VIEWPOINT Jane! Stop This Crazy Thing!

“No hurry, any time in the next 5 minutes is fine.” — Mr. Spacely, The Jetsons

Ihave always had pride in my ability to keep up with technological change. Early in my career, when Macintosh computers entered the workplace in the mid1980s, I was the only graphic designer at my PR firm employer willing to fire up the mysterious tiny beige box with the 9-inch black and white display. The only computer program we had installed was DOS-based Ventura Publisher. It was more like line coding text than today’s wysiwyg programs.

This bravery launched my expertise to then learn how to troubleshoot a Mac when the “spinning wheel of death” paid a visit. It compelled me to learn to hand-code many early websites in HTML-1.0 for clients. ... Yes these are my battle scars and victories.

Fast forward to me today, I understand how my elders feel when they can’t figure out how to use the remote on their new television. Technology is outpacing my ability to keep up. From the Cloud (where is it, really) to AI, robotics, automation, and more, industry is being tasked to adapt. Some companies are not ready for it, yet some are – and their employees are terrified of being replaced.

In the quest for faster, better, easier, (and safer) ... did I say faster ... automation is the answer. Yet, it still carries a price tag that greatly hinders widespread adoption.

As it becomes more commonplace, just like the Mac computer, it will be more accessible to all those in filtration and other industries who are interested. (To note: The box at left had a 8MHz Motorola 68000 processor, 128KB of RAM, a 3.5-inch floppy drive, and carried a price tag of $2,495. You can now get a power-packed Mac for that money –loaded with apps and software, too.)

If you are like me, I suggest you hang on for the ride ... and hire smart! The next gen workforce eats technology for breakfast.

On page 18, Adrian Wilson talks robotics at the BMW plant in Spartanburg, SC USA. Starting on page 22, industry expert Jay Roth bursts the bubble on the myths some believe on automation, and shares what it really can do for your company.

In other news, metal-organic frameworks can accelerate industrial decarbonization according to a new report cited in the article on page 32, and breakthroughs on nanotechnology in indoor filtration is explored by Dr. Suman Sinha Rayonn page 44.

I would like to hear your thoughts on these and other issues. Email me at csmith@ inda.org, anytime!

Caryn Smith Chief Content Officer & Publisher, INDA Media, IFN

International Filtration News Editorial Advisory Board

R. Vijayakumar, Ph.D., Chair

AERFIL

Tel: +1 315-506-6883

Email: vijay@aerfil.com

Rahul Bharadwaj, Ph.D.

Lydall Performance Materials

Tel: +1 603-953-6318

Email: rbharadwaj@lydall.com

Tom Justice, CAFS, NCT

ZENE, LLC Filtration

Tel: 757-378-3857

Email: justfilter@yahoo.com

James J. Joseph

Joseph Marketing

Tel/Fax: +1 757-565-1549

Emai: josephmarketing120@gmail.com

Wenping Li, Ph.D.

Agriltech Research Company

Tel: +1 337-421-6345

Email: wenpingl@agrilectric.com

Robert W. McIlvaine

The McIlvaine Company

Tel: +1 847-784-0013

Email: rmcilvaine@mcilvainecompany.com

Rishit R. Merchant

Parker Hannifin

P: +1 (805) 604-3519

E: rishit.merchant@parker.com

Thad Ptak, Ph.D.

TJ Ptak & Associates

Tel: +1 414-514-8937

Email: thadptak@hotmail.com the industry, IFN is the leading source for the dialogues, debates and innovations across the full spectrum of filtration and separation applications and processes.

If you would like to utilize your expertise to help shape the content in the IFN , consider applying for the IFN Editorial Advisory Board. We welcome participation through input on trends and innovations, new story ideas and overall thought leadership. This is a collaborative board that meets quarterly to discuss the state of the industry. Send an email to Caryn Smith at csmith@inda.org for consideration.