Contributor Guidelines

Guidelines for Prospective Authors

Prospective authors find may find the following suggestions helpful — they provide a general overview of the editorial approach of Process Cooling. Articles in Process Cooling take one of two approaches: generic technology-oriented or case history.

Technology-Oriented Articles

Technology articles in Process Cooling take a practical how-to approach and should be generic, not specific to a company, product or brand. A good starting point is to ask "How to . . ." and fill in the blank with an active verb: select, buy, troubleshoot, repair, maintain, improve, reduce, update, rebuild, etc. By starting with this question, you can be sure that your article provides an answer to a problem that process cooling engineers face.

Types of equipment that can be covered in a technology article include:

  • Refrigeration systems and their parts, such as evaporators, compressors and condensers.
  • Cooling towers and other evaporative cooling systems.
  • Chillers, both portable and system designs.
  • Filters and filtration systems.
  • Heat exchangers and coils.
  • Cryogenic systems and piping.
  • Valves and piping.
  • Freezers.
  • Fans and blowers.
  • Pumps.
  • Temperature sensors and controllers.
  • Equipment and enclosure cooling.
  • Insulation.

Your article should explore non-company specific information that any reader could use — whether using your equipment or your competitor's. If there are special concerns unique to an industry that the magazine covers, you can tailor your article to address that industry.

Technology articles can take many formats: Question/Answer, 9 Tips, Straight Exposition, etc. No one format is right for every article. To help determine the format, evaluate the information you'd like to provide. For example, if you'd like to explain common temperature control problems and possible solutions, you may want to use the Question/Answer format. Alternatively, you may have several small pieces of information that all relate to a single topic such as "Applications for which Temporary Cooling Towers Make Sense." Write a short sub-headline for each section and group them as a list of tips: "5 Ways to Use Temporary Towers."

Finally, don't be afraid to let images, tables, charts and graphs tell part of the story, and/or include a short sidebar. A good quality image and a well-written caption sometimes say more than 500 words of copy. Use these materials to tell some new piece of information, or to illustrate a point, rather than just repeating what has been stated in the body of the article. Take advantage of our photo gallery approach on our web site and include additional images for web use only.

Case History Articles

"Application Solutions" (case histories) highlight ways engineers have used your equipment or services to cut costs, save time, improve operations and product quality, or solve production problems. This editorial feature is an excellent way for you to showcase your success stories by teaming up with your customers. A case history allows you to highlight specific product features and the competitive advantages they have provided for your customer.

A good case history is all in the details: Outline specific results that your customer achieved, naming the customer/company involved. Include an historical perspective of the problem and describe the goals that were set and accomplished. Tell the story through the eyes of your customer, quoting at least one of the customer's engineers or employees who explains the objective of the cooling operation and how the product or service met the objectives or solved the problem. Provide credible evidence — cite how much money was saved, the percent increase in production, etc. You may also include quotes from engineers or employees at the contributing company.

In General…

Whether you decide to write a technology-oriented article or a case history, any article submitted to Process Cooling should conform to the following.

  • Text. While length is somewhat dependent on how much you have to say, a good rule of thumb is 1,500 to 2,000 words. Use sidebars and subheads when needed to break up sections of your article. Provide captions for all graphics. Be sure to include your name and number as well as your customer's contact information if submitting a case history. Do NOT embed images in word documents. 
  • Artwork. Consider including three to five graphics (tables, charts, photos, diagrams, etc.) to further illustrate your story in print, and send as many as you have for our online galleries. Send any tables, charts or diagrams in an electronic format (.tif, .eps or .jpg) with a minimum pixel dimensions of 600x900; larger is better. Do NOT embed images in word documents. 
  • Submission Instructions. If the files are over 6 MB, upload them via our web-based FTP tool. Visit http://upload.bnpmedia.com/ and follow the on-screen prompts. Be sure to put your company name as the first word of the file name so we can locate your file.
  • Rights Acknowledgement. BNP Media shall own all rights to any submission accepted for publication (including text, photographs, artwork, charts, graphs, etc.) in its edited, redesigned or otherwise altered state. BNP Media shall have the right to publish such submissions in any form whatsoever, including printed form, disk, electronic or any now- or hereafter-developed method of transmitting information over the Internet or other distributed network system. You will be asked to sign a form granting BNP Media these reprint rights.

Thank you for contributing to Process Cooling. If you have any questions, please contact Linda Becker at (262) 564-0074 or beckerl@bnpmedia.com

Guidelines for Cover Photography

Process Cooling gladly accepts photographic submissions for consideration as a cover image. The subject (type of equipment or process) featured on the cover each month varies; contact the editor at beckerl@bnpmedia.com for scheduling. Keep in mind that submitting photography does not guarantee its use.

Mechanical Specifications

All images submitted for consideration for a cover should conform to the following:

  • Photo should be vertically oriented and usable as a full-bleed.
  • Minimum 300 dpi resolution.
  • Minimum large format size of 8” x 10” (2400 x 3200 pixels).

If you have existing color photography you would like considered for a cover, please evaluate it with the following guidelines in mind:

  • Avoid static product shots such as the equipment sitting on a table. It is always better to show the equipment in operation.
  • If people are used in the shot (which is acceptable), avoid overused poses such as someone pointing a finger at the product or two people bent over a clipboard. Subjects should be performing a task: tightening a screw, taking a reading or sample, checking for leaks, etc.
  • Images submitted must not have been used previously for any other magazine cover, and we prefer not to use images featured on the cover of your company’s brochure or catalog.
  • Keep in mind that submitting photography does not guarantee its use.

In addition to the above guidelines, if you are planning a photo shoot, consider the following:

  • If shooting at a customer's plant, dress any people in the photo in uniforms or company shirts, and have them wear the appropriate accessories (tool belt, safety glasses, gloves, work boots, etc.).
  • See if an unusual shooting angle works, such as shooting up from the floor or down from a ladder or overhead conveyor.
  • Use unusual lighting such as a gel (not pink or purple) or create shadows.
  • Beware of distracting litter or mess in the background, e.g., trash on the floor, buckets/brooms/mops propped in the background, Styrofoam cups, coffee cups or soda cans on desks or benches, etc.

Submitting Your Image

If you are interested in having existing photography considered for the cover, you may send brochures or catalogs, with the appropriate image(s) marked, to the editor for initial evaluation. Upload large files via our web-based FTP tool. Visit http://upload.bnpmedia.com/ and follow the on-screen prompts. Our art director will evaluate the image(s) and determine if appropriate for an upcoming issue. Submit cover images electronically to Linda Becker at beckerl@bnpmedia.com; phone (262) 564-0074.

Guidelines for Press Releases

Process Cooling accepts press releases from manufacturers of industrial cooling equipment. If your company manufactures process cooling equipment, components and supplies, we want to hear from you! Consider sending press releases to announce news at your company, including:

  • New product introductions.
  • Personnel promotions.
  • New personnel.
  • Joint ventures.
  • Acquisitions.
  • Major contracts.
  • New site or Internet services and features.
  • Address and phone number changes.
  • ISO and other certifications
  • New sales representatives or distributors.

Submit all press releases electronically to Linda Becker at BeckerL@bnpmedia.com

New Products 

When writing a product announcement, be sure to focus on the benefits the product will provide to the user. Cite specifics — operating temperature, dimensions, number of channels, types of inputs/outputs, electrical ratings or construction materials, for example — as well as any special features that make the product different from your competitor's offering. Also, focus on a single series or model rather than a general category or type of product so that specifics can be provided. Supply an image separately at minimum 300 dpi resolution, if available. Do not embed images in word documents. Personnel. Include an image if available. If a new hire, specify the person's title and the major responsibilities. If a promotion, also note the person's previous position, and who will be filling that position, if known. Image should be minimum 300 dpi resolution.

Photographs and Other Artwork

If available, provide an electronic image with every press release. While there is no guarantee that it will be used in print, we will use submitted materials online if they comply with our image specs. Submit .jpg or .tif files with a minimum pixel resolution of 600x900 pixels; larger is better.
A good quality image adds a visual "punch" that a few hundred words of copy just can't provide. Be sure the file name includes the company name and product model number/name. Provide a caption explaining what the image shows if it is not immediately apparent. Please note: We cannot use photos cut from brochures, catalogs or magazines, or line diagrams. Do NOT embed images in word documents.

How to Get It to Us

Please paste the text of your press release in the body of the e-mail message. In addition, you may attach your release as a Microsoft Word document. Attach your image(s), attached to the same message, to Linda Becker at beckerl@bnpmedia.com. Alternately, for images, you can provide a link to the full-size image file hosted on your web site.

NOTE: Releases received will be evaluated for content and applicability to Process Cooling. Those accepted for consideration will be used on a first-come, first-served basis, and will be edited for style and content. Due to the volume of mail received, materials cannot be returned.