A new plant that will make water treatment chemicals in China has hired Emerson Process Management to handle automation.

Nalco Industrial Services (Nanjing) Co. Ltd. has named Emerson the main instrument vendor for the plant, which is in Nanjing Chemical & Industrial Park. The plant, scheduled for completion early next year, is being constructed by the Nalco Co. of Naperville, Ill. Nalco is investing about $25 million U.S. in the new plant in Nanjing City. It will have an annual capacity of 37,000 tons of chemicals.

According to Louis L. Loosbrock, group vice president at Nalco, the factory will be the company's largest production base in China. "Products made there will be capable of implementing the most advanced water treatment strategies," Loosbrock said. Nalco describes itself as the world's leading water treatment and process improvement company.

Emerson will provide its PlantWeb digital plant architecture and DeltaV digital automation system, which will use the Foundation fieldbus protocol. Emerson is also providing on-site engineering assistance during the implementation and startup phases.