Technica Ltd

Technica is thrilled to have passed their annual Achilles Utilities Vendor Database (UVDB) Verify Audit with flying colours, scoring 100% across all eight categories of the assessment, improving their year-on-year score by 3%.

Achilles UVDB Verify is an independent audit of an organisation providing works or services to the utilities sector. The categories covered in the audit consist of Health and Safety, Environmental, Quality and Corporate Social Responsibility and are considered separately for both office and site based works.

Throughout the course of the 2-day audit zero non-conformances were identified. Only positive elements -particularly around the use of site work instructions and the company’s commitment to monitoring and improving their carbon footprint – were of note to the auditor.

Technica’s membership of the UVDB community provides their clients within the National Gas Transmission Network with the assurance and verification that procedures, operations and capabilities meet the highest possible standards. The results of this latest audit further strengthen Technica’s position as a partner of choice to these customers.

Technica’s Operations Director, Robert Gallivan, commented, “Management Systems can only achieve this level of conformity when they are being challenged continually by the business; this excellent result is a reflection of the buy in from all our staff to working with, and constantly challenging, our internal processes.”

Technica provides multidiscipline engineering design, project management and installation works, with areas of expertise covering EPC, EPCM, FEED, design, build, installation and commissioning. For further details, please see our website new.technicaltd.com.

Following an initial contract award in late 2018, Technica was pleased to successfully complete the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) of the first of two Flow Weighted Average Calorific Value (FWACV) sites which will be delivered for SGN. The FAT marks the culmination of the design and build stage of this project and represents the first of twelve, which will be delivered using the Emerson 370XA Chromatograph for SGN and other clients over the next 12 months.

Business Development Director, Richard Law, commented that, “The ahead-of-programme delivery of the first FWACV metering system using the Emerson 370XA chromatograph for SGN demonstrates our ability to successfully deliver this cost effective and widely accepted solution to UK gas network operators.”

Due to the successful performance on this first FAT and on other projects, Technica has continued to enhance their relationship with SGN and will be working alongside Process, Mechanical and Civil Engineering experts, Saith (www.saithlimited.com), to deliver further EC&I design support over the coming months.

SGN is one of the largest gas network operators within the UK, providing gas to over 5.9 million homes and businesses across Scotland and the south of England. For more information please see their website www.sgn.co.uk.

For over 15 years, Technica has developed the capability to design and deliver complex Electrical, Control, Instrumentation, Mechanical and Process engineering solutions. They specialise in Fiscal and Non Fiscal metering, RTU, Fire and Gas, SCADA and industrial automation and control. Technica is also able to provide EPC, EPCM and consultancy services to clients and has extensive experience in the successful delivery of CDM projects as both Principal Designer and Principal Contractor.

Technica are delighted to sign an assembly and distribution agreement with Florida based wind energy experts, Be-Wind LLC. This follows many months of contractual discussions and the development of capability understanding between all parties.

Commencing immediately, the agreement is the first of this type to be issued by Be-Wind within the UK and Europe and will see Technica entering the renewable energy sector trading under the name ‘Technica Energy’.

Technica now have the rights to assemble and distribute the Be-Wind turbines to an exclusive sector of the UK, with specific focus on the micro-commercial onshore power generation market as well as providing assembly and business development support to the Be-Wind operations throughout the remainder of the UK and EU as required.

Paul Clarke, technical lead for wind turbines at Technica Energy stated “The significant factors attracting us to Be-Wind turbines is their developments in terms of an increased generation window from low wind speed to near hurricane conditions coupled with innovative use of composite materials and a lengthy warranty period”. He continued “Attractive commercial terms with Be-Wind turbines mean that we can offer potential energy investors viable projects with short return on investment periods”.

Director of Business Development at Technica, Richard Law commented “We are delighted to conclude negotiations with Be-Wind in a successful manner and can now push on to close some of the opportunities which we have already identified”. He concluded “Our aim is to complete a flagship project within 12 months at which point we believe the economic benefits will be clear to other potential investors”

Michael Berdan, the CEO of Be-Wind LLC, has developed an efficient and unique dual axis range of small wind turbines. John Archer Business Development Manager for Be-Wind commented, “Be-Wind will play a role in the micro-generation energy mix, required to help the UK reach the goal of net zero emissions, in urban and rural locations. With the foresight of Technica Energy and their proposed uses of the turbines, Be-Wind is eager to address the opportunities ahead.”

The small footprint and novel design of the turbines means that they are ideally placed for locations where larger wind turbines would either be unsightly or impractical. Technica are already in discussion with the local authorities of coastal regions and believe that these turbines can become a common feature in the UK attempt to become carbon neutral. Other potential sites include augmenting power generation at solar farms.

The unique patented concept of the Be-Wind range of turbines incorporate a deflector shield. This blocks air flow that would otherwise cause resistance to the vertical blades, while ensuring the turbine is automatically aligned to the wind, to operate safely in all wind conditions.

The shield directs wind on to two self-starting turbine blades that rotate in opposite directions. This balances the system, reducing noise and vibration, whilst increasing torque and hence power generation performance.

The deflector shield can also be used for marketing purposes and is particularly effective when lit up at night.

Lightweight, durable composite materials make the turbines ideal for roof top or low height pole mounting for urban and rural applications. Virtually maintenance free, Be-Wind is confident to offer a ten-year warranty on the turbine.

Individually or in an array, the unobtrusive Be-Wind turbines deliver a realistic return on investment. The installation of numerous turbines around the world, demonstrates the effectiveness of this new wind technology. Further information is available at www.Be-Wind.com

John Davison, Managing Director of Technica announced that “This agreement is an exciting milestone for Technica and Be-Wind as we look to bring our project delivery expertise into partnership with the innovative products of Be-Wind”. He continued “I am pleased with the team for pulling together this agreement which will allow Technica to pursue avenues and opportunities in the sustainable energy sector”.

For over 15 years, Technica has developed a capability to design and deliver complex Electrical, Control, Instrumentation, Mechanical and Process engineering solutions. Having supported a number of UK and International clients with industrial automation, mechanical and infrastructure projects across the oil, gas, petrochemical and industrial process sectors, Technica will add the additional business stream of Technica Energy to its portfolio.

We have significant experience in providing EPC, EPCM and consultancy services to our clients and have successfully delivered CDM projects as both Principal Designer and Principal Contractor.

Technica has been working closely with Centrica Storage Limited (CSL) to produce a suite of standards, strategies and policy documents to aid compliance with the functional safety lifecycle requirements of IEC-61511:2016 ‘Safety Instrumented Systems for the Process Industry Sector’.

Technica has also developed subsequent complimentary standards which have been endorsed and published by CSL for their lifecycle activities. The Technica policies for proof testing, failure reporting and demand tracking of Safety Instrumented Functions (SIF) have also been endorsed and published by CSL.

The documents identify roles and responsibilities for functional safety within CSL, detailing the requirements for competency and the competency levels required for each role. To supplement and help demonstrate existing competencies within CSL staff, Technica have provided functional safety training and training assessment tailored to the CSL functional safety management standards.

To ensure compliance with the standards and policies, Technica provided verification of CSL’s identified SIL (Safety Integrity Level) rated safety instrumented functions using the ABB IEC-61511 compliant software tool ‘TRAC’ (Trip Requirement and Availability Calculator). Where gaps in risk reduction and or SIF architecture were identified, Technica have suggested remedial actions to achieve compliance with IEC-61511:2016 and CSL’s Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA) SIL targets.

Geoff Cole, S,C&I Technical Authority for Centrica Storage Limited, commented that “the strategy document provided by Technica now underpins the CSL policy document and details functional safety management activities including planning, competency, selection, safety requirements specification, design, verification, safety instrumented system (SIS) implementation, and functional safety assessments (FSA) of SIS”. Geoff further reported that “the strategy that they have produced will now apply to all safety lifecycle phases from concept through to decommissioning of a SIS”.

Paul Brimble, S,C&I Engineer for Centrica Storage Limited, added “Technica completed the work to an excellent standard and with impressive professionalism”.

Technical Director of Technica, Andy Hawkins stated “we have a very good relationship with CSL and are very pleased to have been able to support them with their overall implementation and verification of IEC-61511:2016 and the production of their wider policies and strategy.”

Technica have the in-house capability to undertake all aspects of safety engineering using TÜV certified C&I and Software Engineers. We are ideally placed on the Humber Energy Estuary and in the North West of the UK, to support both local and national clients with the safe and successful execution of Electrical, C&I and Mechanical projects. For further information please view our website.

Technica is continuing to build its strategic relationships across many different industry sectors including gas, petrochemicals and industrial automation and control.

Spanning two of these sectors, Palm Paper in Kings Lynn have chosen Technica to provide assistance in resolving existing software issues and then subsequently modify a PLC control system on their newly installed CHP system.

This is the second of two contracts from Palm Paper, the first being to provide urgent assistance to undertake an inspection of their cathodic protection system prior to Christmas last year. Earlier in the year, Technica also provided technical consultancy regarding aspects of their natural gas pipeline.

Director of Business Development at Technica, Richard Law stated “being agile, responsive and attentive to our client has enabled us to develop this excellent relationship with Palm Paper and I am proud of the way in which our engineers have responded”. He continued “this contract award demonstrates the many aspects of our capability which includes multi-disciplinary design, build, commissioning and the provision of maintenance services”.

Palm Paper commented “Technica have consistently provided timely, professional, accessible and cost effective engineering support to Palm Paper. We look forward to a long and productive relationship with their team”

Palm Paper is one of the leading companies in the European paper industry. The Palm Group is divided into Papierfabrik Palm with five paper mills for the manufacture of paper and Palm Packaging Group with 26 plants for the manufacture of corrugated board.

The third pillar of their operations, which encompasses the purchasing of raw materials for all of their papers and corrugated boards made from 100% recycled paper, are joined under the umbrella of Palm Recycling.

Palm Paper in Kings Lynn is the most powerful newsprint machine in the world. At a speed of nearly 2,000m/min it has the capacity to produce 400,000 metric tonnes of newsprint per annum.

The Palm Paper company name stands for exceptional product quality, innovative development of production and processes, close customer relationships and reliable customer care and service. For further information, please see https://www.palm.de/en/palm/.

Over the past several years, Technica has demonstrated an ability to deliver complex EC&I and mechanical design, build and installation projects on behalf of the largest infrastructure companies in the UK.

Our areas of expertise include fiscal and non-fiscal metering, compressor control, Fire & Gas, RTU, automation & control systems as well as being able to undertake a range of activities including EPC, EPCM, FEED, Design, Build, Installation and Commissioning. For further details, please see our website new.technicaltd.com.

Following an initial contract award before Christmas, Technica are delighted to have been selected by SGN to support a further metering upgrade for one of their Flow Weighted Average Calorific Value (FWACV) sites in the south of the UK. As before, the contract award will see Technica provide detailed design, build and commissioning support for the metering rack and gas analysis kiosk using the Emerson 370XA Chromatograph.

Managing Director of Technica, John Davison said “SGN are an important client to Technica and we are proud to announce their decision to partner Technica to deliver this key piece of work”. He continued, “Our recruitment of key individuals into the business over the past 12 months has provided us with the expertise and capability to support SGN and the other networks with metering upgrades and replacements such as this”.

Business Development Director, Richard Law commented that “The delivery of FWACV metering systems using the Emerson 370XA chromatograph demonstrates continued market recognition of the traditional method of gas analysis and our ability to perform upgrades such as this”.

SGN is one of the largest gas network operators within the UK. It provides gas to over 5.9 million homes and businesses across Scotland and the south of England. For more information please see their website www.sgn.co.uk.

For over 15 years, Technica has developed the capability to design and deliver complex Electrical, Control, Instrumentation, Mechanical and Process engineering solutions. They specialise in Fiscal and Non Fiscal metering, RTU, Fire and Gas, SCADA and industrial automation and control. They are also able to provide EPC, EPCM and consultancy services to clients and have extensive experience in the successful delivery of CDM projects as both Principal Designer and Principal Contractor.