Abstract
The development of process machinery poses certain special problems which are additional to those normally encountered in engineering development. In industries as widely different as oil refining, textiles, or agriculture, the equipment suppliers must all link into a lengthy process chain, they must deal with the question of process material spoilt during experimental work and they have to resolve the problem of the ownership of design know-how arising from operating experience gained by the processor. These problems have a significant influence on the development strategies adopted in different industries. On technical matters it is usual to try to isolate the machine from the process chain by using specification parameters. Five levels of abstraction in defining the parameters are described. On the commercial side the relationship between the manufacturer of the machine and the company operating the process must be established in unambiguous terms at the outset. Depending on the degree to which the machine manufacturer can later accept responsibility for some processes matters, various arrangements can be agreed for the future development of the machine and process and for the running of plant trials.
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