The conference - a collaborative venture between the IMC and Massey University - is scheduled for Friday, 24 April. It’s billed as an initiative to get academics and the process control industry working together more closely.

IMC representative Jim Neville says the industry has long been conscious of the need for closer contact with the academic and research fraternity to advance process control developments within New Zealand.

"That need has suddenly become more pressing with the Government considering the possibility of reducing or eliminating research funding. The process control industry needs to become more involved."

The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology is one recipient of government grants, and a representative at the seminar will spell out the implications of reduced funding, and outline some initiatives the industry could pursue to improve productivity.

Neville says the IMC is investigating joint ventures with facilities like Massey to develop research strategies, and points out that the university already has some very advanced process modelling packages. The university will sketch its vision of collaborative possibilities at the seminar.

Other speakers at the seminar include representatives from North America’s Entech Controls (the company specialises in process control applications for the pulp and paper industry) and Pavilion Technology, which has an extensive track record with the dairy industry.

Custom Controls will present a case study using the process optimisation package - Techmation Protuner. The company plans to hold a three day advanced process control training programme on the software prior to the conference. It will be addressed by Australia’s Protuner guru, Graham Jefferson.

If interested in attending the Massey University seminar, contact Nicole Burns at 09-634-1391.