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Working Party on Static Electricity in Industry

Welcome to the website of the EFCE Working Party on Static Electricity in Industry.

Current activities

 

Electrostatics2025

Electrostatics 2025

Bologna, Italy, 9-12 November 2025

Call for papers for Electrostatics 2025 is open.

Deadline for abstract submission: 1 December 2024


Spotlight Talks

DATE TOPIC / PROGRAMME  
12 November 2024
14:00 - 16:00 CET
Electrostatic charging of particles in flows Registration

20 March 2024

Protection of electrostatic charges and discharges: material web charging and lightning

Recording (YouTube)

31 May 2023

Static electricity in industry: flexible intermediate bulk containers, comfort and smart materials

  • FIBC, standards and rules for a safe handling of materials. Paul Holdstock, Holdstock Technical Services, Manchester - United Kingdom
  • Electrostatics comfort in buildings and offices. Dr. Pedro Llovera-Segovia, Energy Techn. Institute, Polytechnic Univ. of Valencia - Spain
  • Piezoelectric materials obtained from polypropylene foams. Dr. Gustavo Ortega-Braña, Aplicaciones Tecnológicas SA, Valencia - Spain
Recording (YouTube)
21 November 2022

Electrostatics risks in industry: hazards due to electrostatic charges

  • Static Electricity Incident Review (2010-2020). Francesco Restuccia, King’s College London, London - UK
  • Dust explosion in sulphur silo. Anders Thulin, ATC AB, Saltsjöbaden - Sweden
  • Charging powders in vessels with flammable vapour atmospheres: risks, measurements and modelling. Alexis Pey, Stahl Holdings bv, Waalwijk, the Netherlands
Recording (YouTube)
23 November 2021

Electrostatics in industry: risks, measurements and materials

  • Learning lessons from five electrostatic incidents. Simon Egan, Solvay - France
  • Understanding Electrostatic measurements: basic principles and standards. Philippe Molinié, Centrale Supélec - France
  • Practical measurements for working in ATEX Zones: application of IEC 60079-32-2. Jeremy Smallwood, Electrostatic Solutions - UK
  • Electrostatic properties of PPE and development of new full garment test methods. Paul Holdstock, Holdstock Technical Services - UK
Recording (YouTube)

Mission

 

BACKGROUND

Static Electricity is a two-face phenomenon: in some applications it is a real problem, even a threat, but in others, it is a powerful tool. In both cases, there is a common broad knowledge on understanding static electricity processes, measuring and comprehending electrostatic properties of materials or simply shedding light on electrostatic phenomena in general. This cross-disciplinary knowledge shapes the field of Static Electricity in Industry.

On the one hand, Static Electricity is present in many industrial processes, very often unnoticed, until something happens surprisingly, normally a spark apparently coming from nowhere. In other occasions materials stick to each other and difficult their handling or processing. And, even more, in some applications like electronic components or circuits production there is no apparent evidence of its presence, but many components are damaged and become unusable because of static voltages. Static Electricity is often misunderstood due to its complex nature. It is not easy to identify neither the generation process nor its dissipation or accumulation mechanisms.

On the other hand Static Electricity is used for many applications such as electrostatic separation of wastes, electrostatic precipitation for cleaning exhaust gases, electro-spraying of coatings and paintings, dust removal in screens, electrostatic adhesion, modification of fluid flows in electrohydrodynamics, electrostatic manipulation of particles, electronic displays, printing technology, etc. Mastering electrostatic properties and forces provides unique tools for industry and applications.
 

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ELECTROSTATICS

Our main objective in the Working Party Static Electricity in Industry is to promote knowledge and applications of Static Electricity by helping Industry and Academia to exchange experiences and share expertise. Our International Conference on Electrostatics provides a unique interdisciplinary forum for discussion about the electrostatic phenomena and its industrial applications. Fundamentals, hazards, applications, measuring techniques, standards and other related topics are within the scope of the conference. It is an excellent opportunity for researchers and users working in many scientific and technical areas where electrostatics is a real concern or challenge to review progress and discuss future trends. Besides, the interdisciplinary composition of the conference gives the best opportunity to get inspired by solutions in other fields and promote relationships for innovation and breakthroughs.
 

DIFFUSION ACTIONS

From our WP we promote diffusion of Electrostatics by means of the EFCE Webinars which we believe are an excellent tool for reaching a wide public audience.

 

Members

In Memoriam

CHAIR

Dr. Pedro LLOVERA-SEGOVIA
Department of Materials and High Voltage
Electrical Technology Institute – Universidad Politècnica de València
Camino de Vera s/n
46022 Valencia
Spain

SECRETARY

Dr. Istvan KISS
Department of Electrical Power Engineering  
Budapest University of Technology and Economics
1521 Budapest
Hungary

 

Kiss

Members

Finland

Dr. Jaakko PAASI
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
P.O. Box 1300
33101 Tampere, Finland


Dr. Matti MURTOMAA
Univeristy of Turku
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Turku, Finland

Murtomaa_low.jpg

France

Prof. Gerard TOUCHARD
University of Poitiers
Equipe Electrofluidodynamique du L.E.A. Bat. SP 2 MI
Teleport 2 BP 30179
86 962 Futuroscope, France


Prof. Philippe MOLINIÉ
Centrale-Supélec
Département d'Electrotechnique et de Systèmes d'Energie
Plateau de Moulon - 3 rue Joliot Curie
91192 Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France

Molinié_low.bmp

Dr. Simon EGAN
Solvay
9 rue des Cuirassiers,
69003 LYON, France

Egan_low.jpg

Germany

Dr. Holger Grosshans
Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)
Bundesallee 100
38116 Braunschweig, Germany

Egan_low.jpg

Hungary

Dr. Bálint NEMETH
Department of Electrical Power Engineering  
Budapest University of Technology and Economics
1521 Budapest, Hungary


Italy

Associate Prof. Ernesto SALZANO
University of Bologna
Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental, and
Materials Engineering – DICAM
40131 Bologna, Italy

Salzano_low.bmp

Norway

Mr. Sivert OSE

Dr. Kees van WINGERDEN


Slovakia

Prof. Roman CIMBALA
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics
Department of High Voltage Engineering
Technical University Košice
Mäsiarska 74
04001 Košice, Slovak Republic


Slovenia

Mr. Matej DEBENC
Ex-department
SIQ Ljubljana, Tržaška c. 2,
1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia


Spain

Mr. Alexis PEY
Stahl Holdings bv
Pol. Ind. Llevant, c/ Llevant 7
08150 Parets del Vallès, Spain

alexis-pey.jpg

Sweden

Dr. Lars FAST
SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden  Electronics
Box 857, Brinellgatan 4
501 15 BORAS, Sweden


Mr. Anders THULIN
Anders Thulin Consulting AB


Switzerland

Dr. Martin GLOR (Honorary Chairman)
Swiss Process Safety Consulting GmbH
Schönenbuchstr. 36
4123 Allschwil, Switzerland


United Kingdom

Dr. Paul Holdstock
Holdstock Technical Services
3000 Manchester Business Park ,
Aviator Way, Manchester M22 5TG UK

Paul Holdstock.bmp

Dr. Jeremy SMALLWOOD
Electrostatic Solutions Ltd.
13 Redhill Crescent, Bassett,
Southampton, Hampshire SO16 7BQ, UK

Smallwood.bmp

Mr Graham ACKROYD
SYNGENTA Ltd
PO BOX A38 Leeds Road
Huddersfield HD2 IFF, UK

Ackroyd.bmp

Honorary Members


France

Dr. Joseph TAILLET
Consultant
33 Rue de la Tourelle
92 100 Boulogne, France


Hungary

Prof. Istvan BERTA (Honorary Chairman)
High Voltage Laboratory  
Budapest University of Technology and Economics
1521 Budapest, Hungary


Russia

Prof Igor VERESHCHAGIN
Moscow Power Engineering Institute
Krasnokazarmennaya Str 14
Moskow, Russia 111250


Sweden

Dr. Owe FREDHOLM


United Kingdom

Dr. Norbert GIBSON
2 Wharfedale Avenue           
Moston, UK

Prof. Brian MAKIN
Dept. of Appl. Phys. Electronics & Mechanical Engng.
University of Dundee
Dundee DD1 4HN, UK


Awards of the Working Party

 

Helmut Krämer Award and Memorial Lecture (1 at Int. Conf.)

For distinguished achievements in the science and engineering of electrostatics, developing safe technologies, innovative uses and applications.
 

Stig Lundquist Award and Memorial Lecture (1 at Int. Conf.)

For recognition of dedicated service and notable contributions to the advancement of the field of atmospheric and industrial electrostatics as a researcher or teacher
 

International Fellow Award (approximately 2 at Int. Conf.)

For recognition of dedicated service and notable contributions to the advancement of the field of electrostatics.
 

Günter Lüttgens Young Scientist Award (approximately 2 at Int. Conf.)

For young scientist or engineer (below 35 years) who has delivered an oral or poster presentation of high quality at the International Conference and has made notable contributions in the field of electrostatics.

 

> Procedure for Awards

 


List of Awardees
 

International Conference on Electrostatics, Electrostatics 2022, Wroclaw, Poland, 28 March-1 April 2022

Helmut Krämer Award and Memorial Lecture: Dr. Paul Holdstock

Stig Lundquist Award: Dr. Jeremy Smallwood

International Fellow Award: Dr. Daniel Lacks, Dr. Roman Cimbala, Dr. Poupak Mehrani

Günter Lüttgens Young Scientist Award: Pol Fontanes Molina, Artur Marchewicz, László Székely, Adam Pelesz, Connor Williamson, Yunxiao Zhang, Norhafezaidi Mat Saman

 

International Conference on Electrostatics, Electrostatics 2017, Frankfurt, Germany, 10-14 April 2017

Helmut Krämer Award and Memorial Lecture: Dr. Simon Egan

International Fellow Award: Dr. Jeremy Smallwood, Dr. Klaus Schwenzfeuer

Stig Lundquist Award: Dr. Martin Glor

Honorary Chairman: Prof. István Berta

Young Scientist Award: Dr. Lisa Zater, Dr. Sergei Vasilkov, Dr. Gontran Richard, Dr. Serge Forestier

 

12th International Conference on Electrostatics, Budapest, Hungary, 16-20 April 2013

Helmut Krämer Award and Memorial Lecture: Dr. Ulrich von Pidoll

International Fellow Award: Prof. Mark N. Horenstein, Mr. Günter Lüttgens

Young Scientist Award  

 

11th International Conference on Electrostatics, Valencia, Spain, 27-29 May 2009

Helmut Krämer Award and Memorial Lecture: Prof. Gerard Touchard

International Fellow Award: Prof. Brian Makin, Dr. Joseph Taillet

Honorary Chairman: Dr. Martin Glor

Young Scientist Award: Graham Ackroy, Liliana Patricia Arevalo González, Peter Ireland, Tamás Iváncsy, Jean-Charles Laurentie

 

10th International Conference on Electrostatics, Helsinki, Finland, 15 - 17 June, 2005

Helmut Krämer Award and Memorial Lecture: Prof. Ion Inculet

International Fellow Award: Prof. Noël J. Felici, Prof. John Gibbings, Dr. Bodo Maurer, Dr. Ernest L Zichy

Young Scientist Award: Audrey Bourgeois, Andreas Marquard, Janusz Podlinski, Flip Kleijn van Willingen

 

9th International Conference on Electrostatics, Koscielisko-Zakopane, Poland, 29 May - 2 June 2001

Helmut Krämer Award and Memorial Lecture: Dr. Martin Glor

International Fellow Award: Prof. Stig Lundquist, Dr. Norbert Gibson

Young Scientist Award: István Kiss, Marcin Lakowski, Eduard Michel, Eric Moreau

Events organised by the Working Party

 

Electrostatics2025
 

Electrostatics 2025

Bologna, Italy, 9-12 November 2025

Call for papers for Electrostatics 2025 is open.

Deadline for abstract submission: 1 December 2024

 

-------
Previous events in the series:

For the links to the proceedings of the previous Electrostatics conferences, see "Publications"


Spotlight Talks

20 March 2024

Protection of electrostatic charges and discharges: material web charging and lightning

Recording (YouTube)

31 May 2023

Static electricity in industry: flexible intermediate bulk containers, comfort and smart materials

  • FIBC, standards and rules for a safe handling of materials. Paul Holdstock, Holdstock Technical Services, Manchester - United Kingdom
  • Electrostatics comfort in buildings and offices. Dr. Pedro Llovera-Segovia, Energy Techn. Institute, Polytechnic Univ. of Valencia - Spain
  • Piezoelectric materials obtained from polypropylene foams. Dr. Gustavo Ortega-Braña, Aplicaciones Tecnológicas SA, Valencia - Spain
Recording (YouTube)
21 November 2022

Electrostatics risks in industry: hazards due to electrostatic charges

  • Static Electricity Incident Review (2010-2020). Francesco Restuccia, King’s College London, London - UK
  • Dust explosion in sulphur silo. Anders Thulin, ATC AB, Saltsjöbaden - Sweden
  • Charging powders in vessels with flammable vapour atmospheres: risks, measurements and modelling. Alexis Pey, Stahl Holdings bv, Waalwijk, the Netherlands
Recording (YouTube)
23 November 2021

Electrostatics in industry: risks, measurements and materials

  • Learning lessons from five electrostatic incidents. Simon Egan, Solvay - France
  • Understanding Electrostatic measurements: basic principles and standards. Philippe Molinié, Centrale Supélec - France
  • Practical measurements for working in ATEX Zones: application of IEC 60079-32-2. Jeremy Smallwood, Electrostatic Solutions - UK
  • Electrostatic properties of PPE and development of new full garment test methods. Paul Holdstock, Holdstock Technical Services - UK
Recording (YouTube)

Events in the field of Electrostatics but outside the WP

 

Previous activities

 

Conference series - ElectrOstatics

see "Events"
 

Spotlight talk series 

see "Events"
 

Working Party meetings

WP Meeting 2023, Brunel University, Uxbridge (UK), 6th September 2023

WP Meetings 2022, on-line, 17th January / 8th September

WP Meetings 2021, on-line, 22nd March / 14th April / 5th May / 3rd June / 1st July / 17th September / 14th October / 19th November / 13th December

WP Meeting 2020, on-line, 14th August 2020

WP Meeting 2019, Manchester (UK), 9th April 2019

WP Meeting 2019: Wroclaw (Poland), 23rd January 2019

WP Meeting 2018: Wroclaw (Poland), 28th September 2018 (cancelled, held on-line)

WP Meeting 2017: Frankfurt (Germany), 11th April 2017

WP Meeting 2016: on-line, 2nd June 2016

WP Meeting 2015. Frankfurt (Germany), 6th August 2015

WP Meeting 2015. Southampton (UK), 14th April 2015

WP Meeting 2013. Budapest (Hungary), 16th April 2013

WP Meeting 2012: Budapest (Hungary), 3-4 May 2012

WP Meeting 2011: Bangor (UK), 12th April 2011

WP Meeting 2010: Budapest (Hungary), 28th May 2010

WP Meeting 2009: Valencia (Spain), 29th May 2009

WP Meeting 2008: Valencia (Spain), 18th April 2008

WP Meeting 2007: Oxford (UK), 26th March 2007

WP Meeting 2006: Basel (Switzerland), 28th-29th April 2006

WP Meeting 2005: Espoo, Helsinki (Finland), 17th June 2005