Performance Contractors was awarded the TDI Replacement Project in late 2000 and began the structural and mechanical phase of the project in January 2001. The company's scope of work included structural steel, piping, equipment setting, including all in-plant transporting, rigging and lifting. The project was completed in March 2002, with a successful start-up taking place in May 2002.

The TDI-R Project was a replacement project where a new unit was constructed directly adjacent to the existing TDI facility and in between other operating units. Space restrictions greatly complicated an already difficult project. The work area was completely surrounded by operating units with no readily accessible staging and laydown areas. Access to the site was limited to one north-south road that ran through the center of the unit.

The TDI-R Project utilized five different laydown areas located throughout the BASF complex. Tremendous coordination and planning had to be incorporated to maintain productivity and schedule. Maximizing work activity in the laydown and staging areas was critical in overcoming the logistical challenges of the project. Piping and equipment were pre-assembled with as many components as possible to maximize work activity in the unit.

Planning and scheduling personnel had to be aware of pipe and equipment in the unit so as not to block access. There was literally no room for error in this regard.

Utilization of large cranes was an additional critical component of the construction plan. Performance Contractors utilized a 700-ton crawler crane to make all critical lifts. The crane was placed in the unit at two different intervals during the project. Assembly, as well as teardown of the crane, required a crew of 15 people working four days. Placement of the crane was planned in order to allow it to move up and down the unit as lifts were made. Due to the congestion of the site, the crane literally moved within inches of obstructions generated by the construction site, as well as surrounding operating units.

Performance Contractors utilized weekends to make most critical lifts due to safety concerns, as well as minimizing the effect on other work that was scheduled for the same time period.