MANmagazine Power 1/2015

man magazine
1/2015
Teamwork and trust is essential
for a project of this magnitude.
The rising cost of raw materials
exerts pressure on
manufacturing margins. By
increasing production efficiency,
MAN Diesel & Turbo
production trains facilitate
even expanding competitiveness
for a leading PTA
manufacturer in China.
Protecting
profitability
The PTA plant operated by the Hengli
Group is located in Dalian, in the
south of China’s Liaoning Province.
Foto: Photos: Eric Gregory Powell
“With this
partner, we
have entered
the league of
mega PTA
plants.”
Dr. Lothar Wallscheid, VP Basic Industry
segment, MAN Diesel & Turbo
This radial gear stage compressor
RG160 reflects the rapid turbine
development of recent years.
B
ased in Dalian, China, the Hengli
Group is one of the world’s major
manufacturers of terephthalic
acid (PTA), one of the key chemicals used in
making plastics and textiles. Recently, the rising
costs of raw materials have squeezed margins
to the point that some of the company’s
competitors have struggled to stay profitable.
The Hengli Group, however, has managed to
buck that trend. One of the key reasons for this
business resilience is its decision to use MAN
Diesel & Turbo production trains to upgrade
the efficiency of its manufacturing facilities in
Dalian. “With the Hengli Group as one of our
major partners, we’ve entered the league of
mega PTA plants,” says Dr. Lothar Wallscheid,
VP Basic Industry segment at MAN Diesel &
Turbo. “For the Dalian facility, we initially developed
four machinery trains that became
operational in 2013. As requirements grew,
Hengli ordered another two identical trains –
so far the world’s largest of their kind.”
“Our trains are the beating heart of PTA
production for Hengli,” adds Marc Groß from
MAN Diesel & Turbo’s onsite team. “The train
consists of a compressor that powers the production
reactor, an axial expander used to recover
energy from the production process, as
well as a steam turbine and engine generator
to produce electricity powering the plant.”
Hengli’s PTA production facilities are of
particular strategic importance to the company,
because around 50% of the manufactured
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