April 17, 2026 – Intense Process Technologies is advancing the transition from batch process development to continuous manufacturing by harnessing breakthrough process intensification tools, with precision pumps at the core of its innovation. The company focuses on creating faster, safer, and greener chemical reactions that occupy far less space than traditional methods such as bulky stirred tank reactors, helping manufacturers reduce costs and accelerate product launch timelines.
Fuji Techno Super Metering Pumps, a key component in the company’s solutions, play a critical role in optimizing heat and mass transfer—two fundamental aspects of process intensification. For heat transfer, these pumps deliver precise, pulse-free flow to microreactors, where tiny channels efficiently manage heat distribution. This eliminates the need for extreme cooling or dilution in high-energy reactions, preventing runaway scenarios or explosions while maintaining flow rate accuracy of ±0.1%, allowing reactions to run hotter, more concentrated, and faster. For mass transfer, the pumps excel at delivering chemicals in and out of reaction zones with perfect concentrations, even for sticky, viscous, or hard-to-mix substances.
Available in models like HYM and HYS-C, with flow rates ranging from 15 ml/min to 120 l/min, the pumps support applications from lab trials to large-scale production, ensuring efficient, clog-free operation in continuous flow systems. By combining these pumps with smart reactor designs, Intense Process Technologies creates tailored reaction environments that enhance efficiency while reducing footprint. From round-bottom flask experiments to pilot plants, nearly every liquid-based or solids-forming chemical process can benefit from this integration. The company’s mission is to provide proof-of-concept studies and develop game-changing processes that transform industrial manufacturing through process intensification.
EU-Funded Project Delivers Sustainable Water Management Solutions for Process Industry
April 16, 2026 – The EU-funded InspireWater project has developed a series of sustainable solutions to help the process industry reduce water consumption, energy use, and waste, addressing growing concerns about water availability and environmental sustainability. Led by researchers from the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, the project adopts a holistic approach to water management, integrating life-cycle thinking, resource efficiency, and new technologies into existing corporate management structures.
Process industries such as steel, pulp and paper, chemicals, and oil and gas are among the world’s largest water users, relying on water for fabrication, processing, cooling, and transportation. The InspireWater project aims to change this by providing flexible, easy-to-implement water management frameworks that help companies identify efficient ways to cut water and chemical use, as well as wastewater production. The project has also developed practical technological solutions, including a simple yet effective magnetic separation technology for removing metal particles in the steel industry, which demonstrates that innovations do not need to be complex to be efficient.
In addition, researchers have developed a more advanced solution for recovering water and chemicals in stainless steel manufacturing, overcoming the challenge of chemical recovery in heavily oxidised industrial environments. Through collaboration between academic and industry partners, this solution is now undergoing additional testing and is expected to be ready for full implementation soon. The project highlights the importance of cross-sector collaboration in driving sustainable innovation in the process industry, helping companies balance operational efficiency with environmental responsibility.
Semiconductor Material Demand Surges Amid Global Wafer Fab Expansion in 2026
April 15, 2026 – The global semiconductor industry’s ongoing expansion is driving a sharp increase in demand for semiconductor materials, with multiple factors combining to create strong growth momentum. As AI computing power, data centers, and smart terminals continue to expand, global wafer fab capital expenditure remains at a high level, directly boosting demand for materials with consumption and repurchase attributes.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has raised its 2026 capital expenditure to 52-56 billion US dollars, up from 40.9 billion US dollars in 2025, as it accelerates the expansion of 3nm, 2nm, and CoWoS production capacity. SMIC, China’s leading semiconductor manufacturer, is expected to maintain high capital expenditure in 2026, adding approximately 40,000 12-inch wafers per month to its capacity; its 2025 average capacity utilization rate reached 93.5%, with 8-inch wafers operating at full capacity and 12-inch wafers near full capacity. Meanwhile, Changxin Memory and Yangtze Memory Technology Corporation (YMTC) have launched new expansion plans, with Changxin’s Shanghai new plant expected to receive equipment in the second half of 2026 and start production in 2027, and YMTC’s Wuhan Phase III project likely to be put into production ahead of schedule in the second half of 2026.
Key semiconductor materials are benefiting significantly from this expansion. CMP materials, including polishing pads and slurries, are in high demand as process miniaturization and 3D NAND stacking drive up the number of CMP steps per wafer. Semiconductor targets are also experiencing volume and price growth, with 3D NAND stacking and advanced logic processes increasing consumption. In addition, the global supply chain of tungsten targets has tightened due to China’s export controls on tungsten, creating opportunities for domestic high-purity target manufacturers. Lithography胶 and etching fluids are also seeing rising demand, with advanced processes driving higher requirements for product performance and creating a window for domestic substitution. Industry experts predict that the global semiconductor material market will continue to grow, with domestic manufacturers poised to gain greater market share amid supply chain security concerns and accelerated localization efforts.