Gexcon Signed an MoU with UPL to Set Up a Center of Excellence on Agrochemicals

UPL announces entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Gexcon AS, Norway, to progress its focus on Innovation Management in Process Safety, enabling UPL to strengthen the existing standards on Process Safety across its manufacturing facilities and projects worldwide. The MOU will build on the long-standing relationship between UPL and Gexcon AS to advance an operational excellence journey resulting in global leadership in the implementation of Process Safety & Risk Management.

“We are appreciative and proud of the trust UPL stakeholders have put to achieve excellence in manufacturing while continuous growth takes place.  The next phase of UPL’s operational aspiration is aimed at achieving Global Leadership by strengthening the existing standards of Process Safety & Risk Management and work on Research & Development by building a Centre of Excellence,” said Vikram Shroff, Director of UPL group. “We look forward to supporting UPL in their process transformation to better identify, manage and deliver innovative ideas in Process Safety & Risk Management while handling hazardous chemicals”, said Mr. Sturle H. Pedersen, President & Global CEO of Gexcon.”

The focus on Innovation in Process Safety & Risk Management will transform UPL’s ability to develop new high-performance standards in line with global leaders in manufacturing hazardous chemicals. The capability to develop and implement these standards will help UPL to reduce the risks from their operations to Environment, Personnel & Assets. The goals of the Innovations in Process Safety Management focus will be to bring a cultural change among employees at all levels and improve the company’s standards by operating in a cost-effective and sustainable manner.

UPL’s aspiration is to achieve Global Leadership in the implementation of Process Safety and Risk Management and work on Research and Development areas by developing a ‘Centre of Excellence’ (COE).

The MOU involves the use of Gexcon technology in Process Safety and Risk Management for UPL plants worldwide as well as in setting up a ‘Centre of Excellence’ in ‘Process Safety and Risk Management’ for Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals at Gujarat (India). 

Gexcon developed over a period of more than 30 years an industry standard for CFD modelling. FLACS® is one of the best-validated tools for modelling flammable and toxic releases and the consequences thereof, in a technical safety context.

FLACS® is a comprehensive, yet easy to use, software tool for modelling (dispersion, fire, and explosion) consequences in full 3D for typical flammable and toxic release scenarios. It is used extensively in the Oil and Gas and Process industries and also increasingly in the nuclear industry, in facilities with dust explosion potential and in many other fields.

This COE will be the first of its kind and will be ‘Pride of the Nation’. The COE will be equipped to provide solutions to sponsored projects from industry. There will be a separate section on VR/ AVR facilities developed by Gexcon AS.

The COE will focus on R&D activities in various research projects particularly relevant in estimating and mitigating the consequences of major industrial accidents. Gexcon’s current research projects include Joint Industry Projects, Fire modelling, with special emphasis on pool and jet fires (internal project) & State-of-the-art risk assessments and consequence modelling in the process industry.

“Gexcon is a valuable partner in enhancing our operational standards. I am confident that engaging Gexcon for this transformative project will support us in developing new ideas on Process Safety & Risk Management for our company,” said Vikram Shroff.

About UPL

UPL Limited is one of the leading global crop protection products companies headquartered in India. UPL Limited stock is publicly-traded on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India. Its current market capitalization is ~US$4.6 billion, as of June 30, 2018. For FY 2018, UPL Limited reported operating revenue of c.US$2.7 billion and EBITDA of US$543 million.  

UPL Corp is an operating company that leads the international operations of UPL Limited across the world. Since its inception in 1993, UPL Corp has expanded its production and distribution footprint through its subsidiaries internationally and now has diversified crop protection and post-harvest solution business with an established presence and leading market position in major agricultural regions throughout the world. https://www.uplonline.com/

About Gexcon AS

Gexcon is a consulting and research company owned by the research institute NORCE, which in turn is owned by three Norwegian Govt. Universities i.e. the University of Bergen, the University of Stavanger, and the University of Agder.

Gexcon is world-leading in the field of safety and risk management and advanced dispersion, explosion and fire modelling. Gexcon’s experience arises from detailed knowledge of explosion phenomena built up throughout years of extensive research projects, carrying out safety assessments, performing accident investigations and performing physical testing at the company’s own dedicated facilities.

Headquartered in Bergen, Norway, Gexcon also has offices in Washington DC, Houston (USA), Perth (Australia), Warrington (UK), Jakarta (Indonesia), Dubai (Middle East), Shanghai (China) and Pune (India). Gexcon – the leading global partner in dispersion, fire and explosion safety. https://www.gexcon.com