A&B Process Systems Breaks Ground On A 53,000-Foot Plant Designed With Customer Input

Recently, A&B Process Systems broke ground on their ninth manufacturing facility. The 53,000 square-foot facility was designed based upon customer input and is a testament to the strong relationship A&B establishes with its customers. "Our customers are our partners—from concept and design to installation and commissioning. We work hand-in-hand with their key personnel to ensure we design a stainless steel process system that meets their individual needs," states Ron Herman, A&B's Director of Sales. "The valuable feedback that our customers provided when we asked for their input on our process module facility convinced us that our customers should have a definite role in the design of our facilities. Again, we asked several of our customers and leading engineering firms we partner with how we could better address their vessel and equipment fabrication needs," states Herman.

A&B responded to their customers' requests and designed a state-of-the-art facility that addresses a variety of their pharmaceutical customers' needs. "There are not many stainless steel fabricators who can produce large-scale process vessels and tanks in a timely manner," notes Glenn Linzmeier, President and COO of A&B. "We are upgrading our capabilities by adding a larger facility with higher bays and more overhead crane capacity. We specifically designed the facility based upon the regulatory guidelines that dictate good manufacturing practices (cGMP) for the pharmaceutical industry. We also improved the manufacturing environment with advanced automation and testing facilities."

The state-of-the-art A.S.M.E. certified facility will primarily manufacture process vessels, pressure vessels and reactors for the pharmaceutical, biotech, and personal care markets. Tanks can be manufactured as stand alone pieces, or incorporated into process modules. The facility will incorporate automated welding processes and more advanced finishing processes, as well as a designated area for factory acceptance testing. Appropriate utilities, offices and conference rooms have been incorporated into the design to provide A&B's customers with a place to work while visiting the facility. This is the first phase of expansion and the plant will be operational in early October of this year.

"We have always incorporated the latest technologies into our manufacturing process. This facility is no exception and it is impressive. This expansion is a direct result of the success of our strategies and will provide opportunities for further growth," notes Alan Verploegh, CEO of A&B Process Systems. "Customers who visit our facilities will see just what sets A&B apart—respect for our partners and our commitment to meet their expanding needs." Adds Herman, "We appreciate the feedback we receive—it is an integral part of our leadership position in this market. We are honored to work with our customers on the design of a facility that will make both them and us leading providers in our fields."

About A&B Process Systems
A&B Process Systems is a proven leader in the design, fabrication, testing and installation of stainless steel tanks, vessels, auxiliary equipment and stainless steel piping. A&B stands apart from its competitors because A&B takes singular responsibility for a project, from concept to completion. Process systems are custom-designed to match client needs and supported by an in-house staff of design engineers, welders, fitters, machinists, QA/QC professionals and project management personnel. A&B has five plants in Stratford, Wisconsin, with over 250,000 square feet of manufacturing capacity. All process systems are also pre-assembled and pre-tested at the A&B Process Systems Test Center. What started as a two-employee company in 1973 has expanded to 425 employees. A&B is an established leader servicing Fortune 500 Companies in the pharmaceutical/personal care, food/beverage, dairy and industrial/renewable energy industries.

Source: A&B Process Systems