PI Factory Worlds Explained

A PI Factory World is a specialised Planetary Industry (PI) setup where the planet is used primarily for processing imported materials into higher-tier PI products, rather than extracting resources locally. Instead of harvesting raw planetary resources (P0), factory worlds focus on importing P1, P2, or even P3 materials and converting them into more valuable finished goods.

For industrialists in EVE Online, factory worlds represent the point where PI stops being “basic passive income” and starts becoming a real industrial production chain. They are a key step toward scaling into Fuel Blocks, Tech II production inputs, and alliance-level industry supply.

What Is a PI Factory World?

A factory world is a planet that:

Imports PI materials from other planets (or the market)
Processes them into higher-tier products
Exports finished goods for profit or further manufacturing

Unlike extraction planets, factory worlds do not rely on local resource hotspots. Instead, they are designed purely around efficiency and production chains.

Think of it like this:

Extraction planet = mining raw materials
Factory world = industrial processing plant

Why Use Factory Worlds?

Factory worlds exist because PI becomes significantly more efficient when specialised.

Instead of trying to do everything on one planet, you split the process:

Extraction Planets

Gather P0
Convert to P1
Export bulk materials

Factory Worlds

Import P1/P2
Convert into P2/P3/P4
Export high-value goods

This separation allows:

Higher efficiency per planet
Cleaner logistics chains
Easier scaling across multiple characters
Better ISK per unit of planetary capacity

What Do Factory Worlds Produce?

Factory worlds are flexible and can produce almost any PI product, but they are most commonly used for:

P2 Production

This is the most common beginner factory world setup.

Examples:

Mechanical Parts
Coolant
Consumer Electronics
Construction Blocks

Why P2 is popular:

Stable demand
Simple 2-input recipes
Good balance of complexity and profit

P3 Production

Intermediate factory setups.

Examples:

Robotics
Guidance Systems
Miniature Electronics

Why P3 is used:

Higher value per unit
Strong demand in Tech II chains
Efficient use of logistics if well planned

P4 Production

Advanced factory worlds (rare for beginners).

Examples:

Broadcast Nodes
Self-Harmonising Power Cores
Nano-Factories

Why P4 is advanced:

Requires multiple input chains
Complex multi-planet logistics
High infrastructure requirements

How Factory Worlds Work

Factory worlds follow a structured pipeline:

Step 1 – Import Materials

P1, P2, or P3 is delivered via Launchpad imports

Step 2 – Store Inputs

Materials are stored in a Launchpad (central hub)

Step 3 – Process Materials

Advanced Industry Facilities convert inputs into higher-tier goods

Step 4 – Store Output

Finished products return to Launchpad

Step 5 – Export or Transport

Goods are shipped to market or other industrial planets

Core Structures on a Factory World

A typical factory planet includes:

Launchpad (Essential)

This is the heart of any factory world.

It:

Stores imports and exports
Acts as a central routing hub
Enables planetary logistics

Without a Launchpad, factory worlds become inefficient and restrictive.

Advanced Industry Facilities

These are the production engines.

They:

Convert P1 → P2
Convert P2 → P3
Convert P3 → P4

Factory worlds usually run multiple facilities in parallel.

Storage (Optional)

Sometimes used to buffer materials, but often unnecessary if Launchpad is well managed.

Command Center

Still required, but plays a minimal active role once setup is complete.

How Factory Worlds Get Their Materials

Factory worlds do not produce raw materials themselves.

They rely on imports from:

1. Extraction Planets

The most common source.

Example flow:

Temperate planet produces Proteins (P1)
Barren planet produces Reactive Metals (P1)
Oceanic planet produces Water (P1)

These are shipped to factory worlds for processing.

2. Market Imports

Some industrialists buy PI materials directly from trade hubs like Jita.

This is common when:

Scaling large production chains
Filling short-term supply gaps
Operating multi-character setups

3. Corporation Supply Chains

Large corporations often feed factory worlds directly using:

Alliance mining operations
Buyback programs
Internal logistics networks

Factory World Layout (Beginner Example)

A simple beginner-friendly factory world might look like this:

1 × Command Center
1 × Launchpad
4–6 × Advanced Industry Facilities
1–2 × Links connecting everything

Input:

P1 materials (imported)

Output:

P2 products (exported)

This is the most stable and scalable beginner factory setup.

Best Beginner Factory Products

For new players, the best factory world outputs are:

Mechanical Parts

High demand
Used in many industrial chains

Coolant

Stable pricing
Simple input chain

Consumer Electronics

Strong demand for advanced manufacturing

Construction Blocks

Used in structure and capital industry

These products are ideal because they:

Require only P1 inputs
Have consistent market demand
Are easy to scale

Advantages of Factory Worlds

Higher ISK Efficiency

Factory worlds extract more value from imported materials.

Scalable Production

You can expand by simply adding more planets or characters.

Flexible Design

Factory worlds can be reconfigured without rebuilding entire colonies.

Centralised Production Chains

Perfect for industrialists building full supply networks.

Essential for Advanced Industry

Fuel Blocks, structures, and Tech II production all rely on factory outputs.

Disadvantages of Factory Worlds

Dependence on Logistics

You must import materials and export products constantly.

Higher Complexity

More routing, planning, and coordination required.

Requires Multiple Planets

Factory worlds alone do not generate raw materials.

Market Dependency

Input prices affect profitability significantly.

When Should You Start Using Factory Worlds?

You should consider factory worlds when:

You are comfortable with basic PI extraction
You have multiple planets producing P1 materials
You want to increase PI profitability
You are ready to manage logistics chains

Most players transition to factory worlds after:

Learning P0 → P1 extraction on 2–5 planets

Common Beginner Mistakes

Building factory worlds too early

Without input planets, factory worlds cannot function.

Mixing extraction and factory setups

This reduces efficiency and creates logistical bottlenecks.

Overcomplicating production chains

Start with P2 production before moving to P3 or P4.

Poor logistics planning

Factory worlds require consistent material supply.

Factory Worlds in the Larger Industrial Ecosystem

Factory worlds are the middle layer of PI industry:

Extraction Planets

→ Raw resource gathering

↓

Factory Worlds

→ Material conversion and refinement

↓

Advanced Industry

→ Fuel Blocks, Tech II components, structures

↓

Market / Alliance Supply Chains

They are the bridge between raw resource gathering and high-end industrial production.

Final Summary

PI Factory Worlds are specialised planets designed to import raw or semi-processed planetary materials and convert them into higher-value goods. Unlike extraction planets, they do not rely on local resources, instead acting as dedicated production hubs within a larger industrial network.

For beginners, factory worlds are most commonly used to produce P2 goods such as Mechanical Parts, Coolant, and Consumer Electronics. As industrialists gain experience and expand their operations, factory worlds become a critical part of advanced production chains, enabling large-scale manufacturing of Fuel Blocks, Tech II components, and structure materials.

In short, extraction planets gather the resources, but factory worlds turn them into profit.