The Process Industry 

The process industry refines complex raw materials – wood, crude oil, ore and natural gas – to value added products: paper, chemicals, metals, foodstuff etcetera. The process industry in Sweden employs more than 300 000 people and represents 60% of the country’s net exports, making it a fundamental sector in the Swedish economy. The aim of the process industrial center PIC is to ensure the future competitiveness of the Swedish process industry through research and competence development.

Process and product

The process industry is dominated by raw material and energy costs. Minimizing these costs is essential for profitability, making development of process technology and efficient methodologies as important as product development. The same processing equipment is available globally is therefore not the determining factor, instead the know-how and process understanding are key. Product transfers, maintenance, start-up and process control are examples of important issues. A lot of work has been put into process development for the manufacturing industry. Some of this knowledge can be applied to the process industry but there is also a need for new and specific insights for the process industry.

Niche products – a Swedish specialty

The process industry in Sweden is characterized by the dominance of high-value niche products rather than the standard commodities. Plastics, paper, petroleum products etc. can all be produced to meet very specific standards. Success in this field requires understanding of the process and possible variations in the raw material. Often the manufacturer also has to understand the customer’s process in order to manufacture an optimal product and help the customer take advantage of its properties.