WILLIAM HACKETT GROUP
SAFE AND SECURE CHAINS AND LIFTING SYSTEMS Powered by Inside Oil & Gas
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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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