Pressure vessel deal secured with US group

Valued at more than three million US dollars, the contract will see Forgemasters, which specialises in a range of heavy forged and cast steel products as well as ingot and bar, manufacture and supply components for large-scale pressure vessels. They are designed to operate under highly stressed conditions in the manufacture of polyethylene.

Martin Brear, sales director at Sheffield Forgemasters Engineering, said: “Although the details of the pressure vessels contract are commercially sensitive, we are able to announce that Forgemasters has won a significant first order for highly specialised forged components, which will form large-scale pressure vessels for the chemicals production industry.

“Pressure vessels manufacture is something which Forgemasters has a long history of, with large-scale units produced for some years, and as a new US market stream, it has considerable potential.

“One of Forgemasters’ strongest USPs is the time-served reliability of our products which gives clients the confidence to work with us. This is a significant order as it demonstrates this firm’s expertise in capitalising on a range of markets through the provision of proven technical manufacture.”

Ongoing discussions are taking place with the client, which could see Forgemasters undertaking the finish machining and pressure testing of the completed assembly as a separate contract.

Forgemasters will initially deliver three forgings: a shell, liner and combined head and liner, which will weigh approximately 170 tonnes in total. The rough machined components are expected to be delivered in spring, 2013, with the project completed by November 2013. In the 2010/11 financial year, Sheffield Forgemasters Engineering recorded a turnover of £107m.