Laboratory for Automation and Measurement

We visited one of the largest automation trade fairs SPS which took place in Nuremberg from 14 to 16 November 2023. The SPS trade fair covers the entire spectrum of the smart and digital automation industry, including state-of-the-art automation technology. We established contacts with manufacturers of measuring devices (spectrophotometric and gas analysers) that are relevant to our current and upcoming projects.

On November 15, 2023 we visited the Siemens production facility for process control units in Karlsruhe, focusing on the \"matrix\" production model. In the Process Automation World (PAW) demonstration and exhibition centre, we were introduced to the latest Siemens technology. After the presentation of Siemens' state-of-the-art automation concept, Professor Bolf presented the possibilities, project results and industrial references of the Faculty and the Laboratory for Automation and Measurement . We would like to thank Mr. Inoslav Lončarević for his efforts in the organisation and presentation, as well as for the pleasant company and the opportunity to meet the top management of Siemens.

On November 14, 2023 we visited Höchst IndustrialPark and Provadis Hochschule . During our visit to Provadis Hochschule , we learned more about the study and vocational educational programmes with strong links to the chemical industry and R&D within the industrial park (23,000 employees). We took a tour of the chemistry laboratories and pilot plants with a presentation of current projects. Siemens AG at Industriepark Höchst provides high-quality engineering and consulting services for process industry customers. We are introduced to current projects in the chemical engineering department and involved in lively discussions.

Assist. Prof. Ujević Andrijić and Prof. Bolf participated in VIII International Scientific-Professional Symposium “Environmental Resources, Sustainable Development And Food Production – OPORPH 2023” in organization of Faculty of Technology of the University of Tuzla and the Association of Chemists of Tuzla Canton on November 9 and 10, 2023. We shared our knowledge on process analytical technology as well as our experience with different spectroscopic measurements for in situ concentration measurements in solutions. In the poster section, we presented the study Process Analytical Technology for Real-Time Crystallisation Process Control .

On October 31,2023 we visited HyCentA – Hydrogen Technology Research Center Austria in Graz. The HyCentA is focused exclusively on hydrogen technologies. They conduct research and development projects on the production, distribution, storage and application of hydrogen in the energy sector.

During the conference in Palermo, Italy, from 22 to 25 October, our Department participated with a poster Design of a laboratory-scale system for the production of green hydrogen based on AEM water electrolysi s presented by dr. Herceg. The presentations on hydrogen production, safety and carbon capture and storage were a very interesting part of the conference. We discussed with potential partners about upcoming projects related to the optimal control of hydrogen production processes.

At the MSV International Engineering Fair in Brno, which took place from 10 to 13 October, the main topics were the digital factory and artificial intelligence. We saw presentations on Digital Factory 2.0, met many exhibitors and learnt about case studies and established several contacts with potential partners. One topic of Industry 4.0 was the increased networking of industrial companies and their security. Seminars were also organised on advanced and unconventional technologies used in advanced engineering.

On 12 October 2023 the CrystAPC project leader Nenad Bolf and researcher Matea Gavran gave a lecture on process analytical technology and its application in the pharmaceutical industry at the Faculty of Chemical Technology in Split, organised by the Croatian Society of Chemical Engineers – Association of Chemical Engineers and Technologists Split . Professor Bolf introduced the CrystAPC project and presented the application of process analytical technology in modern process control systems. Matea Gavran presented her research work within the project, in which she outlined the steps in the application of PAT for advanced process control, as well as the problems that can arise and how to solve them. The presentation was followed by a lively discussion on the application of artificial intelligence and the challenges that new paradigms bring to higher education.

On 21 September 2023, our team took part in the Networking@ Pharma event at Siemens City Vienna . The meeting brought together experts from the pharmaceutical industry, research institutions and start-up companies. Most of the presentations focussed on digital transformation in the pharmaceutical industry, the application of algorithms in production and the development of digital twins of pharmaceutical plants. Following the presentations , we visited the Siemens Living Lab and exchanged ideas with experts from the pharmaceutical industry, research centres and start-ups.

Nenad Bolf and Marko Sejdić took part in the 6 th ECCPM – European Consortium for Continuous Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Forum together with numerous participants from industry and science. The first day was dedicated to training on advanced pharmaceutical production and a laboratory tour with practical demonstrations (end-to-end manufacturing, cognitive automation, personalised manufacturing and SmartLab). The evening was reserved for socialising and networking. On the second day, a conference was organised with the presentations on the application of PAT and advanced control in continuous pharmaceutical production and on the application of artificial intelligence methods to simulate and control complex processes. We presented our work with the poster Process Analytical Technology (PAT) for Real-Time Control in Pharmaceutical Production .