As an Engineering, Design and Project Management Consultancy we are extremely adept with managing complex projects from initial concept through to completion. This year we have embarked upon another important transformational project…the re-launch and relocation of PDE!

It is difficult to believe fours years have passed since the management buy-out, which comprised company restructure at Director level. After a period of consolidation and detailed review of internal processes & procedures, PDE are now ready to embark on a new chapter. Whilst PDE will continue to build on its strong foundations within the fuel storage sector, market conditions have prompted market-diversification.  Diversification into the Environmental, Energy Storage and Renewables sectors are already well underway with a number of blue-chip global companies now included in our client list.

And after 28 years operating from the same premises, the re-launch of PDE will also include relocation to new purpose-built premises. Modern and boasting a bespoke fit-out, the new premises will certainly be an excellent reflection of the professionalism and dynamism of the new PDE. The move is scheduled for late November.  Further updates will follow.

Our new address is as follows:

Project Design Engineers Ltd

Lucas Exchange II

1a Orchard Way

Antrim

BT41 2RU

PDE were appointed by the LCC Group to design, build and commission new DPK/Jet A-1 storage at their 78,000 tonne facility in L’Derry, which facilitates the Group’s Aviation Fuel subsidiary, Go Aviation.

The DPK/Jet A-1 project involved major tank changes including, converting Derv tank T13 to Jet A-1 (application of a liner to the inside of the tanks 1st tier, a floating suction, level sampling connections), dedicating the Derv/ Kero switch-tank T6 to Derv only, and tanks T7, T9,T10 & T11 cleaned for the storage of DPK.

The project also involved the installation of DPK transfer pipework from the existing DPK road-loading pumps to T13, a ‘Stadis’ turbine injection system, 2No. road-loading pumps, 2-stream micro filters and filter/water separators, a 2-arm road-loading gantry skid, a filter access platform & canopy arrangement, product recovery system and the associated power & controls.

Brian Hanley, Senior Engineer & Manager of the Project said, “The scope of the project was extensive and time-scales were quite tight.  However, the entire project team worked cohesively and we were able to deliver the project on-time and within budget.”

 

Congratulations to PDE Director, Patrick Kelly, on his recent appointment as Chairperson for the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Northern Ireland Regional committee.

As incoming Chair, Patrick is looking forward to taking up the mantle of leading the on-going process of promoting Engineering within the province and serving to develop and support the Institution’s local membership, with the aid of the other Committee members.

The role will also require Patrick to meet regularly with the Chairs from the other UK Regions to discuss the issues and challenges that both the Institution and the wider engineering profession must deal with now and in the future.

Patrick commented “It is certainly a privilege to be appointed to this position within the Northern Ireland Regional Committee.  I look forward to my tenure and appreciate the opportunity I have been afforded to develop & support the Institution within the Region.”

For further information on the IMechE and forthcoming events, visit www.imeche.org

The PDE Directors recently completed a ‘Leadership Team Programme’, in collaboration with DCU Business School, Invest NI and Wilson Sloan.

“The Leadership Team Programme aimed to improve the efficiency, competitiveness and innovative capability of participating companies through the development of leadership and management competencies of the senior team and its application in the business planning process.”

Exciting times are certainly ahead for PDE with new premises later this year and a more focused Directorial Team at the helm.

Pictured: Niall Casey Director of Skills and Competitiveness from Invest NI, presenting Ken McKee, Adrian Watson and Patrick Kelly with their course certificates.

Project Design Engineers Ltd (PDE) are delighted to be part of the public consultation today in Belfast, which will unveil Belfast Power Ltd’s plans to develop Ireland’s most efficient Power Station.

The exciting plans involve the development of a new state of the art 400MW Combined Cycle Power Plant gas-fired power Station located in Belfast Harbour Industrial Estate.

The Belfast Power Plant will be based on the world class Siemens SCC-800 Combined cycle power plant and may help mark an era in low carbon energy generation in Northern Ireland.

Adrian Watson, Managing Director at PDE states,

“The development of this new highly efficient state-of-the-art power station is both ambitious and exciting, PDE are delighted to be involved in the project which we believe will mark a significant milestone in the Northern Ireland Energy market calendar.”

Did you know that within PDE we have a dedicated team of engineers who specialise in Instrumentation, Control & Automation?

Whether a stand-alone solution, or integral component of a larger scale project, we have the capability to provide a comprehensive range of services to complement other disciplines and functions.

To find out more about our ICA capability, click here to access our latest e-brochure.

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (NI) 2016 came into effect on 1st August 2016, replacing CDM 2007.

The 2016 CDM Regulations for Northern Ireland, and indeed the CDM 2015 Regs (as detailed for the rest of the UK), are intended to be simpler in structure than the 2007 regulations and will place greater responsibility regarding health and safety on the client and the design & construction team.

Key changes include:
• The CDM Co-ordinator role has been removed with the various duties recast
• For projects where more than one contractor is involved, the client must appoint both a Principal Contractor and Principal Designer
• The duty to notify HSENI of a project now rests with Client, and the threshold for notification has been increased

Follow the link below to view the HSENI Simple Guide to CDM Regulations (NI) 2016

http://www.hseni.gov.uk/sites/hseni.gov.uk/files/a-simple-guide-to-the-cdm-regulations-ni-2016.pdf

Should you require any further clarification or advice, please contact our team today.

PDE have been commissioned to assist with the relocation of the Tobacco Expansion Plant from the JTI Cigar Factory located in Ballymena, Northern Ireland to a new factory in Gostkow, near Lodz in Poland.

The project comprises Project Management, M&E Design and Process Automation. Whilst the majority of the project will be undertaken & co-ordinated from PDE headquarters in Co. Antrim, three engineers from the project team will be on-site in Poland at various stages to assist with the re-commissioning of the plant.

The PDE team are more than familiar with the logistics of the plant having previously been involved in relocation of the facility on a number of occasions, including to and from the JR Freeman (Hamlet Cigar) factory in Cardiff.

Colin Smith, Senior Engineer & Manager of the Project said, “While it is sad to see the closure of the Gallaher factory in Ballymena, it is also exciting to be involved in yet another evolution of the 413 Plant. The plant has grown from very much a small experimental pilot plant to a fully-fledged production process, I count myself lucky to have been involved in its development and to have worked alongside a very professional and friendly engineering team at JTI.”

Full commissioning of the Poland facility is scheduled for November 2016.

We are now offering 3D Laser Scanning as part of our extensive service portfolio.

Features & Benefits include:

• An impressive combination of speed, range and accuracy
• Target accuracy of 2mm at 50m
• Ranges of up to 270m, minimising the time required for site surveys
• Facilitates 3D Point Cloud data, as-built representations, through to high resolution panoramic visuals

Using the latest 3D Laser Technology, we are able to rapidly capture high resolution accurate data enabling us to generate workflow deliverables more efficiently.

Contact us today to find out more.

The Battery Energy Storage Revolution has arrived as the UK’s largest system is completed!

The AES Advancion 10MW battery storage array is now ‘online’ at Kilroot Power Station, Northern Ireland. The ‘Kilroot Advancion’ Energy Storage Array will provide 10MW of interconnected energy storage, equivalent to 20MW of flexible resource.

Adrian Watson, PDE Managing Director, comments “As the Engineering Design Consultants for the project, in association with Scotts Electrical Services, PDE are extremely proud to be part of such a milestone in the UK Energy Market calendar.”
The Array utilises over 53,000 batteries, arranged in 136 separate Nodes for increased reliability, and the patented Advancion control system, which responds to grid changes in less than a second. Advancion 4 is among the most proven energy storage platforms available, resulting from AES’ more than eight years of commercial experience operating grid-connected energy storage.

The Array represents a significant investment in the future of Northern Ireland’s energy nfrastructure by AES, and is a fully commercial project which creates no additional cost for consumers.

AES Announces Completion of the UK’s Biggest Battery Energy Storage Array