News

The flour milling industry plays a vital role in feeding the population but it hides an often-underestimated danger. Flour explosions are a risk to flour mills and can lead to the destruction of property and serious harm or death for workers. Here Isaac Noble, product manager at electrical connector specialist PEI-Genesis, discusses the hazards in flour mills and how connectors can be used to minimise the risk of explosion.

Flour explosions are typically caused by the build-up of flour particulates over time. The danger lies when airborne flour dust comes into contact with a spark from an ignition source, such as a faulty wiring circuit, which ignites the flour in the air. Flour is also 35 times more combustible than coal-dust. It’s mostly made of starch, a highly flammable complex carbohydrate that consists of glucose molecules. Only one to two grams of dust per cubic foot of air makes the mixture ignitable.

How can electrical connectors minimise flour explosions?

Preventative maintenance and consistent cleanliness are crucial to stopping dust build-up but plant operators can also take other measures to avoid incidents. Electrical connectors can minimise dust explosions by ensuring there won’t be any sparks coming from the connector to ignite the dust. Having a controlled and protected area where the wires go into the connector, or where the contacts mate, can reduce the chance of a spark. Connectors also need to be ingress protected to keep dust out of the connector.  

Statistics from the Department of Transportation reveal that 21,539 hazardous material incidents occurred within 2021 in the United States alone. These incidences can have a detrimental effect on the environment and public health, in the long and short term. With increasing scrutiny on companies and individuals to meet stricter environmental targets, mitigating and preventing hazardous material incidents is a key step to creating a cleaner, greener future.

To protect both the environment and public health, it is first important to identify what hazardous materials are and understand how they are categorised. Following this, examining what processes are currently in place, and how these can be improved to prevent hazardous materials from endangering people, entering waterways, and contaminating soil, is the crucial step to reducing the impact of hazardous material spills. 

Health and safety professionals are the key to understanding, maintaining, and reducing the risks associated. To reduce the rate of incidents, education and awareness of hazardous materials and their impact are critical tools that should be added to any health and safety professional’s toolkit.

ION Science, a leading UK OEM for gas detection instrumentation, has partnered with Health & Safety Matters to deliver a free webinar on this topic. The webinar will cover the importance of understanding the dangers associated with hazardous material spillages, and the consequences on public health, wildlife, and the environment.

This webinar will include focus on the following areas:

• How HAZMAT spills can occur
• Current HAZMAT processes
• The health effects spills can cause
• The environmental impact of spills (including soil contamination)
• How PID technology can identify and track spills and contamination
• Live Q&A session

Register for free today and join this webinar with ION Science and Health & Safety Matters on the 20^th April 2022 at 10.30am GMT. Find out more about how you can help prevent hazardous spills and identify, detect and prevent hazardous material spills from impacting the public and the environment.

Sign up today: https://events.streamgo.live/hazardous-materials-spills-soil-contamination-20th-april-2022/register

CheMondis, the leading marketplace for chemicals in Europe, has partnered with trustshare, an escrow infrastructure for online B2B marketplaces. CheMondis will offer all buyers and suppliers a simple, fast and cost-efficient way to pay while ensuring maximal protection for both parties.

The platform helps buyers and suppliers to establish new business relationships, it automates order flows for existing business relationships and it provides profound data insights for market participants to improve their business efficiency. The platform has now made the next step to facilitate digital trade: the launch of online payment and escrow services for their users.

The new feature is enabled by a partnership with trustshare, an escrow infrastructure developed primarily for B2B marketplaces like CheMondis. It allows buyers and suppliers to choose a safe way of payment directly embedded into the platform. Next to the mere transfer of funds, this payment service includes an escrow option, which adds extra security and trust to the network. The buyer pays in advance; yet funds are only released after successful and satisfactory shipment and delivery.

With a history of developing its own range of advanced industrial doors such as its Speedor high-speed doors, demand from South East Asia has led Hart Doors to develop a new version of its Typhoon security shutters range which can withstand wind speeds of circa 165mph.

“With our knowledge of the intense pressures generated by powerful storms we decided to develop the Typhoon shutter even further, urged on by our contacts in South East Asia,” says Doug Hart, Chairman, Hart Door Systems.

“The result has been remarkable. For the purpose of testing we trawled Europe for a suitable third-party testing facility and found just one that was capable and that was in south west Germany. Given the time, distance and costs that would be incurred we designed and built our own test rig.

“With a steel cage adequate for the pressures, retaining a flexible pressure vessel with a 8m wide and 2.5m high shutter for testing, we were able to sustain pressures at 5050 pascals, equivalent to the pressures generated by a Typhoon blowing at around 165mph.”

Mr Hart added: “This is a remarkable achievement. We have been able to design and construct a security shutter that can withstand some of the highest wind speeds

known.

“With the so much interest in the protective qualities of our Typhoon shutters, and now the ability to withstand exceptional wind pressures, we are confident of more demand from parts of the world where storms up to severe Typhoons/Hurricanes are found.”

www.hartdoors.com  t: +44 ( 0 ) 191 214 0404 

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 350+ specialist exhibitors and 150+ expert speakers across two co-locating shows; ‘The Chemical, Process & Plant Engineering Show’, and ‘The Chemical Industries Supply Chain Show’.

The Chemical, Process & Plant Engineering Show will feature specialist exhibitors and speakers showcasing and discussing latest innovation covering process, plant & flow technologies; control valves & actuators; thermal technologies; digitisation & automation; chemical metering & dosing, materials handling, filtration & separation… plus lots more

Industry partners supporting this show include BPMA - The British Pump Manufacturers Association, BVAA – The British Valve & Actuator Association, Process Intensification Network; CPI – Centre for Process Innovation, GAMBICA, NEPIC, TSA – Tank Storage Association and the UK Gasket & Sealing Association.

The Chemical Industries Supply Chain Show will present chemical industry supply chain organisations specialising in chemicals, raw materials & ingredients; logistics & transportation; HSE management & regulatory compliance; contract, toll & outsourcing; and business services.

Industry partners supporting the supply chain show include CBA – Chemical Business Association; Chemical Northwest & Chemical Industries Association; BASA – British Adhesives & Sealants Association, BCMPA – The Association for Contract Manufacturing, Packing, Fulfilment & Logistics; Composites UK; CATCH; British Surface Treatment Suppliers Association (BSTSA); SIA - Solvents Industry Association; and UKLA – United Kingdom Lubricants Association.

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”

NEW FOR 2022:

• CHEMLAB Programme - Developing on last year’s laboratory related content, CHEMUK 2022 will present the ‘ChemLab Programme’ showcasing specialist exhibitors providing laboratory solutions & services embracing research & development; testing & analysis; process design & optimisation; and QC/QA laboratory testing.

• Sustainability Stage (sponsored by Uniper) – Hosting panel sessions and feature presentations embracing critical themes such as chemical recycling and sustainable chemical processing, together with ‘Green Chemistry’ innovation and transition to bio-based products.

• ‘CHEM 4.0’ Stage (sponsored by ABB) - 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.

• ‘Bio- Innovation Poster Zone’ – Bringing together illuminating ‘poster displays’ from start-ups & research groups, from across the rapidly evolving ‘biochemical/industrial biotech’ landscape. Supporters of the zone include BioVale, BioRenewables Development Centre, BioYorkshire, IBioIc and the Cosmetics Cluster

• Royal Society of Chemistry Member’s Event – The RSC will be heavily involved in the show once again this May. We are delighted to announce that the RSC President-Elect, Professor Gill Reid, has been confirmed to keynote on Wednesday. The RSC will also be hosting a member’s drink reception on Networking Area 2 at 17:00 on 11^th May.

DATES FOR THE DIARY

CHEMUK 2022 takes place on Wed 11th & Thu 12th May 2022

Venue: NEC - National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, B40 1NT

CHEMUK 2022 Opening Times:

Day 1: 9.30am – 5.00pm

Day 2: 9.30am – 4.00pm

Register for your FREE entry badge at www.chemicalukexpo.com

What you need for ATEX and UKCA Explosive Atmosphere Certification for the UK and EU Markets

Selling products for use in potentially explosive atmospheres in both the UK and EU will now require 2 marks, not just the ‘ATEX’ and ‘CE’ mark that was accepted when the UK was part of the EU. If your product previously required, an ‘ATEX Notified Body’ you will need to now use a UK Government UKCA Appointed Body that has explosive atmosphere certification (‘Ex’) on its scope.

ATEX Notified Body

ExVeritas ApS is a Notified Body, Number 2804, with full scope for (ATEX) 2014/34/EU Equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.  Notification can be verified online at the European Commission. ExVeritas ApS are accredited by the National Accreditation Body of Denmark (DANAK) against the EU ATEX Directive, Registration Number 7044.

UK Government UKCA Appointed Body for ‘Ex’

ExVeritas UKCA Approved Body Number 2585. The Approved Body listing can be viewed on the UK Government Website and ExVeritas hold UKAS Product Certification, Quality System Certification & Test Laboratory Registration Number 8613.

As ExVeritas are also an IECEx Certification Body and Test laboratory, we can conduct 1 project (and one manufacturing audit) and you will get all 3 Certificates (ATEX, UKCA an IECEx) for the widest possible market access.

Quality Audit Requirements

If you previously needed an ATEX QAN you will now also need a UKCA Ex QAN, although it is based on the same audit Standard, there are differences for the UKCA Mark (such as use of UK Designated Standards). Companies such as ExVeritas can conduct just one audit to issue a UK QAN, an ATEX QAN and an IECEx QAR. In addition, we are a UKAS Certification Body for ISO9001 we can also combine that audit to further reduce cost and audit times.

For more information visit www.exveritas.com or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

What you need for ATEX and UKCA Explosive Atmosphere Certification for the UK and EU Markets

Selling products for use in potentially explosive atmospheres in both the UK and EU will now require 2 marks, not just the ‘ATEX’ and ‘CE’ mark that was accepted when the UK was part of the EU. If your product previously required, an ‘ATEX Notified Body’ you will need to now use a UK Government UKCA Appointed Body that has explosive atmosphere certification (‘Ex’) on its scope.

ATEX Notified Body

ExVeritas ApS is a Notified Body, Number 2804, with full scope for (ATEX) 2014/34/EU Equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.  Notification can be verified online at the European Commission. ExVeritas ApS are accredited by the National Accreditation Body of Denmark (DANAK) against the EU ATEX Directive, Registration Number 7044.

UK Government UKCA Appointed Body for ‘Ex’

ExVeritas UKCA Approved Body Number 2585. The Approved Body listing can be viewed on the UK Government Website and ExVeritas hold UKAS Product Certification, Quality System Certification & Test Laboratory Registration Number 8613.

As ExVeritas are also an IECEx Certification Body and Test laboratory, we can conduct 1 project (and one manufacturing audit) and you will get all 3 Certificates (ATEX, UKCA an IECEx) for the widest possible market access.

Quality Audit Requirements

If you previously needed an ATEX QAN you will now also need a UKCA Ex QAN, although it is based on the same audit Standard, there are differences for the UKCA Mark (such as use of UK Designated Standards). Companies such as ExVeritas can conduct just one audit to issue a UK QAN, an ATEX QAN and an IECEx QAR. In addition, we are a UKAS Certification Body for ISO9001 we can also combine that audit to further reduce cost and audit times.

For more information visit www.exveritas.com or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

HACADS^®, the leading provider of intelligent, model-driven hazardous area classification analysis and design solutions, announces the release of HACADS 1.0.

HACADS 1.0 is innovative with advanced functionalities that accelerate compliance & safety studies, improve process safety and loss prevention engineering & design, and reduce project delivery schedules through collaboration. 

To increase productivity, and efficiency, organizations across all industries must create an environment that allows engineers, operators, and managers to collaborate, communicate, and design with confidence, as well as industry standards and measurement methods.

HACADS continues to invest in research and development hours for development, expanding on its advanced process safety and loss prevention design & operation solutions with verified & validated engineering and libraries.