All those equipments and devices that are involved in the processing, manufacturing, handling, inspecting, storing, and transporting of raw materials and finished products are known as processing equipments. Under the engineering and scientific industry these equipments can also perform the task of extruding, casting, forging, compacting, heat-treating, molding, rolling or other process equipment and components used for metals, polymers or other materials.

Types of Processing Equipments

Following are description of some of the most coveted components that are commonly used in the processing equipments industry all over the world -

Air Quality – Instrumentation and equipment used to control the properties and degree of purity of air fall under this category. These types of equipment include dust collectors, oxidizers, scrubbers and adsorption equipment.

Electronic and Micro Electronics Manufacturing – This types of processing equipments comprise of thin film manufacturing equipment including vacuum systems and components, gas delivery systems, deposition systems, photo lithography units, etching equipment, annealing furnaces and other accessories.

Boilers – Instruments that function in the testing, monitoring, and remediation of environmental factors are known as Boilers. They have certain specific aspects that include water and wastewater treatment, air and groundwater quality analysis, waste processing, and pollution control.

Material Processing Equipments – Used primarily for metals and polymers, these types of processing equipments are involved in purposes like extruding, casting, forging, compacting, heat treating, molding, rolling or other processing machines and components.

Solid Processing and Material Handling – Under this segment of processing manufacturing equipment falls all those devices that are installed in milling, classifying, compacting, granulating, feeding, flow-controlling or drying machines to process powders or other bulk materials.

Specialty Manufacturing Equipments – All those instruments that are used to function for specialized applications including wire straightening, castings, and molded shapes, lubrication, and the creation of extrusions, pultrusions,, are called as specialty Manufacturing Equipments.

Besides, the above mentioned categories there are others that too form an indispensable part of the process manufacturing family. Some of them are boilers, ceramic glass materials, cleaning surface preparation, cutting tools, fabricated material components, gas handling equipments, heat transfer equipments, heating and cooling equipments, industrial assembly, machine safety products, machine tool accessories, machines tool accessories, machine tool components, machine tools, micro electronic manufacturing, personal protective equipment, pipe and tube fittings, safety sensors switches, solid processing equipments, specialty manufacturing products, surface coating protection, tanks and vessels, vacuum chambers and vacuum equipments.

Industry Growth

The processing equipments industry is growing at a break neck speed. Estimated to reach US$43 billion by 2010, this industry has grown on the behest of various social and economic structure which has increased their demands in the global market. The Chinese food processing industry has grown at more than 20% between 2001 and 2006 to reach about $2881 billion in 2006. As far as the food processing machinery industry is concerned, China grew 23% to reach about $5.6 billion in 2006.

Applications

The application of process equipments is expanding with the rise in technology. While they enjoy a massive demand in the modular system and components for services in various industries all over the world including aerospace, architectural, automotive, electronics, food processing, gaskets, glass, medical or surgical, they are finding new scopes in food, dairy, beverage, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and chemical industries as well.

Major Market Players

US leads in the manufacturing as well as exporting of these processing equipments. However, the various socio economic changes has led China to create a niche for itself in the processing equipments world market. With profits reaching a magnanimous level of $2881 billion in 2006, there is still a wide scope of growth. Driven by rising disposable incomes and increasing urbanization, consumers are increasingly favoring the convenience of processed and packaged food, thus giving this industry great impetus for maximization.

Processing Manufacturing Publications

Process Cooling – This is a popular magazine that is written for manufacturing engineers and focuses on equipments that are used to cool, extract heat, or maintain temperature during the manufacture of processing equipments, as well as those equipment that are used to cool the manufacturing equipment. The publication writes about applications in the process industries as well as power plants.

Processing Magazine – Processing Magazine is recognized across the process industries as the leading source for up-to-date product and equipment solutions. The targeted audience is readers who purchase instrumentation, control systems, pumps, motors, compressors, valves, and other processing equipment.

Processing Manufacturing Associations

Process Equipment Manufacturer's Association – This is a management association of processing equipments manufacturers. Since its inception in the year 1960, the association has served the liquids-solids separation, food processing, chemical processing, pulp and paper, and wastewater treatment markets, among other industries. It is based in Virginia, USA.

American Institute of Chemical Engineers – Having a vast membership of more than 40,000 members from 93 countries, AIChE is the world's leading organization for chemical engineering professionals especially involved in processing equipments industry. Having information on core process industries or emerging areas, such as nano biotechnology, the members of American Institiute of Chemical Engineers can access information on recognized and promising chemical engineering processes and methods. The global reach of the company ensures learning opportunities from recognized authorities.

Process Plant and Machinery Association of India – Established since 1962, Process Plant and Machinery Association of India is an association of companies that provide Systems, Equipment & Services for establishing Process Plants. This is a non government body that work towards realizing the vision of Indian Process Plant & Machinery industry of becoming preferred suppliers of systems, equipment and services to global process industry.