Lubrizol, a global chemical company with its headquarters in Wickliffe (Ohio, USA), produces technologies for clients involved in the transportation, industrial and consumer fields. The company has production facilities in 20 countries and employs around 6,800 people.  Lubrizol has an administrative base in Brussels, Belgium and production sites in Antwerp, Vilvoorde, Louvain-La-Neuve and Oevel.

From four to five production lines

Until recently, Carbopol(r) Polymers' production was handled by four production lines at the Lubrizol production site in the Antwerp port area. These polymers, available in powder form, are especially soluble and function as an efficient thickener and stabiliser for suspensions and emulsions. End products familiar to consumers that contain these polymers include gels, soaps, lotions, shampoos, conditioners, ointments and creams.

The expansion from four to five production lines demanded thorough preparation, so both parties decided to map out almost the entire production site using 3-D laser scanning. This allowed us to estimate the impact the project and basic engineering phase would have.

Lubrizol and Grontmij defined the main points of attention for the project in advance, the most pressing being the need to integrate the new fifth line into the existing production area next to the existing lines.

In order to install the first line, the two parties agreed to briefly halt production twice. The two new reactors required to install the fifth production line needed to enter the building through the roof, which was quite a challenge.