Process Weighing: The Foundation of Industrial Precision

Process weighing is one of the unsung heroes of modern industry. It sits at the heart of production processes in food and beverage plants, chemical and pharmaceutical facilities, mining operations, and countless other fields. Whether the goal is filling a package, batching ingredients, or tracking material flow, weighing technology provides the precision and reliability necessary to ensure quality, efficiency, and compliance.

At its core, process weighing is about transforming raw measurement into actionable data. Materials move through conveyors, silos, hoppers, and platforms, and each step requires accurate, real-time information on weight. Load cells convert physical force into electronic signals, providing the foundation for every weighing system. These signals are fed into belt scales for continuous monitoring of bulk material, or into silo and platform scales for storage and inventory management. Hopper scales provide the same precision for powders, liquids, and gases, ensuring that even dynamic processes remain tightly controlled.

But weighing is not just about capturing numbers. It is about integrating those numbers into the automated workflow. Siemens SIWAREX modules, for example, bring weighing directly into SIMATIC PLC environments. This seamless connection means scales become a natural part of the control architecture, with HMIs offering clear visualization, intuitive operation, and easy multilingual support. Operators can monitor, adjust, and troubleshoot from a single interface, eliminating guesswork and ensuring that weighing contributes to the overall transparency of plant operations.

Conveyors equipped with belt scales measure and regulate throughput, keeping processes efficient and repeatable. Silo and hopper scales ensure accurate stock levels, while platform scales support a range of applications, from truck weighing to precise batching. At every level, load cells remain the backbone, designed to withstand harsh conditions while maintaining accuracy across applications. Combined with distributed digital modules and intelligent electronics, they enable each component—from a single weigh feeder to an entire process line—to function as part of a fully integrated system.

The importance of process weighing extends beyond production efficiency. It safeguards compliance with legal-for-trade standards, minimizes waste, and improves resource management. Industries that depend on exact mixtures or reliable throughput—whether they’re filling coffee capsules, producing detergents, or moving bulk ore—cannot operate without it. The integration of PLCs and HMIs elevates these systems from measurement tools to central drivers of productivity and quality assurance.

For companies in the Mountain West, Southwest, and Front Range, Process Technology, Inc. stands out as the knowledgeable partner for Siemens process weighing solutions. With their expertise and Siemens’ proven technology, businesses can ensure their weighing systems not only measure but also maximize performance.

The Role of Industrial Flare Stacks and the Need for Advanced Flare Management

Industrial plants that process oil, gas, and chemicals depend on flare stacks as essential safety devices. When excess hydrocarbons build up in a process, facilities need a reliable way to dispose of them. The flare stack provides that safeguard. By burning off gases under controlled conditions, flare stacks prevent dangerous pressure buildups and uncontrolled releases that could lead to explosions, fires, or toxic leaks. In short, flares protect workers, equipment, and surrounding communities.

The operating principle is straightforward yet crucial. Excess gases travel through a flare system to a tall stack where a continuous pilot flame ignites them. The combustion process breaks down volatile organic compounds into less harmful byproducts such as carbon dioxide and water vapor. Steam or air assist systems often mix with the gas stream to ensure complete combustion and minimize smoke. While flaring is never the first choice, it remains a necessary last line of defense in industrial operations.

That said, flaring carries environmental concerns. Even when properly managed, flare stacks emit greenhouse gases and, if not optimized, can produce soot and unburned hydrocarbons. Regulators, investors, and communities demand that operators minimize flaring, prove high combustion efficiency, and show commitment to sustainability. For plants, the challenge lies in achieving both safety and environmental compliance while keeping operating costs in check.

This is where technology has begun to transform flare management. Baker Hughes, through its Panametrics division, has developed the flare.IQ flare management control system, a solution designed specifically to address inefficiencies in traditional flare operations. Historically, operators had little real-time visibility into flare combustion efficiency. Adjustments to steam or air assist often relied on manual estimates, leading to wasted energy and suboptimal destruction efficiency.

Flare.IQ closes that gap with advanced monitoring and automated control. The system continuously measures flow, temperature, and gas composition, then applies real-time algorithms to calculate combustion efficiency. With those insights, flare.IQ automatically adjusts steam or air assist to maintain ideal conditions. This not only ensures regulatory compliance and higher destruction efficiency but also reduces unnecessary steam consumption, delivering significant energy and cost savings.

Plants that implement flare.IQ reports greater confidence in meeting environmental requirements, improved reliability, and lower operating costs. Instead of treating flare systems as a compliance burden, operators can now view them as optimized, intelligent assets that support both safety and sustainability.

For companies in the Mountain West, Front Range, and Southwest regions, having a local partner to implement and support this advanced technology makes all the difference. Process Technology, Inc. of Salt Lake City stands as the trusted resource in the region for Baker Hughes Panametrics solutions, including flare.IQ. With deep technical expertise, hands-on support, and a commitment to customer success, Process Technology, Inc. helps industrial operators integrate smarter flare management into their facilities. By partnering with Process Technology, Inc., plants not only meet safety and environmental demands but also unlock new levels of efficiency and performance.

Ensuring Water Purity in Semiconductor Fabs with the Mettler Toledo UPW UniCond Sensor

In the high-stakes world of semiconductor manufacturing, purity is everything. Even the slightest contamination can lead to product defects, costly downtime, or failed production runs. Ultra pure water (UPW) plays a vital role in this process, acting as a cleaning and rinsing agent for wafers at multiple stages. Maintaining the integrity of UPW systems requires precise monitoring and control, especially when it comes to conductivity. One of the most trusted and advanced solutions for this critical application is the Mettler Toledo UPW UniCond conductivity sensor.

The UPW UniCond represents a breakthrough in measuring ultra-low conductivity in semiconductor-grade water systems. Traditional conductivity sensors often struggle with accuracy at such low levels, especially below one microsiemens per centimeter. However, the UPW UniCond delivers highly stable and reliable measurements down to 0.055 μS/cm, which aligns precisely with the theoretical conductivity of pure water at 25°C. This precision makes the sensor ideal for the stringent demands of semiconductor water systems, where even parts-per-billion levels of ionic contamination must be detected and controlled.

One of the most impressive aspects of the Mettler Toledo UPW UniCond is its intelligent sensor design. Each UniCond integrates a built-in microprocessor that stores calibration data and sensor identity. This functionality allows for plug-and-measure convenience, reducing the risk of operator error and minimizing installation time. Technicians can perform calibrations in a controlled environment, then install the sensor with confidence that it will perform accurately in situ. This capability becomes especially valuable during shutdowns or tool qualification, where every minute of uptime counts.

The UPW UniCond works seamlessly with Mettler Toledo's Thornton transmitters, including the M800 series, enabling multiparameter analysis and flexible integration into process control systems. The transmitter-sensor pairing ensures fast response times, excellent signal stability, and easy configuration. The sensor's compact design and high-pressure compatibility make it suitable for a wide range of installation points, including water polishing loops, point-of-use systems, and makeup water units.

The semiconductor industry faces growing challenges as chip designs become smaller and more complex. As process nodes shrink to single-digit nanometers, the tolerance for contamination approaches zero. This trend places even greater emphasis on the need for advanced analytical technologies like the UPW UniCond. Leading fabs and ultrapure water system designers count on this sensor to ensure that water quality remains within spec—continuously and without compromise.

Moreover, environmental and economic factors add further pressure to reduce water waste and optimize system performance. By providing real-time, accurate conductivity data, the UPW UniCond supports predictive maintenance strategies and enables more efficient use of resins and filtration media. Over time, these benefits can lead to measurable reductions in operational costs while ensuring regulatory compliance and product quality.

In the southwestern United States, where the semiconductor industry continues to expand and water resources remain limited, the demand for reliable ultrapure water monitoring tools continues to grow. Facilities across the region rely on expert support to ensure successful installation, calibration, and operation of conductivity measurement systems.

Process Technology, Inc. proudly sells and supports Mettler Toledo Process Analytics products, including the UPW UniCond, across Utah, Western Wyoming, Idaho, Northern Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. With deep technical expertise and a strong commitment to customer service, Process Technology, Inc. helps semiconductor manufacturers and system integrators maintain the highest standards of water quality and process reliability.

PFAS Groundwater Contamination: A Growing Crisis and a Smart Solution

Across the United States and around the world, communities are waking up to the danger of PFAS—per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—polluting their groundwater. These synthetic chemicals, often referred to as "forever chemicals," resist degradation in the environment. Manufacturers have used them since the 1940s in non-stick cookware, waterproof fabrics, firefighting foams, food packaging, and countless other applications. Over time, PFAS leached into soil, rivers, and aquifers, contaminating the drinking water supplies of millions silently.

The health risks associated with PFAS exposure are serious and well-documented. Long-term exposure, even at low levels, can increase the risk of kidney and testicular cancers, liver damage, hormone disruption, immune system suppression, and developmental issues in children. Unlike bacteria or some organic compounds, PFAS don't degrade naturally. Once these chemicals seep into groundwater, they travel long distances and remain intact for decades, making them especially difficult to remove.

Regulators now recognize the urgency. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently set maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for certain PFAS compounds at just a few parts per trillion (ppt)—a microscopic threshold that underscores their toxicity. Meeting these new limits has proven challenging and costly for municipalities, military bases, industrial facilities, and airports, all of which face legacy contamination and heightened public scrutiny.

Traditional filtration methods, such as granular activated carbon (GAC) and ion-exchange resins, often struggle to meet these new standards consistently. These systems typically require high pressure, frequent maintenance, and significant energy input. Worse, many allow PFAS breakthrough before full media saturation, creating uncertainty in performance and cost.

This is where Smart Sponge Quanta™, developed by Abtech Industries, changes the game.

Smart Sponge Quanta™ offers a new generation of filtration technology specifically engineered to remove PFAS and other persistent contaminants from water. It combines a polymer matrix with an enhanced biochar core to create a porous, chemically selective filter media. Unlike GAC or ion exchange resins, Quanta™ doesn't just trap PFAS on the surface—it absorbs and permanently sequesters them inside its structure. Independent tests show that even when fully saturated, Smart Sponge Quanta™ does not leach PFAS back into the environment.

What sets this technology apart is its efficiency and simplicity. Quanta™ can reduce PFAS concentrations from over 4,000 ppt to less than five ppt in under two minutes. It supports flow rates of up to 40 gallons per minute per square foot, five times faster than traditional systems, all while operating at minimal back pressure—often less than one psi. It works equally well under gravity-fed systems and low-pressure applications, which eliminates the need for complex pump setups or energy-intensive processes.

Cost matters, too. Quanta™ delivers roughly 50% lower capital costs and up to 35% lower lifecycle costs than GAC or resin systems. It easily integrates into existing filtration infrastructure with minimal retrofitting, and its long lifespan reduces maintenance and media change-out schedules. When the media reaches capacity, users can safely dispose of it through waste-to-energy facilities, cement kilns, or approved landfills—thanks to its non-leaching design.

Beyond PFAS, Smart Sponge Quanta™ also captures heavy metals, hydrocarbons, phosphorus, and bacteria, making it ideal for complex sites where multiple contaminants coexist. Municipal utilities, industrial operators, and environmental engineers now use this technology in stormwater systems, groundwater remediation projects, and treatment of landfill leachate and construction dewatering.

The PFAS crisis demands innovation that's fast, scalable, and proven. Smart Sponge Quanta™ answers that call. It gives communities and industries a powerful tool to protect public health and the environment without breaking budgets or requiring high-tech overhauls. As regulators tighten standards and contamination hotspots emerge, this innovative, adaptable solution offers a way forward—clean water delivered safely and sustainably.

Let's not wait another decade to solve a problem we can tackle today. With Smart Sponge Quanta™, the path to PFAS-free water starts now.

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How the Tideflex Mixing System Keeps Potable Water Tanks Clean and Compliant

The Tideflex Mixing System (TMS) by Red Valve offers a simple yet highly effective solution for improving water quality in potable water storage tanks. Unlike mechanical mixers that require electricity and regular maintenance, the TMS uses the natural energy of a tank’s fill and draw cycles to keep water thoroughly mixed, making it a passive system that requires virtually no upkeep.

Thousands of installations—from small 2,000-gallon tanks to massive 20-million-gallon reservoirs—prove how well this system works across all types of tanks, including standpipes, elevated tanks, and irregularly shaped reservoirs. Water utilities and engineers trust the TMS because it addresses common problems like thermal stratification, dead zones, and short-circuiting that often occur in storage tanks.

Here’s how it works: The TMS design includes Tideflex® inlet nozzles and Waterflex® outlet valves that create strong, controlled flow paths inside the tank. These nozzles and valves are NSF 61 certified for drinking water safety. Separating the inlet and outlet through a single manifold pipe ensures that fresh water moves throughout the entire tank, not just part of it. This movement blends water completely, preventing pockets of stagnation and maintaining consistent water quality.

Tideflex engineers customize each system using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and scale models. They also perform a Mixing Analysis to determine, based on real-world usage, how much tank turnover is needed to achieve complete mixing. For existing tanks, they can reverse engineer the system to match how the tank is currently operated, ensuring performance even in retrofits.

This level of engineering attention matters because improper mixing can lead to serious water quality issues. The TMS helps prevent the formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs), reduces the risk of nitrification in chloraminated systems, maintains disinfectant residuals, stabilizes pH and dissolved oxygen levels, and even reduces the chance of ice formation in cold climates.

The need for reliable water quality management grows as regulations like the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproduct Rule evolve. The Tideflex Mixing System meets this need without adding complexity or long-term maintenance costs. And because it’s been validated through modeling and utility operators sampling real-world water parameters—such as temperature, residual chlorine, pH, and bacterial counts—its effectiveness is more than just theoretical.

Whether in a new tank or an aging one already in service, the TMS installs easily and lasts for decades. The Tideflex Mixing System delivers a straightforward, proven answer in a world where consistent water quality is non-negotiable.

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Cutting-Edge Oxygen Sensing: Transforming Process Control Across Key Markets

Industrial oxygen analyzers play a critical role in modern process control by providing continuous, precise measurements of oxygen concentration in gas streams. Engineers integrate these instruments directly into control loops to optimize combustion efficiency, ensure safety, and maintain product quality. In combustion control applications, an accurate oxygen signal lets operators adjust fuel-to-air ratios in real-time, reducing excess oxygen that wastes energy and minimizing oxygen deficiency that produces harmful by-products such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. Beyond combustion, oxygen analyzers support the inerting and blanketing of storage tanks, where maintaining low oxygen levels prevents spontaneous ignition and protects product integrity.

Companies deploy industrial oxygen analyzers across various industries, from chemical processing and power generation to food and beverage packaging. Analyzers monitor reactor feed gases in the chemical sector to optimize reaction kinetics and maximize yield. Refiners rely on oxygen measurements in flare gas recovery systems to comply with emissions regulations while capturing valuable hydrocarbons. Biogas and landfill gas operators use trace oxygen analyzers to gauge feedstock quality for downstream combustion or upgrading facilities. Meanwhile, the pulp and paper industry measures oxygen in bleaching processes to balance chemical consumption against fiber brightness goals. These applications demonstrate how oxygen analysis underpins process safety, environmental compliance, and cost control.

The largest markets for industrial oxygen analyzers include oil and gas, chemical processing, metals and mining, and pharmaceuticals. In oil and gas, companies install analyzers at wellheads, pipelines, and processing plants to monitor oxygen in natural gas streams, preventing corrosion and ensuring accurate custody transfer. Chemical producers account for a significant share of analyzer demand, where precise oxygen control drives reaction efficiency in reactors and separators. The metals and mining sector uses high-purity oxygen in steelmaking and non-ferrous metal refining, necessitating analyzers that handle high temperatures and abrasive atmospheres. Pharmaceuticals represent a fast-growing segment, leveraging oxygen analyzers to validate sterile environments and control oxidative processes in active ingredient synthesis.

Amid this competitive landscape, the Panametrics (Baker Hughes) XMO2pro oxygen analyzer stands out as the ultimate solution for harsh environments and oil and gas applications. Panametrics engineered the XMO2pro around a thermoparamagnetic sensor cell that resists contamination better than traditional electrochemical sensors. The dual-chamber design directs sample flow through a rugged lower chamber, shielding the measurement cell while some of the gas diffuses into the upper chamber for analysis. A powerful magnet draws oxygen molecules toward matched thermistors, creating a “magnetic wind” that distorts a Wheatstone bridge and generates a signal directly proportional to oxygen concentration.

XMO2pro delivers percent-level measurements across a broad range of 0.01% to 100% oxygen, with an accuracy of ±1% of span and repeatability of ±0.2% of span. With its fast-response option, the analyzer achieves typical response times under 15 seconds and maintains zero stability within ±1%. Operators appreciate its long-term reliability since the sensor contains no moving parts and requires no consumables. Panametrics certified the XMO2pro to SIL 2 standards by design, giving safety engineers confidence in its performance under fault conditions.

Furthermore, the XMO2pro fits seamlessly into modern control architectures. It provides two isolated 4–20 mA outputs with fully programmable zero and span settings and a Modbus RS232/RS485 port for digital communications. Panametrics offers a suite of sample systems to deliver representative gas to the analyzer at optimal temperature and pressure, eliminating complex conditioning in most installations. The compact, explosion-proof enclosure mounts directly at the measurement point, shortening response times and reducing installation costs. Baker Hughes equips the XMO2pro with a high-contrast display and magnetic keypad, enabling operators to quickly configure ranges and compensation algorithms, even in noisy or hazardous environments.

In rigorous oil and gas service, where ambient temperatures swing from Arctic chills to desert heat and where dust, moisture, and corrosive gases pose constant threats, the XMO2pro excels. Its IP66/IP67 weatherproof rating and optional stainless steel housing withstand severe conditions, while its automatic background gas and atmospheric pressure compensation ensures consistent accuracy without manual recalibration. By combining proven thermoparamagnetic technology with Baker Hughes’s global support network, Panametrics empowers operators to drive efficiency, protect assets, and meet stringent environmental standards. For process control teams seeking a robust, high-precision oxygen analyzer that thrives in the world’s toughest plants, the XMO2pro represents the unmistakable choice.

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Oxygen Flow Made Simple by EPI Thermal Mass Meters

Eldridge Products Inc. (EPI) designs thermal mass flow meters that deliver reliable and precise oxygen measurements in various industrial applications. Many processes demand accurate oxygen flow data because even a slight deviation from optimal levels can affect combustion efficiency, degrade wastewater treatment outcomes, or compromise the consistency of industrial gas delivery. EPI addresses these critical demands by developing thermal mass flow meters that respond quickly to changes in flow and handle the unique challenges posed by oxygen’s physical and chemical properties.

Oxygen’s low density and high reactivity often create issues for traditional flow measurement methods. Some meters fail to read low flows accurately, and others require long straight-run sections to stabilize velocity profiles. EPI reduces these complications by incorporating Flow Averaging Tube (FAT) technology, which ensures consistent velocity sampling across the entire cross-section of the pipe. Operators gain stable, repeatable measurements even when space constraints limit the availability of long straight runs. This advantage proves especially valuable in facilities that must retrofit existing infrastructure or fit meters into tight layouts.

EPI’s thermal mass flow meters use a heating element and temperature sensors that interact with the moving gas stream. Their direct mass flow measurement principle captures the mass of oxygen flowing through the pipe rather than inferring mass from volume and temperature data. This approach eliminates additional pressure or temperature compensation, making installation and maintenance more straightforward. Operators who rely on these meters notice high turndown ratios, allowing the instrument to measure very low and very high flows with minimal compromise on accuracy. This versatility becomes essential in applications like combustion control, where oxygen demand can fluctuate drastically during startup, steady-state operation, and shutdown phases.

Wastewater treatment plants also benefit from this robust turndown capability because aeration requirements shift over time, and the process does not always follow a uniform flow profile. EPI’s meters adjust to these dynamic conditions and provide precise data that helps operators fine-tune aeration rates. When plants achieve this level of control, they save energy by avoiding excessive oxygen injection while meeting strict effluent quality standards. Over-aeration leads to wasted energy and higher costs, so tighter oxygen monitoring pays off economically and environmentally.

Medical and pharmaceutical processes depend on clean, accurately measured oxygen delivery, and EPI’s thermal mass flow meters adapt well to those scenarios. The stable sensor design measures gas flow without imposing a significant pressure drop, which helps maintain system integrity and product quality. Because thermal mass flow meters require little routine calibration, operators spend less time performing maintenance tasks that disrupt critical procedures. Minimizing downtime takes priority in any high-stakes environment, and the reliability of EPI’s instruments supports that goal.

Operators who install EPI’s thermal mass flow meters often report simpler setups and lower total cost of ownership. The sensors feature robust construction that resists corrosion and does not rely on moving parts that would degrade in corrosive environments. The intuitive user interface allows quick adjustments when flow patterns change, and remote monitoring options offer immediate visibility into real-time gas consumption. These features contribute to smoother overall operation and heightened confidence in the accuracy of oxygen flow measurements.

EPI recognizes the importance of maintaining stable processes in industries that work with oxygen, and it consistently refines its thermal mass flow meters to meet evolving demands. By leveraging FAT technology, achieving high turndown ratios, and offering minimal straight-run requirements, EPI flow meters help facilities capture accurate flow data, optimize oxygen usage, and ensure safe, reliable operation. This commitment to innovation and practical design underlines EPI’s reputation as a trustworthy partner for organizations that rely on precise oxygen flow measurement.

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