The Hickman Engineering Way!
When heavy industrial plant, marine vessels, or high-speed manufacturing lines break down, every minute of unexpected downtime costs money. Idle workforce, halted supply chains, and missed shipping deadlines quickly accumulate expenses.
Hickman Engineering are based in Grimsby operating through Grimsby Docks and across the wider UK, we are a complete, solutions based mechanical engineering provider. Formerly known as Port Equipment Engineering, we built a reputation for quality in the marine and port sectors, where equipment operates under extreme saltwater conditions and mechanical stress. Today, we apply those exact high standards to heavy industry, agriculture, transport, and FMCG manufacturing.
We never shy away from a job, no matter the scale. In this blog you’ll find an overview of our core engineering capabilities, technical services, along with real world case studies demonstrating how we resolve industrial challenges.
Heavy Machining and In-Situ Precision Repairs
When heavy components wear out or suffer structural damage, transporting huge equipment back to a workshop is not always practical or cost effective. We maintain both a fully equipped workshop in Grimsby and mobile engineering units capable of performing heavy machining directly on your site. If you are within 20 miles of our main workshop, we guarantee to be on site in 90 minutes or less.
In-House Machining Services
Our workshop houses large center lathes, milling machines, and surface grinders. Our traditionally trained machinists work with a wide range of industrial metals, including EN24T toughened steel, stainless steel alloys, cast iron, and phosphor bronze. Whether you require precision shaft turning, thread cutting, or fabrication, our Traditional Machining division produces high tolerance components that match or exceed original equipment manufacturer standards.
Mobile Line Boring
Wear and tear on pivot points, hinge brackets, and mounting housings creates poor movement in heavy equipment. Engineers often attempt to fix this by pressing in thin sleeve inserts. We find weak sleeve inserts frequently crack or slip under heavy loads.
Instead, our mobile teams perform permanent, in-situ line boring. Our engineers deploy directly to your site, weld the worn bore back up with fresh metal using MIG or MMA techniques, and precision bore the hole back to exact factory dimensions. Explore our Line Boring capabilities to see how we restore machinery strength on site.
To see this process in action, read our ABP Line Boring Case Study, where we restored heavy fork truck mast assemblies directly at the port terminal.
Specialised Coded Welding and Heavy Fabrication
In structural and high-pressure environments, a standard weld is not enough. Critical load bearing structures, pressure vessels, and marine hulls require certified welding procedures to guarantee safety and compliance.
Coded Welding Capabilities
Our welders hold ISO9606 qualifications and operate to Lloyds marine standards while we work towards our certification. We execute TIG, MIG, and MMA welding on carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and specialist copper-nickel alloys. From food-grade hygienic pipework in food processing facilities to structural crane repairs, our Coded Welding team delivers crack-free, high-integrity joints verified through Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) such as dye penetrant and ultrasonic inspection.
Custom Structural Fabrication
From heavy duty access platforms and walkways to bespoke mounting brackets and vessel structures, our Fabrication Services cover the full lifecycle from steel cutting to final installation.
Our real-world projects include:
- High-Pressure Pipeline Welding: Replacing failed process piping for leading petrochemical and industrial facilities.
- Custom Fabrication Case Study: Building heavy duty structural steel assemblies engineered for extreme industrial environments.
- Scunthorpe Hospital Handrail Installation: Fabricating and installing custom safety handrails along sloped infrastructure for contract clients.
Thermal Lancing and High Temperature Cutting
Extracting seized pins, rusted axles, or broken drills from heavy housing brackets using conventional hammers or standard oxy torches can damage the surrounding parent metal. When mechanical extraction fails, high temperature thermal lancing provides a controlled solution.
Our Thermal Lancing service uses hollow steel tubes packed with alloy rods, fed with pressurised oxygen. When ignited, the lance generates temperatures exceeding 3,000°C. This intense, concentrated heat melts cleanly through thick steel pins, cast iron housings, reinforced concrete, or slag build-up without transferring damaging thermal expansion to the surrounding machine frame.
To read about our heavy dismantling work using high-temperature cutting, review our case study on Dismantling a Paper Mill Press Wheel.
Reverse Engineering, CAD, and Obsolete Parts Manufacturing
One of the largest causes of extended downtime is waiting for replacement parts from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). When a component breaks on an older machine, OEMs often quote lead times of six to twelve weeks, or declare the part obsolete, leaving you with little to no chance of restoring heritage machinery.
We bypass supply chain delays completely and reverse engineer obsolete components, getting your machinery back in action quickly.
CAD Drafting and 3D Modelling
Using modern measuring equipment and digital drafting tools, our Computer Aided Design (CAD) specialists reverse engineer damaged or broken parts directly from physical samples, worn remnants, or even documented measurements.
Aftermarket Parts Manufacture
Once drawn, our workshop team turns, mills, and heat treats brand new components from raw steel. Through our Aftermarket & Bespoke Parts service, we regularly manufacture replacement drive shafts, custom gears, bronze bushes, hydraulic cylinders, and specialised mounting pins in hours rather than months, reducing downtime and cutting out delays.
A prime example of this overnight response is detailed in our ABP Gottwald Quayside Crane Case Study, where we reverse engineered, turned, and installed a 140mm EN24 steel jib pin to get a port crane operational by Saturday morning.
Servicing, Maintenance, and Fleet Management
Preventative maintenance is the most effective way to avoid emergency breakdowns. We offer structured routine inspection programmes across all major industrial sectors.
Our Servicing & Maintenance team carries out mechanical overhauls, gearbox refurbishments, hydraulic hose replacements, and structural safety checks keeping your fleet running 24/7.
Brand Specialisms and Agency Partnerships
Alongside our custom fabrication and repair work, we act as approved regional agents and brand specialists for leading industrial manufacturers:
- NT Liftec: Official UK and Ireland agents for heavy duty cassette and translifter systems used in port logistics.
- V-TUF: Approved sales, service, and warranty agents for heavy duty industrial washdown equipment and dust extraction units.
- Beta Marine & Cummins: Specialist servicing, mechanical overhauls, and spare parts supply for marine diesel engines and generators.
- Multilift & Reach Stackers: Expert diagnostics and mechanical overhauls for commercial road transport hook loaders and port container handling equipment. Read our Multilift Repair & Maintenance Case Study for details on heavy vehicle hydraulic and electrical fault finding.
Maritime Infrastructure and Engineering Projects
Working in coastal environments requires specialised knowledge of tidal movements, marine corrosion, and civil engineering integration. We regularly support local authorities, port operators, and marina directors with complex marine civil infrastructure projects.
Our Marinas & Ports Sector team handles lock gate overhauls, sluice valve refurbishments, bridge maintenance, and dock wall fittings.
Key infrastructure case studies include:
- Lock Establishment Case Study: Redesigning and replacing heavy hydraulic arm mounting brackets on flap gate infrastructure for Thanet District Council.
- Road Access Bridge Repairs: Carrying out critical structural welding and mechanical repairs on the Port of Ramsgate bascule bridge within a strict twelve week window.
- Flood Gate Chain Restraint Maintenance: Refurbishing heavy marine flood gate restraint systems to protect dock assets against tidal surges.
Why Heavy Industry Relies on Hickman Engineering
We recognise that when a machine breaks down, you need straight answers, rapid action, and pricing transparency.
We back all of our services with two solid operational guarantees:
24/7 Flat Rate Promise: Equipment fails at inconvenient times. We charge the exact same standard rate twenty four hours a day, three hundred and sixty-five days a year. Whether you call us at 14:00 on a Tuesday or 02:00 on a Bank Holiday, you pay the same rate without penalty fees or out of hours surcharges.
90 Minute Emergency Response: If your facility, farm, or vessel is within 20 miles of our base in Grimsby, we guarantee an engineer will be on your site within 90 minutes or less of your call.
From simple fabrication projects to complex emergency repairs, our team has the manpower, equipment, and practical experience to keep your operations moving.
If you are facing equipment breakdowns or want to discuss planned ongoing maintenance, Contact Hickman Engineering today to speak directly with our engineers.
