For this project, executed on behalf of Rayong Ruamlek Company Ltd, Sarens deployed a high-capacity fleet including LR 1600-2 and CC 2800 crawler cranes to lift and handle heavy plant components in congested areas.
The aim of dismantling this chemical plant is to free up land in the Map Ta Phut industrial estate – one of the most important petrochemical hubs in South-East Asia – to enable its reuse and the transition of industrial land to more efficient, sustainable uses with a lower carbon footprint.
The PTT Asahi Chemical plant was Thailand’s first manufacturer of acrylonitrile (AN/ACN), reaching an annual production capacity of 200,000 tons, and one of the country’s leading producers of methyl methacrylate (MMA), with an annual output of 70,000 tons.
Sarens, world leader in heavy lifting, engineered transport and crane rental services, is currently participating, on behalf of its client Rayong Ruamlek Company Ltd, on the mechanical dismantling works of the PTT Asahi petrochemical plant in Map Ta Phut, Rayong, in Thailand. This works, which began in May and are scheduled for completion during August, support the safe decommissioning and site clearance of industrial assets in the region.
This project takes place within a context of industrial transition and site redevelopment in Thailand. Safe decommissioning of legacy petrochemical infrastructure is essential for industrial site renewal, enabling material recycling, equipment reuse and land redevelopment while creating opportunities for local workforce in Rayong.
For this project, Sarens’ engineering team carried out a thorough preliminary study of the surrounding area. As a result, they decided to use a powerful crane fleet comprising the LR 1600-2 (600t), CC 2800 (600t), CC 2800-1 (600t), CKE 2500 (250t) and GMK 5220 (220t) all-terrain cranes. Crane configurations were tailored this time to specific lift weights, radius requirements, heights and spatial constraints on site. Throughout the execution, the crane fleet provided high lifting capacity, long reach, stability and precise control necessary for heavy industrial dismantling. This equipment was mobilized by road transport from Sarens Thailand’s yard to Map Ta Phut in multiple truckloads. Crawler crane assembly took several days, including boom setup, counterweight installation, rigging preparation and load testing prior to commencing operations.
Once operational, Sarens executed a series of critical lifts, including steel structures, process vessels, pipe racks and heavy machinery parts. The heaviest item lifted so far weighted 210 tons, executed at a working radius of approximately 50 meters using the LR 1600-2 and CC 2800 cranes. Lifted components were systematically lowered to ground level and transferred to laydown on transport areas via internal routes. Operations were led by a dedicated site team composed by crane operators, riggers, signalmen, site supervisors and project engineers.
This decommissioning project held important challenges for Sarens’ team, including working within confined plant areas, maintaining safe clearances near existing pipe racks and life equipment, managing ground preparation, and coordinating heavy component movements under Rayong’s seasonal weather conditions, including rain and wind monitoring.
According to Ukrit Phorjai, Country Manager at Sarens Thailand, “This project highlights Sarens’ capability to deliver complex mechanical dismantling solutions in high-density petrochemical environments. Through detailed lift planning, precise crane selection and strong team execution, we successfully managed heavy lifts up to 210 tons while adhering strictly to site safety protocols and keeping the project on schedule for our client. We thank Rayong Ruamlek Company Ltd for the trust they have placed in our team, and we look forward to continuing to work together on projects of strategic importance to Thailand, such as this one, in the years to come”.
The PTT Asahi petrochemical plant in Map Ta Phut played a significant role in Thailand’s economy until it ceased operations. It was the country’s leading producer of acrylonitrile (AN/ACN), with output reaching 200,000 tons per year. It was also one of the leading producers of methacrylate (MMA), with an annual output of 70,000 tons.
Sarens has extensive experience supporting heavy industrial, petrochem, and energy projects across Thailand and Southeast Asia, reinforcing its commitment to delivering value engineering and safe lifting operations across the region. In Thailand, Sarens has contributed to major industrial milestones, including ongoing maintenance crane services for PTT Global Chemical (GCME) in Map Ta Phut, heavy lifting for Thai Oil’s Clean Fuel Project (TOP Site) in Sri Racha, and component installations for the GULF Waste-to-Energy Plant in Chiang Mai. Across the wider Southeast Asia region, Sarens' track record includes mega-lifting operations for the RDMP Balikpapan Refinery Expansion in Indonesia and critical plant revamps at the SSA Sulfindo Suralaya petrochemical facility.
About Sarens
Sarens is the global leader and reference in crane rental, heavy lift and engineered transportation services. With state-of-the-art equipment, value engineering, one of the world's largest inventories of cranes, transporters and special rigging equipment, Sarens offers creative and intelligent solutions to today's heavy lifting and engineering transport challenges.
With more than 100 entities in 65 countries operating without borders, Sarens is an ideal partner for small to large-scale projects. Sarens currently employs 5,000 highly qualified professionals who are ready to serve the needs of any client worldwide and in all market sectors. www.sarens.com