Elements 7

A unique industry, with unique companies and unique news

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Elements Winter 2014

New – Chemical Supply Chain Forum 12-page Transport and Logistics Feature Chemical Focus in Manchester Legal/IP Feature

Sponsors of this edition of Elements

European Road Freight Transport Specialists Since our foundation in August 2000, we have become recognised as a leading logistics provider of International road freight services to and from Italy and Western Europe.

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compliance with ADR and IMDG rules. Documentation checking service and advice from our on-site DGSAs. l Trailer groupage services to and from Italy, Spain,

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WELCOME AND MEMBERSHIP

Contents 4-5 UKTI Feature 6-17 Transport & Logistics Feature 18 A Week in the Life of 22 Skills 26 Q&A 28-34 Chemical Focus in Manchester 36-37 The Big Interview 38-39 Sustainable Development 41 Innovation 43 Catalyst 50-53 Legal/IP Feature 54-61 New Members 64 Members Charity Spotlight 67-69 CNW Events

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Warm welcome to 2014 Welcome back to the winter edition of Elements brought to you in conjunction with Distinctive Publishing. You may have noticed that this edition is slightly later than the normal winter editions. We hope to bring the magazine back on schedule in 2014 after delaying the autumn edition to incorporate our Awards Dinner feature.

Over the last quarter since the dinner, the Chemicals Northwest team have been busy organising our regular breakfast networking events, the last of these for 2013 took place on 13th November and was sponsored by Kelly Services. We have also hosted Ngo Minh Hang (Ms) from the British Embassy in Hanoi. Hang covers the chemicals, textiles and mining sectors for UKTI Vietnam and was at the Chemicals Northwest offices on the 18th November meeting with companies in our network looking to do business in Vietnam. Finally we hosted a Showcasing Success event on 28th November 2013 which was sponsored by FMC Chemicals. This event was a roundup of our award winners and some of the innovation finalists from the dinner on the 10th October.

Our annual sector directory is also available now. Members and advertisers receive a free copy of the directory. Further copies for non-members can be bought online here: www.chemicalsnorthwest.org.uk/north-west-industry-links/ Over the course of 2014 we have in the pipeline and due to take place around the time this edition of elements is out, further breakfast events, a Legal Update seminar and planned events on REACH and Supply Chain. For more details please see: www.chemicalsnorthwest.org.uk/events

Alex Heys Member Services & Event Manager

Membership of Chemicals Northwest Contact details John Roche Operations Manager Email: RocheJ@CIA.org.uk Alex Heys Member Services & Events Manager Tel: 01928 515678 Email: alex.heys@ chemicalsnorthwest.org.uk Advertising Anthony McKeown, Distinctive Group Tel: 0845 887 3810 Mob: 0755 702 6900 Email: anthony.mckeown@ distinctivegroup.co.uk

Would your company benefit from joining an organisation that supports and promotes the chemistry-using sector in the Northwest? Do you want to understand more, and contribute to, the industry issues within the region?

n Discounted advertising rates for Chemicals Northwest Sector Directory and Website

If you are a manufacturer, chemical user or offer a service to the sector, why not join us today?

n Access to additional member benefits including:

Benefits... n Free/reduced entry to Chemical Elements and Breakfast Networking events plus the opportunity make a pitch! n Discounted entry to co-hosted and other events n Free website profile to promote your business n Feature opportunities in the quarterly Chemical Northwest Elements magazine n Free entry into the annual Chemicals Northwest Sector Directory

n Support and assistance with regulation and other legislative issues

• 25% discount off the REACHReady Gold Subscription • Chemicals Northwest Buyers’ Club on a no savings, no fee basis • Discounted Insurance Rates • Free and Discounted Recruitment Services For further details contact Alex Heys – Member Services and Events Manager, alex.heys@chemicalsnorthwest.org.uk or phone 01928 515678 or visit www.chemicalsnorthwest.org.uk/membership/ membership_benefits for benefits and prices.

Disclaimer

Distinctive Publishing or Chemicals Northwest cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies that may occur, individual products or services advertised or late entries. No part of this publication may be reproduced or scanned without prior written permission of the publishers and Chemicals Northwest.

Sponsor

This edition is sponsored by ITAL Logistics.

Front cover image, Laser marked plastic moulding, supplied courtesy of Denca Controls – www.denca.com.

Photography courtesy of Adrian Waine, Photography for Industry – www.photographyforindustry.com

Rebranding and name change to Witt O’Brien’s Ltd Happy New Year! We are proud and delighted to announce that as of 1st January 2014 LINK Associates International has renamed to Witt O’Brien’s Ltd. This move has reflected our ongoing strategic growth and our offering the full range of Witt O’Brien’s services to our clients in the UK and International markets.

The aim, as for all of Witt O’Brien’s, is to create innovative and cost-effective solutions that allow our clients to control the outcome of events by reducing the risks and consequences.

Witt O’Brien’s is a global leader in helping organisations to be Crisis Confident through realistic simulations, expert consultancy, software products and response services.

With tailored services in safety management, emergency management, crisis management, business continuity and crisis communications, we can help you to control the outcome.

For more information about Witt O’Brien’s please visit www.wittobriens.co.uk

ELEMENTS WINTER 2014

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UKTI FEATURE

Mission accomplished...

Sarah Galbraith, Director of The Galbraith Muir Consultancy, talks to Tricia Francis, UKTI NW, about her recent trip to Al Khobar as part of a UKTI NW trade mission.

TF: Sarah, why Saudi Arabia and why now?

procurement office in The Hague. They are extremely experienced negotiators so be prepared!

SG: I’ve been contemplating Saudi Arabia as a potential target market for some time.

I had done enough homework to know there was an opportunity for my services but never moved forward with anything, perhaps because I anticipated cultural difficulties as a businesswoman.

TF: What was your experience of the trade mission?

SG: I was interested in traveling to Al Khobar to scope out the situation and liked the idea that a generic mission itinerary was on offer. The preparation was excellent and Janine, our mission co-ordinator, extracted all the data she needed from me in good time to get things organised, including the visa, which was my main worry. They recommended the Gulf Visa and gave excellent guidance and were quick to answer any questions I had. I also met the mission leader, Julian, beforehand so he had a clear understanding of my objectives.

The trade mission to Al Khobar came at the right time in my business calendar, was heading to the right part of the country for industries who could use my services and, as I would be traveling as part of a group, offered me a “comfort zone”, as a first-timer, to travel around and evaluate the market for myself.

TF: With all the news on the Sadara project, Saudi Arabia’s desire to move into downstream industries from oil and gas as well as the “Saudization” programme, this could represent a great opportunity for your business. Did you manage to get more of an understanding of what was happening within the chemical industry over there?

SG: Absolutely! The rate of growth and development of the chemical industry is breathtaking. At first glance it appears they are looking to build, within five years, a world-scale and world class chemical industry. Raw materials will be at one end and higher added value products, anything up to pharmaceuticals, at the other.

I learned there are 3 huge drivers for British companies to engage with the Saudi chemical industry: the move to higher added value industries; the move to Saudization and upskilling Saudi workers; and the “Wa’ed Program” which will introduce entrepreneurship and be a major financer and incubator of new SMEs, which they call “the missing middle”, within the Kingdom.

TF: You visited Saudi Aramco as part of the mission. How important is their role in all of this?

SG: Yes, we visited one of their sites where the procurement team was based.

The presentations made it clear what

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“

At first glance it appears they are looking to build, within five years, a worldscale and world class chemical industry.

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mattered to them. They also described their priorities and how to make contact, including details of the Wa’ed programme.

They confirmed they have a challenging target but they are determined to meet it! I would advise anyone not to underestimate the importance of Saudi Aramco. Do your homework to see how you can effectively engage with them and go through their

We started out with a briefing including very good speakers from senior levels within Kenz, Jacobs, Foster Wheeler, Sadara, portraying the situation and key challenges Saudi companies are facing.

We then had a reception at the Residence of the Head of the British Trade Office.

This was like an informal mini exhibition.

The BTO had invited around 120 relevant contacts to meet with us. This worked well. I made 4-5 high quality contacts in addition to people found by doing my own homework. The quality of the contacts were excellent: real decision-makers eager to engage positively with new business opportunities.

There was enough space in the itinerary to make additional appointments. I now understand why as the ways of communicating and arranging meetings is totally different from how the UK operates.

People will read your emails but see no reason to reply until pretty much the day you want to see them. Texting is also widely used to make appointments! I spent much of Tuesday making appointments for Wednesday utilising the contacts made from the reception.

The hotels are good, with excellent infrastructure for meetings. Staff are also keen to provide anything you need to facilitate business. Traveling as part of a

UKTI FEATURE

group also added to the richness of the visit and offered good company.

As a means of scoping the market the trade mission took care of the peripheral aspects freeing you up to concentrate on business.

TF: Your main reason for delaying looking at Saudi Arabia as a potential market was your worry about the business culture as a woman. How do you view this now?

SG: One of the first things you advised, Tricia, was to talk to Mumtaz Abdulla, one of the female Commercial Officers in Al Khobar. She gave me an excellent insight, informed me of the relevant dress code and what I should expect. When I was out in public I would need to wear an abaya (a long black cloak), and have a head scarf at the ready if required. As a woman in business, however, there would be no issue talking to male or female decision makers.

As I was nervous about the culture I am glad I went as part of a group for my first

visit. I would now be quite happy to visit on my own knowing the British Trade Office is there for support and general guidance. As a complete aside, it was actually quite nice having no worries about what to wear or driving.

TF: Are you pleased with the results of your visit? What tips would you give for readers who might be considering sales to Saudi Arabia?

SG: My objectives were to fact find and connect with potential business partners with the aim of getting business by the end of 2014. I have come away with 4 really substantive opportunities and a few “early days” ones. I am now busy progressing these.

My tips would be: n Visit, visit, visit. Your credibility as a

business partner goes up tremendously each time you visit. There is no substitute for going there. n When the chemical companies in

Eastern Province are up and running they will need the supporting

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services. Think wider than just the chemical industry as there will be growing communities and a growing population. n Allow at least one week for your Visa

and make sure you adhere to the “leave two clear pages facing each other” in your passport. n For businesswomen there are no issues

in talking to male or female decision makers, just be sensitive to local culture on mixed meetings. n Fashion tip for abaya wearers: invest in

a large bag to hold folders, notebooks, laptops etc. Abayas are long and the inexperienced wearer will need both hands free to negotiate stairs!

Obviously, if anyone wishes to know more I would be more than happy to share my experience.

The Galbraith Muir Consultancy Limited T: 07711 557285 E: stg@galbraithmuir.com W: www.galbraithmuir.com

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TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS

A bit of a whinge Invited to write the lead editorial in this Transport and Logistics section of Elements, I have pondered for some time on the subject. I could babble on about legislation, or bemoan the economy. And then there’s the varying shades (more than 50) of grey within the IMDG code and ADR, including areas that don’t get enforced that really should be, and would be the most simplest to enforce. The current format of the DGSA exam leaves a little to be desired too!

And then there is the issue of ‘to stack or not to stack’, and how some European countries (Germany for example) appear to keep impinging their local regulations on transient carriers who are complying with ADR, of which such European countries are contracted to.

So, having picked out the above, and in no particular order…

To stack or not to stack ADR 7.5.7.2 states – “Packages shall not be stacked unless designed for that purpose.”

(If a UN approved package has been used, and it has undergone stack tests, then it follows that the package is designed so as to be stacked). And it follows on – “Where necessary, stacked packages shall be prevented from damaging the package below by use of load-bearing devices.”

Because many drivers must transit Germany (whom I am using as an example, and not necessarily singling them out) they are wary about stacking dangerous goods and often refuse to accept.

German local regulations (just like we have our own Carriage of Dangerous Goods (CDG) regulations which defray occasionally from ADR – locally) would appear to disallow stacking of dangerous goods, or at least apply a more rigid approach on securing than other EU countries (UK included). If the carrier was of German abode, then this would be acceptable. But a non-German carrier, registered outside of Germany should be allowed to go on his merry way as long as ADR, to which Germany is a contracting party, is complied with. I have yet to obtain the actual German text on this, and our industry governing body expressed little or no interest on pursuing this, blaming it on lack of resources.

I had started to take this matter to Brussels via our local MEP, but with varying workloads it has, regretfully, slipped down the priority list. It shall soon be brought to

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the surface again, but in the meantime, if any reader has any input on this subject, then I would be pleased to hear from them. I simply seek some uniformity/ standardisation so that consolidators like ourselves are all batting from the same crease. If we can stack, OK, But if we can’t stack, also OK. But the cost increases – across the board.

Marine pollutants and technical names Not mentioned in my preamble, but another ongoing confusion point is when to supplement the Proper Shipping name with the Technical Name(s). When Special Provision 274 or 318 is mentioned in column 6 of Table A in ADR, or the Dangerous Goods List of IMDG, it is clear that the Technical Name should be applied.

However, in IMDG, when you move onto Marine Pollutants, whilst the instruction in 3.1.2.9 is clear (“For ‘generic’ or ‘not otherwise specified’ (N.O.S.) entries, the Proper Shipping Name shall be supplemented with the recognised chemical name of the marine pollutant”), how does one ascertain if the entry is ‘generic’? Whilst there is a list of generic entries (Appendix A), one of the examples used in 3.1.2.9.2 is UN 1263 (Paint), is supplemented with the recognised (technical) name, but does not appear in Appendix A. It isn’t just I that is conscious of this anomaly. In July last year, the International Paint and Printing Council (IPPIC) and the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) submitted comments to the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Subcommittee on Dangerous Goods, opposing a Belgian proposal to require the addition of technical names for all “generic” proper shipping names (PSN) in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. In order to remedy this, Belgium proposes the creation of

a new Special Provision (SP) “similar to SP 274 and SP 318 for safety hazards,” requiring the PSN to be supplemented with the technical name for the marine pollutant in the IMDG Code only, to be assigned to a number of generic entries in the Dangerous Goods List. Specifically, Belgium argues that Paint, Paint Related Materials, Adhesives, and a list of other commodity PSNs are generic.

IPPIC and CEFIC maintain that a new SP is unnecessary, given that it duplicates the existing provision in section 3.1.2.9.1 of the IMDG Code. An additional SP might even create confusion itself, since SP 274 is not solely assigned to safety hazards but is already allocated to indicate environmentally hazardous substances in the cases of UN 3077 and UN 3082.

Applying the Belgian-proposed SP has the potential to create far greater confusion and problems for actors in the transport chain: consignors would still need to determine whether a technical name is in fact required, and for carriers the checking of transport documentation would become less straightforward. Delays could occur if carriers query whether the technical name has been omitted intentionally or erroneously.

Dangerous goods description 5.4.1.1.1 of ADR, and 5.4.1.4.2 of IMDG clearly states the sequence of the elements of information required to appear on the Transport Document/ Dangerous Goods note. Ask me, how hard is this to do? Both ADR and IMDG require all persons involved in the transport chain to undertake training commensurate with their duties. ADR requires a Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA) who, if he/she cannot instruct the company to get this part right, then honestly talking it would be advisable in the interests of public safety to seek alternative employment!

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS

And the lack of enforcement on this is dire. Let’s face it, it isn’t hard to implement. One could argue that as long as the information is there, somewhere, does it really matter? Well yes, it does.

It’s a rule. It’s also about the uniformity/ standardisation which I referred to earlier.

And this really is the easiest part.

So, From what I mentioned in my preamble, I’ve babbled a bit about legislation and the lack of enforcement of the most easy, and I’ve broached a couple of subjects which cause confusion, and often chaos. That just leaves the DGSA exam and the economy.

Having just sat, for the 3rd successive 5-year bout, the DGSA exams, I was

dismayed that the final paper for case studies gave a choice of Tankers, Asbestos, and if I remember correctly, Radioactive.

This was pretty much the same in February 2009. As a freight forwarder/consolidator, it is unlikely we will ever move Asbestos, will never be involved in Tankers, and Class 7 is a specialised area. 25% of the business we move is in scope of the regulations, and by far the most common falls under UN 3077 and UN 3082. I argue, shouldn’t Tankers, and Class 7 be separate optional papers?

Many people whinge on about the economy. I’m often asked by my foreign partners where I stand politically. Well, I’ve never voted, I don’t read the newspaper, I have little or no interest in current affairs, and I care not to try to differentiate

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between political parties’ manifestos. I accept the hand that is dealt to me by whoever is holding the pack, and work that hand as best I can. If I am dealt another hand from a fresh pack, then that’s the hand I’ll play with.

Blinkered perhaps, but I just get on with it really.

Phil Denton Managing Director DGSA Ital Logistics Limited

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angerous Goods Safety Advisor D Qualification Course

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TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS

HANSON LOGISTICS

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Pioneering logistics solutions since 1848 Since 1848 our principles have not changed. We have been providing quality logistics solutions for customers throughout the UK and Europe. In recent years we have developed partnerships in Asia giving us the opportunity to provide more for our customers.

Our philosophy is to aim for excellence in everything that we do. From the way we operate our business to our customer service. We truly believe that ‘good enough’ is only the starting point. Our commitment to detail has served us well, this can be seen by the influential customers that we serve.

We are accredited to ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 for the provision of warehousing, re-packing, sampling and transportation of hazardous and non-hazardous products.

Our modern Warehouse Management System ensures that all products are stored in compliance with the segregation rules with no possibility of cross contamination. We have a comprehensive CCTV system and our own ‘in house’ 24 hour security team.

Our modern fleet of 44 tonne vehicles

harness the latest technology along with Vehicle tracking and on-board CCTV. To complement our main warehouse we offer a sample service and repacking facility. We can transfer Hazardous and non-hazardous liquid, solid, powder, even temperature controlled products at ease with our highly skilled team of staff.

There are many ways to measure a company’s success, we at Hanson Logistics believe that to put our customer first is the most important part of our role.

With that comes the satisfaction that we have carried out our duty to the best of our ability. We believe in a professional service with the personal approach.

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Tanker Fall Prevention & Safe Loading Systems MEET ALL HSE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PREVENTION OF FALLS FROM ROAD TANKERS WITH OUR ACCESS & LOADING SOLUTIONS LP1600 - Tanker Safe Access Systems & Folding Stairs Our access platforms & gantry’s offer:- Safety hand rails, anti-slip flooring & kicker plates - Low cost modular design & fast on-site installation - Wide range of height & platform sizes FOLDING STAIRS adjust to height of tanker - Safety working cage to prevent falls - Spring balanced for easy operation

TopTank - Mobile Tanker Access LP1600 Loading Platform, Folding Stairs & Chemical Top Loading Arm

- For locations where fixed gantry’s are not suitable - Integral access ladder & fall prevention cage - Height adjustable cage to fit all size tankers - Easy one person operation - Double size ISO container cage option - Meets HSE tanker fall prevention recommendations

Chemical Loading & Unloading Arms

TopTank Unit With ISO Tank Safety Cage

- Ensures the safe & clean transfer of liquids - Used to safely load many hazardous & corrosive chemicals - Spring balanced for light & easy operation - Options include pneumatic control, high level shut off & vapour recovery - Removes requirement for manual handling of heavy hoses & couplers

Tanker Loading Safety & Control Equipment A range of complimentary equipment to protect personnel & plant from accidental drive offs & unsafe load sequences including:- Earth-Rite RTR - Tanker static grounding system - Trapped key interlock system - Sequential control of loading operations - Traffic barriers - Safely control tanker movements in loading & unloading operations

Molasses Top Loading Arm, Folding Stairs & Access Gantry

The safest way to protect personnel from the hazards of working at height during tanker access operations

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TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS

IFC INFLOW

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Preventing falls from road tankers – making the right choice If you access and work on the tops of road tankers as part of your general operations then providing a safe working environment for your personnel is essential.

With the wealth of fall prevention and protection equipment on the market today, coupled with commercial pressures, buyers are often forced to choose between safety and savings. But when it comes to protecting personnel whilst working at height on the top of road tankers, the following recommended best practice is vital to help prevent serious or fatal accidents.

Protection or prevention?

When installing or reviewing your fall preventions systems the first question to consider is: Fall protection or fall prevention? There is a significant difference. Fall protection is the act of catching someone once a fall occurs and is effected through fall arrest systems such as harnesses, lanyards and other personal protective equipment. It is typically a cheaper option than fall prevention, at least in the short term. Fall prevention is the act of preventing a fall from occurring in the first place and usually consists of fixed loading / unloading gantries. To help determine which solution is most appropriate it is recommended to refer to the hierarchy of control published in the Chemical Industries Association document “working on the tops of chemical tankers, which states “to prevent falls from tankers the following control measures need to be considered”: 1. Eliminate the need to access tops of tankers 2. Provision of a loading / unloading gantry 3. Consideration of tanker design features such as ladders, walkways & collapsible hand rails 4. Portable ladders with platforms 5. Installation of fall arrest systems With some careful thought and planning, a single sophisticated fall prevention system in the guise of a loading gantry with secure fencing that meets all tanker requirements and allows the site to consolidate tanker loading and unloading into a single location can provide long term savings, both financially and operationally.

IFC inflow IFC have been involved in designing and manufacturing systems that allow safe access onto the tops of tankers and for

the safe handling and loading of products into the tankers for over 25 years and have always followed the principle that it is safer to stop someone from falling than to catch them when they do. With this in mind we offer a range of solutions incorporating loading / unloading gantries and folding stairs fitted with safety cages / fences, which provide a safe perimeter around the top of the tanker to stop a fall from occurring in the first place.

Folding stairs The challenge many companies now face is the variety of different shape and size tankers that are used to transport their products. All our safe access solutions take this into account, including our range of spring assisted self-levelling folding stairs & safety cages, which bolt onto the gantry and fold down to rest upon the tanker and enable safe access and exit via a series of steps with 3, 4 and 5 step units as standard. The stairs can be easily fitted to existing gantries or supplied as part of one of our loading gantry packages. These are an ideal replacement to the old style drop platforms, which due to their sloping nature can be unsafe to use particularly in wet weather.

Toptank tanker mobile access Where fixed gantries are not practicable then we can offer a moveable solution with the TopTank access system, suitable for sites with infrequent requirements for

tanker top access and is ideal for sampling, inspection, venting, testing and operating tank top equipment. This allows sites to maintain flexibility in receiving in product via road tankers.

Manual handing Recently, the issue of manually operating heavy folding stairs has become more common, where some of the older or heavier sets of stairs have become too heavy to operate manually, usually due to the balance spring wearing out. A better understanding of the risk of injury from lifting heavy loads and the repetitive stress of the physical action of operating the stairs regularly has led to a requirement for an easily controlled powered lowering and lifting action. To meet this new need we have developed a pneumatic power assist pack to enable the stairs & arms to be lowered and raised at the push of a lever.

The system can be retro-fitted to existing stairs so upgrading current equipment is easy and cost effective. It is also offered as an affordable option on any new stairs we supply. We also have an optional push-down feature, which enables the stairs to stay in contact with the tanker while it drops and settles as it is filled with product.

To find out more about how IFC Inflow can help with your tanker loading operations or if you need help or advice, call 01375 387155 or log onto www.inflow.co.uk for further information.

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WARRANT GROUP

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS

Warrant Group celebrates its 25th anniversary Global supply chain specialist, Warrant Group, is celebrating 25 years in business.

The Liverpool based company is excited about the future as it looks to build upon the strong foundations already laid.

Export Director, Jarrad Bycroft, explained: “Warrant Group’s skills and expertise have earned us a strong reputation.

Warrant Group’s commitment to providing high standards of customer service against stringent KPI’s has helped it secure major contracts for packed chemicals.

“Clients utilise our best in class supply chain architecture due to the complex nature of their chemical operations.

The same ethos is also providing good foundations for liquid chemicals following Warrant Group’s announcement of a new partnership with German based Leschaco Group last year.

Warrant Group now manages all import and export requirements of Leschaco’s deep sea ISO tank container business within the UK.

“Managed by Warrant Group’s experienced and dedicated team, we develop partnerships through a truly client-focused approach.”

The company will be marking its 25th anniversary with a number of celebrations, including making the most of an international audience on its own waterfront at the International Festival for Business.

Steven Hughan Business Development Manager Steven joined Warrant Group in July 2013 from a strong background in shipping and business development.

He is now focused on demonstrating Warrant Group’s global expertise to the industry, including its membership of Eurteam – a strategic European alliance of supply chain specialists providing services solely to the chemical sector.

Steven explained: “Warrant Group’s experience and reputation in handling freight and logistics for some of the world’s biggest chemical companies speaks for itself.

“Being part of Eurteam gives us more than just a local approach. Each partner is a specialist with an exceptional knowledge base and the experience of working with clients operating plants across Europe and beyond.

“I am very pleased to have joined the company at such an exciting time as we celebrate our 25th anniversary.”

THE RIGHT FORMULA FOR CHEMICAL SUPPLY CHAIN SOLUTIONS CALL: 0151 955 0670 EMAIL: JARRAD.BYCROFT@WARRANT-GROUP.COM STEVEN.HUGHAN@WARRANT-GROUP.COM WWW.WARRANT-GROUP.COM/CNW

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We work alongside customers to achieve a common goal, and have a versatile management team available to plan, develop and apply new and innovative solutions to labelling problems.

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Chemical Labels The chemical industry is currently going through one of the most dramatic periods of change in its history, with a range of new regulatory regimes presenting unique challenges for businesses in this sector. All parts of the supply chain, including suppliers and users of chemicals, need to prepare for the transition from the current CHIP (Chemicals Hazard Information and Packaging) system to the CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Hazardous Substances and Mixtures) regulations, which will implement the United Nations GHS (Globally Harmonized System) for classifying and labelling chemicals.

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The visual impact of CLP will be very apparent. Current orange and black symbols will be replaced by red and black diamonds called Pictograms.

Our Knowledge We understand the demands of complying with legislation and BS5609 compliance (both parts 2 and 3). We also understand the changes from CHIP labelling to GHS, and we can help convert your current labels to the new GHS compliant format; our objective is to provide a tailored solution for your particular needs. With communication changing dramatically, we are partners in that change to keep you competitive.

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The Software Specialists in development of software for the managed compliance of: n Safety data sheets n Labels (use & transport) n Worker instructions n Transport emergency cards n Complete document management service n Distribution of SDS and labels via SAFIN.NET with maintenance of records

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TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS

ACTA

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Standardising Transport/Labelling Regulations: A way to reduce shipping costs for retail and consumer products

By Andrew R. Bourne, Hayley J. Clayton, Ph.D., Leslie S. MacDougall -- The Acta Group Transport operations involving chemicals are heavily regulated. This is true for small scale manufacturers with single sites, large scale global distributors utilising multiple sites, and external third party freight forwarders. Each must comply with appropriate labelling of goods for transport and import inspections, and regulatory requirements pertinent to their products. While the adoption of the Globally Harmonised System for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) by the United States (U.S.) brings chemical labelling one step closer to achieving a global standard, there are still many non-standardised labelling nuances and idiosyncrasies alive and well in different jurisdictions. As developing compliant labels is costly, avoiding label errors occasioned by variances in the GHS adoption between countries and regions is essential. Labelling issues can also arise through transport and GHS overlaps of specific hazards.

Many of the world’s largest chemical producing and consuming nations have now adopted GHS for chemical labelling (U.S., European Union (EU), China, Korea, and many others), and the United Nations (UN) “orange book” for chemical transport, facilitating ease of chemical movement between countries. Minor variations between these adoptions make detailed reviews of labels essential for setting a unified labelling strategy. A common issue for transport classification is the duplication of pictograms to represent hazards. The general rule of thumb is to replace any GHS pictograms with transport pictograms, where hazards are classified. Shipments are often stopped within the EU where GHS pictograms are presented on transport packaging, instead of the required transport symbols.

“Limited Quantities” (LQ) shipping has been standardised between all modes of transport since January 2011; this is a good example of how standardisation can speed up and reduce the cost of chemical shipping operations.

Countries and regions subscribing to the UN transport regulations have provisions for LQ shipping, although previously the implementation of these provisions varied between the different modes of transport.

LQ refers to small receptacles, typically

those that go into retail distribution chains, packed in boxes or on shrink wrapped trays. The European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) has undergone a number of changes relating to the LQ provision as highlighted within both the 2009 and 2011 editions. Specific measures, detailed in ADR, Chapter 3.4, 1 January 2011, for dangerous goods packed in LQ (other than those assigned figure “0” in column (7a) of Table A of Chapter 3.2) may continue to be carried until 30 June 2015. The new provisions which standardise LQ shipping may be applied from 1 January 2011. Similar changes in The International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code and International Air Transportation Association (IATA) code for air transport were developed as uniform international codes for the transport of dangerous goods, required from January 2012 (voluntary from 1 January 2011) and 1 January 2011, respectively. While there is still much transition work to be done before the June 2015 sunset date, this standardises the LQ shipping and facilitates shipping of smaller quantity packages, such as for the

retail market. Changes to be considered include packaging requirements post2015 and day-to-day functionality, including updates to internal databases and systems used in producing transport documentation and labels.

Most GHS adoptions will complete implementation by 2015, mandating that all mixtures must be classified according to the particular legislation of that jurisdiction. Although some variation will remain between labelling information and hazard category adoption, this greatly simplifies the process of classification and labelling for retail and consumer products.

This level of harmonisation, together with the standardisation of transport labels, offers the promise of greatly simplifying and reducing the cost of label creation.

The Acta Group, a scientific and regulatory consulting firm with offices in England, China and the United States, provides strategic, comprehensive support for global chemical registration, regulation, and sustained compliance. www.actagroup.com

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SUPPLY CHAIN

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS

Spotlight on chemical supply chains Leading local corporate financiers Brabners Stuart have teamed up with their partner regional law firm Brabners to commission a review of current supply chain best practice across NW chemical companies. This review has highlighted many issues to debate, gaps to be explored and overwhelming support for a chemicals supply chain forum.

The first forum will be held at the Heath on March 25 2014 starting at Noon and will present detailed findings of the review, facilitate a members discussion and determine the shape and frequency of future forums. Guest speakers will be invited to address members on what is new and challenging within the NW, globally and across other industry sectors.

All chemical supply chain practitioners are invited to attend.

The review comprised a series of interviews with senior executives in the NW representing a variety of chemical companies. Interviews were carried out by Phil Browitt of Chainology and John Roche of CNW. Overall conclusions are outlined further below. The full report will be distributed with an invite to the workshop

by CNW before the end of January.

The overall observations included the following. n Each company had a different focus

mainly driven by the different types of business and strategies. n All supply chain executives were

strongly focused on aligning their objectives to the business strategy.

Supply chain strategy appeared not to be a standalone issue but a contribution to the overall business strategy. n There were little or no internal conflicts

within the supply chain organisation which is aligned with production and site operations. n A strong customer focus emerged with

some adding value to their customers through the supply chain design despite a negative internal impact.

Segmented service was in evidence. n Relationships came out as a key

factor with examples of customer and supplier implants, long term open book contracts and long term relations despite regular tenders. n There was an enthusiasm to improve

and a wish to learn from best practice and to obtain benchmark information. n Actions were not totally cost driven.

KPIs were strongly monitored mainly as a rear view mirror rather than an action indicator. n Professional development for supply

chain managers was not evident.

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Network Map

Current job-holders were members of the Institute of Transport & Logistics with others also members of purchasing and chemistry professional bodies. n All the companies were late adaptors

to new concepts and technologies.

There could be significant benefits through greater use of supply chain improvement techniques and through keeping abreast of rapidly changing new technologies. n Supply chain sustainability (with regard

to planet and people excluding profit) hardly reached the radar screen and there was no customer pull in this direction. n Those interviewed were all supportive

of the formation of a North West Chemicals supply chain forum or common interest group where learning about what is new, best practice, networking and seeking collaborative improvements could be agenda items. n Most were looking to do something

new varying from track and trace, selective moving from push point to pull, obtaining benchmarks and developing better planning processes and systems. n Following these interviews and this

article Chemicals North West (along with sponsors Brabners and Brabners Stuart) will circulate this note to its chemical company members inviting them to participate in the first supply chain forum. The agenda will cover the observations from this report

together with a business outlook review, examples of best practice and a discussion regarding how members would wish to develop the supply chain group (for example technical or regulatory updates and relevant industry/subject speakers).

Further extracts from the results of the study are captured below.

The responsibilities of the supply chain experts included a wide range of functions: distribution cost and performance, safety, stocks, working capital, order process and customer service. In some cases responsibility for production and demand planning and purchasing was also included within the medium / small companies.

The supply chain function normally reports to the site operations director who could also be the business director and for two companies there was joint reporting to the commercial director. Consequently the supply chain was closely aligned with production allowing integrated direction and decision making.

As is common in the chemical industry, the supply chain executives do not sit on the board of directors.

Key objectives varied significantly. Some had safety as the prime objective followed by efficiency and cost whereas others focused on planning to meet customer demand. Purchasing to avoid stock-outs was the key for one interviewee. Others had customer service or margin at the top

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS

SUPPLY CHAIN

transport solutions is a declared main priority for the chemical industry.

Although emissions from transport represent only a few percent of their greenhouse gas emissions the chemical industry does raise awareness of how to further reduce transport emissions.

of the agenda. All had customer service and bottom line as a key objective but not necessarily prime Strategy was an interview topic but key objectives were the prime focus of the answers. The implication is that there is not a specific supply chain strategy but rather the supply chain is one factor in supporting the business strategy. All of those interviewed ensured their objectives were in line with the business strategy.

Key Performance Indicators varied for the different companies.

Safety was the dominant issue for one company using incident analysis and investigative techniques. Another company sited fishbone analysis as a key safety feature. Other companies hardly mentioned safety.

Variable cost per tonne per transport lane was a common KPI along with stock turn, stock outs and working capital.

“Waste” in terms of unnecessary cost (waiting time, weekend working, non value added activity) and payload figured in half the interviews as did “On Time In Full” which usually was managed by exception by the carrier. Plant turn round times and cut-offs also figured highly for those in that type of industry.

The focus was on margin per customer or customer sales income after direct logistics costs.

Around half the companies had clear graphical evidence of KPIs which may have been there for the others but were not evident on the walls. Other KPIs found included: ‘number of supply agreements’, ‘number of incorrect orders placed’ and number of complaints (quality/service).

It was felt there was a serious lack of available benchmarks.

Cost efficiency was part of the KPIs. Three companies used flow mapping or spend maps or value stream analysis.

There was little or no evidence of cost to serve, network design, dashboards or other relatively modern analysis and improvement techniques.

Bespoke demand, production planning systems using spreadsheets were in evidence along with some use of SAP Sales and Production Planning. SAP Transport Management appeared not to be used but some carriers, having long term relationships, provided this service.

Half the companies believed relationships were the key and developed a very close working relationship with their chosen carrier. There are examples of long term contracts using open book for fixed elements and closed book for variable freight along with carrier offices on site giving efficiency savings with regard to payloads, self loading, shunting, waste

n

For two companies in this study Safety and Responsible Care were the major issue under this heading. There was extensive work being done in this area.

reduction and planning. Carrier incentives were also used and a belief that penalties would simply hide issues. All of these relationships were regarded as successful, contributing added value to the business.

Other companies negotiated contracts of affreightment on an annual or longer timeframe but still managed to keep long term relationships.

Most companies aimed for high customer service and saw relationships as the key.

One relationship example was an open exchange of demand forecasts resulting in improved planning and 30% less stock for both parties. Another has the customer on site and together managed to reduce stock turn by 7 days. Reducing the customer’s working capital through frequent small deliveries was another example of working for the customer.

The concept of designing the supply chain to add value to the customer, sometimes with efficiency loss to the company, was apparent in a number of cases. This is less common in the chemical industry than in other industries closer to the end user.

Most sell on a “push” basis making product available at the point of manufacture. Two are looking to sell on a “pull” basis moving the product closer to the customer in Europe and beyond. Stocks held closer to the point of use was seen as an objective in some cases.

Most do not differentiate customers although the close relationships described above does point to some segmentation.

One company differentiated through using different quality carriers for different customers. Another had a 100% customer service objective. Supply chain professionals rarely met with their counterparts and meetings only took place when a quality or service problem arose. Would more proactive supply chain contacts be beneficial?

Collaboration was not a talked concept.

Clearly vertical collaboration between chemical producer and the carrier(s) is evident. There were no examples of horizontal collaboration between chemical companies to improve the overall supply chain efficiency (an area for further discussion?).

Most companies saw sustainability in terms of planet and people aspects taking profit as a given improvement requirement. Most companies saw the environment and social aspects as a selling opportunity and based on the product, the site operations, landfill but not really associated with the supply chain. One company did include sustainability in its carrier tender processes.

Carbon footprint and emissions were not seen as a key issue and as yet there is no customer pull in this direction. Other ideas for sustainability measures included: returnable packaging, fuel efficiency, back-loading and resource efficiency programs.

There was generally little interest in finance and risk topics however two companies thought there could be room for outside financial investment in supply chain projects. An example was investment in stock tanks to cover planned shutdowns.

Procurement functions managed the risk in contracts largely using standard headings.

Where purchasing came under the same remit as supply chain, business risk became a more prevalent issue, in particular single suppliers and their security of supply.

None of the companies were early adopters of new technology with many resigned to ‘fit’ with existing corporate systems that may be less efficient or out of date.

All the supply chain specialists kept up to date through conferences, seminars and internal networks. Most felt they could do more. Track and trace tended to be something to be considered in the future.

Most felt the very new evolutions such as 3D printing, nano-technology, social media, the cloud and the Internet of Things were not relevant. This should be challenged at the first forum event.

With regard to sustainability, the provision of safe, sustainable and competitive

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A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF

AWEEK

INTHELIFEOF

Emails in from three clients, all with different end industry focus, wishing to look at USA, Israel and Turkey. Diarise time to look at that. Good news from Uni Chester. Their Catalyst for Growth Regional Growth Fund bid is officially approved. I have been working with them on this so I allow myself a “woop” and an air punch. Make appointment to discuss assistance with spreading the word.

Catch-up call with PA Consulting then dash to The Heath, Runcorn where Hang Ngo, our Chemicals Commercial Officer from UKTI Vietnam is presenting.

Finish by driving Hang through Cheshire countryside (she videos most of the journey) to catch train to Newcastle.

Home, quick change, off to aerobics!

Tuesday Priority on two companies, both targeting the oil and gas industry.

Tricia Francis International Trade Associate Chemicals, UKTI Northwest

With a private sector background in export sales Tricia has been helping companies benefit from UK government initiatives for international trade since 2001.

Focused on the North West chemical industry Tricia looks after a diverse and ever-increasing portfolio of companies.

Following contractual changes in 2011 Tricia is now Director of Tomorrow The World Limited. The company complements UKTI activities offering hands-on assistance for short-term or project-based international trade activity. Tricia also contracts with PA Consulting to assist UKTI with chemical sector strategy on a national basis.

Monday The start of a new week! Excitement or panic attack...it’s a fine line!

I was out for 2 days last week (SCS Formulate plus the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association International Information Day) so commence with the never-ending catch up on emails.

Email priorities today are those ensuring everything is sorted for my four clients taking part in imminent trade missions to Brazil, Russia and Saudi Arabia. I also check the partner search and itineraries are finalised. For Russia and Saudi visas are the element outside our control but the mission leaders are on the case with all previous concerns ironed out.

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The first, new to exporting. I recommended a visit to SPE Offshore Europe, Aberdeen in September to meet various UKTI oil and gas Commercial Officers. The company is now signed up to Passport to Export focusing on Norway and Brazil. I review the OMIS action plans to identify potential business partners.

The second, more experienced, both in exporting and use of OMIS, is targeting South Africa and India. I tweak previous market research briefs but ensure the relevant Commercial Officers fully understand the company’s products and their expectations.

Dash to Warrington Chamber Networking Lunch. I hotdesk and work closely with the Chamber. Today I have been asked to facilitate presentations, introductions.

Yet more emails, amongst them: UKTI Paris outlining assistance for a client during JEC Europe; UKTI NW China specialist updating on progress with my health and beauty client for trademark and product registration.

Home to the standard “What’s for tea?” greeting from my daughter, tonight accompanied by a plea for help with college work and the understanding of perfect and monopolistic competition graphs! Que?

Wednesday Admin... as, sadly, there is no admin fairy! Plough through CRM entry and four mugs of coffee.

Email invitation arrives for North West Insider International Trade Awards.

Another black tie event, cue “woop” and air punch, following the highly

enjoyable Chemicals Northwest Awards in October.

Afternoon spent reviewing info from SCS Formulate and CTPA events and how this could help towards any national focus on cosmetics and personal care.

Home, “What’s for tea?”, and a discussion on whether monopolistic competition should always prevail... deep joy!

Thursday Today is a Tomorrow The World day working on two exhibitions in April 2014: in-cosmetics, Hamburg (working with the CIA) and Chemspec India, Mumbai.

I have developed all-inclusive pavilion packages for companies. Promotion for Chemspec India started last week so I will follow up the initial leads. The final flyer for in-cosmetics has arrived so I will work with the CIA and Reed Exhibitions on promotion.

A less hectic day and whilst I clearly expect “What’s for tea?” I am sincerely hoping that A2 Economics is NOT on the agenda!

Friday Straight to work on Tradeshow Access Programme grant applications received from clients over the past week to secure funding towards costs of exhibiting overseas. I make sure the companies are eligible under the current terms and conditions, do more CRM wizardry, with coffee of course, then forward to the TAP team at UKTI Glasgow for final processing.

CeBIT, ILDEX, Arab Lab amongst others.

The variety of trade shows never ceases to amaze me. Memorable ones are The Tortilla Industry Association Annual Convention and Trade Expo, Las Vegas and Mushroom Days .... in The Netherlands!

Next, a two hour Tomorrow The World meeting with my allocated sales and marketing mentor under the government’s Growth Accelerator scheme. I signed up in September. This is to update on progress made with tasks I set myself last month.

The final hours are spent on preparation for a client meeting on Monday plus as many emails as I can complete.

As usual, immersed in my work, I lose track of time and have to implement the well -rehearsed “bolt for the door” routine before I get locked in for the weekend!

Now then, what’s for tea?

Capital Grants

From £5k to £500K Support for Potential Applicants

Events are being held across the North West ahead of the competitive calls being announced to provide advice and guidance on all aspects of the programme and application process. There is the opportunity to book RGF funded one-to-one sessions with C-Tech Innovation who will work with potential applicants to help identify and develop eligible project ideas.

To initiate this support, please request and complete an Expression of Interest form by emailing cfg.enquiries@chester.ac.uk or visit www.catalystforgrowth.co.uk.

We will then contact you to book an appointment.

For Chemical & Chemical using companies in the North West

Capital grants are available* to assist companies to grow their business through capital investment in, for example: New premises, expansion or adaptation Purchase of plant and machinery, new technologies, systems and software infrastructure R & D investment, eg, developing new applications, prototypes Associated training

Further Information

Details of the programme, including eligibility criteria and dates of calls for applications are available on the project website:

www.catalystforgrowth.co.uk For enquiries about any aspect of the programme please contact: Jan Morris, Scheme Manager on cfg.enquiries@chester.ac.uk

The Regional Growth Fund (RGF) is a £3.2 billion fund, helping companies throughout England to create jobs between now and the mid-2020s. The payment of Regional Growth Fund money is spread between 2011 and 2017. Regional Growth Fund supports projects and programmes that are using private sector investment to create economic growth and sustainable employment.

*Subject to eligibility criteria

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Hosokawa Micron Ltd offers a specialist toll processing partner with modern production facilities in Germany, Netherlands and United Kingdom delivering a range of toll processing services that can give you all the above, plus: n Access to more than 20 individual processing suites n Comprehensive in-house analytical and test facility support n Extensive processing know-how of Hosokawa’s engineers n Seamless scale-up to increased production capacity

Manufacturers of food, chemical, mineral, plastic and metal materials can select from a range of processing and finishing technologies including: Size reduction, Granulation, Mixing.

Coating and Compaction, Pack-off into FIBCs, sacks, drums or boxes and warehouse storage and delivery directly to customers

Individual toll processing solutions are designed to meet your present and evolving toll processing needs including handling multi-tonne lots or ultra small batch processing; production of materials requiring processing in a contained environment; food products processed within BRC accredited suites and micronisation and classification of materials to sub-micron size.

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in-house analytical and test facility support chemical and food (BRC accredited) processing suites l High volume or small batch production l Separate

Process Engineering Expertise Experienced, process and chemical production engineers work with companies to determine accurate product specifications, product/process risk assessment and optimum design of production processes to meet individual end product requirements.

Rivington Road, Whitehouse, Runcorn, Cheshire, England. WA7 3DS. Tel: +44 (0) 1928 755100 Fax: +44 (0) 1928 714325 E.mail: info@hmluk.hosokawa.com www.hosokawa.co.uk

PROCESS TECHNOLOGIES FOR TOMORROW SM

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SKILLS

Producing the Chemicals Northwest Awards

This is the second year that Chemicals Northwest have worked with Wirral Metropolitan Fine Art students to produce trophies for the annual awards dinner.

The Fine Art course has a long history of working with industry on collaborative projects including decorative schemes, office refurbishments and the creation of individual art objects. These projects provide a real professional experience for the Fine Art students.

A key aim of the course at Wirral Metropolitan College is to ensure students develop the creative skills essential to being an artist but also the discipline and collaborative skills required to work as part of a creative team within the constraints of a commission.

The brief from Chemicals Northwest was to design and construct nine awards, which were to be presented to individuals and businesses for various achievements.

It was suggested that the awards should be made from Jesmonite, itself a chemical based material.

The group first met in July with a number of drawings, maquettes and ideas. There followed a period of ‘mind mapping’ during which our limited knowledge of chemistry was soon exhausted. Images of

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chemical symbols, equipment, processes and structures came to mind. Over the next few weeks while we refined our ideas we were joined by Andy Coady, a graduate and past fellowship student at the BA Fine Art course. Andy continues to work as a sculptor and together with Steve Hitchin (tutor and sculptor) was able to give the team very valuable advice. He agreed to take part in the brief and design and construct two awards. Each of us worked on our own designs but throughout was influenced by the advice from the other members of the team. Some of the designs were directly influenced by ‘chemistry’ whereas others would be more freely sculptural.

The designs evolved over the next few weeks while manufacturing trials started.

We met at the studio two or three times a

week and on a couple of glorious summer days worked outside in each other’s gardens. Each of us were learning how to use Jesmonite as we progressed - casting with it, applying it in thin layers with a brush, sanding it back, mixing with bronze and copper compounds or applying complex paint techniques.

Finally, after three months of excitement, disappointment, elation, frustration and laughter they were finished. I believe we have each learnt a great deal; how to use a new material, many sculptural techniques and particularly how to work closely as a team.

The awards were presented at a formal dinner in Manchester, hosted by Chemicals Northwest on 10th October.

HAZARDS HAZARDS HAZARDS HAZARDS HAZARDS HAZARDS HAZARDS HAZARDS HAZARDS HAZARDS IChemE’s premier HAZARDS HAZARDS HAZARDS HAZARDS HAZARDS process safety HAZARDS HAZARDS HAZARDS HAZARDS HAZARDS HAZARDS HAZARDS HAZARDS HAZARDS conference HAZARDS HAZARDS HAZARDSUK HAZARDS HAZARDS 7–9 MayHAZARDS 2014, Edinburgh, HAZARDS HAZARDS HAZARDS HAZARDS HAZARDS

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Register before 31 January 2014 and save £100 Hazards 24 will provide a platform for sharing best practice and latest research on all aspects of chemical and process safety in Europe, helping you to manage and reduce risk more effectively.

Conference highlights Over 60 technical presentations across two days under the broad theme of Leadership, Legislation and Lessons Learnt, with a wide range of regulators, operators and academics giving their perspective.

Keynote speakers will include: ■

Ed Daniels, executive vice president, global solutions downstream, Shell UK

■

Janette Edmonds, director/principal consultant, Keil Centre, UK

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Judith Hackitt, chair of Great Britain’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

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Robert Paterson, policy director for health and safety, Oil and Gas UK

An extensive trade exhibition will run alongside the conference.

Sponsorship and exhibition We have sponsorship and exhibition packages to suit every budget.

Visit www.icheme.org/hazards24 for details or contact conferences@icheme.org

Find out more and register at www.icheme.org/hazards24

C0178_13

ADVANCING CHEMICAL ENGINEERING WORLDWIDE

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WIRRAL METROPOLITAN COLLEGE

Working with employers to build the future of the science industry Flexibility, enthusiasm and determination.....just three of the attributes that help make Wirral Met a leading deliverer of chemical engineering, process technology and chemistry. job learning and further education. Our Apprentices can grow from Traineeships through to Level 5 and 6 , bringing a fresh approach to business and innovation, through both practical and theory based learning and enthusiastic, individual thinking.

WMC and the process industries Our successes in delivering training and Apprenticeships into the Process Industries, goes from strength to strength, with new contracts for Unilever Port Sunlight, Pentagon Chemicals in Widnes, Veolia Environnment, Victrex Thornton Cleveleys, Mexichem and Essar. Our commitment to these companies is to continue to deliver effective, measurable and flexible learning opportunities, helping the employer attract the best talent and keep it. We will soon be delivering the Process Operator to a level 5, Higher Level Apprenticeship to meet the demands of a fast growing business, addressing issues such as aging workforce and skills shortage.

Wirral Metropolitan College believes in the importance of STEM as demonstrated by £6million worth of investment in new, industry-standard facilities and equipment at our Twelve Quays Campus. We work closely with employers to deliver high quality training and education into the Science, Technology Engineering and Maths sectors.

Wirral Met has access to funding so please contact us – it may not cost you anything!

Wirral Met is ideally placed to collaborate with industry leaders involved in the Science Industry Partnership, part of the Employer Ownership of Skills Pilot, and will also be pushing competitively into the Liverpool City Region Skills for Growth agreements, primarily Advanced Manufacturing, Knowledge Economy, Low Carbon and Superport.

A key goal for Wirral Met is to work together with employers and local employment partnerships for these sectors to resolve the mismatch in employment and skills within the city region.

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Wirral Met delivers higher level skills provision which is relevant and fully utilised, including building higher level skills into continuous professional development plans for employees, and we will be working towards an involvement in a cross section of Science Industry Partnership programmes, including: n Traineeships n SMART Apprenticeships n Workforce Development – Gold

Standard Awards programme and Skills for Growth initiatives. n STEM careers

Contact our Employer Services or Science Department on 0151 551 7610 to discuss any of the programmes in more detail.

Higher level apprenticeships Our Higher Level Apprenticeship programme is currently embedded in high profile companies such as Unilever, to deliver a flexible approach to on the

Involving our region’s employers At a recently held employers event for our Applied Science Dept, we were able

WIRRAL METROPOLITAN COLLEGE

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to discuss the structure, delivery and flexibility of our day release science courses (BTEC Level 3, HNC/HND Applied Chemistry and Applied Biology, Higher Level Apprenticeships in Chemical Science and Life Sciences and Foundation Degree in Chemistry) and the relevance to employers business.

On 27th March, Wirral Met will be hosting a Big Bang STEM event in partnership with MerseySTEM. Marketplace guest speakers will include Unilever and Scottish Power with presentations on Apprenticeships and STEM vocations. Attendance at this event will be by invitation, so please contact us on 0151 551 7414 to discuss.

We will be running further Employer events to showcase facilities and products, please contact the college for available dates.

Access to funding for upskilling your workforce Wirral Met College are lead Provider in the ESF Employer Skills Fund. The £8.5m fund is aimed at small to medium sized employers based in the Liverpool City Region* and is available to: n enhance the skills of your employees n improve your organisation’s

productivity & profitability

(*Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral).

on courses at a college or training provider.

Training and development can be customised to meet organisational needs. It may include preparation for an apprenticeship, improving English and maths in the workplace, work based training and development, or attendance

Please contact us to discuss eligibility and access for your training needs.

Wirral Metropolitan College www.wmc.ac.uk

W I R R A L M E T R O P O L I TA N C O L L E G E

Health, Safety and Environmental Management Courses available at our College this year City and Guilds Certificate Process Technology Level 2 Units Workbased (formerly PPO 1)

NEBOSH Certificate Fire Safety and Risk Management Units FC1 and FC2

City and Guilds Certificate Process Technology Level 3 Units Workbased (formerly PPO2)

NEBOSH Diploma Environmental Management Units ED1 and ED2

Emergency First Aid at Work

NEBOSH General Certificate Unit NGC1 (Daytime)

First Aid at Work Certificate

NEBOSH General Certificate Unit NGC1 (Evening)

First Aid at Work Requalification

NEBOSH General Certificate Units NGC2 and NGC3 (Daytime)

IOSH Managing Safely

NEBOSH General Certificate Units NGC2 and NGC3 (Evening)

IOSH Working Safely

NEBOSH National Certificate Environmental Management Units NEC1 and NEC2

NEBOSH Award Health and Safety at Work NEBOSH Award Health, Safety and Environment in the Process Industries NEBOSH Certificate Construction Health and Safety Units NCC1 and NCC2

NEBOSH National Diploma Unit A NEBOSH National Diploma Unit B NEBOSH National Diploma Unit C NEBOSH National Diploma Unit D

Just call or visit ou r website fo r more deta ils

Tel: 0151 551 7777 wmc.ac.uk/courses/search-courses

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QUESTION & ANSWER

What did you most get into trouble for when you were younger? I was the rebel child in the family. Looking back I suppose I was difficult to handle. I went through a phase of getting in with the wrong crowd at the high school. We missed lessons and did some things which I probably don’t want to admit to in writing. There came a point where my Father gave me a few ultimatums and I eventually saw some sense. I am very grateful to him for this although I absolutely hated him at the time.

What is your most embarrassing moment? Somewhere there is a photograph of me sitting on a toilet seat asleep in a state of undress and very drunk. My only excuse – it was a graduation party.

What’s the best thing you’ve ever won (event/prize/ competition)? When I was 7 I entered a competition on the back of a Cornflake box. You had to describe why Lego was the best toy ever. I came first and won the biggest Lego box you had ever seen. For a while I was very popular at school!!

If you were to die tomorrow what are the things you would want to do before you die? My “bucket list” is quite diverse.

I have never seen the pyramids (not planning on going there anytime soon!), I would like to do a proper Italian cookery course (maybe a month in Tuscany?), I would like to own an Aston Martin (well that’s not going to happen soon either!)….. these are the ones I am admitting to in public anyway.

Favourite Movie? The Devil’s Advocate. It stars Al Pacino and Keanu Reeves. It’s an incredibly powerful film and a little scary.

When I want to completely switch off I will put that on. It’s Al Pacino at his best and in my opinion he is the greatest living actor.

Phil Jones Chief Executive, National Skills Academy Process Industries

What is your favorite Chemical Element and why? My favorite element is Darmstadtium, atomic number 110. To describe it as my favorite is a little misleading though, more amused by it! I also feel a very small connection to it – I lived in Germany for 4 years between 1993 and 1997 and we lived quite close to Darmastadt. The element was discovered circa.

10 years ago and it’s a laboratory element and it doesn’t exist in nature. Many of the elements around that atomic number are synthesized elements from laboratories. Around a thousandth of a second after you have made Darmstadtium it won’t exist because it will decay into lower atomic number elements.

Have you ever been fired from a job? No I have never been fired. The first 20 years of my career were in Human Resources – it was called Personnel originally. I started off as an Employee Relations Officer at Longbridge with British Leyland so I got used to being the one who did the firing. But my most bizarre firing (or in this case a near firing) came when I was a Personnel Manager with Dairy Crest. I was called to a disciplinary hearing at the Bristol depot; the Manager was very angry with his secretary and had suspended her. When I arrived I asked about the offence and the Manager told me that his secretary repeatedly put the milk into his tea after and not before…..can you imagine my reaction?

What is your biggest regret? In times BC (before children) I started a course of flying lessons. I loved it. I had plans to get my private pilot’s license and have a share in an aircraft with a couple of friends. I did 25 hours – about half of what is needed and I never finished it. It’s a big regret.

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Favourite sports team/sports star? I think its 40 years since I started supporting Leeds United. I am not sure that this makes them my “favourite” team though. It’s more of a love hate relationship, but at least I can claim to have supported them through thick and thin!

What do you love and hate the most about the human race?

I think the thing I love most about the human race is derived from the word human – it’s the humanity that people can show.

It implies tenderness, kindness and goodwill and there are many examples of this – mother Theresa immediately springs to mind. But it’s the lack of humanity which also makes me angry and it’s something the human race is sometimes very good at demonstrating – the examples of genocide, the killing of innocent people in the name of religion are just some of the many awful examples.

Favourite holiday destination/resort? Has to be Italy. Love the country, the people, the way of life and of course the food and wine. Have been there many times and for a few years my parents lived there in a famous little village – San Gimignano in Tuscany.

They had a house overlooking the village – famous for having more towers than anywhere else in Italy.

Best Concert you’ve been to? This takes me back to student days when I saw the Clash live. I know I went there because my friends still talk about it. In all honesty I don’t remember much about it now for a variety of reasons…

Biggest Sporting Event you’ve ever seen live? The Rugby World Cup final in 1999 when it was played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff (the spiritual home of Rugby!). Australia beat France. More recently my family was lucky enough to get tickets for the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games last year and that was an amazing day out and a fantastic close to the best Olympics ever staged

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CHEMICAL FOCUS IN MANCHESTER

Focus on…Manchester Manchester in general Manchester is a city in the North West of England; it is part of the Greater Manchester conurbation, the largest conurbation outside of Greater London. Manchester itself is home to two world class football teams, Manchester United and Manchester City, plus a legendary cricket club which was founded in 1864. It is also home to three world class Universities including the University of Salford.

Transport Manchester Manchester is home to the only completely looped motorway in the UK – the M60. The M60 forms a ring road around most areas of Manchester and is fed directly or indirectly from the M62, M66, M67, M61 and M56. Manchester has a huge transport network incorporating 4 main train stations in the Centre of Manchester alone plus a free bus service around Manchester City Centre.

Manchester has a comprehensive tram link called the Metrolink, by 2016 it is estimated that the Metrolink will be the largest local transport system outside of Greater London. The transport links in Manchester also make it a Guinness World Record Holder – for having the most traffic lanes side by side at the Worsley Braided Interchange. The area is also serviced by Manchester Airport, the third largest airport outside of London.

Manchester is also home to the famous Manchester Ship Canal, which as of 2011 is owned by Peel Ports who also operate the site. In 2011, Peel announced a £50 billion Atlantic Gateway plan to develop the Manchester Ship Canal, Port Salford and the Port of Liverpool to help reduce road congestion and improve supply chain links. Once finished, the scheme will house a large distribution centre to be named Port Salford and an additional six sites along the canal for the loading and unloading of freight. Peel Ports predict that the number of containers transported along the canal could increase from the 8000 carried in 2010 to 100,000 by 2030.

History of Manchester The history of Manchester dates back to AD79. Since then Manchester has transformed itself from a small wool trading town, to an industrial weaving town. It wasn’t until the 18th Century that Manchester was revolutionised with the textile industry through the importing of cotton and the climate of Manchester making it an ideal location for cotton mills which made the spinning and weaving of cloth important to the area. In the mid 19th century Manchester was known as Cottonopolis due to the success of the industry. On the back of this, the Bank of England opened a branch in Manchester in 1826 and the first telephone exchange was opened. For further information on the history of Manchester please go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_ Manchester

Our members in Greater Manchester Chemicals Northwest now has 156 member companies, 42 of these companies are from the Greater Manchester region, which is a large percentage. The companies in the area range from Chemical Manufacturers, Technical Service providers, Legal Service Providers, Educational Providers, non-technical service providers. The companies in these sectors and in our membership range from one person SME’s, right through to global companies who have headquarters in Manchester.

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Facts you may not know about Manchester As of 2011 Manchester is the fastest growing major city in the UK and the third-most visited city in the UK by foreign visitors, after London and Edinburgh, and the most visited in England outside London.

Recently Manchester became home to one of the most sustainable large buildings in the World - One Angel Square.

Manchester Liverpool Road is a former railway station which opened on 15 September 1830. The station was the world’s first inter-city passenger railway station. It is now the world’s oldest surviving terminal railway station. The station closed to passenger services on 4 May 1844.

With thanks to http://en.wikipedia.org for providing some of the above facts/figures/ information.

CHEMICAL FOCUS IN MANCHESTER

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Manchester Airport: Gateway to the North

Manchester Airport is the UK’s northern air transport hub, and the third largest airport in the UK. Every day over 200 tonnes of air cargo is flown in to or out of the Airport to hundreds of destinations on every continent. More than 60 airlines offer direct flights from Manchester to around 190 destinations worldwide, and carry around 100,000 tonnes of cargo and more than 20 million passengers annually to every major city in the world, either nonstop or via one-stop.

At the heart of the UK’s Chemical Industry The chemicals sector is fundamental to many of the UK’s manufacturing industries and therefore acts as a key driver in UK imports and exports.

Manchester Airport sits at the heart of the North West’s multi-billion pound chemicals and pharmaceuticals sectors, and by utilising capacity into and out of Manchester supply chains can be improved by negating the need to truck goods to London for onward international transport. The airport’s location immediately adjacent to the M56 motorway and with direct, dedicated access make it an ideal consolidation and distribution gateway to serve the North West’s Chemicals sector.

Manchester’s based operators are highly experienced in handling dangerous goods and high value / time sensitive

consignments though an array of air transport service levels from bellyhold capacity, to scheduled main deck freighters, to integrator / express services offering fully trackable, time definite delivery. Manchester’s World Freight Terminal is home to around 100 logistics companies including freight forwarders, handling agents, general sales agents and Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce who are all on hand to ensure expeditious clearance and transfer of consignments.

The chemicals industry can generate a significant level of consignments which require transportation by ‘cargo aircraft only’. Manchester Airport offers services to worldwide destinations by Cathay Pacific, FedEx and Lufthansa Cargo which can all offer air freight services of this nature. Should you require services to any unserved destinations the team at M.A.G will be delighted to work with you to encourage airlines to consider new services to suit.

Some of the world’s most modern and efficient aircraft are deployed to Manchester Airport including the B747-8F and the B777F which can offer temperature controlled capability.

These modern aircraft are operating to a significant range of destinations worldwide through Manchester’s airline networks via Europe, the Middle East and North America.

Airport City The next step in the development of Manchester Airport, unveiled by Chancellor George Osbourne in 2012 will be Airport City. Airport City will see Manchester Airport transform from a regional transport hub into an international business destination in its own right, at a cost of £650m over the next 10-15 years.

The 150 acre site will deliver up to 5 million square feet of new high-quality business premises for manufacturing, logistics warehousing, and grade ‘A’ offices designed to support the North west’s key industries. The Airport City site has been designated as an Enterprise Zone which affords new occupiers up to £275,000 worth of business rates relief, a simplified planning process as well as superfast broadband and focused support from UKTI for inward investment.

Committed to growing your connectivity Manchester Airport is well aware of the importance the Chemicals Industry has on the local economy, and is committed to growing connectivity with new destinations important to you and your customers. Should you have any queries regarding air cargo capacity to or from Manchester Airport please contact conan.busby@magairports.com or phone 01332 852912.

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CHEMICAL FOCUS IN MANCHESTER

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Chemicals from past to present Manchester has a strong history of involvement in the UK chemicals industry. Tracing back to the industrial revolution, there has historically been strong demand for chemicals in the cotton and general manufacturing of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Since the early 1800’s, the city has built on its heritage. To this day, Manchester remains a hub for a variety of chemicals businesses, from PZ Cussons and Cargill to Siemens Automation and John Hogg Technical Solutions, all of whom have a significant presence in or near the city. There are also much smaller, niche petrochemicals and oil and gas based chemicals companies such as Afton and Houghton.

So how did Manchester become this significant hub in the chemicals industry?

There are two quite obvious, important moments that helped to place Manchester firmly on the chemicals map.

The first was led by Henry Roscoe, an academic who established the first practical chemistry laboratory in Britain and went on to play a significant role in building the reputation of the Manchester School of Chemistry at Owens College from 1857. He convinced local manufacturers of the need for fully trained chemists in their businesses.

Owens College is now part of the modern day, academically acclaimed University of Manchester, supporting the global industry by providing a pipeline of talented individuals.

Manchester also played an integral role in the birth of the all-important discipline of chemical engineering.

A group of businessmen formed the ‘Manchester Mechanics’ Institute’ in 1824, in response to high demand for people who were trained in both chemistry and mechanics to help support the growing manufacturing industry. By 1887, Professor

Early example of a Chemist’s Laboratory

George E Davis wrote the first chemical engineering text book and delivered the first course on the subject at the Manchester Technical School - again now part of the modern day University of Manchester.

Manchester, and its universities, have played a fascinating role in shaping the future of the chemicals industry in the UK. Yet the industry’s future in this city is by no means certain and it remains vulnerable to the challenges that the chemicals industry continues to face.

The primary challenge facing businesses today is of course the widely cited skills gap. Although Manchester plays a focal role in developing talented individuals

through its leading universities, chemical businesses also require workers who have acquired experience in the workplace, and the skills they need cannot always be provided by entry level candidates.

As a result, graduates in turn can be attracted to other arguably more ‘glamorous’ technical sectors where they can secure jobs through their transferable skills. Combined with the fact that many graduates are attracted overseas, the UK is experiencing a brain drain that will have longer term effects on the industry’s competitiveness.

To add to this, the skills gap is arguably about to get worse. The year ahead marks the real start of the ‘baby boomer’ retirement, where we are at risk of losing a large proportion of the skilled, local population, unless we can find ways to capture and continue utilising their skills.

Multiple factors are conspiring to provide a very challenging situation for the future of the UK chemicals industry. Yet it is an industry steeped in heritage and remains culturally important, particularly for the North West and Manchester. It was here that many aspects of today’s industry originated, and it is imperative that action is taken to safeguard its long term viability, to maintain the UK’s competitiveness in this vital industry.

Students also need to acquire workplace experience

Dominic Graham, Professional and Technical Director, Kelly Services

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CHEMICAL FOCUS IN MANCHESTER

Recruiting Chemistry students – a shortage of opportunities?

“Employability” is the new buzz word on university campuses. Chemistry Lecturers and Careers Advisors are strongly encouraging their students to get some industrial experience in their chosen field, to boost their chances of getting a job when graduate recruitment time comes around.

There has recently been an upturn of positive announcements – leading food manufacturers are creating hundreds of internships for “young people.” However, looking closer our hearts sink a littlemarketing, business, administrationwhere are the jobs for skilled Chemists?

We are really optimistic that businesses do want to recruit talented student Chemists, but are just unsure about what work they can do. Here at The University of Manchester, we are supporting businesses by offering a full account service – recruitment advice, advertising, collecting applications and arranging interviews – all free of charge.

Students are equipped to work in a wide range of environments and will adapt quickly to the workplace. Recent roles include analytical chemistry in support of oil refining and manufacturing, formulation development for consumer products, polymer synthesis for packaging and performance coatings and synthetic organic chemistry in pharmaceutical laboratories. Our students have also fulfilled diverse roles in the nuclear, automotive and cosmetics industries.

Students are available for 1 year placements or shorter internships during the summer vacation period. Average salaries are in the range of £14-19,000 p.a.

Many organisations find recruiting from a university an ideal way to cover short-term project needs, staff absences and/or to spot future graduate talent.

To discuss further please contact: Martine Storey on chemistryplacements@ manchester.ac.uk or 0161-275 4041.

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The School of Chemistry at Manchester is one of the largest in the UK and is recognised globally for the excellence of its research and teaching.

Prof. Christopher Whitehead Head of School

”

CHEMICAL FOCUS IN MANCHESTER

University and Unilever sign agreement

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Smooth & Clean: ELAPHARM®

On 28th October 2013, The University of Manchester has committed to a longterm partnership with Unilever, one of the world’s largest, fast-moving, consumer goods companies.

This strategic relationship will make Manchester a key partner for Unilever’s research collaborations in a number of specific fields of science.

The formal signing of the agreement and launch took place on Monday morning at the University’s Sackville Street Building.

Professor Luke Georghiou, Vice-President for Research and Innovation at The University of Manchester, said: “Unilever recognise that access to university research can give their organisation a new vantage point. Strategic alliances of this nature are helping to put innovation and research at the heart of economic growth in the UK. “Unilever will benefit by gaining intellectual insights from world-leading researchers. The University will benefit from the commercial insight that can inform and direct our research in the future and generate real-world impact.”

The University of Manchester joins a small number of strategic academic partners as the company works towards fulfilling its ambitions of growing the business while reducing its environmental impact.

Unilever will support the University to carry out research across all four of its Faculties in areas covering sustainable consumption, process engineering, biophysics and systems biology, as well as aspects of inflammation, toxicology and hair biology.

Professor Jim Crilly, Senior Vice President, Unilever Strategic Science Group, said the common link between the research was the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, with innovation at the core of sustainable growth for Unilever.

“At Unilever we believe that to continue to be successful we need to collaborate with the very best partners to access new ideas and technologies to create superior and sustainable products. I am delighted that The University of Manchester has become a strategic partner with whom we believe we can develop those winning capabilities. The University, with its history of leading scientific achievements and its future ambitions, makes it an obvious choice for Unilever. The diversity of research fields that we will be exploring together is testimony to the range and depth of expertise to be found at the University and to our mutual interests in key areas of research.”

The landmark agreement between Unilever and The University of Manchester has the potential to translate cutting-edge science into solutions for sustainable products of the future accessed by billions of consumers across the globe.

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CHEMICAL FOCUS IN MANCHESTER

KPMG has long had strong links with the North West chemicals industry Stretching back to the days of ICI, the firm has built strong credentials in the region, with its Manchester-based team under the leadership of John Hughes acting as the centre of excellence for KPMG’s European Chemicals practice.

Written by Jenny Quinn, Associate Director.

and RS Clare, are enjoying real success thanks to a hardened focus on innovation.

As we enter 2014, there are number of trends and issues that we see shaping the chemicals sector as it seeks to re-gain its footing following the downturn.

Indeed, many speciality chemical companies are experiencing significant growth in areas where price is not the main driver behind purchasing decisions – e.g. Growhow UK Limited and Croda Plc- which has seen them ride out the economic downturn, coming out the other side in reasonable shape.

The sector has struggled in recent years, battling hard in the face of strong economic headwinds, escalating input costs, ever-stiffening competition from emerging economies and the current resurgence of rivals in the U.S. following the shale gas revolution.

However, it’s somewhat optimistic to expect the kind of revolution seen in the US due to a number of factors, not least the current environmental and social opposition.

Nevertheless, it’s imperative that north-west chemical companies position themselves so that they are fleet of foot, and able to grasp opportunities when they arise.

Looking ahead, the advent of shale gas has the potential to create a wealth of opportunities for the region’s chemicals companies.

However, the intellectual property boasted by companies across the North West is proving to be the catalyst for something of a revival within the domestic market. In particular, companies such as Polartech

certain key locations. This could give the UK a first mover advantage and reduce capital investment.

The view on what fracking means to the UK is mixed. In comparison to elsewhere in Europe, we are well positioned given the gas infrastructure is already in place in

John Hughes, Partner 0161 246 4052

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THE BIG INTERVIEW

Understanding one’s business is vital for success Phil Denton is one of those business leaders who possess a strong understanding of every aspect of his company. In founding Ital Logistics, he has done everything from the bottom up, and this hands-on involvement has helped to shape the company as it is now.

He says he had one of the best teachers – Jim Woodward. And to this day he holds Jimmy in high regard as one of his forwarding mentors. Phil says “No matter how focused you are as an individual, your first influence in the workplace goes a long way to mapping your future. And my first influence was one of the best one could hope for.”

He first became involved in the forwarding industry straight from school in 1978, firstly at Tower Express where he met his aforementioned mentor, and later at several other companies in the sea freight sector. Various jobs and redundancies followed, and Phil said: “After a couple of years as a full time musician, I needed a mortgage. The bank manager asked my profession, which was, at that time, musician. You can imagine his reply! So in 1987 I was back into the freight business, and able to get on the mortgage ladder.”

Phil said: “My role in Ital Logistics has gradually evolved. At first, I was doing everything – after all, it was just a junior and I in the back of a warehouse in Rochdale, in what were little more than 2 x 9’ square brick cubicles, where the business started. “Gradually, as the business flourished, I was able to employ more people, and our head count is now 21.”

“

“After three and a half years there, realising I could only progress if the next man up either left or popped his clogs, in 1993 I jumped ship, only to be approached six months later by M&S Europe (later becoming IS Logistics) to be their Italian Route Development Manager. This is where I met what were to become my Italian partners in business as they are now.”

But the biggest risk of all is ourselves and how we react to difficulties. The ball is always in your own court and the eye must remain firmly focussed.

It was in 1998 that he started working in partnership with ITX Cargo in Milan, through which he met the team at Cardinal Maritime. Phil said: “One evening, Brian Hay, now CEO of Cardinal, asked if I had ever considered setting up my own company. The answer was “Yes, but I don’t have enough money to do it, nor the bottle! That said, I had been looking into this for some time, and was almost at the

“The ethos of Ital Logistics, and mine throughout my freight career, is one of honesty, reliability, sincerity, enthusiasm and an eye for detail. Jimmy taught me well. We are also never frightened of communicating bad news when things go awry. Good communication is fundamental. And you have to be able to adapt and change the most perfect of plans when a fly suddenly

“Around 1989 the company I was working for at the time started an Italian trailer service. Asked if I would manage this I said, “Of course, anything for money!” Little did I know that this was to be a turning point in my career, the full effects of which would start to materialise some 11 years later. “

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point of looking for an investor. Anyway, Brian said that he had both, and so it began.” Ital Logistics Limited was founded in August 2000 as a partnership between Phil, the then three directors of Cardinal and a small shareholding to one of the directors of ITX Cargo, Roberto Tagliareni.

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appears in the ointment; and they appear on a regular basis! “ “You have to understand your clients’ needs. What suits one client, doesn’t suit another. Yes price is important, but good service and, above all, honest and precise communication, are just as important, if not more so.”

“As I have gradually eased away from the day to day operations, I have devoted some of my time to providing better infrastructure to the company, in part, with the provision of various MS Excel based workbooks to assist with rating and, more recently, Dangerous Goods with the development of my HAZculator ®. This looks up all ADR, IMDG and Eurotunnel data, and returns it all in one sheet.

Development of tools such as these saves my operations team hours each week, and guarantees against error. We are all human, after all.”

He sees a number of challenges for the sector. “The economies of scale of the larger logistics providers can stifle a thriving SME. By way of example, one such major player, recently bought out by an even larger one, instructed their sales team to ‘get the business, no matter how low you undercut’.”

“Based on cost alone, companies such as Ital Logistics are often uncompetitive. Our constant hope is that clients will see the extra value in using a smaller company in that the personal service, greater knowledge and flexibility is usually of a greater level.“ “Still on the financial side, keeping a rein on payment terms is a constant battle, not to mention the increasing desire from many to insist that the proof of delivery document accompanies the freight invoice. No matter what anyone says, no company requires every single proof of delivery, ISO certified or not. This was always thought to be an historical way of delaying payment, and I cannot see that this has in any way changed.”

THE BIG INTERVIEW

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“There are exceptions of course, and I do not wish to throw a blanket over all that persist. If delivery is in doubt, or there is a potential claim, then of course, the proof of delivery is required. But otherwise? And as a caveat against payment? Not convinced.”

“But the biggest risk of all is ourselves and how we react to difficulties. The ball is always in your own court and the eye must remain firmly focussed.”

He remains optimistic, saying: “We have held our own pretty well, and this year we have increased our turnover by 20%, so all seems fairly healthy as far as we are concerned. The forwarding sector is, however, like any other, under pressure.

Companies are closing on a regular basis, so one has always to be mindful of this, and keep that eye firmly on the ball.”

“If we maintain our ethos, we should stay firm. You always have to continue to improve and continue to increase your client base to allow for those that, even through no fault of your own, drop off the bottom by closure, loss of business themselves or simply undercut.”

Asked what has enabled the company to survive tough times, he says: “Honesty and reliability, dedication, enthusiasm, and of course a good team. Furthermore, my decision some ten or so years ago to commit fully to the movement of Dangerous Goods has been instrumental in providing what is becoming a niche area for the Company.”

“More and more companies are backing off from this sector of transport as it can be problematic – that is, if you don’t know what you are doing. This is why we have spent a lot of time making sure that we do know what we are doing and I think I can safely say that our name is becoming synonymous within this sector.”

“Furthermore, in a time when many companies were cutting back in the period since 2009, I decided to increase the sales force. Bold, but I worked on the basis that if some companies dropped off, we would be well positioned to pick off those clients who then needed an alternative.”

“We shall finish the year around £7.5m turnover. This is up £1.3m from 2012. I rarely set targets. I have always operated on a ‘what will be, will be’ basis. Yes, of course, it is a standard desire to better the previous year, and I am always looking at additional markets that can be opened up for us. But these things cannot be planned for. They are more like opportunities to be pounced on should they arise.”

“Moving forward into 2014, we shall simply continue to do more of the same. All being well, having done us in good stead in the past, this methodology should stand us well into the future.”

Phil Denton, Managing Director, Ital Logistics

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Global presence, local support: Mitigating the risks of buying used equipment Chemical manufacturers often justify the purchase of used equipment for their operations on the basis of lower prices and faster delivery. These reasons are not a secret. Used process equipment can be purchased at prices that are up to 70% cheaper than new equipment.

The equipment is typically available immediately, cutting lead-time for delivery by months. Even with this simple value proposition, saving time and money with used equipment, many manufacturers have never considered used equipment.

Perhaps some manufacturers are worried about the potential risks of buying used production equipment, such as:

ensuring that the used piece is suitable for your process, thus eliminating the “risk”.

Are you aware that your business can get funding to purchase used process machinery?

n Supply

HSBC Bank Plc (HSBC) is participating in the Government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF), a £2.4 billion fund which will operate across England until 2015. HSBC have £25 million of the fund to support businesses, which includes the purchasing of process machinery.

n Performance

HSBC will support businesses that:

You can further reduce the risks by working with a reputable equipment dealer that only sources equipment from reputable manufacturing companies and develops strong relationships with original equipment manufacturers. A dealer with strong relationships within the manufacturing industry, as well as with the OEMs, means that a buyer is truly getting high-quality equipment. The equipment dealer should also be able to provide affordable back-up equipment fast or equipment for increased capacity when a customer demands additional supply. A reputable dealer will offer equipment on a rental basis for short-term projects. Many dealers also offer a sale or return scheme,

n have a turnover of less than €50

n Regulatory n Validation n Project

million; and n are recruiting new employees or are

safeguarding existing jobs; and n are purchasing fixed assets such as

machinery.

The RGF supports projects and programmes that leverage private sector investment creating economic growth and sustainable employment. You choose the supplier of the asset and negotiate as if you were a cash buyer. To find out how your company could benefit from Regional Growth Funding and discuss your options, please contact your HSBC

Manager or call 0845 607 6007. Further details on the RGF can be found on the HSBC website.

Talk to Perry Process Equipment Ltd to put your mind at rest. We have been supplying high quality used process equipment for over 80 years and can substantially mitigate or eliminate your concerns. The Perry Group of Companies has been a trusted name in the chemical, pharmaceutical, food, plastics, paper, sugar, rubber, fishmeal and mining industries throughout the world since 1932. With thousands of pieces of inventory in stock, Perry is dedicated to providing customers with quality used equipment, available immediately at competitive prices. You can search our used process equipment inventory online at www.perryprocess.co.uk.

Additionally, Perry offers a complete array of investment recovery and asset disposal services. These include appraisals, auctions and liquidations, equipment purchase and removal, as well as consignment sales.

We are offering all Chemicals North West members a 10% discount on their first completed order. To take advantage of this offer please contact one of our Sales Managers on 01325 315111 or email us now info@perryprocess.co.uk, quoting reference PERRY10.

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n

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

CHE

MIstr

y

At

30 years into the future to how Government supports sectors and this industry-led strategy is an important contribution to the Government’s overall approach to industrial strategy.

To view a copy of the strategy please go to; www.chemicalsnorthwest.org. uk/news/latest_news/strategy_ for_delivering_chemistryfuelled_growth_of_the_uk_ economy

CHEMISTRY GROWTH STRATEGY GROUP

CHEMISTRY GROWTH STRATEGY GROUP

The Government’s Industrial Strategy sets out an approach which looks 10, 20,

II

ANALYTICAL CHEMIST • DEVELOPMENT CHEMIST • SYSTEMS INTEGRATORS • MATERIAL SCIENTIST • MICROBIOLOGIST • REG AFFAIRS MANAGER • TECHNICAL MANAGER • OPERATIONS MANAGER • QUALITY CONTROL ANALYST • QUALITY ASSURANCE • DBA DEVELOPERS • REGULATORY AFFAIRS OFFICER • AUDITOR • QP • PRODUCTION OPERATIVE • PRODUCTION MANAG CHEMICAL ENGINEER • PROCESS ENGINEER • MAINTENANCE ENGINEER • MECHANICAL ENGINEER • HEALTH & SAFETY AD •TECHNICAL SALES MANAGER • TECHNICAL SUPPORT• SITE CHEMIST • PRODUCT MANAGER • CHEMICAL ENGINEER • QA O PRODUCT TECHNOLOGIST • STABILITY COORDINATOR • MICROBIOLOGIST • HAREPOINT CONSULTANTS • PACKAGING TECHN • BIOCHEMIST •consultancy GEOSCIENTIST • GEOLOGIST • MEDICINAL CHEMIST • DMPK SCIENTIST • PROJECT MANAGER • PRODUC CK IT is the only specialist IT recruitment MANAGER • PRODUCTION TECHNICIAN • PROCESS ENGINEER • CHEMICAL ENGINEER • VALIDATION SCIENTIST • LABORA for the chemical and science industries.

Our expertise MANAGER • SHIFT ANALYST • INSPECTOR •CHEMICAL ENGINEER • LINUX SYSTEM ADMINISTRATORS • MODELLING SCIEN SCIENTIST • INSPECTOR • PHYSICIST • GEOPHYSICIST • PETROPHYSICIST • RESERVOIR ENGINEER • BUSINESS and knowledge in laboratory •SIMULATION and manufacturing systems PETROLEUM ENGINEER • SAFETY & LOSS PREVENTION ENGINEER • CLINICAL QA • COMPLIANCE SPECIALIST • QUALITY EN enables us to provide high quality staff forENGINEER roles including: ELECTRICAL • SHIFT ANALYST • PROCESS ENGINEER • TOPSIDE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER • FINITE ELEMENT AN SCIENTIST / ENGINEER • PIPING ENGINEER • ROTATING EQUIPMENT ENGINEER • CONTROL ENGINEER • SUBSEA CONTROL E • MECHANICAL ENGINEER • PLANT MANAGER • SUBSEA PIPELINE ENGINEER • MEDICAL INFORMATION OFFICER • SUBSEA ENGINEER • ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER • ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYST • ANALYTICAL CHEMIST • MICROBIOLOGIST • LABOR • CSV SITE MANAGER • ASBESTOS ANALYST • ASBESTOS SURVEYOR • MEDICAL ADVISOR • DESIGN ENGINEER • LANDFILL / PL OPERATIVE • OPERATIONS MANAGER • GENERAL MANAGER • QUALITY SCIENTIST • OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENIST • BUSINESS M • GMP Validation • PROCESS OPERATIVE • PROCESS ENGINEER • PLANT ENGINEER • MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR • REGIONAL SCIEN LIAISON • REGULATORY AFFAIRS ASSOCIATE • CLINICAL LEAD MANAGER • LABORATORY MANAGER • ASSOCIATE DIRECTO • MES Specialists REGULATORY AFFAIRS • DEVELOPERS • VP REGULATORY AFFAIRS • REGULATORY CONSULTANT • REGULATORY STRATEG REGULATORY LABELLING • CLINICAL QA ASSISTANT • CLINICAL • CLINICAL QA AUDITOR • QUALITY ASSURANCE SCIENTIST • • PLC Programmers QC MANAGER • CLINICAL QA ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR • CLINICAL DATA ASSOCIATE • CLINICAL DATA ANALYST • CLINICAL D MANAGER • SENIOR DATA MANAGER • PROJECT DATA MANAGER • SAS PROGRAMMER • SENIOR SAS PROGRAMMER • STAT • Software Developers PROGRAMMER • SENIOR BIOSTATISTICIAN • BIOMETRICS MANAGER • CLINICAL RESEARCH PHYSICIAN • PHARMACOVIGIL • Technical Support PHYSICIAN • MEDICAL DIRECTOR • MEDICAL MANAGER • CLINICAL TA HEAD • MEDICAL MONITOR • GEO-ENVIRONMENTAL EN LINE SUPPORT TECHNICIANS • LABORATORY TECHNICIANS • ENGINEERING MANAGER • MAINTENANCE ENGINEER • TRAN STATION OPERATIVE • TRANSFER STATION CHEMIST • ANALYTICAL CHEMIST • TECHNICAL SUPPORT CHEMIST / ENGINEE MANAGER • GEO-ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER • AIR MONITORING TECHNICIAN / ANALYST • DRUG SAFETY SCIENTIST • DRUG OFFICER • HARDWARE ENGINEERS • SENIOR DRUG SAFETY OFFICER • DRUG SAFETY MANAGER • HEAD OF MEDICAL AFFA Please contact CK IT if you are seeking a new jobASSISTANT or PHARMACOVIGILANCE • CLINICAL SAFETY SCIENTIST • CLINICAL SAFETY OFFICER • MEDICAL LIAISON • SUB STRUCTURAL ENGINEER • MEDICAL INFORMATION ASSISTANT • IT PROJECT MANAGER • MEDICAL INFORMATION • HEAD OF looking for recruitment support.

AFFAIRS • FORMULATION SCIENTIST • SOFTWARE ENGINEERS • SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR • R&D CHEMIST • PRODUCTION ENGIN ANALYTICAL CHEMIST • DEVELOPMENT CHEMIST • SYSTEMS INTEGRATORS • MATERIAL SCIENTIST • MICROBIOLOGIST • REG AFFAIRS MANAGER • TECHNICAL MANAGER • OPERATIONS MANAGER • QUALITY CONTROL ANALYST • AUDITOR ER • QU ASSURANCE OFFICER • DBA DEVELOPERS • REGULATORY AFFAIRS OFFICER • AUDITOR • QP • PRODUCTION OPERATIV PRODUCTION MANAGER • CHEMICAL ENGINEER • PROCESS ENGINEER • MAINTENANCE ENGINEER • MECHANICAL ENGIN HEALTH & SAFETY ADVISOR •TECHNICAL SALES MANAGER • TECHNICAL SUPPORT• SITE CHEMIST • PRODUCT MANAGER • C ENGINEER • QA OFFICER • PRODUCT TECHNOLOGIST • STABILITY COORDINATOR • MICROBIOLOGIST • HAREPOINT CONSUL PACKAGING TECHNOLOGIST • BIOCHEMIST • GEOSCIENTIST • GEOLOGIST • MEDICINAL CHEMIST • DMPK SCIENTIST • PR MANAGER • PRODUCTION MANAGER • PRODUCTION TECHNICIAN • PROCESS ENGINEER • CHEMICAL ENGINEER • VALIDA SCIENTIST • LABORATORY MANAGER • SHIFT ANALYST • INSPECTOR •CHEMICAL ENGINEER • LINUX SYSTEM ADMINISTRAT MODELLING SCIENTIST • SIMULATION SCIENTIST • INSPECTOR • PHYSICIST • GEOPHYSICIST • PETROPHYSICIST • RESER ENGINEER • BUSINESS ANALYST • PETROLEUM ENGINEER • SAFETY & LOSS PREVENTION ENGINEER • CLINICAL QA • COMP SPECIALIST • QUALITY ENGINEER • ELECTRICAL ENGINEER • SHIFT ANALYST • PROCESS ENGINEER • TOPSIDE STRUCTU IT rECruITInG aT ITS bEST ENGINEER • FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS SCIENTIST / ENGINEER • PIPING ENGINEER • ROTATING EQUIPMENT ENGINEER • CO ENGINEER • SUBSEA CONTROL ENGINEER • MECHANICAL ENGINEER • PLANT MANAGER • SUBSEA PIPELINE ENGINEER • M INFORMATION OFFICER • SUBSEA DESIGN ENGINEER • ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER • ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYST • ANALY CHEMIST • MICROBIOLOGIST • LABORATORY / SITE MANAGER • ASBESTOS ANALYST • ASBESTOS SURVEYOR • MEDICAL AD DESIGN ENGINEER • LANDFILL / PLANT OPERATIVE • OPERATIONS MANAGER • GENERAL MANAGER • QUALITY SCIENTIS ELEMENTS WINTER 2014 OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENIST • BUSINESS MANAGER • PROCESS OPERATIVE • PROCESS ENGINEER • PLANT ENGINEER • ME DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR • REGIONAL SCIENTIFIC LIAISON • REGULATORY AFFAIRS ASSOCIATE • CLINICAL LEAD MANAG LABORATORY MANAGER • ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF REGULATORY AFFAIRS • DEVELOPERS • VP REGULATORY AFFAIRS • REG

call 01438 870 022

email info@ck-it.co.uk visit www.ck-it.co.uk

40

Of tHE uK ECOn OMy

rK

The UK has a vibrant and competitive chemicals industry and has an important role to play in the transition to a low carbon economy.

industries

strAt Egy fOr dElIv ErIng CHEM Istry- fuEll Ed grOW tH

O

The chemicals sector is at the very foundation of the UK’s manufacturing industries and is behind a wide variety of products, ranging from lightweight polymers, through to medicines, clean drinking water and even the food we eat.

It is a multi-billion pound industry that has significant exports and employs people in high-value and highly skilled jobs.

Britain’s chemical and chemistry-using

W

Have you read the strategy for delivering chemistry-fuelled growth to the UK economy?

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Tata Chemicals Europe confirms restructuring of its Northwich business Tata Chemicals Europe (TCE) has confirmed it will proceed with the proposed restructuring of its soda ash and sodium bicarbonate business in Northwich, Cheshire.

n

Industry makes the case for Shale Gas Shale Gas: The Facts

Working for chemical and pharmaceu cal businesses

The restructuring, is necessitated by high energy costs, will see the closure of Winnington soda ash and calcium chloride plants and a loss of 220 jobs. However, it will secure the future of TCE’s remaining soda ash and sodium bicarbonate manufacturing business and around 250 direct jobs and many more associated jobs in Cheshire and the wider regional economy. It is anticipated that closure will happen during the first Quarter of 2014.

Since the announcement of the proposal, the Company has worked positively with its stakeholders, including its employees, GMB and Unite trades unions, Cheshire West and Chester Council, the UK Government and its shareholder to address its long term energy challenges and promote the future growth of its business in Northwich.

Managing Director, Dr Martin Ashcroft commented: “We commend the unions and our employees in particular for playing a vital and constructive role in helping to develop a sustainable future, which will be focussed on growth. “As a result, we expect to be able to restrict the number of compulsory redundancies to 75 through redeployment and voluntary redundancies and TCE will be providing a significantly enhanced redundancy package and a comprehensive outplacement programme to assist employees leaving the business,” added Dr Ashcroft.

TCE continues to work closely with the UK Government, which understands the Company’s energy challenges. It is crucial

to TCE that the Government continues to engage with it to address these vital energy concerns in order to support the future growth of the company.

“The energy challenge which TCE has faced is an example of how the state of European energy markets seriously threatens the ability of energy intensive manufacturing companies to compete on the world stage. All stakeholders need to work hard to address these challenges to avoid further damage to the manufacturing base,” commented Dr Ashcroft.

Despite benefitting from a clean, efficient world-class combined heat and power plant, which has removed four million tonnes of carbon from TCE’s processes over the last 13 years, and despite efforts to develop a Sustainable Energy Plant at Lostock, TCE has been unable to mitigate sufficiently the serious impact of the energy costs on its business.

“There is real regret that TCE will have to bring to an end a long history of soda ash production at the Winnington site, but energy costs have overwhelmed the viability of these plants. Restructuring the company will provide a sustainable presence in Northwich,” added Dr Ashcroft. “Thanks to the backing of many stakeholders, our employees and the shareholder, TCE now looks to the future opportunity to grow our business in existing and new markets and to secure our presence in Northwich for the long term.”

Shale gas: The facts has been published by the Chemical Industries Association (CIA) on 6th October 2013. The Association, which represents chemical and pharmaceutical businesses across the UK, has examined reported claims about shale gas and responded with hard-hitting, evidence based facts, making the case for accelerated progress.

Steve Elliott, Chief Executive of the Association said “We have looked at each point carefully and analysed what happens at the different stages of getting shale out of the ground and delivering it for use as energy or feedstock (raw material). Of course we believe we should do that but more importantly this publication is about acknowledging the genuine concerns and explaining what will actually happen”.

You can find a copy here www.cia.org.uk/Portals/0/ Shale%20Gas%20document%20 FINAL.pdf or for hard copies please contact Simon, MarshS@cia.org.uk or Nick, SturgeonN@cia.org.uk

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n

CEHTRA UK LIMITED

REACH letters of access, what is fair?

The 2013 REACH deadline has passed so it is likely that companies passive during the first two phases will pay more attention to the registration of their substances in the lower tonnage bands.

n Inflation adjustment (normally added

This may necessitate dealing with Consortia/SIEF Leadership Teams (SLT)/ Lead Registrants who have already put in place SIEF Agreements and calculated the cost of a Letter of Access (LoA). If you are in this position, how can you decide whether the cost being asked is ‘fair, transparent and non-discriminatory’?

Obviously, you should not pay for data and information you do not require. So, study costs should be differentiated according to the tonnage band and account for your valid data.

The cost of the LoA is commonly made up of the following elements: n Data compensation n Administrative costs (Consortium /SLT) n Technical costs (Dossier preparation) n Chemical Safety Report (if part of the

joint submission) n Sweat equity (includes e.g., the time

spent on meetings, etc.) n Advantage compensation (takes into

account that passive companies have been able to deploy their resources elsewhere)

annually) n Administration fee for the LoA

What is fair?

In many consortia/SLT technical costs are shared on a points system (based on tonnage band) and administrative costs shared equally. The advantage compensation, if specified, is usually 20% and administration fees range from ~€600-2000.

Best practice is to allow for reimbursements/additional payments in the SIEF agreement. This is because it is not always clear at the time of LoA cost calculation what the final number of co-registrants at each tonnage band will be and in addition further testing may be required at some point following an ECHA Evaluation of the dossier. If a testing proposal has been included in the dossier then it is likely that the cost of the

proposed studies will have been included on the basis that it will be difficult to get companies to pay additional costs postregistration.

How transparent is the cost?

Ideally, all elements making up the cost of the LoA should be fully explained in the SIEF Agreement. However, if you adopted a passive role you may not have taken part in these discussions for already registered substances.

The SIEF Agreement should also explain what you are getting for your money, besides the joint registration name and security token – e.g. are the i5z of the IUCLID file, guidance on safe use, CSR included?

Non-discriminatory?

The same criteria should be applied consistently to all members of the SIEF regardless of their registration deadline. If there are differences, then these should be justified.

Contact: Dr Carlo Poncipe, CEHTRA UK Ltd

Science Beyond Regulatory Compliance

contact@cehtra.fr www.cehtra.com

Consultancy for Environmental & Human Toxicology and Risk Assessment Regulatory Services

REACH PPP Biocides Cosmetics Food/Feed Contact OSPAR

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Bordeaux – Lyon – Paris – Notngham – Brussels – Toronto – New Delhi – Trivandrum 42

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INNOVATION

n

Chemical Service Provider of the Year provides your business with access to state of the art facilities The Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC) Innovation Technology Access Centre (I-TAC) has been named ‘Chemical Service Provider of the Year’ at the Chemicals Northwest Awards 2013 in recognition of their unique service and support for hi-tech SMEs. Judges of the award praised I-TAC’s state-ofthe-art technology, equipment and unique range of services making it a major attraction to start-up companies in the UK and overseas. The Daresbury Laboratory-based facility offers a unique package of flexible access to fully equipped laboratory space, ‘hot-labs’ and £3m of scientific equipment for innovation and R&D. The facility has a strong chemical offering, with many existing chemical and materials tenants.

Unique facilities I-TAC is heavily linked to the chemical sector through relationships with both academic institutions and the commercial world, enabling it to offer a unique proposition to companies across a range of sectors. I-TAC allows companies to reduce R&D time and costs, as well as providing access to specialised training, facilities and equipment.

Laboratories can be used as a ‘lock and leave’ permanent space, or can be rented by the hour, day or week. The facility has a fully equipped and functional wet chemistry and materials laboratory for chemical preparation, as well as a physical preparation laboratory and multi-user rooms.

Thriving campus location I-TAC is based at Daresbury Laboratory on the Sci-Tech Daresbury campus, the hub of innovation in the North West. It provides an access point to many highlevel facilities based on campus which are available to industry, including: n Versatile Electron Linear Accelerator

(VELA), a new government funded accelerator designed to solve R&D challenges through flexible access to unique technology and expertise. n Hartree Centre, an STFC and

IBM partnership underpinned by £37.5 million of government investment including the UK’s largest supercomputer. The facility offers handling of ‘big data’ and a full range of complementary expertise to industry. n The Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC)

is a University of Liverpool School of Engineering let project that offers technology, research, training and knowledge transfer through the adoption and application of advanced modelling, simulation and 3D immersive visualisation.

SMEs that locate to the campus are part of a thriving science cluster where collaborative projects are encouraged.

Companies are strategically positioned to take advantage of local, national and international network opportunities linked to the Daresbury campus as well as the Harwell Oxford campus in Oxfordshire.

Sci-Tech Daresbury is also home to the Innovation Centre, housing over 100 start-up companies; the Cockcroft Institute which is one of the UK’s leading Accelerator Science Research institutes; and Vanguard house, a further growth space for developing companies.

Dedicated business support I-TAC tenants benefit from a dedicated STFC support package including advice on protecting intellectual property and licensing, helping with business plans, and bringing products to market; therefore supporting companies within the North West in growing their commercial interactions from an early stage.

I-TAC is an ideal place for start-ups to begin their innovation journey. As tenant companies expand and relocate to larger grow-on campus facilities, I-TAC is keen to offer its support to new companies who wish to join the thriving site.

Group Manager Dr Morlidge encourages this flow of new companies into I-TAC and the wider campus saying, “At I-TAC we are revolutionising the future of chemical research and development through our unique relationship between research institutions and the commercial world. We are always interested to hear from other small companies and start-ups who think they could benefit from the unique support and facilities package we offer here, and invite them to get in touch.

On winning the ‘Chemicals Service Provider of The Year’ he added, “We are really proud of our involvement with the companies at I-TAC and we estimate that, with our support, they have attracted over £20 million of investment. A number of the companies are also sealing some impressively high profile contracts.”

For more information please visit the I-TAC web page www.stfc.ac.uk/2590.aspx or contact Dr Martin Morlidge - martin. morlidge@stfc.ac.uk

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Partners in Chemical Processing Exwold is a contract chemical processing company based in the UK. We have decades of experience in formulating and processing biocides & water treatment products as well as working in many other market sectors such as plastics, surface coating, flame retardants and crop protection.

Processing Type We specialise in the granulation of solids by technologies including low pressure extrusion, compaction and coating. We offer extensive powder blending capability and size reduction of solids by crushing, milling and micronizing.

Through partnership, we look to add value to your chemical manufacturing process and by converting your powder products into granules will provide you with a wide range of attractive benefits, including: • • • • • •

improved flow characteristics improved yields reduced dust explosion uniform particle size controlled particle hardness slow release of active ingredients such as biocides

Support Services Accredited to ISO9001 and ISO14001, Exwold can support your requirements from development quantities through to hundreds of tonnes of product. Our range of support services include quality control testing, pilot plant scale-up, expert technical and project management and an innovative approach to problem solving.

Exwold Technology Limited, PO Box 270, Brenda Road, Hartlepool TS25 2BW UK T: +44 (0) 1429 230340

F: +44 (0) 1429 232996

E: enquiries@exwold.com

www.exwold.com

CATALYST

n

Essar and Catalyst team up to enthuse young scientists!

Excited pupils from Elton Primary School discovered that science can be engaging and fun when they visited Catalyst Science Discovery Centre in Widnes last week. The visit was sponsored by Essar Oil UK and was the first of a number of visits being sponsored by them as part of an on-going programme of engagement with pupils in their local community and Catalyst.

The pupils visited the centre to take part in two different hands-on workshops.

The first took place in the Discovery Lab and saw pupils taking part in a science investigation workshop using a unique piece of software developed by Catalyst Education Manager, Phill Day. The second workshop introduced pupils to the exciting science being undertaken

by UK scientists and engineers with

demonstrations using a thermal imaging camera and a Van De Graaff generator which literally made their hair stand on end! The pupils also spent time exploring the three interactive galleries at Catalyst.

Speaking after the visit, Catalyst Marketing Officer, Meryl Jameson said “Catalyst is thrilled to be working with Essar to deliver this ongoing programme of activity to school pupils in their local community. The project aims to capture the interest of these young people and help inspire them to study science in the future. We believe that by working in partnership with companies like Essar, we can enthuse the young scientists and engineers of our future and we look forward to this new collaboration.”

Ian Cotton, Head of Communications and

Community at Essar Oil UK said “We’re delighted our partnership with Catalyst meant that children from Elton Primary were able to take part in the hands-on workshops at the Science Discovery Centre. Going forward, we hope the programme will offer other local schools the chance to show their pupils that science can be interesting and fun.”

The year 5 pupils from Elton Primary School enjoyed their day out, their teacher Kevin Manning commented at the end of the day “The children really enjoyed all aspects of the day. The workshops were superb and the galleries too - the comments from the children have been fantastic”.

You can find out more about Catalyst by visiting the website at www.catalyst.org.uk

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HUMAN RELIABILITY

Addressing Human Factors issues in COMAH safety reports As discussed in the previous article, accidents such as Macondo, Buncefield and Texas City have led to an increased interest in human factors in the context of Major Accident Hazards (MAH) addressed in the COMAH regulations.

The HSE guidance states that: “…the parts that people play in protection, prevention, potential initiation, and recovery from major accidents (should) be addressed with the same degree of rigour that we traditionally expect for process and engineering issues.” More details regarding HSE requirements are available at http://www.hse.gov.uk/humanfactors/ The main steps in the recommended process are: n Task identification n Task analysis n Error analysis n Performance Influencing Factors (PIF)

analysis Task identification requires a structured, systematic analysis process to link tasks to the site’s principal major accident hazards. The identified tasks should include those with the potential to initiate MAH scenarios (e.g. loading of a road tanker, system start-up, maintenance preparation), those designed to prevent MAH scenarios developing (e.g. manual operation of an Emergency Depressurisation system), and those which maintain engineered control measures related to MAH scenarios (e.g. high pressure trips).

Task Analysis is used to develop a detailed understanding of the work as it is actually performed. One of the most useful methods is Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA). This breaks complex tasks down into simpler subtasks that are then broken down further based on their risk potential.

The top level of an HTA for a ship to shore transfer of hazardous substance is shown above. These analyses are supported

analysis considers the factors which make human failure more likely. These include factors specific to the task in question (e.g. valve labelling, equipment layout and access, quality of procedure) and those with a more general impact (e.g. fatigue, quality of training).

Error analysis is then performed on the task analysis to identify credible failures with the potential to affect the likelihood of MAHs. Different failure types are considered to assess their consequences in the situation being evaluated. These include Action failures, e.g. action omitted, right action on wrong object, Communication failures, and Checking failures. The analysis examines existing risk control measures and opportunities for recovery to determine the level of risk.

The results of these analyses are recorded in a table as shown below. This will form part of the human factors section of the COMAH report. The full analysis highlights all significant human errors, factors contributing to such errors and enables identification of appropriate remedial measures. This provides a demonstration that rigorous identification and management of human failure is in place.

Performance Influencing Factors (PIF)

Step

1.1

Description

Take sample to establish substance quality (JT)

Activity type

Actions

Potential error type

ACT9 Action omitted

Error

Fail to take sample

Consequences

import substance other than intended -possible damage to reactors/reaction

Existing risk control measures / recovery

Ships only carry one substance

PIFs

46

by a software tool, the Human Factors Workbench, http://www.humanreliability. com/services3.html. The most safety critical tasks (coloured red in the HTA shown above) will be broken down further to indicate where specific failures could give rise to a hazardous outcome.

ELEMENTS WINTER 2014

Certificate of quality (Load port).

ACCESS: Access and visibility at sampling points can be difficult LABELLING: Tanks are generally well labelled.

Human Reliability has considerable experience in the application of these techniques at COMAH sites, and sophisticated software tools are available to ensure that the analyses address the HSE requirements in a systematic and cost-effective manner. Further information is available at www.humanreliability.com.

In the next article, we will look at the topics of risk informed procedures development, competence management and root cause analysis.

For information contact David Embrey at dembrey@humanreliability.com

Focus on your professional development in 2014 with an IChemE training course For the full list of courses scheduled in 2014 visit www.icheme.org/courses Courses available in the first half of the year: February 5–6 February

Human Reliability and Failure – Human Factors in Health and Safety, Module Two Edinburgh

March 5–6 March 19 March 19 March 24–28 March 31 March – 2 April

Establishing and Maintaining a Safety Culture Introduction to Surfactants Creativity for Chemical Engineers Chemical Engineering for Scientists HAZOP Study, Leadership and Management

London London Rugby Shipley Cork, Ireland

HAZOP Study for the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry Effective Communication for Engineers Fundamentals of Process Safety Introduction to Microbiology Introduction to Process Safety

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Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA) What Every Engineer Should Know About Contracts Organisational Issues – Human Factors in Health and Safety, Module Three

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HAZOP – Applied Hazard and Operability Study Creativity for Chemical Engineers Effective Technical Writing HAZOP Study, Leadership and Management IChemE Forms of Contract Fundamentals of Process Safety Carbon Footprinting

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LEGAL / IP

n

Your patent questions answered Intellectual property rights can be a significant asset to chemical companies. Trade marks provide protection for product names, logos and company names; copyright may exist in marketing literature and websites; and design registration can protect products having a characteristic appearance. Confidential information or “know how” is also important in this field, particularly in relation to complex processes or formulations.

However patents are often the most useful intellectual property right for chemists.

Here European Patent Attorneys Jennifer Delaney and Bob Pidgeon from Appleyard Lees answer some common questions in relation to patents.

Is filing a patent application always the best thing?

No! For some technology - some processes for example - it may be better to try to keep it confidential. Bear in mind though that information can leak out. Take advice on this.

I’ve shown my invention in a poster display. Can I now file a patent application?

You have a problem. In most countries, to be patentable, an invention must be new compared to everything that has been previously made public, including anything that you have made public yourself.

However, you could still get a patent in the US, if the poster display was less than a year ago.

I want to patent my invention but keep it secret.

Not possible. Patent applications are published after 18 months. However it is sometimes possible to file a patent application with sufficient technical information and with some information kept back as “know-how”.

We understand our technology best.

We’ll save money and write the patent ourselves.

Risky! A patent is a legal document. The quality of the specification is crucial and your venture may turn on it. Patent specifications often have to be amended during examination. At that stage you cannot rewrite the specification from

exist country by country. However there is an international (or “PCT”) patent filing procedure, which covers 140+ for up to 2½ years - valuable time to weigh up the commercial and legal prospects before you decide which countries you wish to go forward in.

scratch, to find the words and definitions you wish you’d had from the start. THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP IN THE PATENT PROCESS IS FILING A GOOD FIRST PATENT APPLICATION. I’ve only made a small change – but with a good effect. Can I patent that?

You may well be able to, if your small change goes against the trend in the “prior art”. “Small” does not equate to “noninventive”. You may even be able to patent new technical effects of known substances.

See Examples (1) and (2) below.

Example (1): I have a patent on a colloidal fuel additive, of mean particle size 1-500 nm. I have now found that there is a big performance boost if I select a mean particle size of 80-120 nm.

Can I patent that?

Yes. In chemistry you can usually patent a “selection invention” if you can show that something special is happening within a narrow range.

Example (2): The prior art uses emulsifiers in a plating electrolyte. So do I - but I’ve found that they also reduce fuming. Is that something I can patent?

Yes, at least in Europe. You can obtain patent protection for a new use of a known material, provided that new use has not been made public before. In many other countries you will not be able to.

I want to get an international patent.

There is no such thing - granted patents

0 Months: First filing

Ongoing improvements

The date on which you file your first patent application in any country (usually the UK for a UK originating invention) sets the priority date for your invention.

If you can make any significant improvements during the first 12 months, you could file an additional patent application.

My granted patent can’t be challenged right?

Wrong. Anyone can challenge the validity of your patent at any time during its life.

A common time for a challenge is in the 9 months after grant of a European patent, when third parties can file a central opposition.

I have found a patent which covers what we want to do. Do we have to abandon our plans?

Not necessarily. It might be a published patent application which might not be granted. It might not be for a relevant country. It might be challengeable. It might not even be in force. You should take advice.

Now I’ve got my patent granted I’m safe from infringement risk - right?

Wrong. A patent gives you the right to stop other people from using your invention as defined by the claims. It does not give you the right to use your invention. If you want to do something which falls within somebody else’s patent, you must still get their permission. Having your own patent can however be very useful when negotiating an agreement.

12 months: International phase Any foreign applications must be filed within 12 months of the priority date. A single application can be filed for countries party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty

18 months: Publication Your application will be published, along with the Patent Office search report

Renewals

Grant

30 months: National phase

Renewal fees must be paid to keep a patent in force. The maximum term is 20 years from filing date or 21 years from priority date

On each individual patent application, negotiation with the Patent Office may be needed to establish the scope of protection. Even after being granted, patents can be challenged.

After this deadline, international phase ends and national phase is entered by ‘activating’ in the countries you chose. In Europe, a single regional application can be taken forward. In other countries, entry requirements vary, and may require translations, which can be expensive

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Immigration: Fuelling your workplace Let’s start with a question: Which area of law changes at least twice (although often more) a year, can result in senior executives/directors losing their jobs through no fault of their own and can mean criminal sanctions for employers who get it wrong?

For those of you who answered with business immigration law then congratulations! Throw in having to deal on a regular basis with a government department that is “caught up in a vicious cycle of complex law and poor enforcement of its own policies” (the Home Secretary’s words, not mine) then it is easy to see why the majority of companies, given the choice, would prefer to stay clear of immigration law altogether.

However as many of you will know, for most companies, particularly in the chemicals sector, avoiding immigration law altogether is simply not an option. For instance there may be strong links to parent/subsidiary companies overseas which, in turn, requires a movement of staff between the group companies.

For staff coming into the UK who are not citizens of a European Economic Area (“EEA”) country, this will often require them to have a visa. Alternatively, particularly in relation to the more technical aspects of the chemical sector, the right individual may simply not be available within the resident labour market. This may mean that although a company would rather not become involved in immigration law, it has to in order to ensure it retains its competitive edge through the recruitment of the right individual.

The immigration regime has undergone a significant overhaul in the last 5 years. The result is a system where in the majority of cases, to bring in a non-EEA citizen, the company will need to be registered as a sponsor with the government. The emphasis of enforcement has also changed, with the government placing the burden on companies to check/apply for visas correctly.

Broadly speaking, this change is now settling down and with the right advice becoming a sponsor and/or obtaining a visa for a non-EEA employee can be more straightforward and achieved more quickly than most companies would envisage.

This is particularly evident in the chemicals sector, the reason being that in most cases, when hiring a non-EEA employee from outside of the group, a company will have to satisfy a “resident labour market test”. This is essentially a test to ensure that there are no

EEA resident employees who are capable of carrying out the role.

Whilst it is possible to meet this requirement, a much more straight forward approach is to rely on certain exceptions within the immigration rules. The good news for the chemical sector is that a number of these exceptions are directly relevant to the chemical sector. For instance, there is a “shortage occupation list” which lists certain emplyoee roles in relation to which companies do not have to satisfy the resident labour market test. Many of these are directly applicable to the chemicals sector, particularly those in the field of oil and gas and chemical production.

The key to any attempt to bring in an employee from overseas is to get the process right from the beginning. A defective process, even if the employee is successful in obtaining a visa in the first instance, is likely to be uncovered by the government with the likely outcome being that the individual employee concerned will have their visa removed (thereby meaning that their employment must cease). Further the company will be issued with a sanction with regard to sponsoring future employees or, in the worst cases, a criminal fine.

Getting the right advice and assistance is therefore crucial and it is here that myself and my colleagues in the immigration team at Eversheds can help. With over 15 lawyers and advisers, ranging from partners with years of experience in this area to advisers who previously worked for the relevant government departments, we believe that our ability to add value in the most straight forward and cost-effective manner is unrivalled. Our breadth of experience means that it is rare for us to come across an issue that we have not dealt with before and when we do, our team of connected individuals is able to utilise its links to ensure the best possible advice is given.

Daniel Allan 0845 497 8222 danielallan@eversheds.com

www.eversheds.com ©EVERSHEDS LLP 2014. Eversheds LLP is a limited liability partnership. DT03102_01/14

LEGAL / IP

North West: Avoid your numbers going South The economy’s vital signs are starting to pick up, but the process industry is not out of danger yet. Peter Snaith at Chemical sector law firm Bond Dickinson explains how to stay on track until the upturn.

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Profile Bond Dickinson - Lawyers for the Chemical Sector Bond Contact Peter Snaith Chemicals Sector Head T: +44 (0)845 415 0000 E: Peter.Snaith@bonddickinson.com www.bonddickinson.com

It was encouraging to see a good deal of optimism in the air at the recent Chemicals North West Awards Dinner in Manchester.

However, the economic position for many in the chemical industry is likely to remain challenging for a few years yet.

During the downturn businesses had to adapt to the deteriorating economic position. However, it is just as important to address the challenges which can be posed as we emerge from recession.

Guard against supply chain insolvency Business failure rates can actually rise as the economy recovers, particularly as the position of banks improves and they become more willing to pull the plug on and realise their security in respect of businesses that may have been teetering for some time.

It is important to spot troubled companies as early as possible and keep a close eye on the financial well-being of your key suppliers, customers and contractors.

Obtain the best contractual protection possible Before the recession, many businesses in the industry were very relaxed about documenting their commercial relationships. When orders started to dry up and customers became very demanding on pricing, people started to realise just how valuable a robust contract (with purchasing commitments and fixed pricing) could be. As the economic position improves, can you negotiate and document price increases, shorter

payment terms or minimum purchase quantities?

Your contracts can also give you valuable protection against customer and supplier insolvency. Many contracts allow a supplier to terminate when its customer becomes insolvent, but this may mean that you are contractually obliged to continue supplying until the insolvency event actually occurs, knowing that you are unlikely to receive payment for these supplies. Ideally you should have “early trigger” termination rights, which apply much earlier in the insolvency process.

Businesses often think they have a right to suspend supplies when payment is overdue. In actual fact, unless you have an express right in your contract to do so, under many supply arrangements you will be legally obliged to continue supplying until the customer’s failure to pay is serious enough to allow you to terminate the contract.

Bond Dickinson is a national law firm (formed through the merger of Dickinson Dees LLP and Bond Pearce LLP on 1 May 2013) focused on meeting the needs of clients within the chemicals sector. Our Chemicals Group provides a comprehensive service to clients on a regional, national and increasingly international basis. The group comprises lawyers who have worked in industry for many years as inhouse lawyers or on secondment, as well as experts in health and safety, environmental and other specialist areas.

Bond Dickinson has offices in Leeds, Newcastle, Tees Valley, London, Southampton, Bristol, Plymouth and Aberdeen.

Retention of title provisions can also give you vital protection, allowing you to take back goods which have not been paid for, rather than having to settle for recovery on a ‘pence in the pound’ basis.

Turnaround support If you are worried about your own business, it is crucial to seek help as soon as possible through the engagement of specialist consultants who will follow a process that banks will typically support. The track record when the right turnaround person is in office is formidable. They are also lower cost than many external advisers.

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LEGAL / IP

Chemistry + IP In the fourth of this series of articles, Dr Chris Moore considers the impact of some interesting cases and court related-matters related of interest to chemical businesses.

The months to the end of 2013 saw some important developments in the IP world and some interesting cases which impact on the chemistry sector.

the Court of Appeal refused Lundbeck’s appeal and the trial of the principal matters was to be heard by Arnold J as originally scheduled.

The first change relates to the Patents County Court (PCC) and its renaming as the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC). The PCC has not only had a name change, it now falls under the auspices of the High Court (it was originally set up to provide an alternative to that Court).

Fortunately, the limit of recoverable costs and maximum damages has been retained, meaning that the IPEC will remain the forum of choice for small value and less complex IP disputes.

One of the principal issues in the case was to be the effect of the so-called ‘Baldwin’s Rules’ concerning ring-closure reactions, named after Prof Baldwin. With Prof Baldwin on one side and his successor as Waynflete Professor of Chemistry at Oxford, Prof. Stephen Davies, on the other side this was likely to be an interesting battle. Unfortunately for patent watchers the case settled before trial and so the merits of this dispute were not aired in the UK courts.

Although by their nature, chemical patent cases are usually of a commercial value and complexity not well matched to the procedures and caps of the IPEC there is room for smaller pieces of litigation, or litigation between SMEs, to take part there.

Indeed, over the past few months disputes about concrete formulations and polymer moulding have been heard in the PCC/ IPEC.

Another long-running saga involves Smith & Nephew (S&N) and Convatec in respect of antimicrobial wound dressings, specifically the silverisation of gel forming fibres used in wound dressings. Silver is known to be anti-microbial, but it is also light sensitive. The inventive concept of Convatec’s patent involves binding the silver such that it is light stabilized but remains antimicrobially active. In the first instance, S&N had developed a fibre which it thought did not infringe an earlier Convatec patent, this was held to be so but did not address the silverisation point, meaning that S&N also had to seek revocation of Convatec’s silverisation patent and/or design a product which did not infringe.

Turning to the more senior courts, in November a somewhat unusual matter came before the Court of Appeal between Resolution Chemicals Ltd and H Lundbeck A/S, relating to the antidepressant escitalopram. In the appeal, Lundbeck asked the Court of Appeal to overturn a decision of Arnold. J that he recuse himself from hearing the substantive case in the Patents Court. The reason for the request was that Resolution wanted to call Prof. Sir Jack Baldwin as one of its experts and Arnold had undertaken his Part II undergraduate research under Prof.

Baldwin’s supervision (some thirty years before the trial). Perhaps unsurprisingly,

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In the event, it was found on the basis of the construction of Convatec’s patent that the S&N product (Durafiber AG) did not infringe the patent because the amount of a required agent to help bind the silver was below the 1% limit of the main claim. In coming to a finding of non-infringement the Judge had to construe the number

of significant figures at which the skilled person would interpret the 1% lower limit. In applying a percentage error type approach the Judge held that the skilled person would construe the claimed range of 1 to 25% as being from 0.95≤x≤25.5%.

On the basis of the amounts of money in issue in relation to these products, it may well be that Convatec appeal the decision.

However, it is also of note that the patent in issue is under Opposition at the EPO and that a successful Opposition (and any subsequent Appeal) by S&N will remove the patent from the register and any lingering doubt on the part of S&N. The upcoming year is likely to see some very interesting chemicals cases in the UK Courts, specifically between generics manufacturers and pharma companies and it will also be interesting to note how the Courts address applications for stays of proceedings where co-pending Opposition proceedings at the EPO are on foot.

Dr. Chris Moore (cmoore@hgf.com) is a partner with Harrison Goddard Foote LLP specialising in chemistry and materials. He represents clients from the UK and abroad and has been consistently top ranked by attorney rating agencies. ©Harrison Goddard Foote LLP 2014

LEGAL / IP

Is it becoming easier to enforce your IP rights?

Businesses often invest in obtaining IP protection such as patents to try to protect their products and their share of the marketplace. Despite this, there can be a reluctance to take Court action when IP rights are infringed. High Court proceedings can be expensive and the losing party has to pay about two thirds of the winning party’s costs. Many companies have found IP litigation unaffordable and in the past very often only high value IP disputes between larger companies proceeded to Court.

However, changes have been made to the Court system to provide for more costeffective IP litigation suitable for SME’s and for smaller value disputes. In 2010 the Patents County Court (PCC) was reformed to provide a streamlined and costeffective procedure to litigate IP rights.

The PCC has recently been renamed the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC) to reflect that it handles all types of IP rights. The IPEC actively manages the conduct of the case taking into account the nature, complexity and importance of the dispute, the financial position of the parties and the amount of money at stake. This helps reduce costs and remove the disparity that can be caused if one party is able to spend more on the litigation.

IPEC trials are heard by a specialist IP judge. A new judge has recently been appointed: His Honour Judge Hacon, an experienced former IP barrister.

It takes about a year to reach trial, which typically lasts 1 day and at most 2 days. It is even possible to have a trial on paper to further reduce costs. Critically, the costs that the losing party has to pay the winning party on the liability trial are limited to a maximum of £50,000.

A party is now better able to work out if it can afford the litigation and is less likely to be pressurised into unsatisfactory settlement terms because of its potential inability to pay the winner’s costs if it loses.

Since 2010, the PCC and IPEC have seen an increasing number of IP cases, many of which involve SME’s. Larger entities are also using the IPEC, particularly where they want a speedier decision. We consider the Court has proved a great success in allowing

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Profile Jones Legal – A specialist IP law firm For further details or for a noobligation chat please contact: Patricia Jones Jones Legal Limited T: 0161 266 1075 E: pj@joneslegal.co.uk www.joneslegal.co.uk

Jones Legal is a specialist IP law firm founded by Dr Patricia Jones. Patricia has over 18 years IP experience, has a scientific PhD and is independently ranked by Chambers UK in the top tier of North-West IP lawyers. We advise on all aspects of IP, both contentious and non-contentious, including IP ownership, strategy, contracts and litigation. We deliver quality IP advice in a cost-effective manner, without the overheads of a large law firm, and provide a personal and responsive service. We have extensive experience of advising companies in the chemical industry and in biotechnology, medical and design and build. Our technical background means that we are uniquely placed to understand the legal, scientific, design and technology issues involved.

Patricia Jones, Ph.D Director and Solicitor

business of all sizes to enforce their IP rights in a cost-effective manner. In 2014, businesses should no longer have the same reluctance to start enforcement action because of cost considerations.

Patricia Jones of Jones Legal Limited has a hard-won and extremely impressive IP practice spanning the full range of work in the sector. Clients speak of her excellence, saying she is “incredibly good— you just give her the basic outline and she takes care of everything.”

From Chamber UK 2012 Clients also appreciate that “she has the technical background necessary to really understand her clients.”

From Chambers UK 2014

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NEW MEMBERS

Profile ReAgent Chemicals Contact Darren Wilson Sales Director ReAgent, 18 Aston Fields Road, Whitehouse Industrial Estate, Runcorn, Cheshire WA7 3DL T: 01928 716 903 T: (Direct) 01928 750 214 F: 01928 716 425 E: sales@reagent.co.uk www.reagent.co.uk

ReAgent Chemicals embarks on investment program to significantly boost offering Cheshire based chemical manufacturer ReAgent has recently embarked on a period of inward investment to significantly boost it’s product offering and capability.

Sachet Filling In early 2013 the company launched a brand new sachet filling service as a result of customer-led demand. The new custom built form fill and seal facility is capable of filling liquids, creams, gels, pastes and powders in to sachets of 0-100ml or 0-100g using a range of laminates. With minimum runs as little as 1,000 units and no maximum batch size this service offers huge scope for businesses across a plethora of industries.

Water Plant In 2013 ReAgent boosted it’s deionised water capacity by investing in an 18,500 Litre water storage tank.

As a raw material in many of the bespoke chemical solutions ReAgent manufactures, it is of vital importance that the company has uninterrupted access to a supply of high quality deionised water.

Manufacturing the water on site has a number of benefits, chiefly the fact that the water is so readily available and also the fact that the company are able to guarantee that the water meets their ISO 9001:2008 Quality standards by regularly testing it on site.

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Water is constantly circulated via a UV and filtration system to maintain quality.

Routine QC testing is carried out to ensure compliance with EP monograph for purified water in bulk.

Factory Remodelling In late 2013 the ReAgent began remodelling their production facility by removing a large concrete platform, replacing it with a brand new factory layout in early 2014 to improve product flow around the facility, help increase efficiency, quality and capacity. This is seen as an ongoing project which, in the spirit of CI working, will be subject to constant iterative improvement over time.

Future investment projects include the installation of clean room facilities in order to undertake pharmaceutical grade work plus a completely new food grade manufacturing facility.

Find out more at www.reagent.co.uk or call 0800 990 3258

Chemical blending

ReAgent offers highly flexible toll manufacturing, blending and packing services designed to adapt to the individual needs of any business in any industry.

Our core competencies include chemical blending, product development, sachet filling, ampoule filling, chemical bottling, kit assembly plus much more. We offer pack sizes from 1ml right up to 1,000L in batches from 1 unit upwards. We also sell off the shelf chemicals from our online chemical shop with a wide range of packaging and labelling options tailored to meet individual customer’s requirements.

For more information visit us online at www.reagent.co.uk or call 0800 990 3258

NEW MEMBERS

Perry Process Equipment Ltd At Perry Process Equipment Ltd we offer quality used process equipment at a fraction of the cost of new.

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Profile Perry Process Contact Darren Bentham Managing Director Station Road, Aycliffe Business Park Newton Aycliffe, County Durham DL5 6EQ T: 01325 315111 F: 01325 301496 E: dbentham@perryprocess.co.uk www.perryprocess.co.uk Machinery Dealer

With over 80 years of experience, Perry know the process. We source the highest quality equipment to sell to our customers. By buying used equipment our customers save time, money and benefit from our many services.

Our customer base primarily covers the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors across Europe. Our European Head Office is based in the North of England, with many other offices worldwide. There are over 25,000 items of stock available but if we don’t have the exact piece required, we will find it for you.

We are offering all Chemicals North West members a 10% discount on their first completed order. To take advantage of this offer, please contact us on the number below, quoting PERRY10.

Our Services Include: n Your buying options: To ensure that we

provide our customers with the best solution for their business, we offer the following options: outright purchase, rental, sale or return and trade-in. n Your selling options: We pay cash

for surplus equipment and save our customers time to concentrate on their core business. We offer the following selling options: outright purchase, trade-in, consignment and complete tailor-made asset disposal packages.

n Plants and lines: At Perry we have the

buying power to purchase complete process plants and lines. The benefits of buying a complete plant or line are the same as buying used equipment, including reduced lead times, increased revenues, cost savings and environmental benefits. n In-house services: We clean, test and

certify all of our equipment in our UK warehouse and workshop. We staff qualified, time-served engineers in our workshop and we offer many other inhouse services including painting, shot blasting, full electrical and mechanical refurbishment.

Perry Process Equipment Ltd has the largest inventory in the world of used process equipment with over 25,000 items in stock. Perry is dedicated to providing customers with quality used equipment, available immediately at competitive prices. Additionally, Perry offers a complete array of investment recovery and asset disposal services.

Perry has been buying and selling used process plant and equipment since 1932, making Perry able to offer you equipment that is up to 70% cheaper than new equipment.

They stock equipment relevant to the chemical, pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics, brewing and power generation industries, and can offer many in-house services with a team of qualified, time-served engineers working on site.

n Delivery services: No need to worry

about delivery! Our logistics team will organise delivery anywhere and sort out all the documentation for you at a very competitive price.

For further information or to view our full inventory visit our website www. perryprocess.co.uk Please feel free to visit our site, based in Durham, at any time. To arrange a visit or for an informal chat about your equipment needs, please contact one of our Sales Managers on 01325 315111.

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Providing Solutions to Manage Catastrophic Risks For thirty years, Baker Engineering and Risk Consultants, Inc. (BakerRisk) has provided quality engineering, R&D, investigation, and field testing services to industries and government agencies handling explosive, flammable and toxic materials.

BakerRisk’s clients benefit from our knowledge and vast experience, our innovative research, and unique engineering capabilities. We help clients understand and prioritise their risks, and offer cost-effective solutions to manage them.

BakerRisk is an internationally recognised firm dedicated to help predict, prevent, and mitigate hazards from explosions, fires, and toxic releases. Our staff is

Combining in-house research capabilities and experienced investigation services with the engineering talent is what makes BakerRisk a uniquely qualified risk assessment service provider.

Technical Discipline Groups

comprised of highly qualified engineers and scientists with a focus on explosion effects, structural dynamics, process safety, risk analysis, chemical hazards testing, and explosion incident investigation.

We specialise in process safety and risk management services to companies in the petroleum and chemical industries, as well as engineering and testing services for government agencies and private companies involved with hazardous materials.

Since 1984, BakerRisk has specialised in risk assessment services for the energy and chemical processing industry and been involved as lead investigator in several high profile accidental industrial explosions around the world. In addition to the extensive experience in incident investigation work, BakerRisk has been at the forefront of research in the field of vapor cloud explosions, jet fires, structural impact testing and a variety of other topics to improve the understanding of common hazards encountered in the chemical processing industry.

BakerRisk is a uniquely organised engineering consulting firm designed to address and solve some of the most challenging problems in risk assessment that are encountered in the chemical processing industry. At its core, BakerRisk is divided into four engineering disciplines, Blast Effects, Structural Response, Insurance Risk, and Process Safety.

The Process Safety Group at BakerRisk consists of over fifty professionals with an average of 15 years experience in a variety of operational fields (refining, chemical, offshore). These professionals excel in topics such as PSM Auditing, PHA/HAZOP, Quantitative Risk Analyses, and Facility Siting.

BakerRisk engineers have accumulated much experience in the field of Hazards Identification from developing electrical classification drawings to leading and training for HAZOPs and PHAs. BakerRisk’s knowledge in hazards identification stems from both incident investigation experience as well as drawing from the experience of its many senior personnel with decades of experience in running plants and chemical processing operations.

The Protective Structures Group at BakerRisk specialises in both designing

For further information please contact either: Rob Magraw on 01244 405961 (O) or 07595 385000 (M) Or Bill Glass on 01244 405965 (O) or 07725 828928 (M) Or visit www.BakerRisk.com to see our online brochures

new and upgrading existing buildings for blast and thermal hazards commonly found on chemical processing sites and offshore facilities. Many of the engineers in the BakerRisk structural group are capable of providing both conceptual, as well as, detailed designs ready for constuction.

The BakerRisk Blast Effects engineers are experts in both explosion dynamics modeling and field testing hazardous

phenomenon such as vapor cloud explosions, jet fires, and high pressure explosive events.

The Insurance Risk Engineering Group at BakerRisk combines both insurance as well as, operations knowledge to provide clients with the highest quality third party risk assessments. These insurance risk engineers average twenty-five years experience in the industry.

With offices in Houston, San Antonio, Washington DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, U.S.A,; Toronto, Canada and Chester, UK we are always on hand to be of assistance.

BakerRisk Europe Ltd. Mere House, Dee Hills Park Chester, Cheshire CH3 5AR United Kingdom Tel. +44 (0) 1244 405 960

NEW MEMBERS

The dangers of simplifying QRA’s or Facility Siting Studies

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Profile BakerRisk Europe Ltd Mere House, Dee Hills Park Chester, CH3 5AR T: 01244 405960 Contact Robert Magraw, Operations Manager T: 01244 405961 M: 07595 385000 E: rmagraw@BakerRisk.com William (Bill) Glass, Principal Consultant T: 01244 405965 M: 07725 828928 E: wglass@BakerRisk.com www.BakerRisk.com

We often look for ways to simplify most aspects of our daily activities, while still trying to achieve the goals from our expended efforts. Minimizing effort and maximizing outcomes can prove to be advantageous from an efficiency stand point. However, making things too simple can prove to be harmful and the more tedious a task the more we look for ways to simplify the task in order to make it manageable. This same approach is too often applied when conducting facility siting studies (FSS) and/or quantitative risk assessments (QRA). The ultimate goal for conducting an FSS or QRA is to identify and assess the hazards, how do they effect personnel, and how do I manage them in order to minimise their impact?

Keeping these goals in mind we must first examine what a thorough FSS/QRA entails. A thorough and comprehensive QRA or FSS consists of assessing several hundred thousand potential hazards in terms of explosion, fire and toxic releases.

This process is achieved by carefully following the process streams from plant Process Flow Diagrams (PFD) and creating a source any instance where the pressure, temperature or stream composition changes significantly. This ensures that the maximum number of plausible scenarios is assessed both of high and low probability and high and low consequence.

Depending on the software or method

used, the results can then be graphed into what are called Frequency-Fatality (FN) curves; the curves can be graphed for building, societal, individual, process or even hazardous specific risk (fire, toxic or explosion). A multitude of decisions can be made from assessing hundreds of thousands of outcomes; from efficient escape route selection to cost effective building upgrades. Additionally, when looking for mitigation options, source risk can be used in identifying with reasonable accuracy what sources or equipment are causing the most severe consequences.

When this approach is not used, for example, filling a unit with flammable mixture in assuming that this is the worst scenario no particular source of equipment can be attributed to this and thus never be mitigated. In addition the event is either overly conservative creating inordinately high blast loads and requiring unnecessarily strong and costly buildings or underestimating the potential for a catastrophic release which may cover more than one unit and thus underestimating the blast loads. When FSS/QRA’s are conducted you have to consider the multiple dangerous and costly pitfalls that are encountered when safety studies aim at simplification in order to achieve cost savings and/or conservative results.

BakerRisk Europe Ltd. is the European arm of BakerRisk which was established in 1984 and has over 160 employees in 7 locations.

We are focused on providing integrated engineer, research, testing and consulting services to assist our clients in identifying, quantifying and managing hazards and risk. Our key services are: Blast and Explosion Effects; Structures Design and Analysis, Process Safety; Risk Management; Accident Investigation, JIP’s and Testing.

What makes us unique in our industry if the diverse expertise and experience our staff in all facets of hazard risk management combined with the knowledge acquired from our lab and field testing services, R&D programs and accident investigations.

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NEW MEMBERS

RSS, helping operators to achieve sustainable and regulatory compliant infrastructure management In 1988 Grant Roxburgh made a somewhat unorthodox career decision. Having completed an indentured apprenticeship as a Plant Fitter at a chemical processing facility, he decided to take up the opportunity to attend Sheffield University as a Civil and Structural Engineering Undergraduate.

Looking back, he admits to being unsure of his reasons for making this unusual choice.

“I vaguely recall one of my fellow trainees telling me that the Civil Engineering sector was particularly buoyant at the time but, for a Plant Fitter, it was certainly an odd choice to make” he reflects.

Today, however, Grant’s unique combination of skill and experience in both the Chemical and Construction Sectors is proving to be highly valuable as infrastructure maintenance and repair is becoming an increasingly important element of the integrity management systems of chemical operators.

With over 22 years of experience as an infrastructure maintenance specialist Grant, and his company RSS, is now supporting asset managers who are striving to improve their regulatory compliance and planned maintainance of buildings and structures.

Whilst infrastructure failures are one of the least common causes of loss of containment on chemical sites the consequences of such an incident are no less severe than for any other type of failure.

For example, the failure of secondary and tertiary measures during the Buncefield disaster contributed significantly to the failure to prevent a major accident to the environment.

That is why it is crucial that each chemical operator not only recognises the significance of these low frequency, high consequence infrastructure risks but also allocates suitable and sufficient resources to the management of these issues.

Furthermore, the Competent Authority is also looking to COMAH operators to demonstrate that they have robust systems in place for the management of Ageing Plant, Secondary & Tertiary Containment and Personnel Competence.

There is, therefore, a clear need for chemical operators to have a

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demonstrably competent approach to infrastructure management that is also proportionate to the risk profile of their built asset portfolio. This is where the outsourced “Competent Person” service provided by RSS proves to be particularly cost-effective solution.

RSS collaborates with its customers to jointly assess the business and safety criticality of each built asset on site. RSS then compiles an infrastructure inspection and long-term maintenance plan that reflects the both risk profile of the site and the clients funding constraints.

Grant says, “Skilled personnel on processing facilities should be allowed to focus on ensuring that they achieve optimum reliability and performance from their processing plant and equipment. In my experience, it is much harder for staff to achieve these goals if they are also dealing with problems outside of their individual specialist areas.”

“The sustainable management of buildings and structures on chemical sites certainly falls into this category. Our specialist support in this key area helps our clients to identify, understand and control their primary infrastructure risks in a way that minimises the impact on the day-to-day running of the site”, he adds.

The RSS service always commences with a no obligation site health check that provides a gap analysis of existing infrastructure management measures.

The total solution is completed by a fully accredited in-house repair and maintenance department that tackles structural deterioration of concrete, brickwork and steelwork.

Grant comments, “We are definitely finding that more and more operators are moving away from the “run to failure” approach and embracing planned repair regimes. At RSS we are able to help our chemical sector clients to also apply these proactive principles to the specialist management of their buildings and structures.”

For more information on the infrastructure management services provided by RSS, contact Grant Roxburgh using the details right.

Profile RSS Structure Inspections Contact Grant Roxburgh Lead Consultant Unit C10 Stanlaw Abbey Business Centre Dover Drive, Ellesmere Port CH65 9BF T: 0845 6123 293 F: 0845 6123 294 E: grant@comah.org uk.linkedin.com/inrssgrantroxburgh www.comah.org Competent Person Inspections of Buildings and Structures

RSS Structure Inspections is the trusted partner of the Chemical Sector for compliance and condition assessments of Structures, Buildings and Civil Assets.

We assess all aspects of site built infrastructures (including Top and Lower Tier COMAH sites) and provide competent, specialist advice on regulatory compliance, risk management, structural rehabilitation and achieving optimal whole-life built asset costs.

We also have a focus on checking secondary and tertiary containment measures for compliance with the Competent Authority Containment Policy.

With “competence management” being the current strategic inspection topic of the Competent Authority, we provide a costeffective solution as an outsourced “Competent Person” for the highly specialised area of built asset inspections.

NEW MEMBERS

The challenge of recruiting into the chemical industry?

Recruiting engineers can be tough for employers in the chemical industry.

The death of the apprenticeship culture over the past 20 years, combined with decreasing numbers of engineering graduates in the UK has led to a huge skills gap in the UK manufacturing industry.

Furthermore, chemical manufacturers have specific COMAH regulations, which form the foundations of their health and safety side and, essentially, the life of their business. Therefore, employers often require candidates to have first-hand experience working within in a COMAH, usually Top-Tier, environment. This shrinks an already small pool of eligible candidates.

Nevertheless, while recruiting into the chemical industry is difficult, there a number of measures that companies can adopt to make the whole process a lot easier.

1. Sell, Sell, Sell Engineers in the chemical industry are in high demand. As a result, strong individuals looking for the next career step receive a lot of interest from chemical companies. With a plethora of options, these individuals seek opportunities with the best salaries, prospects and development opportunities.

What you can do?

Make your company stand out. This doesn’t necessarily need to be salary orientated as the best engineers are more concerned with opportunities to progress within the company. Make it clear what you can offer in terms of training and opportunities to step up the career ladder. A good salary always helps but isn’t everything!

2. Act quickly Faced with lots of interest, good engineers are often involved in recruitment processes with different companies simultaneously. The individual is picked up by the company that can offer the best opportunities, but also act quickly in the recruitment process

What you can do Keep the process as streamlined as possible. Have a clear outline in terms of dates for 1st, 2nd and (if necessary), 3rd stage interviews. Don’t rush through the process but, equally, don’t keep candidates waiting because organisation is lacking.

3. Look for bricks, not carved stones The lack of apprenticeship and engineering graduate rates has left a big gap in most chemical manufacturers’ employee base. Typically, there is a group of vastly experience engineers, who have picked up a range of extra skills responsibilities, as their careers have progressed. At the other end of the spectrum, we see graduate engineers with less than 5 years’ experience, usually with very little in the middle. Companies tend to try to replace their senior engineers directly, looking for individuals with the same skills and experience (carved stones), which makes the search even more challenging.

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Profile Antal International Network Contact Guy Cohen Team Leader - Chemical, Pharmaceutical & Process Division The Whitehouse, Wilderspool Park, Greenalls Avenue, Warrington WA4 6HL T: 01925 411 014 E: gcohen@antal.com www.antal.com Engineering & Technical - Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Process industries

What you can do Try to be more realistic in terms of what is out there in the market. Take on engineers with the intelligence and ambition for future development. Invest in your employees with training, support and development options.

4. Engage with a specialist recruiter than understands the importance of depth At Antal we provide a range of services, from contingent to full scale retained search solutions. Companies often choose to work with companies offering recruitment services on a contingent basis.

This approach predominately targets the active market, candidates who are putting their CVs on job boards and applying for adverts. This solution is perfect for more generic roles with an abundance of individuals of that skill set in the market.

However, with more difficult roles, contingent recruiters often cannot provide the right candidates. Employers become frustrated and seek out more contingent recruiters who again disappoint with a lack of quality in their candidates.

What you can do

Antal International is the leader in International Search & Selection with over 180 fully-staffed offices in 33 countries, recruiting talent in a range of industry sectors & skill functions. Antal has placed executives in over 75 countries & offers clients a choice of recruitment, headhunting, vendor management & staffing solutions from Retained Search, Contingent/ Exclusive Recruitment, Headhunting & Master Vendor Management in Permanent positions.

At the Warrington office we specialise in technical environments, with a particular focus in the chemical, pharmaceutical and biomedical sectors. Whilst we excel in fulfilling clients technical role requirements, we also recruit commercial, financial and supply chain positions.

Antal International, a global solution applied locally.

Engage with a specialist recruiter who understands the market and the depth needed on a particular assignment. Our knowledge allows us to provide this insight to employers. We can advise whether an assignment can be completed through a contingent approach, needs a more in-depth approach or a fully retained executive search.

I hope this has been helpful. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with any questions or for more information on our service and success in the industry.

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NEW MEMBERS

NCEC in action Being an NCEC emergency responder (ER) requires more than just a good knowledge of chemicals. ERs need to stay calm under pressure, and be clear communicators, problem solvers, and experts in industry and fire operations.

Profile NCEC Contact Dan Haggarty The Gemini Building, Fermi Avenue, Didcot, Oxon OX11 OQR E: daniel.haggarty@ricardo-aea.com

Bringing all this together during an emergency call can be a stressful business!

An example of how we do this happened one night (28 October).

T: 01235 753248 www.the-ncec.com

At 19:22 we received a call from the control room at Dorset Fire and Rescue Service, who were dealing with a chemical incident at a metal finishing company on a Weymouth industrial estate. It is part of NCEC’s national role to handle calls from the UK emergency services as part of the Chemical Industry Association’s Chemsafe scheme and we are supported in these activities by the Department for Transport.

The Chemsafe role of an ER is not only to give prompt advice, but also to bring together emergency response elements from the emergency services and chemical manufacturers. We collect safety datasheets (SDS) from UK manufacturers, and use these to give fast, expert advice during emergencies, and make sure all the right people are talking to each other to get any incident resolved quickly and safely.

Of course, even prompt advice goes beyond simply reading off an SDS. Emergency service personnel require clear, accurate information about chemical hazards and precautions that should be taken in the event of an incident. Multiple (and sometimes conflicting) objectives must be met – primarily this is protecting people, property and the environment.

First and foremost on a call such as this, the safety of the fire service personnel is paramount. The ER also needs to think laterally about how to address the incident at hand. They also need to recognise the cost impact of incident attendance and clean up, the effect of disruption to operations and the commercial implications from all sides… and all this in the first few minutes of a call!

In this incident, we learned there was a hazmat officer (or HMEPO) at the scene of the incident. In the UK, fire service HMEPOs receive extensive training and are true specialists in handling any kind of incident involving hazardous materials.

However, even extensive training and experience in responding to dangerous goods incidents does not replace the insight and knowledge of a qualified and well-trained chemical expert. And it can be difficult to make a confident, objective

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chemical risk assessment at the incident scene on a cold, wet autumn night, without somebody to turn to for support.

Here, two trade named chemicals were undergoing a reaction after mixing during an industrial process. Access to specialist information was crucial in helping to respond.

The ER who took this call was one of NCEC’s newest ERs, but very quickly identified the reaction product as ammonia and recognised that it could form an explosive mixture with air between certain concentrations. This led to some immediate initial advice, but also a recommendation that the HMEPO should try to measure the atmospheric concentration of ammonia. This would tell the fire officer whether ammonia was present within the explosive limits – or, indeed, whether it was still present at all.

After all, the fastest and least costly way to resolve the incident would be to prove the reaction had finished!

Having given information to safeguard the personnel on scene, our ER took steps to resolve the incident by setting up lines of communication where these were required. First, he made contact with the HMEPO at the incident scene and ensured the incident was under control. Second, he made contact with the company site manager and established the origin of the chemicals. Third, he contacted the chemical manufacturer (who happened to be a customer of NCEC) to ensure it was aware of the incident and able to contribute.

NCEC (National Chemical Emergency Centre) is the go-to organisation for chemical safety and compliance, with a range of services designed to make life easy and riskfree for chemical safety managers. n World’s best telephone-based

emergency response helpline. n Experts in chemical legislation

and services to support all elements of chemical transport and supply - from DGSA to SDS authoring. n Knowledge transfer to clients

through a selection of training events – because prevention is better (and cheaper) than cure. n Annual Hazmat conference - the

place for industry professionals to learn about the cutting edge of chemical safety.

With 40 years’ experience in our field, we have an unrivalled breadth and depth of knowledge, from global to local and across the chemical supply chain. We invest in our people and our systems to make sure when an emergency happens, you can rely on us.

NEW MEMBERS

Chemical safety – worldwide Dr Knoell Consult Ltd is a member of the knoell group of companies, specialising in registration of industrial chemicals and agrochemicals. With an in-depth knowledge of the chemical industry in the UK, the team of scientific experts works in partnership with clients to achieve cost-effective solutions for regulatory compliance.

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Profile Dr Knoell Consult Ltd Contact Dr Iain MacKinnon Managing Director 22 Cathedral Road Cardiff CF11 9LJ T: 029 2034 9880 F: 029 2034 9889 E: knoell-uk@knoell.com www.knoellconsult.co.uk Consultancy Reach Agrochemicals

Case Study The transitional arrangements for the implementation of the CLP regulation means that in general, the rules governing the classification, formulation and labelling of mixtures does not change until 1st June 2015. In the meantime however, the implementation of REACH means that formulators must not only be alert to ensure that the chemical substances in their supply-chain have been registered (or have an appropriate registration plan), but also be aware of the impact of the other aspects of REACH, especially the candidate list of substances of very high concern (SVHC).

Our client was a small company importing tailor-made formulations which were supplied to a niche industrial application.

We were asked to help them understand their supply chain and produce a strategic plan for compliance with REACH. The first step was to obtain the composition of the products from the producer and from this to produce a list of substances and annual import volumes. The initial evaluation of the imported substances highlighted a low level of a substance which met the criteria to be a substance of very high concern (SVHC). REACH states that such substances with an import volume above 1 tonne/year should have been registered by 1st December 2010.

The import volume of the SVHC substance was well below the threshold for registration, but business growth had led to increased volumes and now the possibility of registering had to be considered.

In addition, the substance was added to the ECHA Candidate List of substances for authorisation. This placed a new obligation on our client to provide a safety data sheet (SDS) for the formulation (even though the level of the substance was below the threshold for classification).

Dr Knoell Consult Ltd (a knoell company) is an independent service provider for the chemical and related industries. Our team of expert scientists provide services for the worldwide registration of industrial chemicals, agricultural chemicals and biocides. As part of the knoell group of companies, with over 400 employees worldwide, we cover all aspects of regulatory compliance, from strategic planning to complete dossier preparation, including higher tier exposure and risk assessment. Our extensive experience in global regulatory compliance makes Dr Knoell Consult Ltd your ideal partner.

Using the experience gained through working with the REACH regulations since 2007, we were able to advise our client on sourcing of the SVHC substance within Europe, thus removing the obligation on our client to register the substance. The expert team at Dr Knoell were also able to produce a SDS for the formulation to help our client comply with the current rules for substances on the candidates for authorisation list.

The regulatory process is a constantly changing landscape, and working with Dr Knoell Consult Ltd provides industry with an independent, expert partner on the road to regulatory success.

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Laboratory and scale-up equipment Labtex supplies leading laboratory products including HUBER liquid temperature control systems, DIEHM glass reaction systems to 100 litres, PREMEX magnetic drives and high pressure autoclaves, POPE wiped film and short path evaporators, distillation systems, BOLA labware in PTFE and other technical plastics, PLANETROLL ATEX drive technology and ASECOS storage solutions for hazardous materials to BS EN 14470-1.

We specialise in scale up equipment for Process R & D in the chemical, pharmaceutical, defence, aerospace, biochemical and other industries.

In particular glass and steel reaction systems, distillation and evaporation techniques, liquid temperate control and hazardous material storage solutions.

We also offer a vast range of ‘general’ lab equipment in our 1400 page catalogue. In conjunction with LLG, the 3rd largest lab distributor in Europe, we can supply all your equipment needs.

Based in the North, we service the whole of the UK from our Headquarters in Huddersfield. With a team of sales professionals, highly competent administrative staff and trained service technicians you will find that talking to Labtex is a breath of fresh air.

To experience a fresh approach to problem solving please give us a call on 01484 600200 or visit www.labtex.co.uk

We pride ourselves on our customer service, quick response, accurate and informed advice and attention to detail.

HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER NORTHWICH, Cheshire

£35,000+OTB

This is an exciting and challenging opportunity for a skilled individual to join a well established, fast growing company within the Chemical Industry.

We are looking for a Health, Safety & Environmental Manager who will take the Company forward by managing and improving our HSE & related systems as part of the management team.

The successful candidate will have at least 5 years experience at management level, have relevant HSE

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qualifications (NEBOSH/IOSH etc) and have experience with COMAH, REACH, HAZOP and ISO. They will be expected to liaise with third parties such as the HSE and Environment Agency and keep up to date on H&S legislation.

We are looking for someone who is assertive, ambitious, flexible and has a keen eye for detail.

For further information or to send your CV, please email kelly.jackson@edelchemie.com

2013 – 2014

hazardexonthenet.net

Protecting Plant, Process & Personnel HazardEx 2014 Runcorn, Cheshire 26th & 27th February 2014 Conference, Exhibition & Awards Attend to hear from the HSE, UKPIA plus many more very influential speakers to hear the latest information regarding safe operation in hazardous areas across the globe. Subjects covered will include international legislation, functional safety, SIL’s, risk assessment, asset management and maintenance.

Sponsored by:

Attendees will be engineers from the major process industries to include Oil & Gas, Pharmaceutical, Chemical, Energy & Utilities etc. Essentially anywhere dust, vapour or gas can become an explosion risk hazard.

To complement the two day conference (fee required, contact us for details), there will be a specialist exhibition alongside it with free access, offering a range of products & services to all visitors.

In association with

Contact Russell Goater on +44 (0)1732 359990 or email russell.goater@imlgroup. co.uk for details of attending as a delegate, speaking, sponsoring or exhibiting.

Delegate & stand bookings now being taken – contact us now to secure your places!

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MEMBERS CHARITY SPOTLIGHT

A breath of fresh air

Traditional Christmas at Innospec

L-R Liva Tilena and Dagmara Szczerba

Axion Polymers’ Liva Tilena and her friend Dagmara Szczerba both gave up smoking in October 2012 and to mark the anniversary, they decided to try to raise money for the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation by treking to Everest base camp. Their goal was to raise £1000 for this worthy cause which would pay for either 4 patient grants, 22 support group sessions, or 35 hours of research.

Liva says: “We arrived on 11th November in Kathmandu and left the capital city two days later, flying to Lukla (Hillary-Tenzing) airport at 2800m. This is one of the world’s most dangerous airports. The runway is between the mountains and it’s only 450m long!”

“The hardest part was coping with the lack of oxygen which is 50% less above 4500m and not having a chance to take a proper shower or to wash our clothes. The best part was seeing the Himalayan mountains.

The scenery is amazing and the trip tests you physically and mentally. It makes you appreciate the many things that we usually take for granted.”

If you would like to donate to this worthy cause and help Liva achieve here goal, please follow this link: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ everestbc

Perry Process raise funds for Butterwick Hospice Christmas 2013, Perry Process Equipment Ltd raised funds for Butterwick Hospice Care. Each and every day, Butterwick Hospice help people living with a lifelimiting illness, relieving symptoms, enriching patient's lives and supporting them and their loved ones. Butterwick have three hospices, including a children’s hospice, costing £7.23 per minute to run.

Butterwick help patients relate positively to every challenge they may encounter during their illness and to see the end of life as part of one’s journey.

Perry staff participated in a Christmas themed fundraiser, which involved wearing Christmas themed attire. They held a buffet, a raffle and a Christmas jumper competition, managing to raise an in-house

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During the run-up to the festive period Innospec Specialty Chemicals, Ellesmere Port continued to provide support and funding to the local community.

Following tradition, two local primary school choirs where invited in to sing hymns at the site’s Christmas lunches which were followed by party games and festive fun for the children.

Donations are made to both local schools to help with improvements within the schools.

Another tradition at Innospec is the ever-popular Christmas Tie Competition where employees, tenants and contractors from across the site are invited to be creative and use their talents to design the ‘winning Christmas Tie’. This year’s competition was judged by teachers from Hinderton School, a local school for children with special needs. Funds raised from the competition and raffle totalled nearly £800 which were donated to Hinderton School during the event.

We have also supported the local Foodbank and Salvation Army during December, providing food donations, gifts and toys for those families within the community who need that little extra support at Christmas time.

total of £332. Perry Process Equipment Ltd will continue to raise funds for this worthy cause throughout 2014. If you would like to make a donation directly to Butterwick Hospice, text PERY81 £2 to 70070.

We value our relationship with the local community and welcome opportunities to support individuals and organisations in need, especially at Christmas.

Mairead Dyke Charity Coordinator

NEC, Birmingham 11-13 March 2014

The UK’s leading event for maintenance, plant and asset management

hazex

2014

maintec

incorporating

ER REGIST NOW

Maintec provides an efficient and highly effective opportunity for you to source the very best solutions for your business - all under one roof!

Registration is now open Principal media partner:

Supported by:

Register FREE online today and save time with fast-track admission at easyFairs.com/MAINTECUK

Now co-located with:

n Chloroalkylamines n Friedel-Craft derivatives n Cyclopropyl derivatives With an expanding product range, and production capability, we can supply a wide range of sectors, and develop processes for novel and specialist applications.

Products are stored at our COMAH registered warehousing in the UK, including temperature controlled storage where full testing and approval takes place prior to distribution throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

Winner of China Rising Star Award 2010 (UKTI/NWDA award)

Success through partnership Development and supply of Fine Chemicals, Intermediates and Speciality products to a wide range of industry sectors.

Syntor are an innovative, flexible company developing products within a wide range of industry sectors.

Our achievements were recently rewarded by receiving the ‘Chemicals Northwest 2013 Innovation award’ Working in partnership with our customers, we can deliver technical solutions, improve product performance, and utilise our experience to commercialise processes and provide cost effective solutions.

UK developed technology, with manufacturing facilities in the UK, China and India. We provide solutions to support your manufacturing requirements.

For new or established projects, Syntor can provide a range of options including;

n Toll manufacture n Custom manufacturing n Product development/scale-up Syntor have an established product range, supplied from UK approved stocks.

We can deliver high quality products with short lead times.

Find out more about our products and services at: e: info@syntor.co.uk w: www.syntor.co.uk t: 01928 579865

CNW EVENTS

CNW Events

Other Events

30th January 2014

26-27th February 2014

Heath Business Park, Runcorn

Runcorn, Cheshire

Chemical Elements - New and Emerging legislative Impacts on Businesses

HazardEx 2014 www.hazardexonthenet.net

sponsored by Harrison Goddard Foote LLP

russell.goater@imlgroup.co.uk

31st January 2014

25th March 2014

Heath Business Park, Runcorn

Heath Business Park, Runcorn

Chemicals Northwest Breakfast event

Spotlight on Supply Chain in the NW Chemical Industry

sponsored by BakerRisk Europe Ltd

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sponsored by Brabners Stuart 27th March 2014 Heath Business Park, Runcorn

Chemicals Northwest Breakfast networking sponsored by Perry Process Equipment Ltd

11-13th March 2014 NEC, Birmingham

Maintec 2014 www.easyfairs.com katie.morhen@easyfairs.com 9-11th April 2014 Manchester, UK

Sustainable Nuclear Energy (IChemE), www.icheme.org/conferences

4th June 2014

conferences@icheme.org

Heath Business Park, Runcorn

REACH, Time to Plan sponsored by The Royal Society of Chemistry

7–9th May 2014 Edinburgh, UK

Hazards 24 (IChemE) www.icheme.org/conferences

For full information on all CNW events please go to

conferences@icheme.org

www.chemicalsnorthwest.org.uk/events

Mid Cheshire and Manchester RC Cell start off 2014 with active discussions John Roche, CIA Responsible Care Manager and Aila Bursnall , CIA Responsible Care & HSE Executive joined in the active discussions that involved the whole group for this year’s first meeting on 16 January at The Heath, Runcorn.

Hot topics included the benefits of involving local Fire and Rescue Service Teams in site familiarisations and training exercises; the human factors and domino theory of accidents and incidents; and the maintenance and management aspects regarding flexible and fixed pipe work and their integrity.

The Health and Safety Executive (HID) gave feedback on the progress completion of intervention plans, and described some of the changed enhancements and further detail within

plans; and the updated ACOP’s such as’ Safety in Docks’, ‘Legionella’ and ‘Workplace Regulation’s. EA feedback included Seveso III implementation, the draft regulations nearing consultation

by April; and work on BREF’s .

Organisational change within the EA is likely to see regional teams giving way to national and area teams, with the areas teams likely to amalgamate e.g.

Cheshire, Merseyside and Manchester.

Aila Bursnall, CIA asked for feedback from members related to water issues,

particularly experiences related to flooding, or how the recent bad weather affected businesses; or if there were any issues with changes to the abstraction licensing or new charging proposals.

Grant Roxburgh, RSS Structural Inspections gave an interesting and informative presentation on the benefits of a planned risk based approach to infrastructure Management.

For more information please contact Aila Bursnall on BursnallA@CIA.org.uk

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CNW EVENTS

Showcasing success in the Northwest

Sponsored by FMC Chemicals The 28th November seminar focussed entirely on the successful practices that resulted in eight Chemicals Northwest companies winning awards at the Chemicals Northwest dinner held at the Imperial War Museum in Manchester on 10th October 2013.

The presenters from each of the award winning companies explained why they came out on top and spoke of their successes.

The event was attended by 50 people and had excellent feedback – good news stories were plentiful at the event.

Meet the UKTI Vietnam Chemicals Commercial Officer

CNW REACH Users Group

Chemical Northwest and UKTI played host to Ngo Minh Hang (Ms) from the British Embassy in Hanoi on 18th November. Hang covers the chemicals, textiles and mining sectors for UKTI Vietnam.

Our REACH user group met on the 26th September at the Heath. There was an update from Richard Roy of the Chemical Industries Association, on issues surrounding authorisation which was followed by discussions and general points of interest for the group.

During the event, Hang presented on the following topics:

n General tips on doing business and the

n The top industries carrying out

n Assistance offered by UKTI Vietnam and

manufacturing in Vietnam n Overview of the chemical

manufacturing industry in Vietnam n Review of the textile manufacturing in

Vietnam n Overview of the mining industry in

Vietnam

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The innovation category at the dinner was particularly strong and we dedicated the opening session of the event to include the winner and several other innovation finalists.

ELEMENTS WINTER 2014

culture of business in Vietnam expressions of interest in a NW trade mission There was also the opportunity for delegates to have a 20 minute one-toone meeting with Hang to discuss further questions.

If you are a member of Chemicals Northwest and would like to be included in this group please contact Alex Heys alex.heys@chemicalsnorthwest. org.uk to be added to the attendance list.

CNW EVENTS

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Chemicals Northwest Breakfast Networking Sponsored by Kelly Services The event held on the 13th November 2013 in Runcorn featured 4 short industry pitches.

Andrew Corness from Kelly Services presented on employee retention and how it is becoming an increasing challenge for employers as we move out of the recession. The presentation covered

L-R Mick McGrath, Grant Roxburgh, Colin Smalley, Andrew Corness

findings from the 2013 Kelly Global Workforce Index that surveys over 122,000 global respondents. It also covered issues such as employee loyalty, happiness and commitment to the job, the role of the line manager, as well as the circumstances in which employees explore alternatives jobs and careers.

Colin Smalley from Tracerco spoke about Tracerco and how it originated in 1958 as a small research team within Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) in Billingham, Teesside, UK. Today, Tracerco is part of the Process Technologies Division of Johnson Matthey and is a world leader in its field. Its innovative range of products and services are invaluable to ensure full optimisation

and efficiency of its customer’s assets across the oil, gas and petrochemical industry.

Grant Roxburgh from RSS Structure Inspections presented on Built Infrastructure Sustainability and Regulatory Compliance on Chemical Sites.

He gave a brief overview of how to achieve exemplary standard buildings, structures and secondary & tertiary containment measures.

Mick McGrath from Oranmore Environmental Services spoke at the event on the company’s civil structures maintenance services and a new repair coating from the US called “Ultracoat”.

Spice up your life The Sectoral Platform in Chemical Energy Efficiency Excellence (SPICE3) workshop was held on the 14th November and was attended by over 50 participants from SME’s to larger companies. The event was held at Chemicals Northwest’s headquarters in Runcorn, which is in the North West of England and home to the largest conglomeration of chemical industry companies in the UK. The event started with background to the SPICE3 project, emphasising the need to help SMEs improve their energy efficiency. An overview of the regulatory and policy situation in the UK together with signposting to possible financial help and support was provided by CIA’s Nick Sturgeon. Nick focused on Climate Change Agreements, the Carbon Reduction Commitment and EU ETS and demonstrated the indirect impact that climate change policy costs would have on power costs. Several sources of support were discussed, these included,

the Green Investment Bank, the Green Deal and Enhanced Capital Allowances.

The main presentation of the day on Energy Efficiency Tools and Techniques was provided by Cofely – GDF Suez.

The importance of looking at the energy efficiency and costs throughout the lifecycle of equipment / processes was emphasised and in order to achieve this good metering and data analysis is vital. Considerable energy savings can also come about through behavioural change. ISO 50001 was briefly discussed as a useful tool and a range of projects typically undertaken by companies to reduce energy consumption discussed including electricity optimisation, Variable Speed Drives and lighting.

The morning session was concluded by a short talk from Link2Energy who are undertaking an EU project on Low Energy Manufacturing Parks. Although at an early stage, the study is looking at 4 industrial parks and assessing what

benefits site integration can achieve in terms of energy and resource efficiency.

These results will be used to inform other clusters and encourage wider sharing of resources.

The main focus of the afternoon was two case studies from GSK, Irvine and SME Robinson Brothers. Both companies outlined their approach to improving energy efficiency.

Pumps are widely used on all chemical sites and are a major source of energy consumption. SPP Pumps presented several case studies on how energy can be saved. Showing how important it is look at the system as a whole, not just the pump in isolation.

The day was concluded by sharing information of the last 5 years of the Chemical Industry Low Carbon Awards which suggests that a robust policy driven by the top and clear objectives for the site and people are amongst the key ingredients for a successful programme.

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SYMMETRY LAW

The Industrial Emissions Directive takes effect With effect from 7th January 2014 all existing installations (as defined) are subject to the EU Industrial Emissions Directive (IED), which replaces seven others including the IPPC Directive.

New installations have already been regulated under the IED for a year.

Differences are expected to emerge between the old regime and the new concerning Best Available Techniques or BAT. As was the case under IPPC, the operator of an installation must use BAT to prevent and, where that is not practicable, reduce emissions and the impact on the environment as a whole.

While the definition of BAT is essentially unchanged, the IED places more emphasis on the sectoral, EU-wide BAT Reference (BREF) documents and new ‘BAT conclusions’ documents setting out each BREF’s conclusions as to what

is BAT. It may be harder to deviate from the BAT conclusions when setting permit conditions, particularly for quantitative standards such as emission limits, and there is an expectation of a more level EU playing field as a result. Some installations may find that considerable investment is required to achieve BAT across their operations.

The Environment Agency anticipates that only minor changes will be needed to permits because they already implement the vast majority of IED requirements.

Nevertheless, some operators will be aware that their permitted emissions are higher than is achieved elsewhere and

may be apprehensive. It would be as well to keep an eye on the lengthy process of revising BREFs to make them IEDcompliant, and especially the development of BAT conclusions documents, via UK and EU industry organisations - to date only four have been formally adopted, none so far for the chemicals industry.

Change is also expected with regard to baseline site condition reports and both the Agency and the EC are planning to issue new guidance on this soon.

For further information please contact; paul.bratt@symmetrylaw.co.uk victoria.joy@symmetrylaw.co.uk

our services

tel: 0161 883 1000 0152 425 1613 www.symmetry-law.co.uk contact@symmetry-law.co.uk

regulatory environmental nuclear commercial construction tax & green incentives litigation employment

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ELEMENTS WINTER 2014

ABB Consulting. Safe, reliable, efficient operations.

Chemical operators aiming to achieve operational excellence in the face of increasing cost pressures and drives to cut downtime, increase operational reliability and efficiency, often require expert assistance. ABB Consulting offer expertise in; inspection, integrity management, operations improvement, process safety, project services, site and asset closure, technical engineering, technical software, technical training and competency. We benefit customers by reducing risk, optimising cost and improving manufacturing efficiency. www.abb.com/consulting

ABB Consulting Tel: +44 (0)1925 741111 E-mail: contact@gb.abb.com

Tomlinson Hall & Co. Ltd BPMA Distributor of the Year Winner Est. 1919

Your Dedicated Pump Experts

World Class and Locally Available Air Operated Double Diaphragm & Peristaltic Pumps

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High quality certified pumps for the toughest applications in the chemical industry including ATEX Zone 0

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Smart design and fewer parts save maintenance costs

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Large UK stock available for same day delivery

www.depapumps.co.uk www.elropumps.co.uk Call free: 0800 10 777 10 Š Copyright 2013 CRANE ChemPharma & Energy

Available in the UK from our authorised distributor: Tomlinson Hall & Co. Ltd, Lagonda Road, Cowpen Lane Industrial Estate, Billingham, TS23 4JA