In Germany there is a saying called “Alles neu macht der Mai” which can be translated into ‘May makes everything new’. And if you remember back a couple of months ago, I asked you to stay alert for more changes within the realm of Valve World.
Well, I want to keep my promise and I can tell you that there is something new. Some of you may have seen it already when they visited www.valve-world.net. We have updated and changed the style of our website to make it look fresher, more interesting and attractive for you. The way the website is now built up is that you have direct access to our news section (and also the link to send us your press releases) as well as easier access to the valve companies and our famous Fact Files about Actuation, Control Valves, Safety Relief Valves, and Emission Control.
On top of all that comes the most important new feature and that is our video portal. Here you can see short video clips about products, information about the upcoming conferences, short interviews with key players of the valve industry be they end-users or valve suppliers. Whilst our own Valve World film crew might not be quite as famous yet as some of the names out in Hollywood or the like, they are continuously busy these days producing short masterpieces of film.
If you are impressed by these small cameos and would also like to also share some thoughts about your work or the industry with our readers/viewers then please do not hesitate to contract our Film Crew Editor, Mr David Sear, at d.sear@kci-world.com and he will see what we can arrange. Or maybe you will see our crew at a big event coming up, for example at ACHEMA 2012. Just go up to them and have a chat while the camera rolls.
‘ACHEMA?’ – you will say now but yes, it is unbelievable that three years went by just like that already and that the world’s biggest trade show for chemicals and the chemical process industry is on again. From 18-29 June 2012, Frankfurt will be the place to be when it comes to chemicals. Valve World will be present as well so why don’t you stop by and have coffee or so with one of the Valve World staff at our booth. We are in Hall 8, stand L96. However, I am pretty sure that we will meet each other anyway, as I will be running around on the expo floor trying to capture the atmosphere of the event and prepare a nice report for you afterwards, just in case you couldn’t make it. So, watch out for the man with the photo camera.
So, I look forward to seeing you in Frankfurt in the 3rd week of June and meet with and talk to all of you.

Best wishes,

Christian Borrmann
Editor-in-Chief
c.borrmann@kci-world.com

 

Fracking – What’s all the fuss about?
These days, when you open up certain newspapers, you will come across the terms Fracking and Shale Gas. Especially in the US but also in other countries and even my home town there is talk of this type of gas which is hidden just under the surface and makes it easier accessible than other types of gas. However, the procedure to get the gas out of the ground seems not ideal as it is done with chemicals and people are afraid for health and safety issues.
However, the point that I want to raise or rather the question that I wanted to ask is, to what extent are valves involved in this process? I know there is a whole piping system behind it and I presume that slurry valves will probably play an important role in the process but perhaps some of you can shed a bit more light on this matter. What are the conditions for the applied valves, do they have to stand up to certain challenges, issues, difficulties?
Please send me an email to c.borrmann@kci-world.com. I am really interested in this and look forward to your opinion and expertise on this matter. If it is so important, maybe it should become a special topic in the magazine.