William Hackett

WILLIAM HACKETT GROUP

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WILLIAM HACKETT GROUP

I PROFILE

SAFE AND AND L

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D SECURE CHAINS LIFTING SYSTEMS The William Hackett Group is the UK’s leading provider of chain products and lifting systems. The company has been manufacturing and distributing chain, and chain-related products since 1892. Working across multiple industries, including oil and gas and renewables, and specialising in lifting solutions to the offshore and subsea sectors, the company is prolific. Group Business Development Director Ben Burgess explained more to Hannah Barnett.

company with the longevity of

A

other for chain-based products. This has

William Hackett has the benefit

enabled the group to grow steadily year-

of experience behind it. But that is

on-year; by 22% in the UK and 58% in

not the only factor that keeps the firm

exports, as well as leading to investment

so successful.

in new manufacturing capabilities.

“We are a boutique organisation, family-

“There has been significant investment in

owned and based in the UK,” Ben Burgess,

both divisions,” said Mr Burgess. “At William

Group Business Development Director, said:

Hackett Chain Products we’ve installed

“We offer a specialised range of products.

and commissioned three CNC wire bending

It’s not as broad a range as some of our

machines for the manufacture of agricultural

competitors, but we have in-depth knowl-

harrows. This will support William Hackett’s

edge to design products that better fit

position as the largest producer of harrows

requirements for lifting and lashing

in the world, exporting 80 containers a year

applications more efficiently.”

to the US, where the company recently

A strategic development for the William Hackett Group came in 2015, when

extended its warehousing and manufacturing capability.

it separated its business into two separate

“At William Hackett Lifting Products,

divisions – one for lifting solutions and the

leading hoist testing facilities have been

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WILLIAM HACKETT GROUP

I PROFILE

commissioned alongside further material

mechanism enhances the capabilities of the

analysis capabilities. We have also doubled

hoist by allowing all four pawls to engage with

our warehousing and production facility.”

the ratchet gear in an offset configuration.

This creates finer adjustment and tensioning

Innovators in design

capability, while maintaining pawl or

William Hackett has developed the

ratchet engagement.

world’s first quad pawl (QP) hoist system that, unlike single or double pawl hoists, ensures the brake engagement functions with or without the requirement for springs.

“The analogy is like going from two-to fourwheel drive in a car,” Mr Burgess explained.

“Four-wheel drive is better able to maintain performance in dangerous environments. In a similar way, the QP system enhances the products resilience to failure.”

The unique and patented design of the William Hackett quad pawl hoisting

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“There are several end user customers who now specify that they want a quad pawl system to better ensure the safety of their personnel and the integrity of their assets,” Mr Burgess said.

A flagship line Another innovative offering from William Hackett comes in the form of a specialised zinc thermal diffusion process which is trademarked as Zinc Tough technology.

The solution is currently incorporated into William Hackett’s range of HA master links, DNV type-approved offshore chain slings and marine grade 8 chain. Zinc Tough technology provides superior corrosion protection and resistance to hydrogen embrittlement and stress corrosion cracking, making it an optimal solution for lifting operations in the harshest

Mr Burgess explained. “The corrosion on

offshore environments.

the surface can be so extreme that it can’t

“Typically after six to twelve months,

be determined whether the underlying chain

chains either have to be scrapped, or

has been damaged. However, with Zinc

they have to be tumbled and cleaned,”

Tough technology, we have seen chains go

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WILLIAM HACKETT GROUP

I PROFILE

offshore for three or four years that are still

ideal access to South African iron ore as

rust-free and remain in service.

a core business.

The operatives are able to handle a

“The price of securing raw material and

product that is not corroded during rigging

energy is far more efficient in South Africa

processes. The lack of corrosion means that

which, combined with a highly skilled work-

asset owners gain commercial benefits

force, provides a world class manufacturing

through being able to them visually inspect

service for our Grade 8 and G10 welded

the products as opposed to them having to

chain products,” Mr Burgess explained.

be tumbled and repainted. This approach is also better for the environment.

ADIPEC and beyond

William Hackett’s developed partner for

With specialisms in both the offshore and

Zinc Tough technology is McKinnon Chain

onshore lifting applications, the company

from South Africa. The William Hackett and

has plenty to offer attendees of ADIPEC

McKinnon Chain relationship is one of the

2023. This includes the QP hoist and Zinc

company’s most important strategic part-

Tough chain sling products, set to be dis-

nerships. The relationship stretches back

played on the EIC stand as part of the UK

to the late ‘80s, when William Hackett sold

trade envoy to the Middle East.

a proportion of its chain-making machines

“ADIPEC is the most important exhibition

to McKinnon, as the latter company had

of the year,” said Mr Burgess. “It gives us

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the opportunity to meet a large number of

we have gained to warrant our subsea

potential distributors in one place, as well

hoists for multi-immersion means that

as end users.”

contractors who previously required

William Hackett remains confident about

anywhere between 50 and 100 hoists

its product offering to potential customers

for a project may now only require between

around the world. “For the energy and marine

10 and 20.”

sector, we have the world-leading range of

As part of the group’s ESG policy, it

master links based on Working Load Limit

has introduced a profit share scheme to

and technical specifications, which we stock

encourage employees to take responsi-

globally,” said Mr Burgess. “We also have

bility for their operational functions and

a superior range of manual hoists for use

improve business efficiencies where the

topside, onshore and subsea. Moreover,

opportunity arises. Under this scheme,

the longevity of our steel-base products,

every employee is awarded a percentage

including those with Zinc Tough technology,

of the company’s profit.

exceeds that of any of our competitors.

Safety is a paramount focus, especially

“The QP hoisting system is endurance

in the market sectors that the company

tested to twice the EN 13157:2004+A1:2009

provides lifting solutions to. As a strategy,

standard requirements, so we expect

William Hackett has engaged with various

products to have a far longer lifespan.

industry certification organisations to gain

Additionally, the DNV verification that

third party verification of its products, further complementing the company’s own technical files. William Hackett also invests its resources in the writing and publication of industry white papers and best practice guides to help the industry become a safer place.

As part of a commitment to safety, Mr Burgess concluded: “I have joined the board of the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association as a director to contribute to making global lifting and rigging safer.

As a company, we’ve recently supported the International Marine Contractors Association to help improve the specification of hoists to be used offshore, so that they are safer. I am a proactive advocate of supporting industry best practice and sharing IPR so that the world becomes a safer place with regards to lifting.”

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