Evonik’s specialty amine expansion project has been officially put into operation

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On April 21, the expansion project for Evonik’s specialty amines, undertaken by Nanjing Engineering Company, was officially put into operation. Specialty amines are key additives in the production of polyurethane foam, and they are widely used in industries such as automotive, construction, home furnishings, and consumer goods. At the same time, it can also be used as a curing agent for epoxy systems in products such as anti-corrosion coatings and adhesives. The new generation of reactive specialty amines not only improve production efficiency and product performance, but also offer advantages such as higher energy efficiency, lower odor, and reduced emissions of harmful volatiles. The expanded Evonik Nanjing facility now possesses the capability for commercial-scale production of advanced reactive specialty amines, offering reliable solutions for applications in high-performance polyurethanes and epoxy curing agents that are subject to increasingly strict emission standards. This project utilizes the world’s most advanced production technology for specialty amines, with both the basic design and detailed design being carried out independently by the company. Since the initiation of the basic design phase, the project design team has worked closely with the owner’s management team, adhering to a working approach that gives priority to process safety, emphasizes compliance in design, seeks to improve quality while reducing costs, and takes into account the requirements for practical operation and maintenance. Given the large number of sophisticated equipment units and the complexity of aligning with foreign technical standards, thorough discussions were carried out regarding the design parameters of key equipment, as well as process safety analysis and design optimization, to ensure that the design solutions not only meet the requirements of advanced processes but also take into account construction feasibility and ease of operation and maintenance. During the construction period, designers were stationed on site to quickly resolve technical issues, providing comprehensive design support to ensure the successful commissioning of the project from start to finish. Through coordinated management to reduce costs and improve efficiency, the procurement team adheres to the principles of \"safety, timeliness, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness\", proactively addressing the needs of clients in order to cut procurement costs and shorten delivery times ； Work with the design team to facilitate the rapid release of purchase requests ； It is linked in real time with the site to ensure that supplies arrive at the right time. For long-cycle and critical equipment, establish an urgent delivery tracking system and a regular coordination mechanism to strengthen the monitoring of manufacturing and logistics progress. During the inspection phase, factory inspections, verification at key points, and third-party acceptance upon delivery are strictly implemented to ensure closed-loop management of quality issues. By reversing the schedule and overcoming various challenges during construction, the project team maintained close communication with the owner and supervisor, anticipating potential problems in advance. They successfully managed the pressures associated with the tight timing and heavy workload involved in carrying out repairs and Tie-in work alongside underground pipeline installations, addressed the adverse effects of the rainy season, and overcame challenges such as having both old and new systems in operation at the same time and complex geological conditions. Given the large number of sophisticated equipment and the frequent need for communication with foreign parties, the project team monitored in detail the design, procurement, and installation milestones of key equipment. By adjusting the schedule based on on-site conditions and implementing dynamic management, a solid foundation was laid for the project’s commissioning.