Source: Chem Show
As the latest iteration of the Chem Show kicks off in New York City, exhibitors and attendees alike are anticipating the chance to engage colleagues in face-to-face networking that are afforded by convening a group from multiple sectors of the chemical process industries (CPI). As Chem Show director Mark Stevens puts it, “Tradeshows will always hold value.” For a short period, he says, people thought the internet and digital access would diminish the importance of tradeshows, but “the trend now is cycling back to face-to-face networking and personal interactions,” Stevens remarks. And because the Chem Show brings together so many CPI sectors under one roof, Stevens says, the chances for cross-market exploration are great.
“The CPI has evolved into a shared market experience where processing technologies and applications can benefit process engineers and industry professionals across multiple disciplines,” Stevens says. This includes up-to-date information on safety, efficiency and best practices for process optimization, along with information on key industry trends.
Exhibit floor
The Chem Show offers unique opportunities for attendees to interact directly with the products and technologies on the exhibit floor. “What’s more,” Stevens points out, “in many cases, attendees can speak directly to the person responsible for equipment design or process development and have meaningful conversations without feeling rushed.” Exhibitors will find a targeted audience at the show, with 73% of attendees directly involved in purchasing decisions, Stevens notes.
The CPI sectors represented at this year’s Chem Show include adhesives & sealants; chemicals; cosmetics; food & beverage; metals; paints & allied products; petrochemicals & refining; pharmaceuticals; plastics & synthetic resins; rubber and rubber products; soaps & detergents; stone/glass/ceramics; pulp & paper; textiles & leather; utilities; and fertilizers & agrichemicals.
Source: Chem Show
“In addition to the sectors we see represented year after year on the tradeshow floor, attendees from new markets often attend to find solutions from vendors with products and solutions across horizontal markets,” Stevens says. “Chem Show is an attractive draw because of the cross-market applications you can find.”
The exhibit floor reflects changes in the industry. Industry 4.0 concepts and tools are becoming more prevalent in advanced manufacturing, Stevens says. “Digitalization, despite reports of a lag in the CPI, is on the minds of exhibitors. Industrial internet of things (IIoT), automation and innovations that relate to digital communication and manufacturing processes apply to optimization and you’ll see that in the designs of equipment on the floor.”
Seminar program
Aside from the peer-to-peer networking and direct product interaction, Chem Show attendees also are taking advantage of a seminar program from which they can take insights and information about broader industry trends affecting all parts of the CPI. This year’s seminar program will feature discussions about the role of digitalization in the CPI, as well as the many opportunities and challenges that are tied to the emerging elements of the circular economy, Stevens says.
Other seminars will focus on CPI workforce issues, with one focus being potential recruitment tools that appeal to the interests of a younger demographic group, he adds.
Stevens explains that the Chem Show in general, and the Seminar Program in particular, aims to be responsive to exhibitors and returning attendees, so the event services current discussions. For example, Stevens says, since the last Chem Show, there have been changes in the legal status of cannabinoids, as well as a culture shift to manufacture products containing cannabidiol (CBD). “Some of our exhibitors serve these markets, so we have a few seminar sessions that discuss processes related to this area.”
The days, times and locations of each of the seminars can be found using the Chem Show mobile app (https://chemshow.com/app/), so users can construct a personalized show schedule. “It’s a great tool to navigate the Show, Stevens says.”
Kirkpatrick Award
Among the noteworthy sessions is the presentation of the 2019 Kirkpatrick Award for Chemical Engineering Achievement on Wednesday Oct. 23 at 11:15 AM in Room 2D 12/13. The award has been given every other year since 1933 to recognize the most noteworthy and important chemical process technology commercialized in the previous two years. The finalists for this year’s Kirkpatrick Award, including Dow, TechnipFMC, Lanzatech, Braskem, Johnson Matthey and Reliance Industries, will present short summaries of the nominated technologies during the session, after which, the winning technology will be announced.