Technica Ltd

TECHNICA PROVIDES MULTI-DISCIPLINE DESIGN AND SAFETY ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR IMMINGHAM RENEWABLE FUELS TERMINAL

Local engineering firm works on world’s largest biomass handling facility

Grimsby-based engineering design firm, Technica, has provided functional safety design and instrumentation design and emergency shutdown for the Immingham Renewable Fuels Terminal (IRFT), the world’s largest dedicated biomass handling facility.

The prestigious renewable fuel handling project also saw Technica, on behalf of client Associated British Ports (ABP), deliver the design, manufacture, configuration and site commissioning of the emergency shutdown and terminal control systems.

Explains John Davison, Managing Director at Technica: “The IRFT facility uses ABP’s bespoke continuous ship unloaders to offload wood pellets from vessels on to a conveyor system which moves the pellets through the facility into one of four storage silos, each capable of holding 25,000 tonnes of biomass, and onward to a train loading facility. The biomass is then loaded onto trains for transport to Drax power station.”

Continues John: “ABP, via principal contractor Graham Construction commissioned us to provide a range of design and engineering services for the facility including detailed design and equipment specification, third party interfaces such as HV and LV drives, as well as control and instrumentation and support with commissioning the facility and detailed training for operatives.

“In addition, we were asked to contribute to the various multidiscipline and vendor design reviews such as HAZOP, a hazard and operability study and LoPA, a risk assessment method used to determine and demonstrate the ability of existing and proposed safeguards.

“We were also responsible for functional safety at the facility, a task that saw us carry out extensive safety requirement specification and safety integrity level calculations. As part of this, we designed, built and implemented software configuration for the site’s integral emergency shutdown and terminal control systems.”

Mark Hennessy, Deputy Engineering Manager at ABP, added: “At every stage of the project, Technica displayed the commitment, knowledge and detailed planning we required to get the work done on time and to a high standard. I was highly impressed with the professionalism the team demonstrated throughout.”

Concludes John: “As a result of the successful completion of the IRFT project, we were selected to provide the same services and emergency shutdown and terminal control systems for an expansion of ABP’s facility to incorporate a further four storage silos and a second rail load out facility.”

BRYAN LEADS THE WAY ON UK BIOMETHANE DAY

Our Technical Director, Bryan Creed, has once again attended the annual REA UK Biomethane Day that took place on 20th April at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull.

Bryan led Technica’s project for National Grid Gas to develop a generic design for a fully integrated Network Entry Facility complete with OFGEM approved gas chromatography analysis, pressure reduction, odorisation, fiscal metering, GS(M)R gas analysis and gas rejection.

At the time of the first REA UK Biomethane Day in 2012 the UK had not completed any biomethane projects. Rainbarrow Farm was the first in 2013, closely followed by two further projects in 2014. By the end of 2015 there were 51 completed biomethane projects and as of 1st April this year there were 61 operational biomethane to grid projects, with the UK having the fastest growing, most innovative and diverse biomethane market in Europe.

This year’s Biomethane Day attracted over 300 delegates, with exhibition stands from all of the major suppliers of Biomethane related plant reflecting the fact that biomethane has become the leading renewable heat technology in the UK.

GO GREEN!

Over the last financial year, we’ve confirmed our commitment to enhancing our environmental performance with a number of initiatives aimed at reducing our overall carbon footprint. Having held the ISO14001 accreditation for a number of years we have gradually built up our understanding on environmental issues in general and our own impact on the environment.

Directors John Davison and Bryan Creed decided that they wanted to reduce the company’s environmental impact further and a number of schemes were reviewed. Although a sizeable investment was required it was decided that the installation of solar panels would have the most beneficial impact on reducing our carbon footprint.

Our head office here in Grimsby is completely powered by electricity; when we moved here in 2013 the mains gas feed was removed. 2014 allowed us to get a benchmark for our energy usage and to set quantifiable improvement targets for 2015.

By raising awareness and getting staff on board with a variety of initiatives, we were able to register an amazing 17% reduction in energy usage. Having now gone further and installed solar panels, we have seen a further saving of 27% for the first two months of 2016 compared to the same period last year.

One of the other investments we made during 2015 was to replace all our 14 workshop lights from old style 400kW lights to Luxna 100kW, LED high-bay lighting. These adopt super bright LED as the light source, which is stable and offers a long life with no UV or IR emissions.

TECHNICA CALLING

We are frequently engaged in high profile international projects that usually require extensive travel to attend meetings with clients to ensure their specific requirements are met.

It was during one such meeting that it occurred to our Managing Director, John Davison, that the creation of a video conferencing room at our head office in Grimsby could have a beneficial impact on reducing staff travel times and consequently the environment as well.

As such, a suitable area of the building was identified and the conversion to deliver a state-of-the-art video conferencing facility was completed in December last year. Although the room in no way replaces the need for face-to-face meetings, it does provide an environmentally friendly alternative whenever appropriate.

Two of Technica’s engineering team, Craig Watts and Jack Browning recently attained the CompEx Ex12 design competency certificate.

The CompEx Ex12 training and assessment is competency based and focuses on the application of installation, design, selection and erection of electrical equipment in areas of explosive atmospheres. CompEx Ex12 meets the competency requirements of IEC60079-14 for Designers (design & selection).

Craig and Jack are now part of an elite group of just over 500 engineers across the whole of Europe who have been assessed and passed the Ex12 Competency training and assessment.

Bryan Creed, Technical Director at Technica said: “The majority of Technica’s engineering and design projects are associated with explosive atmosphere applications. This additional competency training builds on the team’s knowledge and gives us an industry recognised measure of competence. I am very proud of Craig and Jack for passing what is a detailed and challenging Hazardous Area design competency assessment. Having staff employed with the Ex12 competency certification helps us reduce our clients project associated risks.”

Training was carried out at the Stallingborough CATCH facility a CompEx Licensed Centre and competency was assessed by JTL.

Team Technica has scooped The Humber Challenge Cup for the second year running and the cup remains pride of place in our reception.

The annual football match between Technica and Hull-based civil & marine engineers, GGP Consult, has this year raised £250 for The Artie White Foundation and took place at the Bradley Football Development Centre in Grimsby.

Explains Bryan: “This is the second match we’ve played against GGP Consult and underlines our mutual love of sport – if we’re not talking engineering when we’re working together on projects, the topic of discussion will be either golf or football or both!”

Another very competitive game ensued on the field with some very dubious refereeing decisions! It was a well-fought battle with GGP taking the lead early on 1-0 and then 2-1, but when Technica went 3-2 up the game really heated up.

The score steadily rose in Technica’s favour to 6-4, but Technica were under pressure for the final twenty minutes with man of the match, Dave Wilkie, holding off the GGP onslaught almost single-handed.

Eventually Technica came out triumphant winners with the final score standing at 8-5.

Adds Bryan: “We’re also currently staging an ongoing Ryder Cup Golf style tournament which will conclude at the end of summer, so the cup may well change hands then.”

Concludes Bryan: “There are a few aches and pains in the office this morning but we all had a great time and helped to raise £250 for the Artie White Foundation, a charity that supports sports teams and worthy causes in the Grimsby and Cleethorpes area.

“We were delighted to hand the cheque over to Dave Boylen, ex-Grimsby Town Captain, club legend and club ambassador who accepted it on behalf of the charity.”

Left to right in the photograph are Bryan Creed – Technica, Jim Gabbitas – GGP and Dave Boylen.

Details of the Bradley Football Development Centre can be found athttps://www.lincsinspire.com/enterprise/Bradley

TECHNICA REPLACES GAS SEAL SYSTEM AT HATTON COMPRESSOR STATION

Grimsby-based engineering firm, Technica, has delivered a multi-discipline management, design and construction project to resolve compressor seal gas system issues at the Hatton Compressor Station near Horncastle.

Following the recent installation of a fourth gas compressor at the station, National Grid, who own and manage the facility, reported operating difficulties with the new compressor which were leading to regular shut downs.

Outlines Bryan Creed, Technical Director at Technica: “National Grid identified a problem with the quality of the dry seal gas. The only way to solve this was to fully replace the existing seal gas system.

“National Grid also found that the existing seal gas conditioning skid unit was incorrectly sized for supplying the correct gas pressure to the compressor’s drive end and non-drive end seals.”

Continues Bryan: “We provided a multi-discipline design to facilitate the installation of a new seal gas system supplying mechanical, civils, electrical and instrumentation discipline designs to enable a new seal gas booster skid to be installed.

“Our construction team decommissioned and removed the existing seal gas conditioning skid, pipework and associated equipment.”

Concludes Bryan: “Following the removal of the old equipment, we provided a variety of construction services including modifying high pressure pipework, vent pipework, instrumentation, electrical distribution and motor control centre.

“On completion of the installation we pre-commissioned the new equipment and also provided assistance during National Grid’s commissioning exercise at the station.”

TECHNICA SIGNS UP TO ECITB SKILLS & TRAINING CHARTER 

Engineering design specialists, Technica, have signed up to the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) Skills & Training Charter.

Designed to encourage businesses to commit to developing the skills of their workforce to ensure the competence of employees, adopting the Charter underlines Technica’s commitment to all of its employees.

Commenting on the ECITB Skills & Training Charter, Bryan Creed, Technical Director at Technica said: “We wholeheartedly agree with the ECITB that our most valuable asset is our people.

“Many members of our team work in a variety of different areas, moving from site to site and project to project so it is imperative that they are fully competent in all aspects of their role. The ECITB not only epitomise this but they appreciate the need to formally recognise and validate this competence.”

Continues Bryan: “We have always focused on the continued professional and personal development of our staff and support them in every way we can to achieve their full potential. We firmly believe in offering opportunities for apprentices to join the company, as well as supporting anyone who wishes to gain new qualifications whilst working with us.

“To grow and prosper our industry needs to attract highly skilled individuals wishing to build a successful career in engineering. To do this, we need to be able to offer the correct levels of training and skills development which is why we fully support the ECITB’s Skills & Training Charter.”

TECHNICA COMPLETES PAKISTAN LNG TERMINAL DESIGN CONTRACT

Grimsby-based engineering design company, Technica, has completed the multi-disciplined detailed design for the LNG import terminal in Port Qasim, Pakistan.

Working on behalf of American Floating LNG Solutions Provider, Excelerate Energy, Technica completed onshore and offshore construction in February and have since assisted local contractors with the testing and commissioning of the facility. The project will increase gas availability in the country by up to 15 percent.

Explains John Davison, Managing Director at Technica: “We were contracted in May 2014 by Excelerate Energy to deliver a multi-discipline detailed design and procurement management for the LNG terminal. Our team of design engineers completed the original contract on time and were asked to assist site construction personnel with the testing and commissioning of the facility.”

Pakistan is facing critical and growing gas shortages that have disrupted the economy and everyday life. Its gas deficit is projected to double, by the end of 2015, to almost 2,000bscfd. The Port Qasim project has a maximum discharge capacity of 690mmscfd which will enable it to contribute greatly toward easing Pakistan’s ongoing energy crisis.

Natural gas accounts for almost half of Pakistan’s energy mix. To bridge the gas gap, Pakistan is working on transnational pipelines, encouraging additional local production, and promoting LNG import. Pakistan’s gas market is highly developed and there is an urgent need to import LNG.

Concludes John: “The LNG import terminal in Port Qasim provides fast-track gas supplies for the country to ensure continued economic growth. Switching from expensive fuel oils to cheaper, environmentally friendly LNG will reduce carbon emissions, decrease road congestion, increase electricity availability for consumers and provide the Pakistan economy considerable fuel savings each year.”

Definitions
LNG: Liquefied Natural Gas
BSCFD: Billion Standard Cubic Feet per Day
MMSCFD: Million Standard Cubic Feet per Day

MP VISITS TECHNICA FOR BUSINESS BRIEFING

Late last year, we welcomed Marc Jones, Conservative candidate for Great Grimsby to our offices here on Cherry Tree Industrial Estate.

In his preparations for the forthcoming election, Marc wanted to visit a number of local businesses to develop his understanding of the issues we face and find out what’s important to us from a political perspective.

Our managing director, John Davison, gave Marc a brief introduction to Technica, including the history of the company, the services we provide and an outline of the national and international projects we’ve successfully delivered for clients. Marc then talked to us all about exactly what he wants to achieve for businesses in the area should he win the Great Grimsby seat.
Commenting on the visit, John Davison said: “We appreciate Marc taking time to come and listen to us both as business owners and employers.

He spent over two hours here and we all found the exchange educational and rewarding.”