easyFairs Solids promotes 'green' innovation

Technical innovations designed to improve plant performance will be on show when some of the country's leading industry names gather for easyFairs Solids 2008

But as well as an opportunity to catch up on the latest trends, technologies and regulations, this year's event at the Birmingham NEC (March 11 and 12) also focuses on environmental compliance - a key consideration for operators in the current eco-wary climate.

Now in its third year, easyFairs Solids 2008 - the UK's only dedicated event for the solids processing, handling and storage sector - brings together buyers and suppliers in every key sector, such as agriculture, dairy, food, animal feed, chemicals, soap and cosmetics, plastics and rubber, minerals and aggregates, metals, waste and recycling, quarrying and mining, biomass and biofuels, and pharmaceuticals.

For the first time it will run alongside easyFairs Maintec, the UK's biggest and most comprehensive exhibition for maintenance and asset management.

Bringing these industrial technology events together will not only take the total number of exhibitors to more than 230, but also help build on synergies between the specialist sectors and make them relevant to a wider visitor audience.

And a dedicated Industrial Environment Forum - a new facet to this year's show aimed at plant engineers charged with improving plant efficiency and environmental compliance - will showcase technologies and solutions that address key performance issues at every stage of the plant process.

These include emissions and noise control; filtration and separation; energy efficiency; waste minimization, recycling; workplace safety; and fire and explosion protection.

Many leading companies have signed up, including Brice-Baker Group, Endress + Hauser, Flexicon (Europe), K-Tron Great Britain, Howden Process Compressors, NDC Infrared Engineering, Rota Val, Sew Eurodrive, Sweco Europe, Vega Controls, and Vortex Valves Europe.

Lunch and learn.

Another brand new feature for 2008 is the Lunchtime Briefing - presented by the Process Industries Centre for Manufacturing Excellence (PICME) - on Tuesday 11th March (12.30 - 13.30pm).

Addressing the fundamental issues faced by today's plant managers and engineers, the topic is 'Improving Plant Productivity and Performance' and the briefing will tackle the operational and financial pressures identified as key business priorities in visitor research carried out by easyFairs.

The focus of the briefing will be on providing practical solutions.

PICME, part funded by the DTI, has been set up specifically to help manufacturers of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, plastics and rubbers improve their competitiveness by reducing manufacturing waste and increasing the efficiency of the manufacturing process in the shortest possible time.

There is also a comprehensive programme of short, practical learnShops seminars across both days of the show, focused around two key themes: powder flow and handling challenges, and safety and legislation.

Specific sessions will look at: * practical guidance on ATEX; Certification; * steps to eliminate fugitive dust in solid handling systems; * design considerations for achieving effective pneumatic handling systems; * design for good hopper discharge; * dust control to meet COSHH and emission limits; * selection of mechanical handling systems for reliable operation.

These free seminars will feature top speakers from leading industry organisations and technology providers, including IChemE, IMechE, the Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology, ATEX Hazards, and Endress Hauser.

Major multinationals will also be participating in a number of end user case study sessions.

As well as presentations from British Sugar and United Biscuits, Mike Cliff, Principal Pharmaceutical Engineering Technologist at AstraZeneca, will look at the challenge of particle segregation in the pharmaceutical sector in a session entitled 'How an innovative segregation solution saved AstraZeneca USD500,000'.

He will explain how AstraZeneca worked with a partner to design a novel membrane pinch valve that moves within the powder chute to reduce the segregation caused by displaced air.

Industrial Environment Forum visitors will also have access to a programme of LearnShops focusing on improving plant performance and regulatory compliance and delivering environmental improvements that contribute to the bottom line.

With speakers from a range of organisations - including SIRA, the Environment Agency, and Envirowise - the sessions will cover key topics such as air, water and effluent monitoring, waste minimisation and resource efficiency.

There will also be practical end user case study sessions, including a presentation from Dave Shenton, National Environment Manager for Lafarge Cement, who will discuss 'Resource Efficiency: an innovative approach to reducing waste and process emissions and measures to improve energy efficiency and natural resource use'.

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