Process industries
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Process industries include a broad spectrum of industries involving extraction of raw materials, their transport and their transformation (conversion) into other products by means of physical, mechanical and/or chemical processes using different technologies. A more restricted definition would include only those industries where raw materials are transformed, thus leaving transport (and possibly extraction) out of the definition. Traditionally, those activities are included among the process industries. Typical examples are: petroleum extraction, treatment, pipeline transport and refining, petrochemical, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, pulp and paper manufacturing, mining, etc.
Industrial processes usually require diverse automation and safety systems to ensure the process quality, economy and safety. Processes can be classified into batch and continuous. Batch processes involve the production of a given amount of product in batches, which may follow a steady process or involve pre-set variations in the process parameters (e.g. medical vials, beer, etc.). Continuous processes transform big amounts of raw materials during long amounts of time, usually in a steady process. A typical example is gasoline refining. Examples of the process industries include food, beverages, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, petroleum, ceramics, base metals, coal, plastics, rubber, textiles, tobacco, wood and wood products, paper and paper products, etc.
