Naval Support Expertise and Offshore Patrol Vessel Fabrication Test

Project Details

Babcock International is the UK’s leading naval support business for the Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence. In addition to this, Babcock had been commissioned to deliver two 90m offshore patrol vessels for the Irish Navy. These would be built at the company’s Appledore shipyard in North Devon.

Babcock wanted to increase their plate cutting capabilities by updating most of their gas cutters to plasma cutting machines. They had decided to keep one multi-bevel gas machine and modify it. Along with a competitive price, Babcock was looking to work with a company with good aftercare support. They chose TechServ due to the high levels of service the company could provide.

TechServ supplied and installed two WeldPlas HS4000 plasma cutting machines, which can cut plates four times faster than the gas cutters they replaced. They also provide greater accuracy and less heat distortion. This reduces the secondary work, such as flattening and edge preparation, so the cut plates can go straight to fabrication.

The Appledore shipyard multi-bevel gas machine was modified, with TechServ’s software installed to meet Babcock’s cutting requirements.

Alongside this, TechServ trained multiple operators to ensure they could take advantage of the machines’ various time saving features, from plate alignment to nesting and scanning. TechServ also supplied personalised training to Babcock’s own IT manager and ensured maintenance and training points of contact were established.

The gas cutting machine originally was a Messer Griesheim. TechServ modified it and put their software on it to meet our requirements. We went over to plasma cutting but kept that one gas machine to cut up to 8 inches. We got what we asked TechServ to build for us. The machines talk to TechServ and they can solve any problem for us.

Clifford Edward, Babcock International

The speed and quality of the new plasma cutters has transformed the capabilities of the yard. The new WeldPlas HS4000 plasma cutting machines have given Babcock the capability to cut large amounts of steel plate precisely and quickly. As a result, the production of their next offshore patrol vessel was able to be more efficient and cost effective than its predecessor.

Babcock continues to collaborate with TechServ due to the ongoing good working relationship between the two companies. Babcock was subsequently commissioned to supply a further two offshore patrol vessels for the Irish Navy, and has delivered four in total. The project to build a new generation of these vessels has helped to rejuvenate the Appledore shipyard. The vessels are now undertaking a range of duties, including fishery protection, search and rescue, as well as anti-pollution and maritime security duties.

“Their aftercare is brilliant… They help me out no end. I just phone them. I’ve only got to pick the phone up and Paul or Mike will speak to me. TechServ is second to none. TechServ was a lot cheaper than everyone else, but a lot of it is about aftercare because if you haven’t any aftercare and can’t speak to anyone then you’ve got problems.“

David Fishleigh, Babcock International