How Engineering Services Support Specialty Chemicals Industry Growth

According to a report by Grand View Research, the global specialty chemicals market is expected to reach nearly $1.8 trillion by 2025. High-value chemicals needed in the development of new products will likely be a major driver of industry growth. Consequently, the engineering services required to design the plants that are manufacturing these chemicals are in high demand as well.

A number of sectors are benefiting from the development of these kinds of compounds. They include:

• Automotive
• Electronics
• Agriculture
• Construction
• Aerospace

Companies often prefer specialty chemicals over commodity products, as chemicals crafted for a specific use can be formulated with unique performance characteristics. These advanced compounds can deliver a distinct advantage over traditional products.

Specialty Chemicals Defined

Specialty chemicals, sometimes referred to as effect chemicals, are materials that fall into a variety of categories such as adhesives, construction chemicals, food additives and flavors, surfactants, agrichemicals, polymers, cleaning materials, cosmetic additives, elastomers, fragrances, industrial gases, lubricants, and textile auxiliaries.

Specialty chemicals are also known as performance chemicals because they are designed and manufactured to achieve certain performance characteristics or functions. They may consist of unique molecules or more complex compounds, in which case they are referred to as forumulations. With specialty chemicals, the producers tend to work very closely with, and support, the end users. This differentiates the industry from more commoditized sectors like petrochemicals or pharmaceuticals. The commodity chemical product of one supplier is typically interchangeable with that of any other producer.

Engineering Services for the Specialty Chemicals Industry

In bringing a specialty chemicals plant online and getting it up to speed, there are a number of critical services required to address key questions:

• Equipment specification. What types, sizes, and quantities of equipment are needed to facilitate the desired output?
• Process design. From raw materials intake to finished product delivery, how will the plant operate?
• Full service engineering and design. What are the critical details of the project and how will they all come together to support fluid, efficient processing?
• Mechanical engineering. What mechanical processes are required to produce the chemical?
• Project management. What is the sequence of actions that must take place to move the project from conception to completion?
• Capital project management. What are the financial considerations and expectations for the initiative?
• Project portfolio management. How can the project best align with big-picture company objectives?

The answers to these questions are best provided by a full service engineering firm with a track record of success in the design of specialty chemical facilities. Our team has the experience and expertise needed to properly inform the recommendations we make. We have a reputation for delivering designs and solutions that leverage advanced technology but with an unwavering focus on environmental health and safety.

Our multidisciplinary approach to engineering services covers a wide range of areas, including:

• Production processes
• HVAC
• Electrical
• Controls
• Structural
• Piping
• Design modeling (SchedulePro, Trace700)
• Engineering feasibility study / cost estimate
• Detailed design

What’s more, when a project reaches the construction phase, we can have a positive impact there as well. Our strong relationships with construction partners allow us to be the turnkey provider for our clients. We not only provide the engineering services, we also assist with attentive project management.

A Trusted Engineering Services Partner for Specialty Chemicals Projects

As projections from Grand View Research indicate, the future of the specialty chemicals sector is very bright, both in the U.S. and abroad. That is especially true for companies that find an engineering services firm that they can partner with in developing their plants and defining their processes. They will be able to move forward with confidence that when their facility comes online, it will be aligned with their objectives and capable of meeting the demand that exists (or that they create) for the unique chemical or chemicals that they will provide.

Our full-service engineering and design firm can help you design your specialty chemical plant and oversee its construction. We have 30+ years of experience helping our clients meet their engineering, design, project and portfolio management, capital planning, and environmental health & safety needs.

Contact APECS, Inc. today to learn more about how we can help with your specialty chemical project.