The chemical industry is one of the most diverse and essential sectors of the global economy. It supplies the building blocks of modern life—from polymers and petrochemicals to coatings, fertilizers, adhesives, and specialty materials. Every major manufacturing sector depends on chemical production to provide the raw materials that enable innovation, growth, and everyday consumer products.
Harris Thermal partners with leading chemical producers, EPCs, and OEMs to design and fabricate ASME-code equipment that supports large-scale chemical processing and specialty production. With a reputation for precision fabrication, complex metallurgy, and compliance with industry codes, Harris Thermal delivers the reliability and quality chemical plants demand.
Industry Segments We Support
The chemical industry can be broadly divided into three groups, each with unique processing requirements:
- Basic Chemicals – Petrochemicals, polymers, acetyls, solvents, and basic inorganics such as acids, alkalis, and industrial gases.
- Specialty Chemicals – Adhesives, coatings, catalysts, additives, surfactants, and advanced intermediates.
- Consumer Chemicals – Soaps, detergents, cosmetics, household products, and formulated chemicals.
Harris Thermal has worked with leaders across all three segments, offering in-house engineering services, including thermal and mechanical design, to ensure every solution is optimized for performance and reliability. Our team provides custom-engineered equipment that supports both large-scale commodity operations and high-value specialty processes.
Our Equipment for the Chemical Industry
Reactors and Conversion Equipment
- Tubular Reactors – For continuous polymerization, hydrogenation, and catalytic reactions.
- Fixed Bed Reactors – For catalytic conversion in petrochemical and specialty chemical production.
- Fluid Bed Reactors – Applied in coatings, resins, and catalyst-driven processes.
- Hydrogenation, Esterification & Polymerization Reactors – High-alloy, jacketed designs for adhesives, resins, and specialty intermediates.
Columns, Reboilers and Condensers
- Fractionation & Distillation Columns – Designed for absorption, stripping, dehydration, and solvent purification.
- Reboilers & Overhead Condensers – Integrated with columns for continuous separation in acetyls, solvents, and monomer duty.
- Gas Absorbers & Carbonation Vessels – For gas-liquid reactions such as carbonate-to-bicarbonate conversion, with downstream crystallizers and evaporators for solids recovery.
Thermal and Process Systems
- Shell & Tube Heat Exchangers – For heating, cooling, and condensing across chemical processes.
- Chillers – For process temperature control.
- Evaporators – Falling film and forced circulation designs for brine concentration, solvent recovery, and water removal.
- Crystallizers – For salt recovery, bicarbonate/percarbonate, rosin derivatives, and other chemical purification.
Separation and Environmental Systems
- Scrubber Vessels – For VOC control, acid gas removal, and emissions abatement.
- Cyclones & Separators – For particulate removal and gas/solid separation.
- Activated Carbon Adsorber & Regeneration Vessels – For purification, capture, and high-temperature regeneration processes.
Storage and Ancillary Equipment
- ASME-Certified Pressure Vessels – For acids, caustics, solvents, monomers, and intermediates.
- Tanks – For caustic, molten sulfur, solvents, process liquids, and finished products.
- Mixing & Holding Vessels – For blending, neutralization, and intermediate storage.
- Balance-of-Plant Equipment – Knock-out drums, utility exchangers, skid-mounted modules, and auxiliary systems.
Applications We Support
Harris Thermal’s equipment is used across a wide range of chemical operations, including:
- Acetyls & Solvents – Acetic acid, vinyl acetate monomer (VAM), and downstream solvent recovery.
- Adhesives & Resins – Rosin esters, polymerization systems, specialty coatings, and engineered resins.
- Basic Inorganics – Sodium carbonate to bicarbonate/percarbonate conversion, crystallization, and drying.
- Activated Carbon – Adsorption and high-temperature regeneration systems.
- Specialty Intermediates – Catalysts, additives, and surfactants requiring high-alloy reactors and separators.
- Lethal Service Applications – ASME-certified vessels and reactors designed and stamped for handling lethal service fluids in compliance with ASME Section VIII, Div. 1 requirements.
- Cyclic Service Applications – Equipment engineered for repeated pressure and temperature cycling, with design considerations for fatigue life, weld integrity, and long-term reliability.
Materials and Fabrication Expertise
Chemical processing requires equipment capable of withstanding corrosive fluids, solvents, high pressures, and extreme temperatures. Harris Thermal has extensive experience fabricating from:
- Stainless steels (304L, 316L, duplex, AL-6XN) – For chloride-rich and corrosive environments.
- High-nickel alloys (Inconel, Hastelloy, Monel) – For aggressive acids, solvents, and oxidizers.
- Titanium – For oxidizing or chloride-heavy service such as acetyls and brines.
- Carbon steel – For cost-effective use in less corrosive applications.
All fabrication complies with stringent industry codes and standards:
- ASME Section VIII, Div. 1 pressure vessels
- TEMA (Tubular Exchanger Manufacturers Association)
- API 620, 650, 660 for tanks and exchangers
- PED/CE, CRN compliance for international projects
We also integrate column internals (trays, packing supports, distributors) and heavy-wall shells for large, continuous service units.
Why Harris Thermal?
- Proven Industry Expertise – Supplying equipment to major producers across petrochemicals, resins, inorganics, solvents, and specialty chemicals.
- Durability & Reliability – Equipment designed for aggressive chemical service and continuous operation.
- Custom-Engineered Solutions – Tailored to exact process conditions and site requirements.
- High-Spec Fabrication – Complex metallurgy, large-scale assemblies, and pressure-bound equipment.
- Global Reach – Trusted by EPCs and OEMs for projects in North America and internationally.
Trusted Partner in the Chemical Industry
From basic petrochemicals and resins to specialty and consumer products, Harris Thermal delivers the engineered equipment that powers the chemical industry. Our expertise in columns with reboilers/condensers, reactors, absorbers, evaporators, crystallizers, scrubbers, and ASME-certified vessels positions us as a trusted partner for the most complex chemical projects.
Ready to Discuss Your Next Project?
Contact Harris Thermal today to learn how our equipment can support your chemical production requirements. Whether you are expanding resin capacity, upgrading solvent recovery systems, or building a new plant, Harris Thermal provides the performance, quality, and reliability your operation demands.
