ABB Secures Major Ethernet-APL Automation Contract to Drive Autonomous Operations at Chinese Chemical Facility
In a significant move toward the realization of fully autonomous industrial operations,ABBhas been selected as the strategic automation partner by Longxiang Hengyu Chemical Co., Ltd. This landmark collaboration will see the deployment of one of the largest Ethernet-APL field network infrastructures to date within the Chinese domestic chemical enterprise sector. The comprehensive technology integration will take place at Longxiang Hengyu’s new oxo-alcohol integrated facility located in Zhangzhou, Fujian province, establishing a highly digitalized foundation designed to support advanced intelligent production capabilities and long-term operational resilience.
The greenfield manufacturing facility is engineered to produce 500,000 tons per year of butanol, octanol, and associated downstream derivatives, which serve as essential raw chemical materials for coatings, textiles, and plasticizers globally. Scheduled for physical completion by the third quarter of 2027, the plant is being constructed with a digital-first methodology. By embedding high levels of field-level intelligence during the initial construction phase, the project avoids the common pitfalls of legacy retrofitting, allowing the operator to seamlessly scale up future predictive analytics software and enterprise asset management tools.
At the core of this engineering initiative is Ethernet-APL technology, a revolutionary two-wire advanced physical layer communication standard that brings high-speed, real-time data connectivity directly to hazardous field environments. By eliminating traditional communication bottlenecks between field instrumentation and higher-level supervisory networks, this field network architecture enables full lifecycle data transparency. The resulting real-time operational visibility allows plant operators to dramatically optimize process efficiency, lower resource consumption, minimize industrial waste, and actively reduce the facility's overall carbon footprint.
To govern the complex process parameters of the oxo-alcohol plant, ABB will supply its flagship ABB Ability System 800xA distributed control system alongside a dedicated safety instrumented system and an integrated gas detection network. The digital ecosystem will be further enhanced by the ABB Ability Field Information Manager and a high-fidelity operator training simulator to de-risk commissioning and accelerate time-to-production. Furthermore, the architecture features a localized Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Edge platform and specialized equipment management applications tailored specifically to the chemical manufacturer’s unique operational workflows.
Through early-stage engineering engagement, the architectural consistency has been maintained across multiple project stakeholders, minimizing integration friction between engineering, procurement, and construction phases. This comprehensive approach ensures that the facility functions not merely as a traditional production plant, but as a data-driven chemical factory. By utilizing Ethernet-APL as the enterprise communication backbone, the facility is uniquely positioned to transition into increasingly autonomous ways of working, setting a new benchmark for smart manufacturing and digital transformation across the broader process industries.
Written by: Evelyn Vance, an industrial automation journalist with over twelve years of experience specializing in process control networks, fieldbus evolution, and IIoT deployment strategies within the global chemical and petrochemical sectors.