Indulor Production & Administrative Facility

Location

Graham, NC

Market Sectors

  • Commercial
  • Industrial
  • Life Sciences

Sub Sectors

  • Adaptive Reuse
  • Flex-Use
  • Headquarters
  • Heavy Equipment/Machinery
  • Infrastructure - Building/Site Utilities
  • Laboratory - Biochemical
  • Manufacturing
  • Research & Development
  • Warehouse
  • Workplace/Office

Client

Indulor America LP

Partners

  • Perigon International
  • Wurst Stahlbau GmbH
  • WB Moore
  • Scope Architectural Consulting
  • WMB Group

Building Indulor’s first American facility – a sustainable chemical plant for polymer production, chemical storage, research and development, business administration, and distribution

This industrial-grade polymer production and administrative facility is the first American headquarters for the German-based company Indulor, an internationally recognized specialist in macromolecular chemistry and research and development of polymers and adhesives. The new facility increased Indulor’s production capacity by 50,000 tons per year, making Indulor one of the main global suppliers of printing inks and overprint varnishes in the graphic arts market.

29,865
Square Feet
Ground-up
HIGH-BAY MANUFACTURING PLANT
High-tech
SAFETY FEATURES
Industrial
TANK FARM
Complex
MEP REQUIREMENTS
This project included renovating an existing warehouse and constructing a chemical manufacturing facility out of the ground to accommodate the company’s production needs and create a functional workplace for employees.
The transformed warehouse and industrial high-bay structure contain a chemical processing plant, quality assurance lab, maintenance shop, low-voltage room, main electrical control room, and office space.
High-tech safety features were installed throughout the space, including energy-efficient, explosion-proof lighting fixtures, smoke detectors, and an intricate fire alarm system.
A 2,318-square-foot tank farm was also erected on-site. The tanks’ size, material, and capacity were given special consideration to ensure structural integrity and prevent hazardous chemical reactions. Additionally, a secondary containment unit was implemented to prevent chemicals from coming into contact with the natural environment.
Extensive MEP requirements included installing a new 3000A underground duct bank and grounding system and a 500kW emergency backup generator and transfer switch.

A warehouse transformation that’s functional for product production and employees

The project brought many new job opportunities to the City of Graham by transforming an existing warehouse and adding a 27,547-square-foot high-bay manufacturing plant to create the company’s first US headquarters. It includes a quality assurance lab, a maintenance shop, a distribution warehouse, and a 2,318-square-foot tank farm with nine massive chemical process tanks. The project scope also included creating a functional space for Indulor’s employees with private offices, storage rooms, a training room, locker rooms, restrooms, and a break room. And, to safeguard their investment in the state-of-the-art facility, a 500kW emergency backup generator and transfer switch were installed to allow the facility to continue operation during a power outage.

Safety considerations for tank farm design and construction

Human and environmental safety are paramount when handling hazardous chemicals. The design, engineering, and construction team stringently followed design standards and codes to ensure the tanks, pipelines, and equipment could withstand the operating conditions and loads. Other safety features include a robust leak detection, containment, and spill prevention system to minimize environmental contamination, overfill mechanisms to prevent tanks from exceeding capacity, and a fire suppression system to prevent and protect from fire. An access control and surveillance system are also utilized to deter unauthorized access and tampering.

Side Story

The Barringer Way

Showing our Appreciation for Safety

To celebrate the project’s incredible safety performance, Barringer hosted a Safety Appreciation Lunch for all trade partners working on-site to recognize their efforts and show our gratitude for making sure everyone returned safely home to their families each night. Complete with custom t-shirts to commemorate the event, a catered barbeque meal, and raffle prizes.