Container Placement for the Semiconductor Industry in Confined Spaces

To expand its chemical supply, SPIE AUTOMATION installed a fiberglass-reinforced plastic (GFRP) container for Fäth GmbH in Dresden at an international semiconductor manufacturer. Due to extremely confined spaces, the container not only had to be erected but then precisely lowered into the designated tank sump. Through detailed technical planning, the use of special lifting equipment, and close cooperation among all project participants, the transport was carried out safely and without disrupting ongoing production.

Challenge and Objective

Fäth GmbH regularly commissions partner companies with the placement and replacement of chemical containers. The challenge in this project was to install the new GFRP container at an existing plant site where very little maneuvering space was available. The container first had to be erected and then lowered several meters deep into a designated tank sump. Safety and occupational health were top priorities. Due to the tight space conditions, collisions with adjacent systems, pipelines, and existing tanks had to be avoided at all costs. Even minor damage could have resulted in an interruption of semiconductor production. It also had to be ensured that the container could be moved in a controlled manner at all times during the entire lifting and transport process, and that no damage would occur. The goal was therefore to plan the entire placement process in advance in such detail that all work steps could be carried out safely, efficiently, and with maximum precision.

Solution

Project planning began in October 2025. During the site inspection, in preparation for the bid calculation, all spatial conditions were precisely recorded and simulated. Since the container was still in production at that time, Fäth GmbH provided the corresponding dimensions. Subsequently, the dimensions of the container and the available installation area were graphically reconciled. In addition, the required chain hoists were integrated into the planning. In this way, it was proven even before the project began that the container could be moved safely within the existing space conditions.

From the outset, the project teams from Fäth GmbH and SPIE AUTOMATION worked closely and trustfully as partners. In addition, experienced colleagues from other business units of the SPIE Group were involved early on. In particular, the experience of colleagues from SPIE Efficient Facilities in handling transports within semiconductor plants provided valuable insights for implementation.

For the actual lifting process, two chain hoists were used, which were attached to existing steel beams under the hall ceiling. The static load-bearing capacity of the supporting structure was re-checked in advance. These supporting structures are specially designed for the transport of large plant components and provided the necessary basis for safe project execution.

Before starting work, all hoists were technically inspected and approved. In addition, all participating employees wore the prescribed personal protective equipment. During the entire lifting and transport process, the container was moved only millimeter by millimeter. This ensured that unforeseen pendulum movements could be stopped immediately at any time, before contact with adjacent systems, pipelines, and tanks could occur.

During the execution, it became apparent that the space conditions at the intended installation site differed from the initial assumptions. The container was therefore initially parked at a suitable intermediate position. After the necessary adjustments to the existing pipelines were made and the required clearance was created, it could be moved to its final position on the following day. The changed situation required a short-term adjustment of personnel and deployment planning. The construction manager, who was already scheduled for other construction sites, postponed his next assignment to supervise the final placement of the container two days after the initial deployment. Through close coordination between the responsible project managers within SPIE AUTOMATION, the planning could be flexibly adapted, and the further project progress continued without impairments.

Benefits

With the installation of the new container, the existing chemical container was replaced as part of the regular equipment exchange. The previous container will initially remain in operation and will only be dismantled after the new container has been fully connected to the plant system, filled with the intended chemicals, and its operational safety has been proven over the planned production period. This ensures that production supply is guaranteed at all times. The project demonstrates how even complex lifting and transport tasks in the tightest spaces can be safely implemented through careful planning, technical precision, and close cooperation among all involved parties. At the same time, a foundation for further joint projects was laid, as Fäth GmbH, together with its partner SPIE AUTOMATION, is already planning the implementation of further comparable projects.

These SPIE AUTOMATION strengths were utilized

About our customer
Fäth GmbH (Fäth Group) is a leading international plant manufacturer and specialist for ultra-pure media supply and recycling. The company develops, builds, and installs customized systems for the supply and disposal of gases, chemicals, and ultra-pure water, particularly for the semiconductor industry, photovoltaics, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and battery industry.

Industry
Plant Engineering and Technology

For us, it was clear from the beginning that we needed a partner we could rely on 100 percent. We have already successfully completed several projects with SPIE AUTOMATION and have always worked very well together. When we met at the customer’s site, I immediately felt that SPIE was the right partner, and this assessment was confirmed in the further course of the project. Placing a chemical container was a demanding task where many factors had to be precisely coordinated. The planning and implementation were well-developed from start to finish, and the schedule was met, precisely because there is no second chance in such projects. I am very satisfied with the result.

Uwe Franz
Project Manager/ Site Manager
Fäth GmbH

Before, during, and after project implementation, the positive energy among all project participants was always palpable. Everyone supported each other immediately. Our long-standing cooperation, experience from comparable projects, and the close relationship of trust between Fäth GmbH and SPIE AUTOMATION significantly contributed to quickly and pragmatically solving even unexpected challenges. As further joint projects are already planned, we look forward to successfully applying the experience gained again in the future.