T-HAM PABP Meat Processing Factory

Project description

Located in the Pingtung Agricultural and Biotechnology Park (PABP) in southern Taiwan, the T-Ham PABP factory is the largest and the most advanced meat processing factory in the country. This LEED Gold certified factory complex contains a main factory building (22,000 m²), a diner and gift shop building (650 m²), and a wastewater treatment building. It produces 45 tonnes of processed meat products a day and 12,000 tonnes a year. The factory's expansive product range covers more than 250 items, ranging from Western style hams, sausages and bacon, to artisanal wood smoked hand-tied hams, to Chinese style stewed, boiled and roasted meats, ready-to-eat meals, as well as various meat ingredients for chain restaurants and bakeries.

The client T-HAM is the oldest and the largest meat processing brand in Taiwan with over 50 years of history. The design of this new factory has been assigned with four principal goals. Firstly, it is to double the company's production capacity in order to meet increasing demand from the domestic market. Secondly, to upgrade the production facility in order to meet the export requirements of Japan and Singapore (two of the strictest standards in Asia) as it prepares for market expansion in 2020. Thirdly, it is to deliver a statement of the company's corporate values which are high quality products, sustainable development, and environmental friendliness. Fourthly, it is to upgrade the working environment of their factory workers and their daily working experience - as "happy employees make better products".

The design incorporates daylight and views into the building to improve users' experience. Ancillary functions such as offices, R&D, quality control, laboratory, and the staff canteens were organised to form the "front" of the building behind a full height glass facade. Storage and production functions were organized to the "rear" of the factory, behind super insulated walls which keeps the temperatures ranging from -35 degrees to 13 degrees.

Client testimonials

“Through its professional, meticulous approach and supervision throughout construction, the WZWX Architecture Group team shaped T-HAM’s PABP factory and canteen, combining export-grade food safety with a people-friendly workplace. The factory design shows the team’s foresight: besides winning a succession of international design awards, it went on to earn LEED Gold green building certification through low-carbon building materials and energy-saving design.

The circulation plan, which separates the raw and cooked zones, also helped T-HAM obtain approval in 2022 from Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to export heat-processed poultry and cloven-hoofed animal meat products to Japan, and to achieve a breakthrough in capacity of 45 tonnes a day and 12,000 tonnes a year.

In terms of spatial experience, the large floor-to-ceiling windows of the staff restaurant on the fourth floor (4F) let colleagues look out at the distant scenery and relax during their breaks. The friendly working environment has not only improved staff retention but also helped recruitment, with the workforce growing from about 300 to 450.

Open to the public, the T-HAM Canteen draws in natural light and scenery through its transparent glazing and has become a well-known destination: diners enjoy a sense of openness as well as good food, and it is much loved, with visitors flocking to it.

Since it opened in 2018, the PABP factory has rooted T-HAM’s corporate image — ‘a focus on high quality, ESG in practice, a friendly workplace and alignment with international standards’ — ever more deeply in consumers’ minds.” (translated)

Ben Wang, General Manager, Taiwan Farm Industry Co., Ltd (T-HAM)22 October 2026

“We have enjoyed a long standing collaborative working relationship with WZWX Architecture Group. …

Throughout the design process, the design team has successfully met our target to double the production capacity, to obtain LEED Gold certification, and to provide a modern and human friendly work environment for all our staff. It is also the only meat processing plant in the country to meet export standards. We now successfully serve both a growing domestic market and also the Hong Kong and Japanese markets. …

We are very pleased with the outcome of this building and would recommend WZWX Architecture Group to potential clients looking to realise outstanding buildings.”

Harrison Chang, Chairman, Taiwan Farm Industry Co., Ltd (T-HAM)Letter of recommendation, 3 August 2023 (extract)

Awards

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