GSA to Design a Bio-Polymer Production Facility on Teesside

Grimley Smith Associates (GSA) a multidiscipline engineering design consultancy based in North Lincolnshire has won a major new contract with Plaxica to design a bio-polymer production facility that Plaxica is planning to build at Wilton International on Teesside. GSA is part of Fabricom GDF SUEZ (UK). 

Plaxica is a technology and licensing company focused on the production of next generation biopolymers and platform chemicals from renewable resources such as sugarcane, cereals and cellulose.  

The proposed demonstration plant will use energy efficient processes to produce second generation high performance polylactic acid (PLA) based materials.  Nearly all existing polymers – including the high volume materials PET, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene and PVC – are derived from petrochemical feedstocks. Plaxica’s PLA polymers are expected to match or exceed the properties and application of these petrochemical based polymers while offering a lower environmental footprint compared to conventional oil-based plastics and fibres.  

The plastics market is worth over $400 billion a year, with biopolymers accounting for over $2 billion of that market. The demand for renewable processes and recyclable products is increasing, growing on average over 10% per annum. 

The facility designed by GSA will enable Plaxica to gain important data on the performance of the technology before scaling up the process for full scale operation.  

Mike Smith, Operations Director at GSA said; “GSA is delighted to have been awarded such a unique and prestigious project. The growth of second generation biotechnology processes in the UK has been significant in recent years and we are delighted to be associated with such an innovative project.” 

Mark Sutton, Chief Operating Officer for Plaxica went onto say: “We are excited to be working with GSA in their capacity as the front end engineering partner for our biopolymer project.  The award of this contract marks an important step for Plaxica as we move our technology through demonstration to commercial implementation and licensing.”

Celebrating A Talented Workforce

Fabricom GDF SUEZ held their annual training and development awards at the CATCH training facility at Stallingborough on 16th December. The awards celebrate the achievements of their workforce who have undergone professional career development; including Apprenticeships, Engineering and Management qualifications. 

Each year Fabricom awards one of their Apprentice Technicians with the much coveted title of ‘Apprentice Technician of the Year’. This year, the competition has been as tough as ever, with high standards of Apprentices who are assessed on a criteria which includes; technical ability, safety awareness and professionalism. 

This year’s winner is Tom Gladding, who has worked on projects from Fabricom’s modular construction facility at Immingham and on projects for a number of their clients in the area; including ConocoPhillips and Vivergo Fuels.  

Tom Gladding (holding trophy) - Fabricom Apprentice Technician of the Year Winner with the 2011 nominees

Currently, Fabricom employs forty Apprentice Technicians from their UK facilities and project sites, who are working towards NVQ level three in their chosen discipline. This is supported by training partners The Engineering Construction Training Industry Board.

Other achievements celebrated at the awards ceremony included recognition for Engineers who are participating in the GDF SUEZ Nuclear Training Program; which includes secondments to various nuclear projects in Europe.

Some of the Fabricom employees who have undergone training and development during 2011

Yvonne Day, Senior HR Manager was also presented with a certificate by Nigel Carlton, Fabricom’s UK CEO, from The Chartered Management Institute accrediting her with ‘Chartered Management’ status. 

Yvonne Day said “It is always good to celebrate and reflect on our training and development achievements each year, in particular the high standard of skill achieved by our Apprentice Technicians and Engineers. I would like to congratulate Tom Gladding on being chosen as this year’s winner of Apprentice Technician of the Year, it makes me really proud that we employ such a bright young man, he has a great future ahead of him.” 

“We invest in and encourage lifelong learning for all of our employees and believe it is essential to do this to maintain the high level of skills required for the oil, gas and power industries that we operate in.”

Tom Gladding with Yvonne Day (Fabricom) and Steve Wigham of The Grimsby Institute of Further Education

Fabricom GDF SUEZ Powers Ahead with New Projects

Multi-disciplined engineering company, Fabricom GDF SUEZ is fully embracing the recent project progress within the Oil, Gas and Power industries with a number of new projects underway around the UK. 

At EDF’s West Burton Power Station, Fabricom GDF SUEZ is managing the installation of the temporary Steam Blow pipe work system. Steam Blow is used to scavenge the steam supply pipe work which feeds the steam turbines prior to commissioning the steam turbine to ensure that all connections are free of any debris that could cause damage to turbines on start up. 

The Steam Blow project includes; project management, installation of piping systems and supports, scaffolding, heat treatment, valve disassembly and pipe and support demolition on completion. This will be repeated for each of the three units on site. 

A team of twenty five to thirty people will be employed on this twelve month project. 

On completion, the new power station will generate enough electricity for approximately 1.5 million homes. 

In other areas of the UK, Fabricom GDF SUEZ has been awarded with the contract for Balance of Plant piping from Keppel Seghers, who is the EPC Contractor for the Runcorn Energy from Waste Facility in Cheshire which is being developed by a joint venture between INEOS ChlorVinyls, Viridor and John Laing. 

Fabricom’s part of this project will be managed from their new Liverpool office, which was set up late last year as a dedicated base for their ‘Fabricom Project Solutions’ division. Their project scope at Runcorn includes; mechanical installation, fabrication and installation of piping systems and pipebridges, working in all areas of the site. 

It is expected that Fabricom GDF SUEZ will employ up to sixty people on this project over a period of ten months. 

 Nigel Carlton, Fabricom GDF SUEZ Managing Director (UK) said;

“It is very encouraging to see that many of the projects that we have been working hard to win have now come into fruition. This is excellent news for Fabricom GDF SUEZ and everyone is already hard at work focussing on the projects in hand. 

I believe the professionalism and the skills of the people that we have at Fabricom GDF SUEZ has been key in these successes and I am grateful to everyone involved in winning these key contracts. 

Despite the economic downturn, as a company, we have continued to invest in training our workforce and in particular, we have continued to invest in our Apprentice Technician Training Programme. We are fully committed to ensuring that we play our part in providing the home grown engineering skills required for the sustainable future of not only our business, but also the UK oil, gas and power industries.”

Career Opportunities with Grimley Smith Associates

Grimley Smith Associates (GSA) is part of Fabricom GDF SUEZ in the UK. The multidiscipline design engineering organisation adds high level engineering services to Fabricom’s UK capabilities.

GSA are currently recruiting for a Process Safety Engineer and an Electrical Engineer.

Both positions are based at GSA’s offices in Brigg, North Lincolnshire; but you would also be required to work at client sites depending upon the nature of the project.

For more information about these vacancies, click here to be directed to GSA’s website.