Exhibition Groups

Chemical and biochemical conversion is the basic technology which defines the process industries. New technologies influence equipment and plant design as well as material and product sustainability requirements. Progress in catalyst development, electrification of reactions and integrated (“hybrid”) process steps define all further engineering and design activities. The ongoing pursuit of better energy and resource efficiency and reduction of the environmental footprint has forced the pace of new process development. Innovative techniques such as high-throughput production and micro processes are vital to this research. Integration of chemical and biotechnology process steps combining the best of both worlds is currently a major trend.

Did you know that ACHEMA is the world’s largest show for pumps, compressors and valves? If you think about it, that doesn’t really come as a surprise, as chemical engineering is at the very core of ACHEMA. However, chemical engineering today means much more than simply choosing the right reactor or the most efficient pump. Energy efficiency, the flexibility to choose from a range of possible raw materials and process automation require an integrated approach to process engineering. Components have onboard “distributed intelligence” which enables them to communicate directly – an important prerequisite for modularization and increased flexibility. Heat exchangers and control technologies provide the basis for heat recovery and early separation of waste water streams for further treatment. Simulation and modeling tools support engineering design and planning activities, reduce cost and speed up implementation.

Mixing and separation technologies are crucial for chemical processes and have a significant impact on efficiency and cost. Further progress in separation techniques employing adsorption methods, membranes or extraction is essential for the success of new processes. Transformation and downstream processing are becoming more integrated, resulting in hybrid methods such as reactive distillation. Another important development is the use of multiphase reactions. Bubble columns play an important role in chemical processing, especially in fermentation and cultivation of microalgae. Efficient mixers are needed for fluid-fluid as well as fluid-solid or fluid-gas systems.

The pharmaceutical industry has very specific requirements relating to process and product quality, starting with the equipment and continuing right through to packaging and labeling. The “Pharmaceutical technology, packaging and storage” exhibition group is growing steadily, and additional exhibition space has been provided to accommodate the applications of producers and service providers. The Congress reflects the importance and specific challenges of this industry in sessions on sterile manufacturing and formulation technology as well as on safety regulations for pharmaceuticals and labeling and tracking technology.

The laboratory world has changed dramatically in recent years. Where formerly a large amount of manual work was necessary to generate data, modern lab equipment today enables researchers to perform literally millions of reactions and analyses in a short time frame. The challenge lies in the ability to handle the tremendous amount of data generated by high-throughput experiments or automated formulation. Sophisticated IT is needed to produce meaningful insights. The IT systems need to be integrated with the equipment as well as with other systems. At ACHEMA, laboratory suppliers shine the spotlight on everything from basic lab equipment to automated modular systems and the software and modeling tools needed to interpret “big data”. The Congress addresses these issues along with laboratory layout and safety.

Materials and material processing are key success factors in the process industry. The interaction between reaction media, reactants and material surfaces and the correct dosage of ingredients along with product functionality strongly depend on the correct choice of materials and how they are employed. At ACHEMA, the range of materials covered in the exhibition and congress include metals, alloys and all types of polymers. The preparation and application of nanomaterials, foams and powders are discussed. Materials and surface analysis is another important technology which is relevant both for the choice of materials and for quality control during the process. Surface treatment to prevent corrosion makes it possible to combine the “best of two worlds”. Light-weight metals and alloys that are modified to withstand harsh reaction conditions are two examples.

Energy, water and feedstock are essential for any chemical or biotechnology conversion. As some of these resources are becoming scarce, new methods for efficient use are being introduced. This includes energy efficient transformations and operations as well as the temporary storage of energy in the form of electricity or heat. Renewable energy resources that produce electricity depending on weather conditions rather than in response to demand may create a temporary and regional surplus of energy. This can be usefully employed for the production of basic chemicals as well as for conversion of unconventional feedstock such as CO2. With the availability of shale gas in the US, coal in China and biomass in Southeast Asia and South America, the choice of feedstock has become much broader and may vary according to region and over time.

Safety concepts for chemical plants; equipment and measures for the protection of human life and the environment, such as breathing apparatus, oxygen apparatus, protective clothing, monitoring systems, explosion protection, sound insulation, anti-electrostatic techniques, transport of hazardous substances; IT security.

The exhibition group 'Industrial and Labour Safety’ rounds off the exhibition range for visitors interested in safety topics: In Hall 9.1 numerous companies – among them the most prominent companies of the industry – presented their innovations, equipment and technology trends for the protection of man and environment.