From the Engineering Department to the Construction Site: First PILLER Compressors Installed at BASF
PILLER Reaches Next Milestone in Major BASF Project
[Moringen, July 30, 2026]
With the delivery and installation of the first compressors, one of the world’s most significant industrial heat pump projects to date has reached another important milestone. The machines from Piller Blowers & Compressors were successfully delivered to the BASF site in Ludwigshafen and positioned on the concrete bases provided for them.
The project is exceptional in many respects: PILLER is supplying a total of eleven VapoFlex® compressor stages for one of the world’s most powerful industrial heat pump systems, which is being delivered by GKT GmbH as the EPC contractor. In the future, the plant will utilize waste heat from Steamcracker II and recover its energy to generate process steam, which will be used in formic acid production.
With the installation of the compressors, the work performed by PILLER in engineering and manufacturing for the overall project is now becoming visible on the construction site for the first time. However, simply delivering the equipment is only part of the challenge. The individual deliveries must be precisely coordinated with the construction progress, the available space, the site logistics, and the subsequent installation work.
Managing Complexity – Across Organizational Boundaries
In addition to the technological dimension, project management in particular places high demands on all parties involved. As a machinery manufacturer, PILLER operates within a multi-tiered project and contractual structure: Together with the plant engineer GKT, BASF as the end customer, and numerous subcontractors, diverse responsibilities and technical requirements must be coordinated.
PILLER’s strength lies in rapid technical evaluation and close collaboration between the relevant departments. Changes are not considered in isolation with regard to the company’s own scope of supply. Rather, it is crucial to assess their impact on the entire plant and on all project partners.
The goal is to develop solutions that are technically robust, economically viable, and feasible within the schedule—and that can be jointly supported by all stakeholders involved.
Precise Logistics on a Dynamic Large-Scale Construction Site
The first compressors from PILLER have now been successfully delivered, brought onto site, and positioned on concrete bases specially designed for the plant concept. This fulfills an important prerequisite for the subsequent assembly and integration work.
The elevated design of the concrete bases was deliberately chosen to eliminate the need for a separate condensate collection pit. Instead, a piping system enables the controlled drainage of condensate generated during plant operation to a central collection tank. This solution reduces construction costs and supports economical and reliable plant operation.
As part of the overall planning, special emphasis was also placed on ensuring optimal accessibility to the plant. Appropriately designed access routes facilitate transport, maintenance, and service work while also meeting the requirements of current technical regulations.
Another focus of our project support was providing technical consulting on the accessibility and ease of maintenance of our machine trains. Together with GKT GmbH, solutions for safe access to machines, assemblies, or components were developed as early as the initial planning phase. These included, among other things, recommendations for the positioning of work platforms, guardrails, and maintenance access points. Thanks to this early involvement, requirements for workplace safety, ergonomics, and the efficient execution of maintenance and repair work could be taken into account as early as the plant planning stage.
PILLER as a Reliable Partner for Complex Industrial Projects
PILLER is an active project partner that identifies risks early on, comprehensively assesses their impact, and acts proactively.
“For a project of this magnitude, simply delivering outstanding machinery is not enough. It is crucial to understand the numerous technical, scheduling, and organizational interfaces and to develop viable solutions together with all partners. The successful installation of the compressors demonstrates that we can operate reliably and flexibly even under highly dynamic conditions”, explains Marcus Iseke, Head of the Order Center at PILLER.
With the successful positioning of the machines, another important step has been completed. In the upcoming project phases, the compressor trains will be assembled, integrated into the overall system, and prepared for subsequent commissioning.
The project underscores PILLER’s expertise not only in developing and manufacturing technologically sophisticated compressor systems, but also in successfully implementing complex large-scale projects in collaboration with customers, plant engineers, and supply partners.
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About Piller Blowers & Compressors
Since 1909, PILLER has been one of the world’s leading manufacturers of fluid machinery for the process industry. With over 100 years of experience, the family-owned company in Moringen, Germany, develops customized solutions for demanding applications with high thermal and mechanical requirements, such as evaporation, crystallization, and distillation.
Industries such as food & beverage, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and pulp & paper benefit from high efficiency, reliability, and durability. Thanks to innovative heat recovery systems, PILLER machines enable energy savings of up to 75%, CO₂ reductions of over 60%, and energy costs that are up to 90% lower.
With approximately 540 employees, international subsidiaries, and a comprehensive range of services, PILLER supports its customers throughout the entire plant lifecycle, always striving to further advance efficiency and sustainability.
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