Award for Turnaround Excellence
Winner of the 2025
Award for Turnaround Excellence
AP-Networks Announces Two Winners of the 2025 TINC Excellence Award
ExxonMobil Antwerp Refinery and Celanese Recognized for Achieving Top Quartile Performance Across All Turnaround Metrics
HOUSTON, TX — AP-Networks announced today that ExxonMobil Antwerp Refinery and Celanese have been named winners of the 2025 TINC Excellence Award. The awards were presented by Brett Schroeder, CEO of AP-Networks, to recognize turnarounds that achieved top-quartile performance in cost, schedule, safety, environmental impact, and post-startup operability.
Fewer than 5% of turnarounds in the industry achieve top-quartile results across all five categories. Both winning teams demonstrated the preparation, discipline, and execution required to meet this standard.
ExxonMobil Antwerp Refinery: IE2022 Mega-Event
The ExxonMobil Antwerp Refinery team earned the Excellence Award for their IE2022 integrated event, a mega-complexity turnaround spanning 25 units and 1.1 million direct field labor hours over 48 days.
Key results:
- Cost to Business Index: 0.73 (top quartile)
- Schedule: 4% slip (top quartile for mega-events)
- Safety: Zero recordable injuries through the mechanical window
- Environmental: Zero reportables
- Operability: Zero trips post-startup
The team executed rigorous scope optimization, resulting in less scope than comparable industry units. Strong night-shift coverage of critical activities supported the accelerated window. All project IFCs were completed by t-9, and robust scope-challenge sessions were held throughout the preparation.
Mega events have a 7% success rate industry-wide. ExxonMobil Antwerp’s performance sets a new benchmark for what disciplined execution can achieve at scale.
Celanese: Clear Lake AAS/VAM and Bay City VAM Multi-Site Turnaround
Celanese earned the Excellence Award for their multi-site turnaround covering Clear Lake AAS/VAM and Bay City VAM facilities, a medium-complexity event spanning 150,000+ total hours across two locations over 37 days.
Key results:
- Cost Index: 0.89 (top quartile)
- Schedule Index: 0.94 (top quartile)
- Productivity: Exceeded plan by 12%
- Safety: Zero recordables
- Environmental: Zero reportables
- Operability: Zero trips post-startup
The success was driven by repeat contractors familiar with the equipment, experienced turnaround personnel, a strong operations presence, and effective coordination between the two locations, sharing resources and shift work.
This marks Celanese’s second TINC Excellence Award. The company previously won in 2019 for their Clear Lake VAM Turnaround.
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Sales Contact:
AJ Kowaleuski
AP-Networks LLC
Email: akowaleuski@ap-networks.com
Media Contact:
John Crager
AP-Networks LLC
Email: jcrager@ap-networks.com
About TINC
The Turnaround Industry Network Conference (TINC) is the premier global forum for turnaround professionals in the process industries. Established as an annual event, TINC brings together owner-operators, contractors, and industry experts to share best practices, discuss emerging trends, and recognize excellence in turnaround execution. The conference features comprehensive presentations, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities that help shape the future of turnaround management. The TINC Excellence Award, presented annually at the conference, celebrates outstanding achievements in turnaround performance and innovation, setting industry benchmarks for operational excellence. For more information, visit tincconference.com.
About AP-Networks LLC
AP-Networks LLC is the global process industry’s leading capital project optimization and turnaround assurance services provider. With over two decades of experience, AP-Networks has established itself as the preeminent authority in benchmarking, predictive analytics, and advisory services for capital projects and turnarounds. Our innovative software tools and consulting services help clients achieve operational excellence and superior project outcomes.
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