IChemE and the Process Plant Design & Construction Industry

There is a story to be told about the role of IChemE in supporting the education and providing professional qualification of Chemical Engineers that brought International Process Plant Engineering Contractors to London in the second half of the twentieth century.

Several British process plant design and construction contractors had grown out of the demand for coal gasification used in the production of Town’s Gas and in the steel industry and some had diversified into other areas of the process industries. However, the growth of petroleum refining and petrochemical industries in Europe after WW2 was an opportunity for U.S. firms and London was a favoured location for their offices. The use of English was an obvious advantage, but the ready availability of professional chemical engineers was a key factor.

In the USA, process plant contractors were well established in many parts of the country – New York, Boston & New Jersey in the East; San Francisco & Los Angeles in the West as well as Chicago and other industrial bases.

Firms from all these U.S. locations came to London making it one of the largest centres in the World for process plant design and engineering. This was an excellent opportunity taken by IChemE to provide a focal point for professional activities. The London & S.E. Branch had several Centres and the Westminster Centre was very well supported by Chemical Engineers employed in Central London.

At least six evening meetings were held each year and many years a 1-2-day Symposium. An extremely popular annual evening event was the Client/Contractor Forum where 60-80 attendees could be expected. This event would have a key speaker from each side to make a presentation followed by lively discussions. Subjects could cover types of contract, project organisation structures and cost incentive arrangements. On one occasion an Internationally recognised Consultant presented a review of global oil & gas reserves and developments. This was followed by discussion of prospects for plant design & construction and was an event which attracted record attendance.

Several of the original firms, of which some have been merged or taken over, remain in the U.K. but have mostly settled outside Central London. Their presence continues to bring opportunities for British suppliers of equipment and specialist services and thereby make a valuable contribution to our economy.

Companies in Central London (17):

Parsons
Kellogg
Chemico
Bechtel
H & G
Matthew Hall
Fluor
Davey
Lummus
Foster Wheeler
Scientific Design
Procon
IMEG
CJB
Stone & Webster
Badger
Air Products

Clients:

Conoco
B.P.
Shell
Philips
Esso
Amoco
Caltex