly efficient and climate-friendly energy generation - integrated into production processes on site is gaining momentum. In this context, projects for setting up your own efficient and secure supply of steam, combined heat and power or cooling are promising but complex and sometimes challenging. Therefore we provide attractive complete packages for construction, takeover or modernisation as well as financing your power plant capacities with our individual contracting and financing solutions. www.decarbsolutions.uniper.energy

www.klueber.com/uk/en

See us at stand

Swan & Seres OL – Your Dependable Solution Providers for Water Quality Analysis Swan & Seres instruments are distinguished by their reliability, precision, and quality. Our comprehensive portfolio is entirely dedicated to water analysis providing cost efficient as well as low maintenance solutions. All our instruments for HPW applications have been specifically designed to meet Pharmacopeia standards and are available with IQ/QQ/PQ Validation packages. Our instruments measure and record key Water Quality parameters including TOC, Conductivity and Ozone. For more information visit our website: https://www.swaninstruments.ch/ See us at stand G44

Industrial instrumentation for monitoring and controlling level, interface, pressure even flow and density, with an extensive technology range: Radar, Ultrasonic, Radiometric, Capacitance/Admittance and Pressure solutions, extensive pointlevel switches and state of the art controllers. VEGA will feature their world-leading level and pressure innovations, including NEW 6X process radar sensors and wireless IIoT inventory solutions for liquids, solids and gas levels in Chemical manufacturing and distribution. Approvals: EX, SIL, Marine, Hygienic. Communications: Bluetooth, HART, Ethernet, Profibus, FF and Modbus. A 5 day build-time, 3 year warranty backed with experienced support and advice, provides peace of mind. vega.com

E29

SEE OUR KEY exhibitors AT THESE STANDS

KLUBER LUBRICATION

UNIPER

univar solutions

VEGA

M33

L43

K39

E29 www.chemicalukexpo.com

Towards greater sustainability #ForACleanTomorrow

palladium catalysts

diamond micropowder

janus particles

glassy carbon

nickel foam 1

surface functionalized nanoparticles

organometallics

1.00794

Hydrogen

zeolites 11

anode

2 1

99.999% ruthenium spheres

6.941

2 8 1

2 8 8 1

2 8 18 8 1

22.98976928

24.305

Sodium

osmium

Mg Magnesium

MOFs ZnS

Rb Cs

2 8 18 18 8 1

(223)

2 8 18 9 2

44.955912

2 8 18 18 8 2

Ra (226)

Francium

Ac (227)

Radium

50.9415

Vanadium

91.224

2 8 18 18 9 2

138.90547

2 8 18 10 2

104

Rf (267)

2 8 18 32 10 2

140.116

Th 232.03806

2 8 18 32 32 10 2

2 8 18 21 8 2

Praseodymium 2 8 18 32 18 10 2

Thorium

Pa 231.03588

2 8 18 32 20 9 2

Protactinium

transparent ceramics EuFOD

spintronics

105

Db (268)

2 8 18 32 11 2

2 8 14 2

2 8 18 15 1

2 8 15 2

2 8 18 16 1

2 8 18 32 12 2

106

2 8 16 2

2 8 18 18

Sg (271)

Ru 101.07

2 8 18 32 13 2

186.207

107

Bh (272)

Seaborgium

2 8 18 1

2 8 18 18 1

102.9055

2 8 18 32 14 2

190.23

108

Hs (270)

Bohrium

106.42

2 8 18 32 15 2

2 8 18 23 8 2

Mt (276)

Hassium

(145)

Np (237)

Neptunium

150.36

Promethium 2 8 18 32 21 9 2

2 8 18 24 8 2

2 8 18 32 22 9 2

2 8 18 25 8 2

2 8 18 32 24 8 2

2 8 18 32 32 15 2

110

Ds (281)

2 8 18 25 9 2

2 8 18 32 32 17 1

2 8 18 27 8 2

Rg (280)

Roentgenium

112

(244)

(243)

(247)

Americium

Curium

(247)

Berkelium

rhodium sponge

2 8 18 18 3

2 8 18 32 18 2

(285)

Nh (284)

2 8 18 4

2 8 18 18 4

Fl (289)

Nihonium

2 8 18 18 5

2 8 18 32 18 4

Mc (288)

Flerovium

2 8 18 28 8 2

2 8 18 29 8 2

164.93032

Er 167.259

Holmium 2 8 18 32 28 8 2

(251)

Californium

(252)

100

(257)

Fermium

2 8 18 31 8 2

101

Md (258)

laser crystals

Te Po

102

No (259)

Mendelevium

2 8 18 32 32 18 5

116

Lv (293)

2 8 18 32 32 8 2

103

pharmacoanalysis

(262)

Br I

2 8 18 32 18 6

calcium wires

2 8 18 32 32 18 6

117

(294)

Lawrencium

biosynthetics

dysprosium pellets

Xenon

2 8 18 32 32 18 7

118

process synthesis

2 8 18 32 18 8

(222)

Radon

Og (294)

Oganesson

cermet

2 8 18 18 8

2 8 18 32 32 18 8

h-BN

InGaAs AuNPs

spectroscopy

superconducto

chalcogenides excipients CVD precursors deposition slugs YBCO

refractory metals

metamateri Fe3O4

shift reagents

American Elements opens a world of possibilities so you can

www.americanelements.com

2 8 18 32 18 7

NMR

new products. And much more. All on a secure multi-language "Mobile Responsive” platform.

dielectrics

2 8 18 8

131.293

Tennessine

2 8 18 32 9 2

2 8 18 32 32 8 3

Nd:YAG

83.798

platinum ink

cisplatin

2 8 8

Krypton

cryo-electron microscopy

The Next Generation of Material Science Catalogs

graphene oxide

(210)

state-of-the-art Research Center. Printable GHS-compliant Safety Data Sheets. Thousands of

optical glass

2 8 18 18 7

39.948

Argon

Astatine

Over 5,000 certified high purity laboratory chemicals, metals, & advanced materials and a

MOCVD

Iodine

174.9668

2 8 18 7

126.90447

Lutetium

Nobelium

79.904

Livermorium

2 8 18 32 8 2

Neon

2 8 7

Bromine

(209)

Ytterbium 2 8 18 32 31 8 2

2 8 18 18 6

ITO

20.1797

35.453

Polonium

173.054

Thulium

2 8 18 32 30 8 2

2 8

nano ribbons

Chlorine

127.6

Moscovium

168.93421

Erbium 2 8 18 32 29 8 2

Einsteinium

2 8 18 30 8 2

Tellurium

silver nanoparticles

2 8 18 6

78.96

208.9804

115

32.065

Bismuth 2 8 18 32 32 18 4

2 8 6

Selenium

2 8 18 32 18 5

Fluorine

Sulfur

121.76

207.2

114

Antimony

Lead 2 8 18 32 32 18 3

2 8 18 5

74.9216

Tin

2 7

18.9984032

Arsenic

118.71

2 8 18 32 18 3

30.973762

72.64

2 8 5

Phosphorus

15.9994

Germanium

204.3833

113

28.0855

Thallium 2 8 18 32 32 18 2

2 8 4

2 6

Oxygen

Now Invent.

indicator dyes

14.0067

Silicon

114.818

Pu Am Cm Bk Cf Es Fm enantioselective catalysts Plutonium

2 5

Nitrogen

Indium

Copernicium

Dysprosium 2 8 18 32 27 8 2

200.59

2 8 18 32 32 18 1

2 8 18 3

69.723

Mercury

162.5

Terbium

111

112.411

2 8 18 32 18 1

Gallium

Gold

158.92535

2 8 18 32 25 9 2

2 8 18 18 2

Cadmium

196.966569

Darmstadtium

Gadolinium 2 8 18 32 25 8 2

195.084

157.25

Europium

2 8 18 32 17 1

Zinc

Silver

2 8 3

26.9815386

2 8 18 2

65.38

107.8682

Platinum

Meitnerium

151.964

Samarium

192.217

109

Palladium

macromolecules 61

12.0107

Carbon

Aluminum

Copper

Iridium 2 8 18 32 32 14 2

63.546

Nickel

Rhodium

Osmium 2 8 18 32 32 13 2

58.6934

Cobalt

Ruthenium

Rhenium 2 8 18 32 32 12 2

58.933195

Iron

(98.0)

183.84

2 8 18 32 32 11 2

55.845

Technetium

Tungsten

144.242

2 8 18 13 2

54.938045

Nd Pm Sm

Uranium

Manganese

95.96

2 8 18 22 8 2

238.02891

2 8 13 2

2 4

sputtering targets tungsten carbide

Molybdenum

Neodymium 92

2 8 18 13 1

51.9961

Chromium

Dubnium

rare earth metals

mesoporous silica MBE

2 8 13 1

ultralight aerospace alloys

180.9488

140.90765

Cerium 90

quantum dots

2 8 18 12 1

Tantalum

Rutherfordium

2 8 18 19 9 2

92.90638

178.48

2 8 18 32 18 9 2

2 8 11 2

Niobium

epitaxial crystal growth drug discovery

Hafnium

Actinium

Zirconium

Lanthanum 2 8 18 32 18 8 2

47.867

Yttrium

137.327

2 8 10 2

Titanium

88.90585

Barium 2 8 18 32 18 8 1

2 8 9 2

Scandium

87.62

Cesium

Strontium

132.9054

2 8 18 8 2

40.078

85.4678

Calcium

Rubidium

3D graphene foam

nanodispersions

2 8 8 2

Helium

Boron

2 8 2

isotopes

39.0983

Potassium

metal carbenes

10.811

Beryllium

nanogels

4.002602

2 3

bioactive compounds

9.012182

Lithium

2 2

gold nanoparticles

III-IV semiconductors

screening chemicals

alternative energy

buckyballs

Now Invent!

metallocenes BINAP

conjugated nanostructure

Chemical Industry Journal 26

Articles inside

SUPPLY CHAIN

INDUSTRY 4.0

environmental & health and safety

cyber security

www.chemicalindustryjournal.co.uk / issue

INGREDIENTS AND BLENDING

green chemicals

welcome

Contents