Overview
In 2025, Phoenix Equipment successfully completed the sale and full relocation of a 2,300 BPD recycled oil refinery from Florida, USA to Indonesia—a complex, multinational project completed in under nine months from initial due diligence through delivery at the buyer’s site overseas.
This turnkey assignment showcased Phoenix Equipment’s unique ability to manage the entire lifecycle of a plant redeployment: commercial negotiation, engineering review, precision dismantling of installed equipment, heavy haul transport of uninstalled assets, international export packing, port operations, and ocean freight logistics.
The Result:
- A fully delivered recycled oil refinery
- Over 4,300 CBM of equipment successfully exported
- 955,000+ kg of machinery in total
- 48 break-bulk pieces plus 20 x 40' sea containers
- Significant cost savings for the buyer vs. purchasing new equipment
- Timeline far faster than new-build alternatives
The Challenge
The buyer required a complete used oil recycling plant — available immediately, priced competitively, and relocatable across the world. The plant in Florida fit their technical needs perfectly and was similar to their existing facility but large portions of the plant:
- Had been fully installed, requiring precise reverse-engineering of connections
- Included oversized, heavy vessels and columns
- Needed to be extracted from a tight operating site
- Required specialized rigging and multi-axle transporters
- Had to be packed, staged, and loaded within strict port schedules
- Needed to be shipped to Indonesia without damage or delay
Coordinating these activities simultaneously across engineering, dismantling, permitting, heavy haul, and ocean freight required an experienced turnkey partner.
See the plant block diagram to see the full scope of this project.
Phoenix Equipment’s Solution
1. Due Diligence & Transaction Management
Phoenix Equipment managed:
- Technical evaluation of all the plant
- Commercial negotiations
- Documentation and contract finalization
- A complete project schedule compressing engineering, dismantling, logistics, and ocean transport into < 9 months
Our ability to handle both the asset sale and the relocation streamlined execution and minimized cost and risk for the buyer.
2. Precision Dismantling of Installed Equipment
Many refinery components—including large distillation columns, vessels, heat exchangers, and skids—were fully installed and integrated. Phoenix Equipment coordinated:
- Engineering of lift plans
- Isolation and disconnection of utilities and tie-ins
- Rigging and removal using heavy cranes (see photos)
- Cutting and separation where required
- Marking, tagging, and documentation for reinstallation
Our dismantling team ensured the plant could be reassembled efficiently in Indonesia, preserving piping configurations, skid layouts, and vessel orientations.
3. Heavy Haul Transport of Uninstalled and Oversized Assets
Several refinery sections had never been installed and were located in storage areas. These included very large ASME vessels requiring:
- Multi-axle SPMT or dual-lane trailers
- Route surveys and permitting
- Police escorts and controlled movement
- Specialized saddles and supports during transport
4. Export Packing, Containerization & Break-Bulk Preparation
The refinery components were staged, packed, and prepared for ocean export, including:
- 20 x 40’ containers of skids, controls, and auxiliary systems
- 48 break-bulk pieces for oversized equipment
- Custom crating
- VCI preservation
- Saddle fabrication
- Lashing and securing plans
- Moisture protection for long-duration sea transport
Total shipment volume exceeded 4,300 CBM and 955,000 kg.
5. Port Operations & Ocean Freight to Indonesia
Phoenix Equipment acted as single-point logistics coordinator, including:
- Contracting with a major port and ocean carrier
- Supervising port receiving, staging, and loading
- Managing tandem-lift heavy crane operations (as shown in photos)
- Ensuring proper stowage for long-haul transit
- Final delivery to Indonesia
Our integrated approach ensured schedule adherence and minimized demurrage and port charges.
Outcome
Within just nine months, the buyer received a fully packaged refinery ready for reassembly. By purchasing a used plant and leveraging Phoenix Equipment’s turnkey relocation capabilities, the buyer:
- Saved millions vs. new-build cost
- Avoided 30+ months of new construction lead time
- Received a complete, functioning refinery delivered to their country
This project underscores Phoenix Equipment’s reputation as a global leader in:
- Complete plant acquisitions
- Industrial asset redeployment
- Dismantling & rigging
- Heavy haul and project cargo logistics
- Turnkey international relocation
Whether a project requires a few truckloads or an entire refinery like this one, Phoenix Equipment delivers speed, expertise, and end-to-end accountability.