In 2012, the chemical production industry had sales of nearly $769.4 billion in the U.S. alone. The over 10,000 firms that manufacture chemical products must therefore have a way of seeing green in their end-of-year financial documents. What strategies do these companies use to accomplish this fiscal feat; what are they doing that so many others can’t?
To solve this dilemma, we must first isolate a procedure that is commonly used in the chemical industry. For the purposes of this subject, particle size reduction is appropriate because it is both commonly used and is a variable process that may have significant financial impact. Below is a compilation of manufacturing costs that can be reduced, specific to particle size reduction and the chemical industry.
- Raw Material Usage & Prices
Having both an understanding and written documentation of amounts of raw materials used is necessary if you want to see profit. Specifically with a process like particle size reduction, experimental yields and material needs are variable; it is important to write potential overages onto the budget so that they are accounted for if needed.
Next on the agenda is pricing out each raw material. Having an understanding of legitimate corporations, you will be able to purchase from, as well as where to turn for specialty raw materials, may significantly ease the mental and financial burden.
- Utilities
This is one of those criteria which most people (AKA maybe just me) don’t give much thought to. But it demands significant consideration because utility costs are high but can be decreased with some smart planning. There are some successful methods of estimating and writing your utility usage into the budget; additionally, it is important to know that costs (mostly from coal and natural gases) may vary by location. If you do your research on these criteria before committing, you will be much better off.
- Waste Treatment Amount/Costs
This factor is as straightforward as it sounds. It is important to have a general sense of how much waste is generated, so that you can plan for its disposal. Waste treatment can be costly, and is variable depending largely on the type of waste and if an on-site treatment facility needs to be constructed. In particle size reduction, consider how much of the product will be used and how much will require disposal.
Pion's BEE Brand Homogenizers: Cost Effective Chemical Equipment
Ultimately, regardless of the above factors, it will be much easier for your laboratory to save money if you start with high-quality equipment. Not only will this ensure optimal product results, but it will also decrease the maintenance requirements. High pressure homogenization is the most common method for producing emulsions, because of both its powerful mixing process and its cost/time effectiveness. The homogenizer will shear fluid by forcing it through a restrictive valve, forming an emulsion with decreased particle size.
BEE homogenizers from Pion are trusted by researchers around the world. We deliver an array of key benefits, such as production of nano/micro emulsions and dispersions and lipids and suspensions; these can be used in a variety of ways within the food & beverage, pharmaceutical, chemical, and biotechnology industries.
