Industrial Damage Restoration After Flood in Thailand: Fast Recovery Reduces Business Interruption

Case study from the archive · First published in 2011

A severe flood in Thailand caused significant damage to an industrial facility, disrupting operations and increasing the risk of prolonged business interruption. Through rapid response, specialised drying and decontamination measures, the restoration process was accelerated, enabling critical production areas to be recovered in a short timeframe. The case demonstrates how fast, professional damage restoration after flood events in Thailand helps minimise downtime and supports business continuity.

Diary of a disaster – A flood of damage

31 July 2011

In Thailand, the monsoon season is beginning. The rain comes down in endless torrents, collecting into trickles that become small ponds. Puddles become vast expanses of water that ultimately flow together to become a huge lake. And by this point, everyone finally realises that this rainy season is going to be unusual.

20 September 2011

25 Thai provinces are under water and the number of victims is rising. All of this brings back bad memories of the March earthquake and tsunami in Japan. In Japan, a single natural event had unleashed a chain of misfortune. In Thailand, however, the “tsunami” falls from the sky: floodwaters rise, rescue services are stretched to their limit while hopes sink below the water’s glassy surface.

2 October 2011

The entire Ayuthaya province, one of the country’s most productive regions, has been declared a disaster zone. Many local and international high-tech companies are located here and there is nothing more threatening to highly sensitive technical installations than water. BELFOR knows from many years of experience that a quick response is key to saving hightech assets. No sooner said than done: BELFOR sets up a CAT response team in Bangkok, headed by BELFOR’s Asian region Managing Director and South East Asian Regional Manager.

BELFOR establishes a central warehouse outside of the flood zone and moves in a large inventory of restoration equipment. They bring together an international team of experts specializing in machinery, electronics and building restoration. Technical Support BELFOR Europe oversees the international coordination of personnel, equipment and chemicals from the BELFOR subsidiaries.

Mid-October 2011

Even before the floods reach the capital Bangkok, the first team of BELFOR employees are there making boat trips with clients to the affected companies to plan the first measures. On 24 October, the Bangkok River bursts its banks and floods large areas of the capital that is home to some 7 million people. Now it gets a bit dicey!

Beware of snakes and crocodiles

7 November 2011

Large areas of Bangkok are evacuated. BELFOR, meantime, is instigating the first stabilisation measures in a number of factories, even though the flood waters have not yet receded. Along with flotsom and mud, snakes and crocodiles also make work difficult for our employees. However, the biggest danger is not below water but above it. To be more precise: the air and water lines. The slowly receding water gives oxygen corrosion free reign.

Rust, mould and bacteria coat the machine surfaces, causing serious damage. Mud carried by the water, impact damage caused by flotsam and bacterial attack have all had a serious impact on the machinery too. Mould is forming on valuable components of machines. As soon as the flood waters recede, the process of rescuing and protecting machinery and other production equipment against further damage will commence in full force.

20 November 2011

Restoration logistics is used to ensure consistency: BELFOR moves the entire CAT Team from Bangkok to Ayuthaya, to be closer to the work sites. Few hotels have reopened. All the same, all employees still must have accomodations. In addition, daily access to the worksites is extremely difficult due to damaged or destroyed roadways. Improvisation is the key.

“Despite our many years’ experience in Asia, the coordination of the CAT response in Thailand was the most challenging task undertaken by myself and my colleague Guido Gavio in our entire careers. The international BELFOR team handled it masterfully. Additional valuable knowledge was acquired – which means we are now better equipped than ever for further operations of this magnitude.”

Brian Whitmore,

Managing Director, BELFOR Asia and

Director of BELFOR’s Thailand CAT response.

Even heavily corroded machine components – in this case an injection mould – are “as good as new” after being restored by BELFOR. And in fact, they often function better than they did before.

“BELFOR’s restoration skills often brought astonishment to the faces of the people of the ‘Land of Smiles’, especially after the restoration of severely damaged high-tech machines.”

Dr. Rupert Pentenrieder,

Head of Technical Support BELFOR Europe GmbH,

European Coordination Manager for the Thailand mission.

High-Tech rescues High-Tech

1 December 2011

Despite the persistent flooding, countless machine parts are restored to full working order in one of the largest ultrasonic cleaning lines available within BELFOR. Even electronic components for NCC controls operated by renowned suppliers to the computer industry are completely restored. Personnel from client companies work with the 80 BELFOR employees from various countries on the CAT team. From a logistical perspective, the challenge is tremendous, since a visa needs to be procured for everyone in the midst of nationwide chaos, accommodation found and transport arranged to the inaccessible parts of the country.

One job ends, another one begins

March 2012

The work is still continuing; there is still more machinery to restore. But also the evaluation of the effectiveness of the CAT team response to this regional effort is underway. The goal for BELFOR is to build on the experience gained in Thailand and prepare a more comprehensive CAT response plan to be implemented when future catastrophes occur. In Thailand, we were able to experience the complexities of mounting a significant CAT response within the Asian region. Looking ahead to future CAT responses in Asia, the core team who will meet our customers will consist of senior colleagues from each of our Asian branches.

This is to minimise cultural obstacles and ensure effective communication, thereby allowing the projects to commence as quickly as possible. All this saves important time and allows affected companies to resume production more quickly – with BELFOR’s help.

Company Christmas party on site.

BELFOR CAT response Thailand: Team and technical assistance

• 80–100 BELFOR employees from all over the world in action
• Specialists from Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the USA and Asia (Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, China)
• Approximately 200 machines from the USA (highpressure cleaners, steam jets, etc.)
• Additional 300 specially-produced high-pressure cleaners from Germany
• Installation of one of the largest ultrasonic cleaning lines