Articles by Kevin Parker

Have you seen some of the things they do with industrial-plant software models today? As always, it’s the meshing of user roles that makes an integrated system sing.

The question is not what the process industries are trying to accomplish by means of industrial information technology. But rather, Patricia T. Sparrell of Exxon Mobil says, “As you drive performance by opening up data and collaboration, how do you ensure cyber-security?”

A $28 billion offer for H.J. Heinz Co. may be the largest takeover of a pure food producer ever. Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway partnered with private-equity firm 3G Capital on the announced deal, which is already taking some interesting twists.

The question is not what the process industries are trying to accomplish by means of industrial automation. But rather, “As you drive performance by opening up data and collaboration, how do you ensure cyber-security?” said Patricia T. Sperrell of Exxon Mobil, speaking at ARC Advisory Group’s World Industry Forum, held this week in Orlando.

In February, Processing will launch two new industry-focused electronic newsletters. To receive these and other of our electronic deliverables, go to www.processingmagazine.com.

In February, Processing will launch two new industry-focused electronic newsletters, Processing’s Food Industry Update and Chemical Industry Update. We're working hard to make sure you enjoy reading them.

The water consumed in oil & gas production is something tremendous. Folks in the water and wastewater treatment industry know it, and they’re introducing solutions that make continuing use of carbon-based energy more sustainable.

It’s all a matter of vocabulary. First the word “shale” entered the daily water-cooler discourse, along with “horizontal drilling” and “fracturing.” It wasn’t long before large swaths of the American public realized the natural-gas energy revolution was on.

This December 2012 issue of Processing magazine marks the first time this editor has had the pleasure of working on its annual Breakthrough Products awards. What was striking after reviewing both the submissions and the winners was how many of the solutions presented came out of companies headquartered in the U.S. manufacturing heartlands, or in a few cases, the European manufacturing heartlands.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act and perhaps the most remarkable thing is that not very many people had too much bad to say about it.