ABB has been selected by Longxiang Hengyu Chemical Co., Ltd. to provide automation and digital solutions for its oxo-alcohol integrated facility in Zhangzhou, Fujian province, China. This project represents one of the largest Ethernet-APL field network deployments by a Chinese chemical enterprise, enabling high-speed, real-time data connectivity for more autonomous operations. Overseas chemical buyers should note this as a signal of China's push toward smart manufacturing, potentially impacting supply-chain efficiency and product quality in downstream sectors like coatings and plasticizers.
Project Overview
The facility will produce 500,000 tons per year of butanol, octanol, and downstream derivatives, key raw materials for textiles, coatings, and plasticizers. The project is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2027. ABB will deliver a full scope of automation and digital solutions supported by Ethernet-APL, a two-wire Ethernet technology that enhances communication and full lifecycle data connectivity between field devices and control systems.
Technology and Benefits
Ethernet-APL enables high-speed, real-time data connectivity across the plant, providing more efficient and reliable operations. This helps reduce energy consumption, minimize waste, and lower overall resource usage. The facility is being designed with a digital foundation established during construction, combining high levels of automation with scalable data infrastructure to support future digital applications.
ABB's Role and Solutions
ABB will deliver its ABB Ability™ System 800xA® distributed control system, safety instrumented system, gas detection system, ABB Ability™ Field Information Manager, and operator training simulator. Early engagement by ABB helped define the plant's automation and digital architecture, ensuring consistency from concept through to implementation across multiple stakeholders. The digital layer includes a localized Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Edge platform and equipment management application tailored to Longxiang Hengyu's operational requirements.
What Buyers Should Watch
Overseas importers and distributors of butanol, octanol, and derivatives should monitor this project's completion timeline, as it may increase supply from China by 2027. The adoption of advanced automation could improve product consistency and reduce production costs, potentially affecting global pricing dynamics. Additionally, the use of Ethernet-APL technology may set a new standard for chemical plant automation in China, influencing future sourcing decisions.
Quotes from Key Stakeholders
"Our goal is to build a highly automated chemical facility with a strong digital foundation that supports safe, efficient and reliable operations, while enabling more autonomous ways of working over time," said LongHui Yang, Chairman at Longxiang Hengyu Chemical Co., Ltd. "ABB's expertise in Ethernet-APL technology, combined with its integrated automation and digital solutions, will help us improve plant-wide visibility and reduce operational complexity."
"This large-scale project demonstrates how advanced automation and digitalization can support the development of a more intelligent and transformative chemical facility," said Tony Fan, Vice President, ABB's Energy Industries division in China. "By deploying Ethernet-APL as the field communication backbone to support digital applications, we are enabling a smart plant with improved performance, enhanced insight, reliability and a strong foundation for driving increasingly autonomous operations."
Source: Read the original report | Published: May 27, 2026