PE roundup 27 March: BCAS, Schneider Electric, Avantium, Engineering UK, Wood, AMRC
27 Mar 2023
Digital collaboration, key appointments, contracts, new builds, anniversaries, contracts... process sector activity continues as we head towards Spring.
Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association chairman Chris Huhne commented on the newly-created Department for Energy Security and Net Zero launch of its mid-scheme review of the Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS).The former energy and climate change secretary said recognition of biogas’s contribution would be vital, remarking: "The key to a successful review will be the recognition that biogas – anaerobic digestion – can take many waste streams and turn them into useful energy and fertiliser, so we need a flexible support package that maximises the lifespan of existing assets while encouraging new development.” He added the organisation welcomed proposals such as the continuation of the 50% waste feedstock thresholds and the scheme extension, but added those disallowing the conversion of CHPs to biomethane “are a source of worry as a potential blow to some areas of our sector”. The eight-week consultation will address issues issues such as extension of application deadlines, maintenance of current tariff guarantee and commissioning deadlines, continuation of current digestate management measures, as well as methane leakage mitigation in GGSS plants.
Engineering UK has appointed Iain Conn as its new chair. Conn, who takes over from Malcolm Brinded on 1 October, said: “I am very much looking forward to working with the EngineeringUK team and wider community to build on the excellent reach and impact the organisation has achieved under Malcolm Brinded’s chairmanship over the past seven years.” A chemical engineer by training, his career includes 34 years’ executive experience in the energy sector at BP and Centrica, alongside non-executive roles in aerospace (Rolls-Royce) and telecoms (BT). He was also an external member of the Council of Imperial College, a trustee at Movement to Work, and was responsible for BP’s early role in Project Enthuse which supports STEM teaching and learning across the UK.
Decom Engineering’s (Decom) specialist C1-24 chop saw cutting technology has been successfully deployed on a decommissioning project offshore West Africa, in water depths of up to 1,050 metres as part of an operation to recover a jumper connector on behalf of Total Energies in the Gulf of Guinea, offshore the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Renewable chemistry technology provider Avantium N.V. has signed an offtake agreement with v products producer Kvadrat A/S, which will purchase the 100% plant-based and fully recyclable polymer PEF (polyethylene furanoate) from Avantium’s FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid) flagship Plant, currently under construction in Delfzijl, with commercial production set to start in 2024.
To mark its 90th anniversary, Hawick’s Turnbull & Scott (Engineers) Ltd is appealing for help from the numerous organisations and people it has dealt with, to gather as thorough a record of its history as is possible. MD Peter Murphy explains “We hope that in sharing our history on our website, we can illustrate our appreciation of the people and the values that have made the company what it is today. We appeal to not only to the local community and past employees, but to past customers and suppliers too, to help us and bring us stories, newspaper cuttings, pictures and artefacts that they may have of earlier times at Turnbull & Scott, so that we can consolidate and share a deeper appreciation of who we are.”
The British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) has launched a new compressed air installation best practice guide (BPG 101-6). It covers installation in terms of the collection of equipment and processes within the compressed air system. Compressed air accounts for a considerable amount of electricity consumed by industry and compressed air systems are used extensively in virtually all industrial applications. The guide advisers readers how to reduce their energy consumption and ensure maximum uptime, while meeting legislative requirements to ensure health and safety is prioritised.
Prospect union members at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) walked out on 15 March after voting overwhelmingly for strike action. The budget day action by HSE inspectors came in response to a chronic lack of resources and low pay at the regulator. In a blog posting on the union’s website Prospect member Sarah Taylor, an acting HSE principal inspector and 14-year veteran, said: “In terms of experienced inspectors, they’re leaving in droves. The lack of staff is affecting every aspect of our work. Morale among the inspectors who remain is rock bottom because we’re all so tired,” adding HSE inspectors “can’t afford not to strike”.
The Digital Engineering Technology & Innovation (DETI) research, skills and innovation initiative has completed its first phase. Founded in 2020 it brings together world-leading technology firms and innovators from academia and industry, including Airbus, GKN Aerospace, Rolls Royce and Siemens its aim is to create a digital test-ground and digital workforce in the South West.
Schneider Electric, leader in the digital transformation of energy management and industrial automation, has started work on its new smart factory in Dunavesce, Hungary. With a planned investment of €40 million, the new site will span 25,000 m2 and have a headcount of 500 employees, producing primary and secondary switchgears, low voltage cabinets and components, SF6-free medium voltage switchgears. Production is planned to start next year with the factory intended to operate on a net zero basis, powered by geothermal energy and rooftop solar with Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure energy management solutions optimising energy efficiency.
Air quality monitoring and gas detection sensor manufacturer Alphasense has appointed Doug Knifton plant director to develop its manufacturing processes, introduce new products and help the business explore adjacent markets and applications. Knifton, who boasts nearly 30 years of experience in senior management roles including at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Elekta and Powerlase, will be responsible for furthering Alphasense’s manufacturing capability through streamlining processes and the implementation of innovative and effective systems.
Wood, the global consulting and engineering company, has been awarded a contract for FEED and EPCm services by Clean Planet Energy. Wood will initially design the first suite of Clean Planet Energy’s ecoPlants, which will include three US plastics recycling facilities in New Jersey, Alabama and South Carolina, with contracts also in advanced discussion for their UK facilities. Clean Planet Energy is investing in excess of $150 million as part of this first development batch of global ecoPlants.
Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF aims to lay the foundations for increasing the proportion of post-consumer recyclates (PCR) for high-quality industrial applications of engineering plastics with its project ‘Material and long-term properties in recycled materials. Its researchers are looking for additional partners to jointly develop fundamental insights into the effect of material composition. Focus is on the feedstocks and the variables influencing compounding (such as proportion and condition of virgin material, re-additivation) on the resulting application properties.
A digital collaboration is helping St Asaph company Bio-Check push forward in the field of lateral flow development. The firm, which is a specialist developer, manufacturer and distributor of test kits for food, healthcare and veterinary applications, is one of a group of Denbighshire businesses to benefit from a research and development collaboration designed to boost digital support. Engineers from AMRC Cymru, part of the wider University of Sheffield AMRC cluster of research and innovation centres, are working alongside Denbighshire County Council, as part of the individualised digital transformation project, to help local businesses understand and realise the benefits of smart digital technologies. The project is funded by the Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund. All businesses taking part receive expert support on three-month intervention projects from a digital specialist - with the aim to improve their product development and manufacturing processes through smart technologies.
