Trying to come up with a theme for this year’s roundup, I wasn’t having any success. Then, I went to New York City for a concert, The Tedeschi Truck Band, and a play, Stereophonic. Both were really good — give me a call and I can fill you in — but I got the idea I was looking for on the New York City Subway.
The train going to the Beacon Theatre was packed; I desperately needed to board this train to get to the concert. I heard, “Stand clear of the closing doors,” and I jumped into the subway car, pushing through the wall of humans. Guess what? There was a little room for me. It got me thinking how there’s always a little room for a new idea.
Finding room for fresh perspective
We certainly saw large ideas and innovations in 2024. For example, ChatGPT (which I never use). We also saw ideas and innovations that can be classified as “next steps.” I like to see this with new craft beers (which I may try). However, Perlmutter & Idea Development (P&ID) focuses on making “a little room for really new ideas.”
In 2024, P&ID helped many clients squeeze into the market and make a little room for their new ideas. This work included:
- One client developing a new water treatment chemical.
- Another client that has a unique new mixer design as well as several with new instrumentation for measuring contamination levels in solids (solid-solid) and liquids (solid-liquid).
- New ideas from P&ID for other specialty chemicals, plastics recycling and energy.
Finally, my readers know about my work in the lithium value chain (geothermal brines, battery materials, lithium-ion battery recycling and cell/battery manufacturing). These topics and the new ideas around them are further explored on my website and in my Chemical Processing column, Barry on Batteries.
This year P&ID also made room in the very cluttered and crowded video market for THE P&ID MINUTE. This series of short videos is designed to help engineers solve a process problem. Check these out and let’s develop a new one together.
Make space for your ideas
I’ve learned this year that no matter what you’re trying to develop, or thinking about developing, the one thing you need not worry about is fitting in. There is plenty of space available because the world market always has room for a new idea.
P&ID remains committed to helping clients navigate the complexities of their landscape to fit in. Thank you to my clients and partners for their continued support. I look forward to what new ideas we work on together in 2025.