About Process Industries Division 

Process Industries Division works with industries where primary production processes are either continuous or batch produced. 

Who we are

Process Industries Division is a focus for members, as well as other national and international bodies, who are concerned with or working in mechanical engineering within the process industry.

Technical Activity Committees

Process Industries Division has six Technical Activity Committees (TACs):

Challenges and opportunities Working Groups

The Process Industries Division Board coordinates activities, working groups and events across the whole of the process industries community consisting, of its board, 6 Technical Activities Committee, regional and international centres, working with internal and external partners including other organisations, institutions and universities. We request volunteers, assistance and membership of the below working groups, to help deliver output mostly on technical, some commercial and industrial topics / issues. There is lots going on and may be of interest to get involved.

Contact our coordinator Noel Hensman, Vice Chair, E: bigholme@aol.com 

Working groups

Energy, Sustainability & Environmental Responsibility
  • Energy security and transition WG
  • Treasuring our home’s resources for future generations WG
  • Decarbonising heating and cooling WF
  • Energy Storage WG
  • Climate change adaption WG
New techniques
  • Digital (includes industry 4.0) WG
  • Condition monitoring WG
    Regulatory topics
  • Prospective banning of PFAS based materials WG
Improvements
  • Working group to be formed
Skills for the future
  • Introduction to the Process Industry WG
  • Education and skills group WG
Manufacturing
  • Working group to be formed
Learning from Past Incidents/Safety/Best practice
  • Steal with pride: Learning lessons for success in catastrophic incident prevention WG
    Materials
  • Working group to be formed
Impulses to innovation
  • The importance of diversity in innovation and value creation WG
  • Working group to be formed
Engagement and collaboration
  • Raising the profile of the Process Industries WG
  • Engaging members WG
  • Diversity and Inclusion WG
  • Young members WG
  • Strategy on connecting with the process industries WG
  • Communications and marketing WG
  • Collaboration WG
    - IFEAA
    - Hazards Forum
    - IChemE
    - Academia
    - Divisions and Groups
    - Regions

Regional centres

The Division has two regional centres in the North West and Yorkshire.

Industries or disciplines covered

Examples of the process industries include:

  • food
  • beverages
  • chemicals
  • pharmaceuticals
  • petroleum/oil & gas
  • ceramics
  • base metals
  • coal
  • plastics
  • rubber
  • textiles
  • tobacco
  • wood and wood products
  • paper and paper products
  • water and wastewater
  • bioenergy production and processing

What we do

  • Interaction with other Divisions’ and Groups within the IMechE, as well as external professional bodies including IET, IChemE, IOM3, SPE, UKOOG, Oil & Gas UK, Hazards Forum
  • Represent the process industries to Government legislators and international bodies.
  • Organise lectures, seminars, conferences and other events through our Technical Activity Committees, working groups and regional centres
  • Liaise with internal divisions and groups, regions and external bodies to provide the Institution's focus within their field
  • Promote best practice
  • Provide a forum for the dissemination of information through events and publications
  • Support Institution members in their activities
  • Promote education and training and continuing professional development and seek opportunities to provide the Institution's opinion on relevant topics.

Get in touch

Have a question or would like to get involved?

Contact our Member Engagement Team

Join the IMechE conversation

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Most Distinguished Achievement Award

Most Distinguished Achievement Award

Recognising outstanding academic and/or professional contributions to improving life through advances in mechanical process engineering.