An eight-year journey scaling energy efficiency with Shanghai Tower
Shanghai Tower, one of the world's tallest buildings at 632 metres, needed more than reliable equipment — it needed a service partner that could sustain and improve performance over time. Since 2017, Alfa Laval has worked alongside the tower's operations team to move from reactive maintenance to proactive, data-driven service.
DATE 2026-05-22Buildings account for nearly 30% of global energy consumption and a significant share of carbon emissions. For super-tall skyscrapers, the challenge is even greater—balancing occupant comfort, operational safety, and long-term energy efficiency. As cities continue to grow vertically, the demand for sustainable high-rise solutions becomes increasingly critical.
Shanghai Towe, rising 632 meters above Lujiazui, Shanghai, exemplifies how these challenges can be addressed through visionary design and management. Completed in 2015, this 128-story mixed-use skyscraper houses offices, hotels, retail, and cultural spaces, serving thousands of people daily. The tower is operated by CBRE Property Management, and has prioritized green building standards from the beginning, earning LEED Platinum certification and setting a benchmark for environmental responsibility in super-tall structures.
A partnership rooted in reliability and built on trust
In 2017, Alfa Laval delivered the first batch of plate heat exchangers to Shanghai Tower as core components of the building’s heating and cooling infrastructure. Through innovative engineering, Alfa Laval provided reliable solutions that met the tower’s demanding needs for precision, heat transfer efficiency, and pressure tolerance. Delivery, however, was only the beginning of an eight-year journey.
Lifetime service with a strategic approach to sustained value
Through regular inspections and Performance Assessment services, the Alfa Laval service team provides clear insights into equipment health and enables proactive maintenance, establishing Alfa Laval as a trusted service partner throughout the tower’s lifecycle.
Behind the numbers lies a commitment to long-term operational excellence—transforming routine maintenance into strategic service that maximizes equipment lifecycle and system performance.
From equipment supplier to strategic service partner
Building on this momentum with proven results, Alfa Laval signed a five-year strategic service agreement in 2025. This agreement marks the evolution of a partnership that has grown from equipment delivery to system optimization, from performance auditing to proactive service, and from parts supplier to a trusted service partner.
Our eight-year partnership with Shanghai Tower shows that proactive, data-driven, and value-added service delivers real operational gains. Together, we're not just keeping the building running with efficiency — we're shaping a vertical green city for the future.
Angela Qu, Sales Manager, Service Division, Alfa Laval China
Customer's benefits
- 15% increase in heat exchange efficiency
- 5% reduction in energy consumption
- Approximately 3°C drop in average secondary-side return water temperature in the first summer after each cleaning campaign
8 years of dedicated service
In 2017
Alfa Laval delivered the first batch of plate heat exchangers to Shanghai Tower as core components of the building’s heating and cooling infrastructure.
Between 2017 and 2019
Alfa Laval conducted regular service patrols and on-site performance assessments
In 2020
Alfa Laval service team identified opportunities to restore equipment performance and developed targeted maintenance plans
From 2021 onward
Alfa Laval service team has carried out large-scale reconditioning of more than 3,000 plates.
Explore
At the heart of it all, we created our Explore portfolio to enable you to discover new opportunities to improve at any point in time. Whether you're upgrading an existing line, planning a new facility, or just challenging your operations’ status quo, we help you with equipment assessments, insights, and technical consultancy to make informed decisions about servicing your equipment.