ABB and Qilu Eastman Join Forces on Chemical Industry Upgrade Project

ABB has announced a strategic collaboration with Qilu Eastman Chemical Co., Ltd. to support the modernization of existing chemical production facilities through a brownfield “reuse and renewal” upgrade model.

The project focuses on improving operational efficiency, safety performance, and digital capabilities of existing industrial equipment without requiring large-scale plant reconstruction. This approach is increasingly important for the chemical industry, where continuous production and asset optimization are critical.

The cooperation reflects ABB’s growing role in supporting China’s chemical sector in transitioning toward smarter, safer, and more energy-efficient operations.

“Brownfield Revitalization” Strategy for Chemical Plant Modernization

Unlike greenfield projects that build new facilities, this initiative focuses on upgrading existing infrastructure using advanced automation and digital technologies.

ABB provides integrated solutions that allow legacy systems to be enhanced rather than replaced, helping customers extend asset life cycles while reducing investment costs.

Key elements of the upgrade strategy include:

• Modernization of existing control systems
• Integration of digital monitoring and diagnostics
• Energy efficiency optimization for production lines
• Improved process safety and risk management
• Intelligent motor and drive system upgrades
• Reduced downtime during transformation

This “brownfield revitalization” model enables chemical plants to achieve modern performance standards while maintaining continuous production.

ABB Industrial Automation Solutions in Chemical Applications

ABB’s automation and electrification technologies play a critical role in supporting complex chemical production environments.

In this project, ABB’s solutions are applied across multiple layers of plant operations, including:

• Distributed control systems (DCS)
• Industrial drive and motor control systems
• Instrumentation and process monitoring
• Safety automation systems
• Energy management platforms
• Digital twin and predictive maintenance tools

These technologies help improve production stability, reduce energy consumption, and enhance operational transparency in hazardous industrial environments.

Enhancing Safety, Efficiency, and Sustainability in Chemical Production

The chemical industry requires extremely high standards for safety and process reliability. By upgrading existing facilities, ABB and Qilu Eastman aim to achieve:

• Higher operational safety levels
• Improved process control accuracy
• Reduced unplanned shutdowns
• Lower maintenance costs
• Optimized energy usage
• Extended equipment lifecycle

The integration of digital technologies also enables real-time monitoring and data-driven decision-making, improving plant responsiveness and operational intelligence.

Supporting Industrial Digital Transformation in China’s Chemical Sector

This cooperation reflects a broader trend in China’s industrial landscape, where companies are increasingly focusing on:

• Smart manufacturing upgrades
• Low-carbon industrial transformation
• Digitalization of legacy plants
• Energy efficiency improvement programs
• Sustainable chemical production development

ABB continues to support industrial customers with scalable automation solutions that allow traditional facilities to evolve into modern intelligent production systems without full replacement.

Key Value of “Reuse and Renewal” Industrial Model

The “reuse and renewal” strategy offers significant advantages for industrial operators:

• Lower capital investment compared to full plant replacement
• Faster implementation timelines
• Reduced production interruption
• Improved return on existing assets
• Gradual digital transformation pathway
• Enhanced sustainability performance

This model is especially suitable for large-scale chemical plants with long operational lifecycles and complex infrastructure systems.

Conclusion

The collaboration between ABB and Qilu Eastman highlights the growing importance of brownfield modernization in the global chemical industry.

By combining advanced automation, digital technologies, and intelligent upgrade strategies, the partnership delivers a practical pathway for improving efficiency, safety, and sustainability in existing chemical production facilities.

This project demonstrates how industrial enterprises can achieve modernization without rebuilding entire plants, supporting the long-term evolution of smarter and more sustainable industrial operations.