RHYAL ENGINEERING
WELSH FIRE FUELS TANK SPECIALIST’S DESIRE TO BE THE BEST Powered by Inside Oil & Gas
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RHYAL ENGINEERING
130 Inside oil & gas
I PROFILE
Rhyal Engineering is a leading UK-based specialist in site-built storage tank and vessel design, manufacture and installation for the petrochem industry. While its 25th anniversary comes against significant upheaval in its sector, the award-winning business continues to ride high with rising demand for its services. Andy Probert discovered more about the family-owned company from Owner & Managing Director Bob Thomson and Senior Manager Alix Thomson.
ith the need for bulk liquid
W
Service in action
energy storage on the rise
Rhyal Engineering is capable of designing,
across the UK industrial land-
supplying and field constructing tanks from
scape, one independent company stands
5m up to 100m in diameter, whether they
out for its innovation, tenacity and
are ancillary, cryogenic, fixed cone roof
longevity: Rhyal Engineering.
tanks, external and internal floating roof
Founded by Bob Thomson in Milford Haven, South Wales, the company is a market leader in the design, construction,
tanks, steel dome roof tanks, steel liners, or pressure vessels and spheres. Through its 120-strong core workforce
installation and refurbishment of large-
and established reputation within the
diameter, field-erected storage tanks and
industry, the company can also call
vessels. It also services the mechanical
upon skilled temporary employees who
engineering sector, covering steelwork,
have regularly worked for the company
pipe fabrication and installation.
previously, to reinforce the core crew
Rhyal Engineering is well-regarded for completing storage tank projects, config-
on larger projects. Rhyal Engineering has extensive
urations and services for new builds, and
storage tank refurbishment experience
maintenance and upgrades across the oil
and has a long-term tank maintenance
and gas, nuclear, and renewables sectors.
contract with its biggest client,
“With fewer layers of management than
ExxonMobil, at the Fawley Refinery, in
large corporates, we can make instant
Southampton. “We have been involved
decisions, mobilise to a client within
at every stage of the refurbishment from
hours, and offer a more bespoke service,”
initial handover to return to service,”
said Owner Bob Thomson.
Mr Thomson added.
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RHYAL ENGINEERING
I PROFILE
Fawley’s Tank Term Maintenance
In recognition of its outstanding
Contract has been held by Rhyal Engineering
performance with Exxon, Rhyal has
for 13 years. “This longevity is due to having
achieved the highest performance
a highly skilled and experienced manage-
awards with six gold and silver Annual
ment team with excellent communication,
Contractor Evaluation Recognition Tiger
together with an honest and open relation-
awards from 2011-2022.
ship with Exxon management. A strong
The company also part-fabricated
team culture has developed between both
and fully constructed two 160,000m³
parties, built on mutual trust and consistent
Cryogenic LNG Tanks for Whessoe at
performance achievements.”
Milford Haven’s Dragon LNG Terminal
With Exxon operating the world-
which, when construction started in
renowned LPS safety system at Fawley,
2005, were the biggest of their type
the Rhyal management team have worked
in the world at that time. Other clients
hard with Exxon to successfully adopt this
include bp and Rolls Royce.
system into everything it does on site to a consistently high standard – the benefits
Flexible approach
of which can be clearly demonstrated by
The company’s tanks are typically
the ongoing safety performance on site,
designed to industry standards, such
and the positive safety culture developed
as EN 14015 or API 650. While these design
across all business operations.
codes are primarily used in the petroleum
Indeed, Rhyal’s first major project after
industry, they can be also be used to
Covid was the design, supply, fabrication
store non-volatile bulk liquids as well.
and construction of two 42m diameter
The company can supply tanks manu-
diesel storage tanks at Fawley. The com-
factured from various steel materials,
pany also continues to invest in new
including carbon steel, 9% nickel steel,
welding technologies, which are now being
stainless steel etc., with sizes up to
adopted on the job with client approval.
210,000m³. Floor, shell and roof plate
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materials are generally delivered directly to site by specialist steel suppliers, while the balance of tank components are supplied and fabricated through its own workshops in Milford Haven. Rhyal also undertakes projects on a turnkey basis, supplying and controlling approved subcontractors to complete associated specialist activities, such as civil works, third-party inspection and NDT, painting, lining, E&I, etc. This adaptable approach is allied to the company’s many long-service employees. “They have all been brought up with the same strong safety, quality and work ethic, which regularly make us stand out from other contractors,” Mr Thomson emphasised. The company’s Milford Haven site comes with large-scale fabrication workshops of
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RHYAL ENGINEERING
I PROFILE
over 12,000m², designed to facilitate han-
Differentiate from competitors
dling all mechanical requirements, which
Rhyal Engineering has also held
are equipped with large overhead cranes.
Fit4Nuclear certification since 2018. While
Its facilities are also a vital requisite in the
preparing it for work within the nuclear
training and development of its many
industry, the programme focused on its
apprentices who gain can develop their
internal business management processes
vitally important skills under the guidance
and procedures.
of Rhyal’s experienced supervision and management team.
“The two-year process offered continuous improvement and we endeavoured to apply
By also investing in a new bespoke
this to all aspects of our business, including
service and maintenance facility, the
implementing a fully integrated Business
company has made sure to keep pace
Management System,” said Senior Manager
with the latest legislation, and its techni-
Alix Thomson.
cians have state-of-the-art equipment to maintain high standards.
This system encompasses all the company’s ISO accreditations, Fit4Nuclear and satisfies QHSE policies auditable to accrediting bodies and client requirements. While the company has many industry ISO certifications and approvals, Ms Thomson said the real asset to Rhyal was its staff: “The company has trained over 40 trade apprentices in the last 15 years. They have progressed, and some have reached senior management roles. “We allocate significant expenditure annually on training and development and made it a priority to continually invest in our people. Our training matrix and records ensure all employee training is current and personnel are trained strictly to company standards. Recently, external auditors have highlighted how impressed they were with our systems. “With a strong commitment to health, safety and environment, the company has achieved over 4.5 million man-hours without a lost time accident.”
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Looking ahead
although 2023 is expected to spike by
In May 2022, the UK government decided
5% compared to 2022.
to establish a freeport programme in
As the company marks 25 years in
Wales, with one being created at Milford
business in 2023, Mr Thomson reflected:
Haven. The plans focus on low-carbon
“To be an SME within a market where
technologies, such as floating offshore
most of our competitors are multina-
wind, hydrogen and carbon capture, to
tionals is something we are very proud
support the accelerated reduction of
of. We survived Covid and it appears
carbon emissions.
the industry is now on the upturn.
“We see this as a great opportunity to
“There are many interesting new
further our transition into the low carbon
energy projects and sectors developing,
industry,” Mr Thomson said.
and we are seeing a renewed confi-
The company anticipates a rise in turnover by 10% in the next three years,
dence in the look forward to the next 25 years, and beyond.
n
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