www.hipspipefabrications.co.uk
HIPS Pipe Fabrications
Company expertise
Installation of:
Hygienic process pipework
Purified water
WFI water installations
RO Installations
Softened water pipework
Stainless steel vessels
Stainless Steel Passivation
Contents
1 Introduction
2 Fabrication workshop
3 Hygienic process pipework
4 Purified, WFI and RO Water
5 Stainless Steel Passivation
HIPS Pipe Fabrications
Introduction
HIPS Pipe Fabrications Ltd, is a well
established company specializing in workshop
fabrications and onsite pipe and mechanical
installations. Our expertise spans several
industrial sectors. These include:
pharmaceutical, food and beverage and NHS.
We specialize in the installation of:
• Hygienic process pipework
• Purified and WFI water systems
• Passivation of stainless steel pipework
• Clean steam headers and pipework
• RO plant and softeners
• Exotic metals
• ABS, Polypropylene and UPVC pipework
HIPS is based in a modern 32002‘ factory
based in Washington Tyne and Wear. Our
factory is ideally situated in close proximity to
A1 and A19 which provides excellent
transportation links throughout the UK.
As a company we undertake installation
contracts nationally and internationally, and
have the flexibility and infrastructure to assist
our clients on small installations to major
projects from concept to completion
Our company prides itself on offering a
workforce who are multi disciplined and who
have vast knowledge and experience of
installations within the companies market
place.
Our philosophy is to ensure fast response in
an emergency and perfection and reliability in
our installations.
1
HIPS Pipe Fabrications
Fabrication Workshop
Our facility is fully equipped to undertake all in
house fabrications. We have invested in the
latest welding equipment, to include orbital
welding machines, TIG sets, MIG sets, Axeair
pipe cutters, Rothernberg threading machines,
band saws, pedestal drills etc.
Fig 2
Fig 1
Fig 3
Figure 1 shows a prototype drum filling
equipment manufactured at our facility for
Extract Technologies Ltd.
Fig 2 Pipe supports fabricated at our
factory for Arla Foods Leeds
Fig 3 is a RO water storage vessel
manufactured for Purite
Fig 4 is a chiller unit for Dairy Crest
manufactured for GEA
To facilitate our installations we have
produced WPQRs (welding Procedures)
and have our own Boroscope with picture
and video facilities
Fig 4
2
HIPS Pipe Fabrications
Hygienic Process Pipework
Hips Pipe Fabrications expertise is in the fabrication and installation of hygienic process
pipework . This market sector has grown exponentially over our period of trading. All our
pipework is tacked together with a full argon backing purge and autogenously welded, either
orbital or manually welded
Fig 2
Fig 1
Recent projects have included a
( fig 1 ). New ice cream facility at Lanchester Dairies
( fig2 ) RO (Reverse Osmosis) system Arla Dairy
( Fig 3 ) New facility installation Villa Drinks.
( fig 4 ) Chiller unit Dairy Crest
Fig 3
Fig 4
3
HIPS Pipe Fabrications
Purified, WFI and RO Water
HIPS Pipe Fabrications was established in 2005, and
from this point we have been actively involved in
numerous RO, purified & WFI water systems.
Our RO systems have been installed in many of the NHS
hospitals across the UK and Ireland. These systems
have been for Sterile Services, Endoscopy and Renal
Dialysis. The latest install was for a Pex pipework system
for Sunderland Royal Hospital 800 meters in total.
Our Pharmaceutical sector have installed purified water
systems for Novartis, GSK and MSD, accompanying
these systems were full IQ documentation. All pipework
is boroscoped and in house passivated
Our clients include:
• Novartis Pharmaceuticals
• GSK
• MSD
• Pfizer’s
• Elga Process water
•Steris Pharma
• Purite Limited
• Lubron Limited
• E.W.S Limited
• Getinge
4
HIPS Pipe Fabrications
STAINLESS STEEL PASSIVATION
When stainless steel is subjected to any heat process welding or machining
the material looses properties within the infra structure of the metal. The chromium content
is decreased and positive irons are deposited onto the welded or machined surface. This
welded or machined area of the stainless steel will be prone to corrosion (rust).
The only way to overcome this problem when working with stainless steel and
heat is to passivate the system. There are several theories as to how the stainless steel
should be passivated.
The original concept was to firstly degrease the pipe using Potassium
Metasilicate or Potassium Hydroxide (Caustic) at a 1% solution to volume. This technique
will disperse any grease or foreign bodies from the material. This system is still the best
way forward.
The second step in the process is to introduce an acid compound to the
material to increase the oxidisation and restore the chromium element of the stainless steel.
In the past Nitric acid at 40% volume was considered the only way to perform the
passivation of the metal. The problem with this is that Nitric Acid is a hazardous material
and requires a permit to dispose of the effluent. This can be expensive and in today’s
carbon foot print life style a no no.
A more efficient process is to use Citric acid. This process is more
environmentally friendly and more efficient in the passivation process. The normal
percentage to volume is 15% at a temperature of 200C to 400C. The disposal of the effluent
is to drain, to decrease the PH of the citric acid caustic can be added until PH is 7, this
makes the effluent harmless to the environment. Using citric acid will decrease costs and
work with any Environmental Company Policy.
The final process is to determine if the passivation has worked. There are
several processes that can be used. Using a salt spray onto the material and left for 24
hours, brown rust marks will appear if positive irons are present. A Ferroxyle test can also
be used, this is not advised on food and beverage processes, the test solution consists of
Potassium Ferricyanide and Nitric acid. This compound then becomes Cyanide. In the past
we have introduced a spool piece within the system to be passivated with the major
pipework. This spool piece is submitted to the ferroxyle test away from the work place and
disposed of.
HIPS undertake stainless steel passivation on site and at our work premises,
we have a purpose built skid unit and baths which can perform the passivation of the
pipework, and smaller spool pieces can be soaked in a bath solution. Full certification will
be supplied for all passivation to FDA standards
5
Proud sponsors of HIPS hippos at
Flamingo Land
Unit 4 Donkin Road, Armstrong Industrial Estate. Washington. Tyne and Wear. NE37 1PF
Tel: 01914157249
Fax ; 01914157257
Email: p.mchugh@h-ips.co.uk
Web: www.hipspipefabrications.co.uk