Rhyal Engineering

RHYAL ENGINEERING

WELSH FIRE FUELS TANK SPECIALIST’S DESIRE TO BE THE BEST Powered by Inside Oil & Gas

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RHYAL ENGINEERING

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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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