Industry: Renewable Energy

Region: Europe and China

Service: Design and Manufacture – Absorption Heat Pumps

Overview

In 2013, CNIM Group expanded its product portfolio by acquiring a European specialist in absorption heat pumps. These pumps are essential for optimizing the use of lost heat in various sectors, including process industries, manufacturing plants, and major infrastructures like airports.

Challenge

To remain competitive, CNIM decided to shift manufacturing operations from its workshops in La Seyne-sur-Mer, France, to its Chinese subsidiary. This required a successful technology transfer and the establishment of a production line at CNIM China. The project involved ensuring the highest standards of design and manufacturing, particularly for high-pressure equipment.

Solution

Initial Phase: Design and Manufacturing

The initial product was designed and built in France for a client in the shipping industry. Critical phases of designing and engineering were conducted in compliance with nuclear pressure equipment regulations, with minimal design input from CNIM China. All manufacturing operations were carried out by the Chinese team.

Technology Transfer and Expertise Development

Following a successful technology transfer, CNIM China teams acquired extensive expertise in the design and manufacture of high-pressure equipment. This included:

• New Work Standards: Implementing rigorous standards for high-pressure equipment.

• Advanced Welding Processes: Training in new welding techniques to ensure high-quality welds.

• Tube Expansion Techniques: Developing precise tube expansion methods to ensure leak-tightness of heat pump tubes.

Continuous Optimization

Despite the manufacturing shift, technical and economic optimization continued to be managed by teams in France. Close collaboration with clients ensured that the best possible solutions were provided.

Investments in Performance and Training

To guarantee high performance and production rates, CNIM China invested in:

• Helium Leak-Testing Machine: Ensuring the high performance of heat pumps.

• Welding Training: Enhancing the expertise of seven welders in TIG and electrode welding, as well as non-destructive and ultrasonic testing.

• Tube Expansion Expertise: Developing a precise tube expansion technique, with a reworking rate reduced to just 1% by early 2019.

Production Optimization

CNIM China optimized its production tools to meet the market demands for a swift design-manufacture-delivery cycle (three to four months). This involved:

• Handling Equipment: Using specialized equipment for lifting and positioning extremely heavy parts (up to 12 metric tons) with a precision tolerance of + or – 0.5 mm.

Outcome

The successful technology transfer and continuous optimization have allowed CNIM China to manufacture high-performance absorption heat pumps efficiently. The investments in training and equipment have significantly improved production rates and quality, ensuring that CNIM remains competitive in the global market.

Explore More Case Studies

Discover how our expertise in manufacturing high-pressure equipment can benefit your projects. Explore our case studies to see how we’ve successfully executed complex manufacturing tasks for various clients.

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