This talk focuses on recent research on three industrial processes in which fluid mechanics plays a salient role – papermaking, energy recovery ventilation, and train track friction modification. Research in papermaking has involved the study of paper pressing, drying, and creping, and addresses those areas with a combination of experimental, analytical, and numerical methods. Energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) are air-to-air energy exchangers used to conserve energy in building ventilation. Recent work, involving a combination of analytical and experimental methods, has shed light on fouling and condensation in ERVs and means to enhance ERV effectiveness. The high dry friction between metal railroad tracks and wheels results in excessive fuel consumption, noise, and wear. To alleviate these problems liquid friction modifier can be applied to railroad tracks as either a pool through which the wheel rolls, or as a liquid stream from a moving train. The fluid mechanics of both application processes is studied through complementary experimental, analytical, and numerical methods. One recurring theme is that applied fluid mechanics research both benefits from fundamental understanding and raises interesting fundamental research questions. A second theme is the need for a broad perspective to solve industrially relevant fluid mechanics problems.