The idea of vendor-neutral industrial control systems built on open standards that allow for interoperability among hardware and software components has been swirling within the industrial automation industry for the past 12 years, but progress toward this objective to date…
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) technologies has presented the chemical process industries (CPI) with opportunities for improving process efficiency, asset maintenance, product development and plant safety. While not fully realized in the CPI, the potential…
As connected devices and systems have become more advanced, engineers in turn have become savvier about the realities of a digitally connected enterprise, especially with regard to securing their operational technology (OT) systems. Even with globally increasing cybersecurity awareness, however,…
Year’s end is, of course, the default juncture at which current situations are assessed and forecasts for the future are posited. As this year nears its end, indications are that 2026 will likely be a tough year for much of…
In October, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize for chemistry to three pioneers who were instrumental in the development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Richard Robson (University of Melbourne; www.unimelb.edu.au), Susumu Kitagawa (Kyoto University; www.kyoto-u.ac.jp and…
Since its introduction in 1963, the Chemical Engineering Plant Cost Index® (CEPCI) has been tracking changes to construction costs for chemical manufacturing and related process facilities. The data from which the CEPCI is calculated come from a carefully selected and…
This month’s column gives a brief overview of the Chemical Engineering brand. While long-term readers need no introduction to the magazine, newer readers might be interested in the history of the magazine and what we cover. Perhaps even long-term readers…
A recent Wall Street Journal article [1] described numerous job postings in which employers bluntly describe that they expect employees to hustle and work long hours. The article quotes, for example, a listing that says “If you’re looking for work-life…
The momentum continues for sustainability projects, as successful sustainability programs are found to be essential for business success Last month, this column discussed the continuing momentum of sustainability…
The past several years have seen rapid growth in technologies designed to mitigate the effects of climate change. Advances have been made in decarbonization efforts, such as alternatives to petroleum-based fuel sources including biofuels, hydrogen, solar, wind and other renewables;…