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Industry leaders gather at the 2025 Annual Hydrofluoric Acid Users Conference in Liverpool
2025-04-02T13:35:00+01:00
On March 6th 2025, the HF Users Conference gathered experts and industry leaders from across the globe. With over 90 delegates from the UK, USA and Europe, this year’s conference, orchestrated by the Chemical Industries Association (CIA), marked a significant stride forward in the collective effort to manage hydrofluoric acid safely, prevent incidents and protect asset integrity.
The event showcased a blend of technical expertise championed by the CIA’s HF Network. Known for its commitment to Responsible Care, the network brings together a diverse group of 35 members, including a Dutch member, as well as key players from sectors like alkylation refineries, chemical manufacturing, civil nuclear, dilution and distribution to the engineering use of HF, and associated safe treatment of used materials.
As usual, following the CIA’s Responsible Care® Guiding Principles, our varied programme covered many aspects of the supply chain, tailored to meet the requirements of members. The conference’s agenda was varied, focusing on issues from emergency response drills to HF tank farm construction challenges. Reviewed and rebranded, the CIA’s HF Guidance will be available to attendees.
Among the speakers, Ben Gibson, HF Network Chair from Urenco, set the tone with his opening remarks, presenting a review of the HF Network. At the same time, industry experts like Eric Thornton of Orbia and Chris Du Bois from Descote delved deeper into technological advances and safety protocols. The discussions were rich in content and practical in orientation, addressing real-world challenges like problematic alkylation plant connections and the safe sampling of HF.
Adding to the conference programme, service providers, equipment manufacturers, and PPE suppliers exhibited at the event to help provide members with valuable insight into new products and services essential to help manage HF safely. Thank you to Georg Fischer Sales Ltd, BIAR, Ansell Healthcare, Flexitallic (UK) Ltd, and Descote Valves and Controls for exhibiting at the event.
The conference also included open discussions allowing the exchange of ideas and experiences, ending in a chair’s summary that not only recapped the event’s insights but also charted a path forward for the HF Network’s year ahead.
The success of the 2025 HF Users Conference demonstrates the planning and vision of the organising team—Helen Ip, Ben Gibson, and John Butcher—backed by the support of the CIA Directors. We look forward to next year’s HF Conference. If you would like to find out more, please contact John Butcher, CIA Responsible Care Executive at john.butcher@cia.org.uk .
Priorities for the Network are reviewed annually and include developing and sharing best practice, learning from experience, discussion of technical challenges, and updating of HF Network Guidance - aligning (where possible) to have commonality of purpose with European / American colleagues - especially issues like First Aid treatment and emergency response.
HF Network Member Guidance covers a large range of topics: Training, PPE, Loading/Unloading, Hoses, Sampling, Emergency Response, Inspection, Decontamination, Medical / First aid, Laboratories and Change-House design & operation. We thank technical volunteers of the CIA HF Network for their reviews of Guidance in a fresh new format working towards promotion via the CIA website.
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