Objective

To expand its business in China, Jowat planned a new production site for adhesive products in the greater Shanghai area. The production concept established in Malaysia was to be transferred to China while also preparing the site for future growth.

Implementation

MPS ARCHONIC took over the planning and EPCM management of the project and translated Jowat's requirements into the Chinese planning and permitting framework. Local planning partners and a design institute licensed for chemical projects were involved, while environmental, safety and technical requirements were integrated into the planning.

Result

A production site covering approximately 17,000 m² was developed to support Jowat's market entry and further production expansion in China, with additional capacity already incorporated into the planning. Production, warehouse, office and technical areas were integrated to meet the specific requirements of a Chinese chemical park.

Market expansion in China required a dedicated production facility

New applications and proximity to key customers made local production capacity necessary. However, an established plant concept could not simply be transferred 
due to Chinese chemical and permitting requirements.

Initial Situation

• Jowat already had production and market experience in Malaysia
• New adhesive applications increased the importance of the Chinese market
• Establishment of own production capacity in the Shanghai region planned
• Chemical production in China only possible within classified industrial parks
• Site selection restricted by available chemical park sites
• Established structures from Malaysia were to be transferred to the new site

Challenges

• Integrate Chinese chemical, environmental and safety requirements into the new production concept
• Combine German quality standards with local standards and permitting requirements
• Consider site geometry and chemical-specific setback requirements
• Coordinate the complex regulatory approval process
• Prepare the site for future growth at the same time

International requirements were translated into a plan that could be approved

MPS ARCHONIC combined Jowat's requirements with local planning and permitting expertise 
and coordinated the interfaces between Germany, Malaysia and China.

Planning & Permitting

• Adapted the production and building concept to the conditions of the Chinese chemical park
• Collaborated with a Chinese design institute licensed for chemical projects
• Integrated local planning and regulatory requirements into the overall process
• Managed the environmental impact assessment process
• Considered material flows and potential impacts on air, water and the environment
• Supported the multi-stage design and approval process with local authorities

Technical Implementation

• Developed a three-story production structure for the mixing systems
• Planned storage areas with different climatic requirements
• Enabled storage at below 30% humidity despite high outdoor humidity in Shanghai
• Integrated a containment, treatment and monitoring system for potentially contaminated firefighting water
• Coordinated production, storage, office and technical areas on the limited site
• Supported and coordinated machine installation during the project

A production facility that can grow along with the China business

From different international standards and complex local requirements, an implementable site concept was developed that enables current production while already allowing for future expansion phases.

Result & Added Value

• Approximately 17,000 m² of production, storage and office space planned
• Chinese chemical, environmental and safety requirements met
• German quality and design standards implemented under local conditions
• Specific climate and firefighting water requirements technically addressed
• Production capacity prepared for future expansion
• Initially planned for two production lines, with additional lines incorporated into the development concept
• Phase 2 already considered as a future site expansion
• Building designed to a high green-building standard; LEED Gold certification was not applied for

Key Feature

The key was combining two perspectives: MPS ARCHONIC understood the expectations of a German industrial company as well as the planning, permitting and construction requirements of the Chinese market. Requirements were therefore not simply implemented according to local standards, but critically reviewed together with Jowat and adapted to ensure that regulatory requirements, technical functionality and economic viability were aligned.