INDUSTRY SECTORS
The New Chemists: AI Agents are transforming the chemical industry
Dr. Marc Feldmann, senior principal, Data & AI, Alexander Thamm, explains Agentic AI and its potential for the chemical industry in this Chemical Industry Journal exclusive.
Remember Clippy, Microsoft Word’s uninvited paperclip assistant from the ‘90s?
While Clippy faded into history,...
Decisive action is needed by Government
The decision to extend UK REACH deadlines has only deepened and increased concerns over the government’s commitment and support for the chemicals sector, says Tim Doggett, CEO of the Chemical Business Association (CBA).
The chemical supply chain is one of...
Chemical Logistics: Enhancing Supply Chain Efficiency
In today’s competitive market, the demand for efficient supply chain management is higher than ever, particularly in the chemical industry. Chemical logistics involves the transportation, storage, and handling of chemicals, which requires tailored solutions and specialised knowledge to ensure...
Hyster adds Hyster Tracker as standard feature on broad selection of lift trucks
Hyster announces that the base level of its Hyster Tracker™ telemetry solution, known as wireless monitoring, will now be included as standard on electric and internal combustion engine (ICE) counterbalanced lift trucks. Wireless monitoring tracks lift truck utilisation, impacts,...
Tariffs: Shifting trade paradigms and soaring uncertainty
Trade has become increasingly politicised. In the shorter-term, on-and-off tariffs are contributing to overwhelming uncertainty, affecting global economic growth projections, curbing demand growth and generally hindering business. For the major chemical value chains, the direct tariff effects beyond demand...
How global warming impacts the cold chain
Despite playing a crucial role in the delivery of life-saving medicines, packaging providers are often overlooked in logistics planning, says Niklas Adamsson, CEO Interim and COO at Envirotainer.
Global distribution of life-saving pharmaceuticals is incredibly complex, with several different components...
The race to build critical material supply chains
Trade wars have shone the spotlight on global earth supply chain risks, midstream bottlenecks, and the importance of Western midstream capability. David Hawkins, from UK-based Metalysis, responds to China’s Rare Earth Element Controls.
The recent trade war between China and...
Bridging the generational skills gap
As a significant number of skilled workers approach retirement, Andreas Eschbach, CEO of eschbach, discusses how digital tools and AI can enable the transfer of tacit knowledge between old and new generations of plant workers before it is lost...
Securing Industrial Strength with Chromium-6
Chromium-6, often referred to as Hexavalent Chrome, has long been indispensable to modern industry. While its use continues to face regulatory scrutiny in Europe, with future access under review and limited to ‘essential use’ cases, the UK government has...
Unlocking Efficiency: VEGA’s Digital Toolbox for Chemical Plants
The chemical industry is under constant pressure to enhance safety, efficiency and transparency, all while managing increasingly complex production systems. At the same time, plants must evolve beyond traditional operating boundaries. Field-level digitalisation is a key enabler here –...
Process safety is vital for scaling up the Foundation Industries
By Andrew Buchanan of 6 Engineering, engineering consultants for the major hazards industries and partner of Foundation Industries Ventures (FIVe).
The need for new sustainable materials and processes has never been greater. New materials are in the making and gases...
Reducing the Burden of the COMAH cycle
For over 20 years, the storage and handling of hazardous substances in the UK has been controlled under the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations. The duties placed upon operators under these regulations can feel onerous, particularly for...
Don’t let rising HEAT raise your risk
A vital but sometimes overlooked aspect of safe storage is temperature control, especially during warmer months when ambient conditions can easily breach safe thresholds. Mike Brodie, managing director of Chemstore UK, explains why the risk must be taken seriously.
Why...
Hygiene Showers vs Safety Showers: Protecting Workers from Chemical Exposure
By James Hamilton, Global Engineering Manager at Hughes Safety Showers
In industries where exposure to harmful chemicals and dust is a daily occurrence, the importance of workplace safety cannot be overstated. Every year in the UK, approximately 13,000 deaths are...
Chemical Industry at a Crossroads: How Tariffs Could Reshape 2025
By: Olaf Gierlichs-Steffens
Senior Underwriter at Atradius
The chemical industry is poised for growth over the next two years, despite being amongst the worst impacted by the 2022-2023 energy crisis. The sector heavily relies on energy, and as natural gas and...
DACHSER Chem Logistics: Chemicals in safe hands
The chemical industry is one of the most successful and competitive industries there is, supplying virtually all other sectors with crucial intermediate and end products as well as solutions. This is made possible by high production standards, comprehensive infrastructure,...
Strong Partnerships – the Key to Success in a Changing World
Today’s business environment requires agility and adaptation to keep up with technological, economic and political challenges, just to remain competitive. In addition, woven into how we all conduct our businesses and deliver on targets, is the need to ensure...
RJJ FREIGHT
Transporting chemicals requires stringent safety protocols, expert handling, and a deep understanding of regulatory compliance.
We specialise in freight forwarding solutions tailored for the chemical industry, ensuring the secure transport of both hazardous and non-hazardous substances. With our expertise, state-of-the-art...
Turning PFAS risk into an opportunity for the chemical industry
From ski wax to food wrappers, and nonstick cookware to semiconductors, the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” has spread widely thanks to their unique properties, such as the ability to repel water...
Measurement is key to achieving sustainability goals at chemical plants
Improving energy efficiency is fundamental to reducing carbon dioxide emissions and achieving sustainability goals. Michael Machuca and Jimmie Soderstrom from Emerson provide practical and actionable ways to make improvements without the need for major capital investments.
Energy efficiency measures are...
Self-driving lab transforms materials discovery
Argonne researchers have used Polybot, an AI-driven automated material laboratory, to produce high-conductivity, low-defect electronic polymer thin films, writes Amber Rose.
Plastic that conducts electricity might sound impossible. But there is a special class of materials known as “electronic polymers”...
Chemical engineers create new nanofiltration membrane
A new sustainable plant-based membrane that works without fossil-fuel materials and toxic solvents has been created by a team at University of Bath.
Membranes are a crucial part of everyday life, used in cleaning our drinking water, treating sewage, and...
How electron microscopy accelerates the development of low-carbon technologies
Kate Vanderburgh, Sr. Product Specialist, Thermo Fisher Scientific, explains how electron microscopy (EM) drives material innovation to support sustainable, low-carbon technologies and combat climate change.
With critical deadlines approaching for the 2026–2031 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), countries are under increasing...
Unveiling the structure of a photosynthetic catalyst that turns light into hydrogen fuel
13 years of research come to life with a high-resolution view of a hybrid catalyst that combines platinum nanoparticles and protein complexes.
Argonne and Yale researchers shed light on the structure of a photosynthetic hybrid for the first time, enabling...
MegaChem (UK) Ltd: your trusted partner for all chemical and ingredient needs
Yes, we know the global chemical industry continues to face unprecedented challenges.
But where there is risk and uncertainty, there is also opportunity for growth and positive change.
This is why MegaChem (UK) Ltd remains the trusted, reliable partner of choice...
Chemical Business Association at CHEMUK 2025
Following the resounding success of last year’s event which has gone from strength since its launch, the Chemical Business Association (CBA) will again be a leading headline partner at this year’s CHEMUK Expo. During the 2025 event, the Association...
Transporting carbon: steering a course to a sustainable future
The United States has taken a lead in the international race to capture carbon dioxide (CO2). According to reports1, the U.S. will have the capacity to capture 164 million tons of carbon by 2035, which is almost the equivalent...
Flow photochemistry supports peptide breakthrough
A flow chemistry system equipped with a UV-150 photochemical reactor has been used by scientists at Novo Nordisk for the functionalisation of peptides and proteins.
The R-Series flow chemistry system from Vapourtec, equipped with a UV-150 photochemical reactor, has been...
Toll processing considerations for chemical manufacturers
Toll processors play a crucial role in supporting chemical – as well as food and drink – manufacturers, by providing additional capacity, helping them overcome bottlenecks and ensuring that deadlines are met. When choosing a partner, manufacturers have to...
AI in 2025: a focus on accuracy, agility and adaptation
Digital solutions remain a primary trend for chemical management in 2025. Two industry experts share their thoughts on the evolving benefits and risks.
“As awareness around the impacts of hazardous substances in working environments have grown in business and wider...
