This contribution contains an overview on process analysis and process development in the field of fixed-bed processes for gas-gas and gas-solid reactions. The examples are mainly taken from the work performed during the last 20 years at the Institut fur Chernische Verfahrenstechnik in Stuttgart. Its main intention is to show how process analysis and process intensification can benefit from the simplified representation of typical thermal reaction front patterns which evolve in such reactors. Favourable patterns should be used as natural building blocks for the robust design of integrated processes. The processes considered include heat integrated processes for exothermic and endothermic gas-gas reactions as well as exothermic gas-solid reactions, with a special view on automotive Diesel exhaust purification. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.