Site Selection for Propylene Factory - Essay Example

Propylene is widely known for its great importance especially in the manufacturing industry. Many innovations are constantly being made in this twenty first century concerning propylene. This chemical can be used in making filing systems that are multi data based, thermoforming products like dishes and food containers. It can also be used in the manufacture of cassette and data boxes. This paper is dealing with site selection for propylene factory. (Dwyer, 2000) The best site for the manufacture of propylene is in South Wirral, Ellessmere Port in United Kingdom. The reason as to why this site is good for propylene manufacture is as follows. The first reason is that this site is quite close to the market. Research shows that there are other manufacturing companies that require propylene in its process that are in the vicinity. This means that there will be very cheap and easy delivery of propylene to the other companies. In conjunction, this site is right due to transport reasons. The manufacture of propylene requires raw materials and also other products. All these need to be transported to the site. Looking at the environment where this site is located, it shows advanced technology in road and rail transport. This makes it very easy to transport fuels and raw materials to the site. Very bulky materials can easily be transported by rail to the site. People can also easily travel to the Company due to fast transport services around the site. Very bulky materials that may be needed in the company can also be transported through shipping which is quite inexpensive. Furthermore, climate in South Wirral, Ellessmere Port in United Kingdom is quite good for the manufacture of propylene. Generally, heating costs that may be incurred in this place since the climate during winter seasons is very cold. The heating costs during such seasons are not expected to be high since the temperatures in the area do not lower very much. This is not an earthquake zone and therefore earthquakes are not expected to occur. Hurricanes are also known not to occur in this place. Generally the area where the site is located is not a monsoon area. Moreover, availability of labour at this site is quite superb. There is skilled workmanship in this locality. This makes it very easy for any company that wishes to start up in the area. Labour at this site will be quite available even in the construction phase. In the operating phase, there will be no need of training employees as those in the locality have adequate experience in the field. This means that the company may not have training costs. This can only be applicable in case there is advancement in technology and the need to doing this is clear. (Huheey, 2003) The nature of the land is also one of the important factors that are considered when choosing a site for the manufacture of propylene. Research reveals that the recommended site is quite good in terms of the land available. This piece of land can easily allow future expansion to be made. The site has more than seventy acres of land and therefore future expansion of the project may not be hard. As a matter of fact, piece of land where the site is located is more flat in nature. There are no hilly areas or contours on the terrain of the land. The terrain is more flat than hilly. The land is not rocky. The previous history of the land is as follows. Research shows that in the year 1943 there was a solvents plant on the site. There was also another SAAP001 luboil plant that was also started on the site. In the year 1958 there was a treatment plant that was started up. Between the year 1968 to the year 1972, there were also other plants that were started up on the site. This includes a syngas plant and a detergent alcohol plant. (Keoleian, 2004) By the year 1977 another company was also started on the same site. This company is dealing with energy recovery. So many plants were later on started on the same site since then. There was an ethyl benzene company that was started in the year 1991. In the year 1994 there was also an acid manufacturing company that was started. The fact that these companies were being started on this site makes it very clear that it is a very good site where business can easily thrive. For any company to operate well, there are various considerations that have to be made in relation to the site. Among the factors that are considered is in relation to the utilities that are available on the site. This is due to the reason that during manufacturing, these utilities play a great role to the overall success. Considering the proposed site of South Wirral, Ellessmere Port, the following utilities have been considered. Electricity Water Steam During the manufacture of propylene, water is highly required. This resource needs to be used in the cooling process. It is also very essential in the mixing up of various solvents during the manufacture of propylene. The site at Ellessmere Port, there is adequate tapped water that can be used in the company. Research on the site however shows that there is no stream or river on the site that can be used by the company. However, the tapped water is quite sufficient and reliable and it can sustain the manufacture of propylene. Another important resource is electricity. This is quite useful for lighting and also running the various machineries in the company. This site has got adequate electricity since there is a power supply plant on there. This means that when putting up a company for the manufacture of propylene, there will not be extra costs concerning getting electricity in the company. (Manzer, 2006) Furthermore, steam is also very essential during the manufacture of propylene. Considering this site, there will be the need to come up with a system that can easily produce heat. This is not a hard task and with the right skilled people it can be easily accomplished. This requires that the company ensures that they have the correct machinery that can be used in producing steam which is quite essential in manufacturing of propylene. When intending to start up a company in any location. It is quite important that one considers the legal requirements of the place. It is very important that one links up with the legal organisations in the area. These organisations give the directions on what has to be done. This is in relation to the steps that need to be taken for one to acquire the site. It is also very essential that the stakeholders link up with private lawyers who can give in depth advice on the various legalities that need to be taken to avoid any future problems concerning the acquisition of the site. Whatever decision is taken in relation to the South Wirral, Ellessmere Port has to adhere to the laws in United Kingdom. When the U.K law is fully adhered to, it will help in avoiding any possible future wrangles with the arm of the law. For any company to operate it has to adhere to various issues. It is therefore very important that as this company is set up, it adheres to laws and rules concerning protecting the environment. In addition, the environment has to be protected so that pollution and overall effects like global warming can be avoided. For instance the chimneys can be high enough to avoid polluting the air that is directly being inhaled by people around. This is also ensuring that harmful gases are not released into the environment. The land also has to be considered when the company releases ant waste solvents. (Newman, 1994) In addition, company’s management has to ensure that the ecosystem is not polluted in any way. Any water resources in the vicinity have to be protected. This can be done through avoiding pollution through releasing any harmful waste products. Whatever action is taken has to see to it that the health and safety of people and even animals in the vicinity is protected. This includes the health and the safety of the employees who are to work in the company. Furthermore political features of the proposed site are quite conducive. The taxes that are required by a local investor are bearable. The economics of this location are quite in order. Many people are working class and generally the area is quite developed. In other words the area is politically stable. The surrounding area has other companies as mentioned earlier on. There is no significant risk to the population whatsoever. In conclusion, propylene is quite important. This is due to the fact that it is used for the manufacture of many products that are quite handy in this twenty first century. When proposing a site for the manufacture of propylene, one has to consider various factors. The following factors were considered when making the choice for the site of manufacturing propylene. (Tully, 2006) They include; proximity to the market, climate, access to transport, availability of labour, the nature of the land, local community and political features among other factors. After all these considerations were made, South Wirral, Ellessmere Port was considered as the best site for manufacture of propylene. This does not mean that it is perfect, but it is better. Read More