UK PIN network win funding for process intensification guide
The UK Health and Safety executive and Department of Trade and Industry are collaborating with the country's energy efficiency best practices programme to produce a guide to 'Process intensification,' reports the UK-based Process intensification network (PIN). 'PI has implications for industrial competitiveness and energy efficiency and carbon dioxide reduction,' it says. The guide will include seven chapters addressing a wide range of practical aspects of PI, with case studies and 'signposting' to other data, documents and sources of assistance. In particular these will include useful information on energy saving and environmental protection; health and safety; and business and innovation opportunities. PIN plans to distribute the guide on-line to help encourage 'correct and effective implementation of PI technology.' The UK-based 'Process intensification network' (PIN) now has more than 250 members, divided equally between academia and industry, with a strong and active overseas representation, particularly from the EU Member states, reports the organisation. PIN was set up in January 1999 with assistance from the UK Engineering and physical sciences research council and is based at Newcastle university. Since then, PIN has held a number of meetings throughout the country in an effort to bring together networks of industrial and academic engineers and scientists to encourage innovation, creativity, and collaboration in national and EU programmes. A number of PIN members are now participating in a review of process identification for the UK Department of Trade and Industry's Engineering industries Directorate. It hopes this will lead to a LINK programme on PI in the next few years. A public version of this review is available from the PIN website at the address below. 'The activities are relevant to both the EU's Energie and Growth programmes,' said David Reay, PIN coordinator.