Elements 5

A unique industry, with unique companies and unique news

05

El

Elements Summer 2013

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.

O Hazardous goods capabilities on most departures, in

Our success can only be attributed to our guiding philosophy of providing a quality of service above and beyond industry expectations.

O Freight forwarding services between Western, Central

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

Portugal and Greece. and Eastern Europe.

O Twice winners of the BIFA European Services Award

and finalist in 2012.

Deep Sea and Air Freight Services Worldwide

FOR RATES & BOOKING CALL 0845 676 9090 Leestone Road, Sharston Industrial Estate, Manchester M22 4RB Email: email@ital-logistics.com

www.ital-logistics.com

MEMBERSHIP

Contents 4 5, 6, 8 7 9, 12, 15 14 18-19 20-21 27, 34 28-30 31 32

CNW Awards CNW Events Members Spotlight New Members Member News Big Interview Skills Q&A Sustainable Development Innovation Members Charity Events

n

Certain Elements of Summer Welcome to the summer edition of Elements, the Chemicals Northwest quarterly magazine.

The team at Chemicals Northwest have been busy over the last quarter. Holding two breakfast events, one on 7th March which was sponsored by Western Union, followed by one on the 14th May, further details of these can be found in the events review section on pages 5, 6 and 8. On 21st March, we held an event in conjunction with KPMG and UKTI on The Middle East that focused on the challenges and opportunities for UK companies to export there. Our member’s only REACH user group also took place on 14th May, some lively discussions were held around the table at this event.

John Roche, Operations Manager at Chemicals Northwest also chaired the mid Cheshire and Manchester Responsible Care Cell meeting at the Heath on 18th April and the North Wales and Merseyside RCC meeting on the 12th June. Details of all of these events can be found on pages 5 and 6. At the time of going to press we had also just held a conference on Process Safety.

We have now launched the Chemicals Northwest Awards 2013 which are being held on the 10th October at the Imperial War Museum, Manchester. If your company would like to be involved in the awards please contact alex.heys@chemicalsnorthwest.org.uk. Or visit the awards page on the website www.chemicalsnorthwest.org.uk/events/chemicals_northwest_awards_2013.

It promises to be another great night out.

Please keep an eye on our events page to see what events are coming up for the rest of 2013 www.chemicalsnorthwest.org.uk/events. We have events planned in conjunction with STFC and Cogent coming up in the next few months.

Your continued support is very much appreciated.

Membership of Chemicals Northwest 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?

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

n Support and assistance with regulation and other legislative issues n Access to additional member benefits including:

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

• 25% discount off the REACHReady Gold Subscription

Benefits...

• Chemicals Northwest Buyers’ Club on a no savings, no fee basis

n Free/reduced entry to Chemical Elements and Breakfast Networking events plus the opportunity make a pitch!

• Discounted Insurance Rates • Free and Discounted Recruitment Services

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 newsletter n Free entry into the annual Chemicals Northwest Sector Directory

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.

n Discounted advertising rates for Chemicals Northwest Sector Directory and Website

Front cover supplied by Adrian Waine

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

3

n

CNW AWARDS

2013 Chemicals Northwest Awards Dinner

We are pleased to announce the Chemicals Northwest 2013 Awards Dinner will be taking place on 10th October 2013 at the Imperial War Museum North, Manchester. This will be the 4th Chemicals Northwest awards dinner and we want to make it as successful as the previous three.

The Awards feature nine categories which will showcase the world-class chemical and service companies in the region and fly the flag for industry in the UK: n Innovation – Innovative Product or

Process (sponsored by ABB Limited)

n Engineering Business of the Year n Business Improvement Partner n Operational Excellence

(sponsored by Siemens)

n Chemical Services Provider

This year’s prestigious Awards Dinner takes place on Thursday 10th October at the Imperial War Museum North, Manchester.

It’s a great opportunity to celebrate the continuing success of the chemical using sector in the region. So whether you are short listed for an award, want to entertain your customers or recognise your staff achievements, the Awards Dinner provides a perfect opportunity.

For further details on sponsoring or booking onto the event please go to the Chemicals Northwest website: www. chemicalsnorthwest.org.uk/events/ chemicals_northwest_awards_2013

n Young Achiever (sponsored by

The event will commence with a drinks reception (sponsored by ITAL logistics).

n Health, Safety & Environment

Award trophies (sponsored by Solvay).

n International Trade

We look forward to seeing you on 10th October.

HTS Engineering Group Ltd)

(supported by UKTI)

n Manufacturing Business of the Year

(sponsored by Wickland Westcott)

4

Deadline for entries was Friday 21st June 2013.

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

CNW EVENTS

March Breakfast networking Sponsored by Western Union Business Solutions

May have breakfast

The March breakfast event, held at the Heath on 7th March, featured 4 industry pitches in addition to the networking opportunities.

Our 14th May breakfast featured 4 short industry pitches.

Toby Jones from Western Union Business Solutions spoke about typical common practices and issues that importers and exporters face on a daily basis. He discussed how businesses can utilise Western Union bespoke tailored solutions which can assist companies with their foreign currency requirements, help to manage their exposure and help streamline the entire procure to pay process. For further details on this please see article on page 12.

Keith Davidson from Pannone spoke about the Environmental Damage Regulations. Although the Regulations were in force in 2009, many companies have not implemented an EDR strategy or looked at the gaps in their insurance.

Kathryn Young from Manchester Metropolitan University gave an overview of Manchester Metropolitan University as the place to come to improve your business. Kathryn gave examples of two fully funded business growth programmes they deliver.

n

Jamie Elliott from HFL Risk Services spoke about Human Factors and HFL’s practical experience in implementing the HSE Human reliability assessment guidance.

L-R: James Greenman, Toby Jones and Simon Walker

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses and The Knowledge Action Network programmes.

Russell Page from PICME explained how to make substantial improvements in business competiveness and efficiency, using case study examples covering a diverse range of improvements, including: visibility of operational performance giving better management focus, reliability of assets delivering increased throughput and a holistic approach to energy, saving you costs.

REACH User Group Our members-only REACH User Group was held on 14th May at the Heath.

Jo Lloyd from the REACHReady team in London gave an update on where we are up to with the current REACH legislation and the REACH review.

If any of our member companies have not joined the REACH User Group but would like to, please contact alex.heys@chemicalsnorthwest.org.uk

Sarah Grindrod from HFL spoke about Process Safety Competence - With the ongoing drive for organisations to demonstrate process safety competence at all levels in the business, in particular the need for board level understanding and competence in process safety; and how HFL Risk Services have developed three integrated Post Graduate qualifications in the understanding and leadership of continuous improvement in process safety.

Colin Rawles from CRR Ltd gave a brief overview of chemical gas availability from Gerling Holz in the UK. Gas supply system options and instrument calibration are fundementals of this supply structure.

Andy Thomas, EHS Manager at new members FMC Chemicals Ltd, Bromborough outlined the key features of their lithium based chemicals business.

North Wales & Merseyside Responsible Care cell

Mid Cheshire & Manchester Responsible Care cell

The agenda of this latest meeting held at The Heath, Runcorn on 12 June centred around the first parallel meeting for our local safety reps.

John Roche, Head of Responsible Care at CIA and Operations Manager at Chemicals Northwest chaired this latest meeting of the above which was held at Chemicals Northwest Headquarters, The Heath, Runcorn on 18th April.

Supported by Rob Vondy of the Health & Safety Executive and Rob Welham, GMB convenor at Crown Paints, the scene was set to hold the first forum for local safety reps. Regular cell member, Derek Mason facilitated this session which highlighted many common issues experienced by safety reps across a range of site types and sizes. The findings were presented to the final plenary meeting. Case studies surrounding new views on employee involvement were presented by Warwick Chemicals and Convatec Ltd. The meeting was attended by Dallas Paternott, Responsible Care Coordinator and John Roche, Head of responsible Care.

For further information contact John, RocheJ@cia.org.uk

An open discussion on the reporting of unsafe acts within a near miss system highlighted several issues surrounding a positive culture in relation to behavioural safety and the times when disciplinary action may be required. The Health & Safety Executive alerted the group to the latest consultation on new guidance for the first aid regulations. There were presentations from HFL Risk Services Ltd on why process safety management should be included in all primary business objectives and from the Environment Agency on the implications of the Seveso III directive.

For further information contact John, RocheJ@cia.org.uk

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

5

n

CNW EVENTS

The Middle East – Challenges and Opportunities for the UK Chemical Industry Our Spring chemical elements held at the Heath on 21st March was attended by over 35 delegates and had a special focus on trade in the Middle East.

The presentations and discussions centred on the question - does the Middle East represent yet another threat for the UK chemical industry or a set of real opportunities?

With its abundance of cheaper energy and feedstocks, diversification into speciality chemicals and other downstream industries plus government policies (e.g.

Saudization) to create employment for Arab nationals (see page 21).

The event had speakers from KPMG, chemical sector specialists Jenny Quinn, and Andrew Monro who presented on the shift to the East. This gave an overview of the European chemicals market, the global chemicals picture and brief overview of investment opportunities in the Middle and Far East. Spotlight on the current chemicals market in Saudi Arabia and post Sadara. Threats and opportunities and the likely impact on larger companies vs SMEs were also covered.

Steve Cowles from UKTI presented on The Sadara Project, the UKTI High Value Opportunities Programme and UK industry involvement to date.

Julian Birchett from UKTI presented on Sadara and beyond and gave opportunities, next steps and what assistance can be sought from UKTI to help with this process.

6

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

Steve Cowles also spoke about UK Export finance and gave an overview of credit risk for GCC & KSA and the credit line for Aramco.

James Buxton also from KPMG spoke about maximising profitability and how even in a recession it is possible to achieve profitable growth. n See also article on page 21.

MEMBERS SPOTLIGHT

Chemicals sector receives specialist support from Siemens Industry

n

Smooth & Clean: ELAPHARM®

Siemens Industry has further strengthened its commitment to UK manufacturers with the announcement of a specialist and dedicated team focusing on the needs of the chemicals sector.

The team will provide bespoke support for the sector to address distinct requirements in areas of industrial technology, in particular automation and drive technologies solutions.

The chemicals sector team will be led by Sean McDonagh, who comments: “Siemens Industry understands the issues facing the chemicals sector. Our specialist team will work alongside manufacturers to ensure we help them meet the challenges of the future, including improving operational efficiencies and creating flexible production platforms.”

Siemens Industry has also created specialist teams for other important industry sectors, such as water, food and beverage, automotive, pharmaceuticals and glass and solar. Each will have their own specific industry sector head.

The sector heads will exploit market potential in highgrowth vertical markets across the UK, with a view of bringing intelligence to the entire product development and production process. In doing so, the strategy will also strengthen and significantly expand the technology-based service business.

Siemens Industry will also take the leading position in the merging of virtual and real product development and production structures, whilst looking to identify and grasp growth opportunities in emerging markets.

Brian Holliday, Divisional Director, Siemens Industry Automation says: “We understand that the challenges and issues facing our broad spectrum of manufacturing clients can vary across individual industrial sectors.

For example, what concentrates the minds of water companies invariably differs from the concerns of the automotive sector. The appointment of the six vertical sector heads places real industry experts at the forefront of Siemens Industry’s focus on assisting our customers.

“We can pool our expertise into one organisation, and means we can offer a genuinely enhanced service.

“Working with manufacturers in critical areas such as maximising operational efficiencies, creating flexible production platforms, tackling energy and safetyrelated challenges and helping them invest to compete locally, nationally and globally, continues to be our primary remit. Our expert vertical sector heads and strengthened teams of sector specialists will help us to continue to drive this focus forward.”

ELAPHARM hose assemblies for the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industry: • ultra smooth lining of DuPont Teflon® PTFE • homogeneous elastomer hose to DIN 26055-3.

• Flexible and kink resistant, pressure and vacuum resistant.

• Nominal bores DN 13 to 50 mm • as ELAPHARM (non el. conductive) or ELAPHARM OHM (fully el. conductive) • FDA / USP Class VI • up to +140° C, vacuum 0,8 bar, PN 10 In-house hose assembling by Elaflex, straight from the reel for fast delivery of your assemblies.

Choice of fittings, eg. PTFE lining flared over ends, no entrapment, for highest media purity requirements.

ELAFLEX LTD. Phone +44(0)1992/45 29 50 · Fax +44(0)1992/45 29 11 sales@elaflex.co.uk · www.elaflex.co.uk

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

7

n

CNW EVENTS

Successful Practices In Process Safety 11 June 2013, Runcorn This was a keynote conference for Chemicals Northwest that concentrated on the topical aspects of process safety, those of which the regulator has made specific reference to following the re-modelling of the COMAH regulations. How is the use of process safety performance indicators (PSPIs) demonstrating improvement in safety since the UK process leadership initiative five years ago and the guidance document HSG 254 from 2005? Additional feedback has also been given to the industry’s performance across ageing plant, which appears now to be an area that improvement is required. There was a fresh view on employee involvement and how companies should take a closer look at the important role played by their people in delivering successful process safety practices.

Mr Ian Travers, Head of Chemicals Strategy Unit within the Hazardous Installations Directorate at the Health & Safety Executive, chaired the day.

The opportunity was taken to remind delegates of the PSPI journey from the launch of the HSG 254 guidance through the added impetus on leadership and how such leading indicators became an established strategic theme within the COMAH intervention scope. Evidence has shown that not all sites are the same and a universal set of PSPIs can’t be achieved. The role of people across our businesses is essential so that all the major features of process safety actually work. Ian suggested that a review of the above guidance is likely to be produced in the near future.

ABB Ltd’s Lee Allen explained the need to revisit criteria for selecting PSPIs and not focus just on the areas that sites may be good at i.e. areas where we are also weak. It is also expected that indicators may be changed or removed. What happens when you remove a ‘good’ performing indicator from site communications? If it stays at a ‘good’ level, then this could be seen as a measure of a good safety culture.

Leadership involvement in developing PSPIs and on-going monitoring, is key if the approach is to be successful.

Marie Connor of Innospec Ellesmere Port explained how PSIPIs have become an established part of the site’s performance, monitoring and planning. The indicators are reviewed in a six monthly best practice meetings for sharing and learning across the group.

It is important that the board sees these KPIs and support the progress based on

8

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

review of overall site scores and getting the right information. Innospec quickly found that different sites cannot be compared with the same indicators and there is high importance placed on site managers in their understanding of the PSPIs and the provision of resource to maintain them.

Phil Scott, CIA Safety & Risk Manager bridged the PSPI theme with that of ageing plant, in terms of best practice sharing amongst process safety specialists. The CIA process safety issue team is growing and has over the past two years generated much discussion and best practice examples for the benefit of its members. There is a need to keep reviewing PSPIs and it is important that our boards see updated indicators.

CIA is also working on a global process safety indicator and is involved in crosssector experience sharing. The issue team also looks at asset integrity and observes that care is needed when choosing third party inspection partners.

The following aspects of managing ageing plant were highlighted: good plant surveillance and reporting by operational staff, don’t forget pipework, bunding, tanks supports, etc and inspection and maintenance should be clearly linked through corporate policies.

Ageing plant has been seen to be the chemical industry’s low scoring feature following the HSE’s COMAH interventions. Paul Stanworth, specialist inspector on mechanical engineering, described the inspection approach to this important subject. The key topics of HSE’s delivery guidance cover: leadership awareness and support, asset registration, safety critical mechanical equipment, primary containment boundary (PCB) management systems and inspection processes and overall

resources available. The issue of third party maintenance providers is seen by the regulator too as a key issue and that sites should become intelligent customers, insisting on the right to overview the work being carried out.

A new Chemical & Downstream Oil Industry Forum (CDOIF) working group is to be set up to look at this aspect.

Dr Andrew Fowler of HFL Risk Services reminded the audience of ensuring the best standards within the “4 Ps” of process safety: initial process design, maintenance personnel, operational procedures and process hazards and risks. There is also the fear that as the workforce is changing, new engineers and plant managers may not be up to speed with process situations and previous learnings. HFL have launched an assessment tool to help companies go about process safety analysis and the findings from a recent benchmarking exercise showed that higher scoring items correlated with the regulators strategic topics, but also that more could be done in terms of policy provisions from our boards.

David Raymond of GSK Ulverston spoke about the GSK Ulverston site commenced on an innovative risk based inspection programme in 2007.

Following a need to see closely how the plant areas are looked after, site pipework and tank inspections plans were based on a “5 x 5” risk matrix.

Site tours and desk top assessments were carried out up to a point where 6600 inspection points were identified.

This resulted in a highly integrated and innovative approach to maintenance using in-house testing equipment and mechanical expertise. The company is now turning its attention to plastic tanks and associated equipment.

NEW MEMBER

Neil Smith of the National Skills Academy for the Process Industries (NSAPI) explained how new training standards and course material for process safety management had been developed over recent years.

The units now in place include process safety leadership (chiefly aimed at senior managers and directors) and the broader process safety management foundation, aimed at wider site management. A new standard that focuses on raising process safety awareness of staff at operations level has just been completed and the academy can now offer a full framework of training standards for raising awareness of PSM at all levels within industry.

Rob Vondy Head of Workforce and Leadership at HSE reminded all to reinforce the promotion of workers involvement and consultation in health & safety matters. The benefits of good worker involvement are for everyone in the organisation and businesses should realise that it is a long term investment in time, bringing about changes to attitudes and behaviours.

At Syngenta in Huddersfield lots of steps have been taken in developing a constructive and open partnership in EHS cooperation. After some difficult years a new SHE steering group was setup with the workforce and management agreeing that a partnership approach would be essential in dealing with the newer higher pressures of the business environment. Company safety representatives, Sean McGuin and Kevin Clarke made this very interesting presentation.

Dr Jackie Coates, Health Safety & Environment manager at CIA, outlined an additional leading indicator tool that follows on the success of the 2012 CIA health metric tool which really has drawn the attention of many health industrialists. The simple self check has already been cumulating group data in relation to the key stages of implementation of several sustainable safety systems. Views on this idea were welcomed from the delegates with a view to refining the data already secured from over 40 % of CIA membership so far.

Sponsors of the event

n

Presearch introduce synthesis chemistry products to the market Presearch have recently introduced products for the synthesis chemistry market. We have serviced this market for over 15 years with instruments, consumables, applications and customer support functions. We have now become the number one UK provider in this market sector.

Our new modular flow chemistry, separation, detection and automated solutions offer a new, safer, greener, faster and more selective alternatives compared with other technologies currently available.

Flow Chemistry Batch chemistry reactions can often be dangerous and often banned due to Health & Safety regulations.

With a vast range of standard and customized catalysts, an application database and access to over 15 application chemists, reactions that were difficult or impossible are now commonplace and carried out in a fraction of the time (<20 minutes).

Our expertise is in: n Safer Chemistries of Hazardous

Reactions

Compound Separation, Purification, Collection and Identification The system not only has UV capabilities, but has an evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD) and mass spectrometry options. These detectors will respond to and identify compounds with little or no chromophores. Techniques and application areas include: n Safe Unattended Purification n Quaternary solvent source with

automated switching n Mass Directive Identification n Air purge to leave columns dry for

easy disposal n Automatic end of run shut-down n Small Footprint

Applications n Organic synthesis purification

n New Chemistries

n Agricultural chemicals

n Faster Reactions

n Medicinal chemistry

n Faster Scale up

n Carbohydrates

n Automation

n Peptides and polymers

n Small Footprint

This is all backed with a highly experienced, professional sales and customer support organisation who can supply service and support to our clients in the synthesis chemistry market. We specialise in new and challenging application areas so please contact us either by telephone or e-mail with your requirements. Your synthesis challenges may not be as difficult as you may think.

Applications n Hydrogenation n Reduction n Cyclisation n Carbon â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Carbon Coupling n Deprotection n Deuteration n Ozonolysis n Carbonylation

T: +44 (0)1256 365 492 E: contactus@presearch.co.uk www.presearch.co.uk

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

9

n

JSC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

Regulatory Challenges in the years ahead Companies are facing ever increasing regulatory hurdles which require specialist input to ensure both compliance with the law and development of regulatory competitive advantage. Over the past few years we have seen a number of major revisions to existing legislation within the EU. Some key areas are summarised below: Biocide legislation 01 September 2013 will see the application of the new Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) (Council Regulation (EU) No 528/2012) which will replace the Biocidal Products Directive (BPD).

Changes introduced by the BPR, which will have a significant impact on industry, include the requirement for all suppliers of active substances to be identified on a list that ECHA will publish; this will require companies that are not currently involved in supporting the active substances they are supplying to become actively involved. Treated articles will come into scope and this includes articles that have been intentionally treated with biocidal products. The requirement to obtain product authorisation will continue for biocidal products and this will mean that

bands, feedback on testing proposals as well as issues such as svhcâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, endocrine disruptors and authorisation applications.

many products that were previously only lightly regulated in many countries (such as household disinfectants) will now require detailed product dossiers to be submitted in order for products to remain on the market.

Agrochemical Pesticides As with biocides, the agrochemical legislation has gone through significant changes with the introduction of Council Regulation (EU) No 1107/2009 which replaces Directive 91/414/EEC. The new Regulation has introduced a number of significant changes to how agrochemical pesticides are regulated within the EU with a move away from risk based towards hazard based assessment. Like the BPR the agrochemical legislation includes exclusion/approval and substitution criteria and includes a requirement to consider endocrine disruptor effects.

REACH / CLP

The third and final deadline in 2018 is already causing concern, as it will involve the registration of large numbers of the smallest tonnage chemicals (1-100 tonnes/year), which creates its own challenges prompting ECHA to encourage companies to start work early.

CLP (European Regulation (EC) 1272/2008) the EUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s version of GHS, will have a significant impact on preparations (mixtures) as the 2015 deadline will require suppliers to classify, label and package according to CLP although this deadline may be delayed for products in the supply chain.

Due to the ever increasing quantity and complexity of EU legislation companies are encouraged to seek regulatory support at an early stage to ensure regulatory compliance can be maintained and products can continue to be sold. JSC International Limited can support you in meeting these regulatory challenges and can supply the specialist technical expertise needed.

Following the 2013 REACH (Regulation (EC) 1907/2006) deadline for the submission of dossiers for chemicals that are manufactured or imported in the 100-1000 tonnes/year range, ongoing regulatory support will be required for existing dossiers, changes in tonnage

We provide regulatory support for: 3 Biocides

3 REACH

3 Agrochemicals

JSC International, a leading regulatory affairs company, will help you to obtain regulatory approvals for all your products.

Visit our website to meet the team and access lots of useful and topical regulatory information; the Knowledge Library includes current legislation and guidance documents, as well as articles and presentations produced by the JSC team.

Our team of regulatory experts and technical specialists have a proven track record of guiding our clients to regulatory success.

Our advice is unbiased and ethical and will find the quickest and most economical route through the regulatory maze.

Our reputation is your success JSC International Limited, Simpson House, Windsor Court, Clarence Drive, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 2PE UK

10

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

Tel: +44 (0)1423 520245 Email: enquiries@jsci.co.uk Web: www.jsci.co.uk

We never over promise or under deliver 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.

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

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

Focus on your professional development with IChemE Forthcoming training courses include: Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA)

Fundamentals of Process Safety

18–19 September, Manchester

14–18 October, Grimsby

Engineering Procurement 25 September, Rugby

What Every Engineer Should Know About Contracts

Gas Explosion Hazards on Offshore and Onshore Facilities

New to Management

15–16 October, London

24–25 September, Grimsby 26–27 September, London

17–18 October, London

Practical Distillation Technology

21–23 October, Manchester

Engineering Project Management

7–9 October, London

To register and for a full list of courses taking place in 2013 visit www.icheme.org/courses Email: courses@icheme.org , tel: +44 (0)1788 534431 C0122_13

C0122 Chemicals NW HP AD.indd 1

05/06/2013 14:24

n

MEMBERS SPOTLIGHT

Western Union Business Solutions

Western Union Business Solutions is a global brand in money transfers, with a monopoly on the consumer market. In March 2012 Western Union acquired Travelex Global Business Payments to assist with the SME/ enterprise market space. Taking them firmly to the top as the world’s largest non-bank provider.

This side of the business is known as Western Union Business Solutions and is the part that Toby Jones, (page 5 second from the left), represents within the North West. Western Union is one of the founding members of the New York Stock Exchange, a fortune 500 company and transact to over 200 countries and trade in over 140 different currencies. As a presence locally the work with 510,000

retail outlets from large cities to remote outposts worldwide.

With the size of Western Union comes a great opportunity to help clients to build a strategy to minimize their exposure to the currency markets, whether by providing a central treasury function, a full hedging strategy, a complete automated procure to pay process or a revolutionised vendor management system.

Over the last few years Western Union have developed strong relationships within the Chemical Sector and have built solid foundations with companies such as William Blythe, Harman Technologies, Contract Chemicals & Mexichem Europe.

REMBE®

12

For example a great tactic to help UK companies avoid the impact of the Eurozone crisis is to look to trade in alternative or additional markets.

Increasing exposure to the emerging market success stories such as Brazil & China will help UK SME’s in the medium to long term. The currency markets are extremely unpredictable and it helps to have an expert on hand!

NEW MEMBER

REMBE® has been supplying a global market with pressure and explosion relief products since the early 1970’s and now has business interests and representatives in more than 70 countries. They were the pioneers and inventors of dust explosion ‘Flameless Venting’ and for the past decade REMBE® GmbH have invested heavily in state of the art laser production manufacturing machinery as well as in highly qualified engineering personnel both internally and in the field.

our market is governed by current Health and Safety legislation as well as by other Certification and Standards.

Our aim is to provide the customer with totally dependable unequalled product quality. What sets REMBE® apart from other players, irrespective of the product or application, is the dedication and support we give to the customer from initial contact through to installation. Response time to customer requirements is an important factor to all members of the REMBE® team. Moreover, we appreciate that

In 2009, REMBE® took the decision to establish a UK company. Michael MacClancy REMBE® Ltd Managing Director explains: “The desire to better support our well-developed UK business interests was always a priority for REMBE® senior management and we are very pleased that this is now in place and functioning efficiently and effectively. The reaction from a wide and varied customer base,

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

Toby Jones’s aim is to build a partnership with his clients, to work closely and help to avoid risk as best we can, Western Union offer bespoke solutions & tools used to achieve this.

whether it is from, the Process Industry, Oil and Gas, renewables sector or the Solids and Bulk industry has been very positive and encouraging” Today the REMBE® Alliance group products offer a wide range of innovative explosion protection equipment and solutions, process pressure relief products, highly accurate bulk solids flow control equipment, Load Cells, grounding and sampling equipment as well as Fibre Optic stress and temperature measurement devices.

BAWDEN AND ASSOCIATES

n

Patents: Any Value or Added Value

All companies, large and small, have intellectual property (IP), whether patents, trade marks, designs, copyright or confidential information.

This may take many guises from an extensive patent portfolio to a simple trade name. Effective IP management is critical to maximize opportunity and value and to reduce the risk of infringing competitor IP. However, IP activity and the associated expense without a clear plan which supports the business goals, risks the investment being wasted.

To generate value, patenting must be strategic by protecting and supporting business goals. All too commonly, patents are viewed as a technical discipline. “Patenting the invention” is as far as a “commercial approach” goes.

We see this approach as fundamentally flawed. For example, a highly innovative company with extensive patent holdings driven by only the technical function identifying inventions or patenting only based on technical merit may: n Patent neat ideas but fail to identify

opportunities to protect what supports the business n Generate patents which are

technically sound but which do not protect the business from competition n Patent in the wrong countries n Face spiraling costs without a clear

basis for a commercial return Taking a strategic approach avoids these pitfalls by generating a focused portfolio which underpins the business goals and selling points of the products, by identifying and targeting

and generation of revenue streams for example through licensing and raising funds. Considering fields of use in generating patent rights, understanding the routes to market and the supplier, customer and competitor activities enables the protection afforded to map onto the commercial reality the client faces, irrespective of technical considerations.

opportunities and integrating technical, commercial and legal factors at the right time and cost effectively.

Protection afforded by competitor patents presents a serious threat.

Products may need to be withdrawn, lines of research abandoned, capital investment closed down or modified or licence fees paid to enable continued sale or operation. Early identification of such protection which may impact your business enables active management by commercial resolution, avoidance or modification at an early stage or appropriate legal challenge to patent validity for which timing may be critical.

Avoidance of the elephant trap rather than seeking extrication from it through active surveillance of competitor rights is invariably less costly and disruptive of business activity and, in short, smarter.

Early stage innovative companies often have a tension between investment in IP at a critical time to set solid, cornerstone foundations and other priorities for scarce funds. By developing a clear strategic focus, a patent position based on a key invention may enable early partnerships

Whilst all companies seek to manage IP expenditure, the costs of patenting and timescales to secure rights may be all the more acute for start-up and spin-out companies. Through our senior, in-house experience with ICI, ExxonMobil and Unilever and extensive experience across the life science, medical device chemical and engineering fields, we are able to offer clear financial and budgetary management, maintain cost control and identify appropriate IP priorities whilst delivering a genuinely strategic approach to create value through IP. For more information contact Stephen Geary. Bawden & Associates, Noneley Hall, Noneley, Wem, Shropshire SY4 5SL UK Tel: +44 (0) 1582 466704 Email: StephenG@bawden.co.uk www.bawden.co.uk

Patent Attorneys and Specialists in IP law

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

13

n

MEMBER NEWS

SOG Ltd and The Heath Business and Technical Park Owned and operated by SOG Ltd The Heath provides serviced office and serviced laboratory accommodation for more than 150 individual organisations from a broad spectrum of businesses sectors.

All business sizes can be accommodated at The Heath.

Whether you are a new start business, a business expanding or relocating within the North West or perhaps a global company looking for a UK base, The Heath provides an excellent range of serviced space to choose from.

SOG recognises that in today’s business climate companies need flexibility in terms of space, licence durations and fees. Space at The Heath is therefore offered on flexible licence terms.

SOG also provides specialist scientific support services for laboratory based organisations (both at The Heath and externally) including precision engineering, scientific glass blowing, engineering and laboratory technician support services and health and safety services that include SOG’s highly

14

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

successful ‘Deal With It ®’ behavioural safety training programme which has been successfully implemented within high profile organisations across the globe.

Set in beautiful landscaped gardens with ample free car parking The Heath provides a secure, professional and friendly business environment with 24/7 access. Also available to The Heath based residents and the local community are a range of business support services that include a dedicated conference centre, lecture theatre, events hall, business lounge, restaurant, gym and shops.

With its eyes firmly fixed on the future SOG has embarked on an exciting development phase where state-ofthe-art office and laboratory buildings will be added to The Heath’s property portfolio. This is a unique opportunity to

create bespoke accommodation for companies wishing to expand at The Heath or for new companies wishing to move to The Heath.

Based on its successful transformation of The Heath, SOG has developed the ‘Fusion’ model, its regeneration blueprint that enables companies looking at site closure or downsizing to develop a tailormade solution for successful property recovery/turnaround. For details visit www.fusionregeneration.com Lesley Lunt Tel: 01928-515988 Email: lesley.lunt@sog.ltd.uk www.theheath.com

NEW MEMBER

n

Davies Optical – Eye Tests at Work Davies Optical – Eye Tests at Work is a leading provider of high quality, on-site eye care. We are based in the North West of England and cater for the needs of organisations throughout the UK. With a number of health and safety regulations relating to eye care in existence, we aim to meet the employer’s obligations to ensure a safe and effective working environment. Our friendly and professional approach is central to the business.

We offer a tailored service to directly suit your needs, including for example: n Comprehensive sight tests to assess

the health and function of the eye n A range of examinations specific to

the job role (e.g. visual acuity / field testing) n The dispensing and fitting of

prescription safety eye wear n Visual screening to ensure all drivers

meet DVLA standards n VDU glasses for office use n A variety of spectacles (e.g. budget

and designer) at competitive prices Davies Optical – Eye Tests at Work offers a number of advantages to the employer; including for instance complete control over the cost of eye care for all employees, up to 20 eye tests per day, increased staff productivity due to minimal time away from the

workplace and limited paperwork for your organisation.

For further details go to www.eyetestsatwork.co.uk

When quality matters.

Nozzles Chemical and Pharma Hoses Expansion Joints Dry Disconnect Couplings 2013_Ad_When Quality matters_210x100mm.indd 1

ELAFLEX LTD. · Riverside House, Plumpton Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, EN11 0PA1 Phone +44(0)1992/45 29 50 · sales@elaflex.co.uk · www.elaflex.co.uk

12.06.2013 16:34:45

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

15

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

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 wellTECHNOLOGY as working in many n EXWOLD LTD other market sectors such as plastics, surface coating, flame retardants and crop protection.

Processing Type

Exwold open new Technical Development Centre

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.

Exwold are pleased to announce the opening of the new Technical Development Centre at their Brenda Road site. The unit was opened

by Peter Webb, Head of Technical Support and is designed to house Exwold’s wide ranging development activities.

Often a crucial stage of commercialisation of contract processing & formulation, Exwold offer familiarisation and scale-up capabilities from laboratory scale of 100g to pilot runs of 100kgs, Pilot runs are ideal for: n Field trials of new Crop Protection

formulations n Providing small volumes for initial

customer trials & pack testing. n The pilot facility also provides our

customers with confidence in the commercial scale-up of their processes and provides valuable process learning.

Through partnership, we look to add value to your chemical manufacturing process and by converting your powder intoabout granules team & Iproducts are excited usingwill thisprovide n Training of Operators you with a wide range of attractive benefits, including: purpose built unit.

We understand the n Exwold successfully trial in excess importance of product development • improved flow characteristics of 30 projects per year under the for our customer’s and this will greatly management of Peter Webb, Head • improved yields improve our ability and flexibility in of Technical Support.

• reduced dust explosion delivering our customer’s development • uniform particle the size This new facility will enhances requirements. During development we • controlled particle hardness existing capabilities further and the large work very closely with our clients and I scale technologies we canof replicate • slow release active ingredients such as biocides look forward to showing customers new include: and old around the unit” Support Services n Compaction n BlendingAccredited to ISO9001 and ISO14001, Exwold can support your requirements

from development quantities through to hundreds of tonnes of product. Our n Extrusionrange of support services include quality control testing, pilot plant scale-up, expert technical and project management and an innovative approach to n Pan Granulation problem solving. n Kibbling n Milling

Exwold also carry out implementation and validation of analytical methods and the Technical team have years of experience in Crop Protection and Speciality Chemical development.

Peter Webb, Head of Technical Support said “The facility looks great and my

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

F: +44 (0) 1429 232996

E: enquiries@exwold.com

Improve your understanding of chemical engineering Chemical Engineering for Scientists 7–11 October 2013, Shipley, West Yorkshire, UK Introduces chemists and other scientists working in the process industries to the basic concepts of chemical engineering, aiming to foster improved understanding, technical collaboration and effective communication. The course provides an essential overview of the chemical engineering practice needed to solve the design, safety and operational needs of modern industrial chemical plant and ancillaries.

www.icheme.org/chemsci

Chemical Engineering for Other Engineers 12–14 November 2013, Shipley, West Yorkshire, UK Aims to provide engineers working in the chemical and process industries with an introduction to the main subjects involved with chemical engineering. It will broaden the technology base of participants to enable improved communication with chemical engineers.

www.icheme.org/chemeng Visit www.icheme.org/courses for the full IChemE courses programme.

Email: courses@icheme.org Tel: +44 (0)1788 534431

ADVANCING CHEMICAL ENGINEERING WORLDWIDE

www.e

n

THE BIG INTERVIEW

Celebrating the importance of Apprenticeships To secure a long term future for the UK chemicals industry, we need to invest in skills and development.

Mexichem Fluor is committed to investing in the next generation of engineers. To this end, in August 2012, the company was delighted to take on three new apprentices via training provider TTE for a period of around three and a half years.

Over 500 people applied for the Advanced Level Apprenticeship in Process Technology which will result in a BTEC National Diploma Qualification in Operations and

Biography My name is Sam Singleton, I’m 17 years old and I live on the Wirral. I attend TTE (Training Tomorrow’s Engineers) which is based in Ellesmere Port and trains people to work in the petroleum and chemical sectors within the North West.

I am training to be a process engineer at Mexichem Fluor’s Runcorn site. In my spare time, I like computing and gaming.

Why did I go down the apprentice route?

After completing a week of ‘A’ level induction at my schools’ sixth form, I decided that ‘A’ levels weren’t for me.

The lack of jobs for university leavers was also a worry, as was the fact that I would be riddled with student debt after graduating.

I decided to look at other options, and my cousin who also went to TTE, recommended that I had a look around.

I went to an open evening and loved it. I applied, passed the test, got an interview and was accepted on the course.

What attracted me to the chemical industry and Mexichem Fluor?

The pay and the availability of jobs in the chemical industry attracted me to the sector. I was asked to have Mexichem Fluor as my sponsor company. I couldn’t believe a company like Mexichem would sponsor me and pay for my training as it costs up to £70,000, I was

18

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

Maintenance Engineering.Ben Johnson and Sam Singleton are working in Process Operations towards an NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Processing Industries Operations.

Oliver Morgan is working in Power and Control and working towards an NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Process Engineering Maintenance.

Here, Sam Singleton talks about why he chose an apprenticeship and Mexichem Fluor.

very pleased to accept their offer especially given the reputation of the company and its global reach.

Best/Worst Bits: The best part of the apprenticeship is the way the Training officers talk to you like you are an adult, not a student. Getting paid also gives me much more freedom, for example, I’m learning to drive and can also buy new things like clothes and shoes.

There is a lot to fit into the course, and some of the BTEC subjects like maths are difficult, as you need to tackle a problem within a relatively short timeframe. This is a challenge but one that I’m rising to.

What have I learnt about the chemical industry?

One of the major things that I have learnt is that the chemicals industry is very safe and, you are far more likely to crash your car than for a major accident to happen on site.

I’ve also realised how much paper work there is, which helps to minimise the risk of something going wrong, and that there are a lot of rules and regulations to follow on site.

A typical day 7:30 – Get up, get showered, have breakfast, and leave for work 8:15 – Clock-in 8:35 – Go to carousel. Carousels last

3 weeks and there are 5 different carousels, which we do 3 times each.

The 5 carousels are Mechanical, Fabrication, Electrical, Instrumentation, and Process.

10:00-10.20 – Break 10:20 – Back to carousel 12:00-12.35 – Lunch

THE BIG INTERVIEW

12:35 – Carousel

4:35 – Clock out and go home

2:00-2.20 – Break

Where do I hope to be in 10 years?

2:20 – Carousel

In 10 years’ time, I would like to have completed a degree and worked abroad. I would also be interested in moving in to the business side of Mexichem Fluor, for example working in HR.

4:00 – Clean-up duties (there is a rota and all trainee groups have to do cleanup. It switches from phase 1 to phase 2 from week to week, so for example, we may have to clean the canteen whilst another group brushes the corridors)

n

From left to right: Oliver Morgan, Ben Johnson, Steve Currie and Sam Singleton

www.tte.co.uk

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

19

n

SKILLS

CSS seeking a brighter future for solar

From left Dr Carl Turner, Dr Karine Ellis, Dr Anthony Lawrence

Manchester company lands major grant for international renewable energy project Manchester based Colour Synthesis Solutions (CSS) has announced it has secured a major grant as part of an international renewable energy collaboration.

Over the next three years, CSS will receive £600,000 through the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) to fund advanced solar cell research and development (Project COBRA).

Working alongside Merck (Germany) and Israeli company 3G Solar, CSS will focus on developing novel sensitizer dyes required for Dye Sensitized Cells (DSC), a high efficiency, lower-cost alternative to the traditional Thin Film and Crystalline Silicon cells.

If successful, DSC technology could allow for more efficient energy generation – making solar energy more realistic and cost effective in lower light intensity areas such as the higher and lower hemispheres or even indoor applications.

Business Manager Carl Turner explains: “Although Colour Synthesis Solutions already has a track record of working with

some of the world’s biggest chemical companies, COBRA marks a very exciting new move into renewable energy for CSS. The global solar market is worth an estimated £100 Billion – with DSC cells having the potential to be a real game changer.”

The project marks a major milestone for CSS – which started trading only six years ago as a two man spin-out from the University of Manchester. The company recently increased its numbers to 9 chemists with the addition of Dr Karine Ellis, a specialist in the design and synthesis of molecules with optoelectronic properties, who joined CSS’s COBRA team.

As well as COBRA, CSS works with some of the world’s leading chemical manufacturers – including Merck, Henkel, P&G and Unilever.

For more information please contact Dr Carl Turner at CSS on 0161 7211424 or at c.turner@cssolutions.org.uk

The Story of Karine Ellis Having relocated to the North-west with my family in 2012, I found that I had no clear idea of the opportunities open to chemists in the area. Having searched the internet for potential employers, I found I had a long list of companies with no concise description of their activities. Chemicals North-west simplified this process immensely by not only providing a list of good chemical companies in the area, but also a clear and concise summary of their interests and specialisms. A list of all the organisations members

20

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

is available in the directory and having found several companies specialising in organic synthesis I applied to Colour Synthesis Solutions (CSS), who were beginning the process of recruitment for the COBRA project. Having completed the interview at CSS I was offered the position and started work in March 2013. Chemicals North-West really helped both myself and CSS in providing the necessary information to find employment.

SKILLS

n

Spotlight on Saudi Arabia In March Chemicals Northwest welcomed speakers from KPMG and UKTI to give their views on “The Middle East - Challenges and Opportunities for the UK Chemical Industry”.

Delegate curiosity mainly focused on opportunities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). KPMG commented that, whilst overall Saudi competitiveness was good, the government may be overoptimistic in its timescale projections to diversify the economy away from oil and gas and employ an expanding population.

From a chemical perspective, the need to create employment for the local population, a process called “Saudiisation”, will see KSA diversify into higher added-value speciality chemicals and other downstream industries. One of the many infrastructure investments is US$20bn for the Sadara petrochemical complex in Jubail Industrial City.

Julian Birchett, from UKTI Northwest’s Strategic Alliance Service discussed how companies could tap into relevant business opportunities and Steve Cowles from UK Export Finance then identified what export finance support facilities were in place.

A follow-on visit to Saudi Arabia in April

by Julian has resulted in a UKTI Northwest initiative which chemicals companies may find useful.

“Saudi Aramco has been given the lead responsibility by the Saudi Government for industrial development”, states Julian. “The agenda is firmly focused on privatisation, diversification, import substitution and Saudi-isation.

The first phase of the new SATORP ethylene/naptha refinery in Jubail will come on stream in 2015. Sadara, a Saudi Aramco/Dow Chemical Company joint venture, will come on stream at the same time. SATORP feedstocks will supply Sadara, which in turn will supply PlasChem Park, the adjoining site under construction in Jubail. PlasChem Park is scheduled for completion in 2015 and will have two sites, one to process intermediates, the other to formulate/ convert chemicals to serve domestic and export markets. Aramco are already providing practical assistance and financial support to encourage Saudi small and medium-sized companies to participate in the project”.

UK chemical companies looking to grow their overseas presence and who serve a broad industrial spectrum including construction, automotive, personal care and, of course, energy products

may wish to discuss now how UKTI North West’s Saudi Arabia initiative could add value to their growth strategy.

A UKTI organised delegation to Eastern Province (Al Khobar) will take place from 15 - 21 November 2013 focusing on energy, speciality chemicals, advanced engineering and companies supplying associated services. UKTI North West are looking to start discussions with interested companies now to ascertain company objectives, impart information about the business and finance scene and help develop partnerships with Saudi companies ready for Sadara/ PlasChem Park when it comes on stream. A plan of action will also be developed to maximise your time in the region during the visit and support ongoing sustainable business relationships.

For further information on UKTI Northwest’s Sadara/PlasChem Park initiative and the outward mission in November please contact Tricia Francis on 07966 560644 or tricia.francis@ uktinorthwest.co.uk

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

21

n

HEALTH & SAFETY

Improvements to the COMAH regime announced An update from the COMAH Competent Authority on their response to the Better Regulation Executive Report - Focus on Enforcement: Chemicals (COMAH) Review The Competent Authority’s response programme to the BRE report is about improving our interface with industry, integrating environmental and health and safety regulatory interventions, making it clearer to businesses on what is involved in operating a COMAH site, what it costs, and how to question our activities and our charges. The Competent Authority (CA) aims to establish a Strategic Forum to enable the chemicals sector and the CA to take a longer-term view on the priorities in managing major hazard risks and to provide an opportunity for ongoing dialogue between industry and the CA. Background The Government’s Better Regulation Executive (BRE) published the report of their review of the COMAH regime in the chemical manufacturing and warehousing sector in February along with the CA’s response. Both are available at: http://discuss.bis.gov.uk/ focusonenforcement/review-findings/ As part of its ‘Focus on Enforcement’ programme, the BRE review sought industry’s experiences of how the COMAH regime operated and their interactions with HSE and the Environment Agency in England and Wales. It aimed to identify and remove unnecessary burdens on business, while ensuring that health, safety and environmental protection provided by the regulations and the regime continues.

Reflecting positively on previous improvements made under the CA’s COMAH Remodelling programme in 2010, the review underscores the importance of effective and active regulation in this sector but emphasises that further improvement is needed so that the regulation of sites is not perceived as a disincentive to further investment and thereby a limit on growth.

22

industry representatives to finalise the detail of the changes that will shape the future of the COMAH regime. The improvements that we are now working on are: n Providing a more joined up

Competent Authority by integrating the inspection planning of both COMAH and Environmental Permitting Regulations and appointing Intervention Managers for all COMAH sites, which together, will enable us to remove unnecessary duplication and overlap between the EPR and COMAH regimes n Explaining and clarifying cost

recovery and appeals mechanisms for COMAH Operators n How the CA can ease the transition

for new sites into the COMAH regime n Discussing with industry how duty

holder performance should influence regulatory activity, exploring the role of earned recognition and third party verification, and n Reviewing, and where appropriate,

streamlining Safety Report assessment.

What you will see soon In the coming weeks you will begin to see the following outputs from our work: n COMAH Strategic Forum

July 2013, we will establish a new forum to provide the CA and chemical industry with a means for strategic discussion on the leadership and management of major hazard risks. The aims of the forum will include, identifying and agreeing:

Competent Authority’s Response

• expectations of industry’s future performance and how they can be achieved, and

The findings of the review and the CA’s proposals were endorsed at Ministerial level and since February the CA has been working closely with chemical

• joint strategic programmes and other areas for cross-industry and CA co-operation for delivering the required major hazard outcomes,

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

and for measuring and demonstrating progress and success to the public and other stakeholders. n Improving the Transparency Around

the Cost Recovery Schemes

August 2013, we will publish a free downloadable PDF that explains how we regulate the UK major hazards regime, including performance standards and an overview of how costs are recovered under the COMAH and EPR Regulations. n Understanding the COMAH Regime

– A Guide for New Entrants

September 2013, in the first part of our response to concerns that entry into COMAH can be perceived as a limit on growth, we will provide clarity on expectations for both the Regulator and the new entrant into COMAH. The freely downloadable PDF will also set out the likely range of costs they would face based on figures from existing COMAH sites.

A final word from Gordon MacDonald (Chair of the CA Strategic Management Group) “This update provides a snapshot of the work being done by all those who are involved in our response to the BRE review and the pace of our efforts continues to pick up as we work with representatives from the chemical industry to develop and implement the necessary reforms against a challenging timetable.”

“A key component of our response to the BRE Review is that we communicate regularly with all stakeholders working within the COMAH regime and in the coming months, there will be further briefings to keep you in touch with progress.”

For more information visit www.hse.gov.uk/comah

SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

Continuous Improvement in Process Safety Reaps Benefits for Business Loss of containment is the single largest business risk for companies operating within the high hazard industries. In the current climate, increased reliance on ageing plant and an ageing workforce means we need to be ever more vigilant in our quest to control risk. De-layering and downsizing of departments, company reorganisations, acquisitions, divestitures and expecting staff to perform multiple roles all raise risk potential if the understanding and execution of effective process safety is not fully understood across the entire organisation.

Senior management and board directors are ultimately responsible for plant safety. Moreover they are required, under COMAH, to demonstrate organisational competence in Process Safety Management. However, when HFL Risk Services undertook the UK chemical industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first ever PSM benchmarking study (supported by the CIA, HSE and NSAPI) it transpired that there was a lack of detail in high level policies.

Essentially, company directors were overly reliant on frontline staff and technicians to keep safety risks in check.

A working knowledge of how hazards and risks are identified, assessed and managed brings added business benefits to those holding the purse strings. Resources can be directed only to those areas of the business where they are most needed to achieve key business objectives. Kneejerk compliance is avoided and risk is kept as low as reasonably practicable.

Bespoke qualifications that meet industry needs To address the need for board level understanding and competence in process safety, experts at HFL Risk Services have developed three Post Graduate qualifications in the understanding and leadership of continuous improvement in process safety. The qualifications are awarded by PAA\VQ-SET and regulated by Ofqual and have been designed in response to industry research. Training is provided through a series of interactive presentations, workshops and directed learning relevant to your industry. Workshops and training courses can be delivered in-house or as part of an open learning arrangement. The modular composition of the courses gives flexibility and allows delegates to study at a time and pace convenient to their working hours.

Level 7 Post Graduate Certificate in Understanding Continuous Improvement in Process Safety This qualification provides a wider understanding of process safety for board and senior management and those people undertaking process safety roles. Current theories and methodologies are examined together with their short and longer term implications for process safety. Wherever possible the training is tailored to meet the needs of your particular organisation, with focused learning for individuals.

Level 7 Post Graduate Certificate in Leading Continuous Improvement in Process Safety A follow-up qualification to the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Understandingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; certificate, this builds upon the theory, skills and practicalities required to become an effective process safety leader by focusing on the demonstration, implementation and sustainability of process safety best practice.

The successful completion of both Post Graduate Certificates not only qualify you to effectively implement, deploy and review policies and procedures which foster a culture of continuous improvement in relation to process safety; the credits attained are also sufficient to be awarded the Post Graduate Diploma in Continuous Improvement in Process Safety.

Expert training from the PSM experts HFL Risk Services are an NSAPI Centre of Excellence for Process Safety Leadership and have provided advice to the CIA and Cogent on training standards for PSM. Our team of professionals has been providing expert solutions to the high hazard industries for more than a quarter of a century and we have every aspect covered: chemists, chemical and process engineers; mechanical, electrical and C&I engineers; human factors specialists and business improvement practitioners. We are experienced in working with the Regulator and key stakeholders and have hands-on experience of the challenges facing the process industries.

For detailed information about the new courses, please call 0161 304 5902 or visit www.hflrisk.com

n

CHEMADVOCACY S.A.

H&S implications of REACH Authorization Health & Safety (H&S) at work has long been a concern, not only to employees who happen to wonder if their health is protected within their work environment, but also for employers, with responsibilities ranging from advanced social responsibility practices to an increasing number of litigation cases.

In other terms, H&S has become an area of convergence and agreement between both the workforce and industry.

H&S issues may be mostly of interest to industry and other professional organizations, but they occasionally surface in the general press whenever dramatic events such as the Rana Plazza disaster in Bangladesh occur.

The structural integrity of an industrial building is seldom an issue in Europe but more insidious, and less prone to making major headlines in the press, are occupational diseases that can surface decades after the exposure occurred.

This can be the case for occupational exposure to chemical substances classified as CMR (Carcinogens, Mutagens or toxic for Reproduction).

CMR substances are, together with substances that are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT or vPvB, including endocrine disruptors), considered to be Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). The European Regulation No. 1907/2006, (REACH) aims to identify and target these substances to ensure they can be used safely

24

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

before they are substituted; it also aims to foster active R&D programs towards substitution.

Once defined as a SVHC, the last stage of the priority-setting program conducted by the European CHemical Agency (ECHA) will be a listing in Annex XIV of REACH and a phase-out date specified, the so-called sunset date. By the sunset date the substance should no longer be manufactured or supplied in the EU. However, some substances listed in Annex XIV are invaluable to both industry and society and cannot easily be replaced.

Many of these hazardous compounds are associated with a poor occupational health track-record, for example hexavalent chromium. But a potential ban from the market place would create a huge gap in the array of surfacetreatment and anti-corrosion technologies available to the aerospace, automotive and machine-building industries. Decades of intense R&D activity have failed to identify substitutes, so implementing a replacement solution, whenever available, remains a mammoth task.

Under REACH, the only option open to industry is to apply for an Authorization for a number of specific uses. Such a task is forbidding because there are many question marks attached to what is generally recognized as a new and untried procedure. There is no clear rationale on defining a sunset date, nor any guarantee of on-going product availability or safe operational practices.

Authorizations under REACH should present an opportunity for ECHA to promote best practice in the Best Available Technologies (BAT), to ensure for some time the continued safe supply and use of SVHCs. This approach would ensure that the EU-internal market would be controlled and would guarantee that only operations complying with strict regulation could continue using the substance.

An unexpected outcome of REACH authorization may be that industry chooses to circumvent EU regulations by â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;re-locatingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hazardous operations and REACH may be blamed for the loss of jobs within the EU. Conversely, the retention of operations in the EU, whilst adding a small margin to industry costs, should result in reduced potential exposures in non-EU countries and avoid adverse publicity provoked by NGOs complaining of the unethical duality of application by industry of H&S standards.

The spotlight will be on industry to see how it manages this dilemma.

Michel GUILHEM is currently a director of ChemAdvocacy S.A., The Authorization Company.

Previously he held EHS management positions in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and as a senior professional in world-class environmental consultancies.

HUMAN RELIABILITY

n

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 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.

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.

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

Certificate of quality (Load port).

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

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).

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.

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

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

25

n

ITAL LOGISTICS

Ital Logistics launches HAZculator® 2013 Award winning Manchester based freight forwarder, Ital Logistics limited, has specialised in the movement of dangerous goods for the last decade.

In fact, over 25% of the export cargo they move to their core market is hazardous.

The company operates driver accompanied Groupage services to and from Italy, Spain, Portugal & Greece, as well as other European countries on a forwarding basis, and more recently expanding into Maritime and Air. But what is the HAZculator®?

The outside world won’t get to see it due to copyright of the bought in data, but essentially it is an Excel based program which their Managing Director, Phil Denton, has developed making use of IMDG & ADR regulations, and shortly it is his intention to introduce IATA regulations into the program. It also considers Eurotunnel regulations, stowage regulations under IMDG, separation requirements (such as foodstuffs), as well as many other necessary factors relating to their core markets and how they go about managing their operation. It also produces the Transport document as required.

“By combining all of the necessary data for each mode in one screen, this program has become invaluable to our trailer planners when assigning shipments of different hazardous goods

26

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

to the same trailer.” says Phil Denton.

“We can search by UN number and Proper Shipping name, and the quantity of information displayed after selection is extensive. Now my team can do what they do best without wading into the depths of the IMDG and ADR books every time a booking is received.”

“The development of this program has been a long one. For the last 3 years we have had a good working tool, but the program was cumbersome.

Now, spurred on with the mandatory application of ADR 2013 in effect from 1st July 2013, and a hundred or so

man hours later (mine I should add!), the program is slick and extremely informative to my team.”

The time spent on this project enforces Ital Logistics’ determination to excel in the carriage of dangerous goods.

Compliance is extremely important to Mr Denton who repeatedly recites: “Dangerous Goods are what they say they are – Dangerous!”

For further information about their services, visit www.ital-logistics.com or contact them on 0845 676 9090.

QUESTION & ANSWER

n

What was your favourite toy as a child? A doll called Shona. I put her in the bath to wash her hair once, as a result her eyes stuck open and her hair went like straw. She ended up looking like chucky!

Favourite Movie? Dirty Dancing Favourite Actor/Actress (for which performances)?

Patrick Swayze (hence above question) and Channing Tatum Favourite Song or Artist? Never Forget by Take That Favourite sports team/sports star?

Wigan Warriors rugby team. I am also proud of Wigan Athletic and their recent FA Cup win!

Which is the one event that has had the biggest impact on you and your life? Going to University Favourite holiday destination/resort? Australia Best golf course you’ve ever played? Does crazy golf count??

If you could meet one person in history, who would it be and why? Marie Curie – She was a fascinating lady who achieved so much and her name still lives on today.

If you won 100million on the euro millions, which car would you buy? Range Rover Evoque

Alex Heys Member Services & Event Manager, Chemicals Northwest

Favorite chemical element and why? Potassium. I enjoyed the explosive experiments we did at school using it, plus it has uses in daily life.

What is the first thing you do when you wake up every morning? Check my clock to see that it really is getting up time.

If you could spend an evening with a celebrity who would it be? Why? Peter Kay. I would like to see if he is funny all the time!

Which one country would you want relocate to if you had the opportunity?

Australia

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why? I would like to be able to fly or influence the weather – sunshine anyone!

If you could go back and change something about your school days what would it be? I would have invented a permanent excuse to get me out of cross country running.

Have you ever been fired from a job? No – I’m hoping my p45 isn’t on the way after this interview though!

If you could be a cartoon character who would it be?

Why? Mighty Mouse – so I could fly What did you most get into trouble for when you were younger? Eating too many sweets – to this day I am sure I keep haribo in profit.

What is your most embarrassing moment? Too many to mention!

When I was a child what did I want to be when I was older? I wanted to be a Princess when I was very young; this then progressed to wanting to race lorries…

Town you grew up in? Wigan Best memory as a child? Throwing my dummy away so we could get a puppy…bribery works every time!

Favorite colour and why? Turquoise blue because it reminds me of a tropical warm sea and is a happy colour What is you favorite flavor of ice cream? Strawberry What is your favorite meal? Thai green curry

What’s the best thing you’ve ever won (event/prize/competition)? I won a Vanilla Ice CD once…I was probably the only entrant from the competition though…

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

27

n

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Exwold open new Technical Development Centre Exwold are pleased to announce the opening of the new Technical Development Centre at their Brenda Road site. The unit was opened

by Peter Webb, Head of Technical Support and is designed to house Exwold’s wide ranging development activities.

Often a crucial stage of commercialisation of contract processing & formulation, Exwold offer familiarisation and scale-up capabilities from laboratory scale of 100g to pilot runs of 100kgs, Pilot runs are ideal for: n Field trials of new Crop Protection

formulations n Application testing of performance

product and providing small volumes for initial customer trials & pack testing. n The pilot facility also provides our

customers with confidence in the commercial scale-up of their processes and provides valuable process learning. n Training of Operators

Exwold successfully trial in excess of 30 projects per year under the management of Peter Webb, Head of Technical Support.

Peter Webb and the team at Exwold

This new facility will enhances the existing capabilities further and the large scale technologies we can replicate include: n Compaction n Blending n Milling n Extrusion n Pan Granulation n Kibbling

Exwold also carry out implementation and validation of analytical methods and the Technical team have years

of experience in Crop Protection and Speciality Chemical development.

Peter Webb, Head of Technical Support said: “The facility looks great and my team and I are excited about using this purpose built unit. We understand the importance of product development for our customer’s and this will greatly improve our ability and flexibility in delivering our customer’s development requirements. During development we work very closely with our clients and I look forward to showing customers new and old around the unit.”

K Home International supports SNF UK in creating World Class Emulsion Polymer Plant K Home International (KHI), multi discipline consultant engineers are pleased to announce the award of a significant contract by SNF Oil and Gas Limited. The Simon Warrington contract is to provide civil engineering design services for a Brownfield industrial development to be built in Billingham.

SNF Oil and Gas Limited are part of

28

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

the French based SNF Group which is the world’s largest producer of watersoluble polymers used in the pulp & paper, water treatment and oil and gas industries. The group operates 20 production sites throughout the world employing some 3,450 employees.

Commenting on the award, Simon Tearle, SNF UK Group Managing Director, said “The project represents a significant expansion to SNF’s production capability in Europe. The site will be one of the largest SNF emulsion production facilities and we are excited to be bringing employment and growth to the Teesside area. We have been working with K Home International in developing the concept for this plant and are pleased to be continuing our relationship with them.”

The plant is expected to employ up to 250 people once the plant reaches full production.

Michael Ketley, Process Industries Business Manager, who is delighted with the contract award stated “We have worked with SNF over a number of months and during this period we have formed a close collaborative relationship. This understanding will be key in the success of this phase of work.

K Home International is proud to be working on such a significant project in the Teesside area.”

For further information and images please contact Simon Warrington on telephone number: +44(0)1642 765421 or email simon.warrington@khomeint.com

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

n

Hertel fabrication success creates new jobs A £4 million investment by Hertel, the Preston Brook-based multi-disciplinary construction and maintenance services company, in a new fabrication workshop in Ellesmere Port has created 20 new jobs and 11 apprentice roles since it opened 12 months ago.

On a visit to the 44,000 sq ft workshop, local MP Andrew Miller welcomed its success: “Hertel is one of the vitally important and successful companies in the local supply chain providing support services to local petro-chemical sites such as Stanlow”.

“They play an invaluable role in creating jobs in the area and it is particularly pleasing to see the opportunities for apprenticeships in these vital skills for the area.”

John Salkeld, Hertel Regional Director, says: “We now have a purpose-built facility with room to expand. Having outgrown our previous workshop we sought out the right location to meet our needs as well as that of our clients.

“Pipelines and specialist fabrications are made at the workshop for refineries and chemical plants in the region and as far afield as Scotland, the South Coast and Teesside.

Hertel has also marked 27 years of working at Mexichem Fluor’s Rocksavage site with a contract extension to provide its range of maintenance services including scaffolding, insulation, asbestos removal, mechanical and civils.

Alan Gosling, Hertel Regional Director, says: “We are delighted to extend our relationship with Mexichem and particularly as this was one of the first contracts undertaken by Hertel when the company was established in the UK.” Finally, Hertel’s safety record has helped LyondellBasel in Carrington achieve more than three years and a million man hours without a recordable incident. The company has worked at the site for more than 18 years and is responsible for insulation, scaffolding, painting, civil and building maintenance.

For further information please contact Mark Perry 01606 339267/07976 594603 or email: Mark.Perry@melvillepr.com

John Selkeld with Andrew Miller MP

Seven planned changes to ISO 14001 you should know about ISO 14001:2004, the internationally accepted standard for the development, implementation and application of an effective environmental management system, is being revised. The standard is due to be re-published as ISO 14001:2015 in January 2015.

The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) working group responsible for revising the text met in early February and has produced a “Committee Draft” which is being circulated for comment to its member bodies. This is a fundamental revision of the standard, with far greater implications for organisations than the previous revision in 2004.

CRA’s Nigel Leehane is one of the UK’s technical experts appointed to the ISO working group revising 14001, and he has identified seven major changes that are planned for the standard. CRA has created an e-book, which explains these changes in detail, and aims to help you appreciate the key themes of the revision, and what auditors may expect from you once ISO14001:2015 is released. The e-book is available for free download from CRA’s website (www.cra.co.uk), and readers will be able to use it as a resource at their own leisure For further information, please contact Nigel Leehane on nleehane@cra.co.uk or 0115 965 6700.

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

29

n

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Redx Pharma opens £10.5 million R&D centre at Alderley Park Liverpool-based drug discovery and development company Redx Pharma is to open a new research and development facility at AstraZeneca’s Alderley Park site in Cheshire. and original approach of Redx Anti-Infectives will help create effective solutions to these critical problems. Redx is a discovery engine for global pharma and it is innovative and agile companies like ours that can help the industry adapt to a new model of research and development where there is more willingness to outsource some of the challenges involved in creating new proprietary medicines. At Redx, our methods have already uncovered commercial potential that might otherwise have been missed and our approach helps partners to bring new medicines to market faster.”

The new venture, Redx Anti-Infectives Ltd, will create 119 high value science jobs at the site, establishing a new team to develop drugs combatting resistance to antibiotics and new medicines to tackle viral infections.

Redx Anti-Infectives begins operations at the end of April 2013 supported by a grant of £4.7 million from the UK Government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF).

Dr Neil Murray, chief executive of Redx Pharma, commented: “The World Health Organisation has identified drug resistance, particularly in the area of antibiotics, as one of the most pressing human health concerns globally. The fresh thinking

“Whilst our headquarters remain in Liverpool and we have ambitious plans to grow our business and create high value science posts in the city, at the same time we recognise that the facilities at Alderley Park are world class and enable us to move quickly in expanding this key new part of our business. We will be working closely with our colleagues at AstraZeneca, who made a compelling commercial case to attract us to Alderley Park. We look forward to a long and fruitful collaboration.”

Clive Morris, AstraZeneca Vice President, Research & Development said: “We are delighted to welcome Redx to Alderley Park, which is an important first step in our ambition to secure a sustainable future for the site. We will continue to seek further opportunities to attract other innovation-driven companies and, wherever possible, build on the existing bioscience expertise and world class facilities available at Alderley Park.”

Warrant Group partner with Leschanco Group Warrant Group has broadened its chemical supply chain services as part of a new partnership with German operator Leschaco Group.

The Port of Liverpool-based supply chain specialist has taken over the operational and commercial operations of Leschaco’s deepsea ISO tank container business in the UK with effect from the beginning of March.

Warrant Group is widely known for its expertise in the packed cargo chemical sector and the new partnership enables it to build a strong presence in the liquid chemical sector.

The two companies are both members of Eurteam, an alliance of European supply chain specialists providing services solely to the chemical sector.

30

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

Under the partnership, not only will Warrant Group handle all the operational import and export requirements of Leschaco’s customers into the UK but it will also actively promote their joint capabilities to the UK’s liquid chemical sector.

Jarrad Bycroft, export director at Warrant Group, commented: “We are delighted to announce our new partnership with the Leschaco Group which offers both businesses the opportunity to grow market share in the liquid chemical supply chain sector of the UK. “For Warrant Group it’s a clear extension of our specialist chemical sector expertise and we will be talking widely with existing clients and potential new clients about the benefits of using our operations, expertise and in-depth knowledge.

Warrant Group is widely known for its innovative logistics which we believe will make us a very attractive proposition as we seek to broaden our services.”

Holger Warnecke, director of the Leschaco Group, added: “We are convinced that with Warrant Group we have found a partner with which we can further develop our ISO tank container business to and from the UK. Both companies have worked together successfully for many years in the freight forwarding sector, and this provides a firm footing for future growth within the UK ISO tank container market.”

INNOVATIONS

n

Chemistry + IP In the second of this series of articles, Dr Chris Moore will discuss some of the largest patent court cases to have been decided this year in the chemistry space and provide some thoughts as to the future.

The first months of this year have seen some important patent cases come before the UK courts. As is usual, the battle ground pits big pharma patent holders against generics manufacturers seeking to clear a path before patent expiry.

Firstly, Glenmark Generics (represented

by HGF Law) successfully revoked Wellcome’s patent for anti-malarial drug Malarone. Permission to appeal has been rejected by the trial judge but Wellcome may yet have another day in Court.

Secondly, Hospira AG successfully revoked Novartis AG’s patent for Zelondrate, useful in the treatment of osteoporosis. This decision has generated some discussion amongst patent professionals because it may impact how first and subsequent applications are drafted (for claiming priority). Given the amount of lost sales that this decision might bring about, it would not surprise if Novartis appeal in due course.

Thirdly, AstraZeneca AB lost their appeal against an earlier ruling that their patent covering their Seroquel XL product is invalid. The case was won by German company Hexal AG, together with other generics manufacturers, and so patients can expect to see a reduction in the price for sustained-release quetiapine medicines.

The last of these cases is notable because it highlights how the courts in different EU states can arrive at divergent decisions. In parallel proceedings, the Dutch court has found the corresponding patent valid whereas the German Federal Court has arrived at the same conclusion as their British counterparts.

Divergent rulings such as these are likely to make large companies think twice about using the recently announced Unified Patents Court (UPC). Under the UPC scheme a patent will live or die as a sole entity, meaning litigation is risky for patent holders in a winner-takes-all final showdown! As has been seen with the Seroquel XL cases, courts in different countries can arrive at contradictory decisions. For patent holders this means that not all will be lost if one of a family of patents is revoked and for proposed entrants it is more expensive to clear the path throughout the whole of Europe.

In the circumstances, it may well be that larger companies opt out of the unified patent system and/or alter their patent filing strategies to move to national rather than European patent filings for key IP assets. Accordingly, I expect that patent filings at the UKIPO will increase over the next few years because of the uncertainty of the UPC system and because of the benefits of the UK Government’ recently-introduced Patent Box scheme (see www.hgf.com for further details).

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 2013

Dr. Chris Moore (cmoore@hgf.com) is a partner with Harrison Goddard Foote LLP

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

31

n

members charity events

Phillip’s Marathon Des Sables 2013

Phillip Tunney, Partner and Head of the Chemical Sector Group at Eversheds solicitors decided that 3 Ironman triathlons in the last 4 years simply wasn’t tough enough so this year he entered and completed the Marathon Des Sables which took place over a six day period in April this year.

The Marathon Des Sables (Marathon of the Sands) is one of the most gruelling sporting events in the world - a six day, 230km ultramarathon across the Sahara Desert in Southern Morocco in temperatures of up to 130 degrees Farenheit. Described by some as the toughest footrace on earth.

The distance covered is equivalent to five and a half marathons, but is run in several stages. This years stages were in the following distances: 37km, 30km, 38km, 75km, 42km and a final charity stage of 8km.

Competitors had to carry all their equipment including all food on their backs so that most competitors carry a rucksack between 7 and 10kgs plus water. The only thing provided by the organisers during the race is water and the overnight tent.

Phillip did this in aid of Crohns and Colitis UK - Phillip’s wife has suffered from Crohn’s disease for over 20 years. This is a chronic condition causing acute bowel inflammation, pain and discomfort.

Symptoms tend to flare up from time to time and Veronica spent 2 months in hospital as a result in 2012.

Through Virgin Money Giving, you can sponsor me and donations will be quickly processed and passed to Crohns and Colitis UK and used to fund research into Crohn’s and its treatment and support for sufferers . Virgin Money Giving is not a profit organisation and will claim gift aid

on a charity’s behalf where the donor is eligible. uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiserweb/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage. action?userUrl=PhillipTunneyMarathon DesSables&faId=276848&isTeam=false

Wear a Hat Day 2013!

RNLI volunteer raises funds Bryan Hughes, left, is a Director of CRA Europe, an environmental, health and safety consultancy with offices in Nottingham and Liverpool.

In addition to 12 years of working in environmental consultancy, Bryan worked for over 25 years in the pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and aerospace & defence industries. As part of his consultancy career, Bryan directed the successful completion of the environmental permit applications for the Energy Centres servicing the London Olympic Games.

32

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

Throughout his career, Bryan has been able to include an active interest with supporting and volunteering for the RNLI; despite not living close enough to a station to allow participation as a volunteer crew member. Bryan’s interest in the RNLI developed from junior school in Anglesey and he joined the charity on leaving University. In the mid-1980s he became a governor of the RNLI and took his volunteering role into the areas of fundraising and more recently as a presenter. His work includes helping the RNLI Heritage Trust with their work to preserve key historical artefacts and supporting his local childhood station on Anglesey.

On 28th March, LINK staff based in the Derby office helped raise money in support of Brain Tumour Research. As can be seen in the photo, this was through the fun means of each collague bringing in their favourite hat to work as part of the ‘Wear A Hat Day 2013’.

Our goal was to raise funds that can accelerate progress in UK brain tumour research and we hope that through our efforts we can make a clinical difference and improve patient outcomes.

CK Science is one of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading specialist scientific recruitment companies employing professional consultants based in our offices nationwide. We source high calibre scientists for scientific, chemical, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

Whether you are seeking a job or looking for recruitment support visit our website now www.ckscience.co.uk or call 0114 2839956

Science Scientific recruiting at its best

Call: 0114 283 9956 Visit: www.ckscience.co.uk

n

QUESTION & ANSWER

If you could be a cartoon character who would it be? Why? The character called Shaggy from Scoobie-Doo. Such a great name for introductions, …”and have you met my friend, Shaggy?”

What is the one thing that disgusts you? Smoking outside railway stations.

What did you most get into trouble for when you were younger? At school I decided to give all the paint brushes in the art class-room a hair-cut using the craft scissors.

What’s the best thing you’ve ever won (event/prize/ competition)? Plastic Industry Award 2012 – Polymer processor of the Year for Axion Polymers.

What was your nickname in school? Fred.

What was your favourite toy as a child? My bike – which was also my transport to school.

Favourite Movie? Gladiator.

Favourite Actor/Actress (for which performances)?

Dustin Hoffmann - Rainman.

Favourite Song or Artist? U2 , Bono – “Still haven’t found what I’m looking for”.

Favourite sports team/sports star? The Brownlee Brothers – Triathletes – world and Olympic champions.

Favourite holiday destination/resort? France – close to beach and vineyards and restaurants.

Keith Freegard

Best golf course you’ve ever played? The shortest one...

Director Axion Recycling, Manchester

If you could meet one person in history, who would it be and why? Isambard Kingdom Brunel – to ask him why he had to build the Great Western railway so close to my house.

Who was your Hero as a child? Don Rogers – winger and top goal-scorer for Swindon Town FC. What is your favorite Chemical Element and why?

Hydrogen – its elementary in nature.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why? To make any litter dropped in the street bounce back up into the pocket or hand-bag of the person who dropped it!

If you could go back and change something about your school days what would it be? Make them finish 4 hours earlier, so we could go home at lunchtime.

Have you ever been fired from a job? Once – for putting diesel in the tank of a Rover 3500 car that wanted 5-star petrol.

What is your biggest regret? Not taking a ‘gap year’ when I finished at university.

If you were stuck on a deserted island which one book, movie and person would you want to take along?

Book – Scouting for Boys; Movie – Cast Away with Tom Hanks; Person – Ray Mears.

34

ELEMENTS SUMMER 2013

Favourite alcoholic drink? Why? Old Hook Norton Brewery bitter – after an exhaustive sampling regime, I think it is the best tasting British beer.

If you won 100 million on the euro millions, which car would you buy? A vintage VW Kamper van, with Porsche Turbo engine.

What is the first thing you do when you get up every morning? Drink tea.

Which one country would you want relocate to if you had the opportunity? Switzerland – for ski-ing and scenery and general high living standards, with low taxes.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? A Policeman like my dad.

What is you favorite flavor of ice cream? Raspberry ripple & mint choc chip – double scoop cone + flake + chocolate sauce.

What is your favorite meal? Rogon Josh – Lamb curry + lager + poppadoms.

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, specialist functional engineering, integrity management, process safety, projects services, technical software and technical training.

We benefit customers by reducing risk, optimising cost and improving manufacturing efficiency. www.abb.com/consulting

Absolutely.

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

1

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

2

Smart design and fewer parts save maintenance costs

3

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