In high gear CASALE PROJECT

in high gear

Czech CASALE PROJECT, a engineering company providing a comprehensive set of design, engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning management services for nitrogen fertiliser production and other related projects, has significantly boosted its market position under a new owner. The company now expects new projects to further support its growth.

CASALE PROJECT, a Czech specialist in industrial projects related to nitrogen fertiliser production plants, has undergone a major change: since mid-2016 the company has been fully owned by the Swiss CASALE HOLDING, a chemical holding and technology licence holder operating worldwide. This has helped to transform CASALE PROJECT, which until then had to buy technology licences for individual production projects from external suppliers, into a major global producer of the above-mentioned commodity.

optimum solution

The company, the history of which goes back (under various names) to the early 1950s, continues to draw on the expertise and professional skills of its employees. With a major focus on engineering and deliveries of nitrogen fertiliser production lines and related technologies, the company’s core business covers activities related to production of nitric acid, ammonium nitrate and urea.

“Our extensive experience allows us to design plants meeting the highest of customer requirements, not only from the point of view of built-up area utilisation but also in terms of cost savings based on optimising distances between individual technological units and their layout, as well as the best possible piping and cabling arrangement. The result is an optimum solution without the need to compromise between the level of investment, required capacity, smooth technological flow and the quality of each plant’s final products,” says section manager Petr Platovský. In addition to providing the highest level of technical design and the latest and most progressive technologies, the company also puts great emphasis on the highest work safety standards during both the implementation of all project stages and during the actual operation of the production lines.

Stronger together

The crucial moment in the company’s recent history came in 2014, when CASALE HOLDING bought a 60 per cent of stake in the former CHEMOPROJECT NITROGEN (CHPN). The stake gradually increased to 100 per cent in 2016, after which the company was restructured and renamed to clearly indicate its connection not only to the parent company but also to CASALE SA, a sister company within CASALE HOLDING.

The Swiss owner, a leader in the development and sale of its own licences, was established in 1921 as an ammonium producer and only two years later developed its own ammonium production technology. Since then a number of other technologies have been developed with a view to acquiring a complete portfolio of its own technological licences, ranging from natural to synthetic gas treatment and production of ammonia, methanol, urea and melamine to technologies for the production of nitric acid, ammonium nitrate and combined fertilisers.

With this capability and the availability of the complete chain of technological licences, CASALE PROJECT a.s. has become a member of a strong group, capable of meeting comprehensive customer requirements.

The close cooperation with its Swiss sister company and the group synergies this has opened up, covering all aspects from

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research through engineering to installation and commissioning, have brought the Czech company new prospects for future development and extended the scope of services provided within EP, EPCm and EPC projects, significantly boosting its international presence.

Prestigious references

Mr Platovský stresses the key role of reliable and trustworthy business partners. “As a general contractor we often work closely with major technology suppliers, such as Arvos, Oschatz, MDT, Mitsubishi Corporation, Hitachi, Kralovopolska, Lointech, Kelvion, KPS, Welders, Hamon, Fans, Sulzer, JLS, Renetra and Flowserve; suppliers of electrical components such as Siemens, ABB, Global Business, Power Energo; suppliers of I&C systems such as Emerson, Yokogawa, Honeywell, Schneider Electric and Endress Hauser; and a number of suppliers of piping and valves, such as AZ Armaturen, Armatury Group, FEBE, Moravia and many others.”

He also points out that the change in ownership has had no impact on the company’s ongoing projects concluded earlier. For example, last year, still under the CHPN brand, it completed a number of projects including a large-capacity urea production unit in the Russian Federation and a urea production plant in Slovakia. This year, the company is planning to hand over a modernised urea plant for the Romanian Azomures.

The new owner has nevertheless opened up opportunities in new markets. “In early 2015, with the participation of our major stakeholder, we signed a significant contract with Norwegian YARA for the delivery of a new unit for nitric acid production in the Swedish town of Köping,” says the Section Manager. “The project is now in the final completion stage and will be handed over to the customer soon. This will become the tenth unit for nitric acid production successfully completed by our company (both under the previous and current names) within the last ten years.”

The right partner

The company is currently working intensively with CASALE SA in project design, procurement, expert inspections and deliveries of selected types of technology sets and equipment for the ongoing EPC contract for the construction of a new nitric acid production plant in Uzbekhistan, and is involved in the design of a large urea production complex in Russia.

“Our recent successes include a contract with a major Russian partner for the delivery of licences and documentation for a new large-capacity nitric acid and granulated ammonium nitrate production unit,” says Mr Petr Platovský.

“With regard to increasing demand for nitrogen fertilisers and a continuing interest in this commodity, we hope that as a result of the high quality, our designers’ skills, long-term experience in large-scale industrial plant implementation, supported by a long list of prestigious references, as well as the current cooperation with CASALE SA, our sister company CASALE PROJECT a.s. is the right company to meet demanding customers’ requirements. I believe that our proven track record, together with our current capability, will ensure the company’s further growth and successful development.” n