Mechanical design

Atkins has mechanical engineers who specialise in the detailed design of large, complex machinery and mechanical handling equipment in various different industries.

Our design experience and understanding of manufacturing techniques have provided innovative solutions for projects ranging from the world’s most advanced steel casting machinery to offshore pipe pigging equipment to high integrity lifting equipment for the nuclear industry.

We have extensive detailed design skills and knowledge of mechanical handling systems. Projects include cranes, winches and bespoke manipulators which have been used across many market sectors. These include mine and shaft hoisting, bespoke and general purpose cranes, design of winches and mechanical handling (including hot metals). In addition we can undertake third party checks of equipment which can include failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) and risk assessments.

Atkins employs a range of industry leading technologies in the creation and analysis of complex engineering designs. Such tools allow our engineers to rapidly develop concepts into practical solutions.

Our computational analysis department have developed finite element analysis skills and experience over a considerable period of time with continual investment in the latest hardware and software to maintain our international reputation for excellence in mechanical and structural design. We have the capacity to carry out a range of analyses from simple static or thermal models to complex dynamic, seismic or fluid flow analyses.

We have the tools to design and evaluate everything from large industrial machinery and plant to small mass-produced components, as well as iconic structures. We use technology, skills and experience to take projects from initial concepts all the way through to finished manufacturing drawings.

We can provide expert advice on the design and integration of bulk material handling systems with specialism in the design of large and complex machinery.

With 20 years of experience in the tunnelling industry our engineers have worked across a wide variety of projects. We have designed bespoke machinery including back-up equipment for the Channel Tunnel, through to shaft excavators and novel segment manipulators. A further area of expertise is in the design of horizontal directional drilling rigs for the installation of pipes and cables with drilling lengths up to 1.9km between two islands and pipe diameters from 100 to 900mm.

We also have considerable experience in the design of bulk material handling systems, principally gained from coal handling, stacking and reclaiming plant allied to the power industry. We can produce plant layout and detailed layout/manufacturing drawings for conveyors and structures, GTUs and drives, chutework and hoppers, support bridge and trestle structures and transfer towers.

We can advise on all aspects of material handling equipment including machine selection and specification, technical investigations and safety. Our experience of drilling through a variety of materials means we are able to recommend practical, economic and effective solutions. We provide continued support to our clients through the life of their projects, from initial concepts and designs, through to site supervision, installation and fault analysis.

Atkins has extensive experience in the design, supervision of manufacture, erection, installation and commissioning of mechanical, hydraulic and electrical control equipment for large movable bridges and structures.

Generally clients know what kind of structure they want but do not possess the necessary in-house mechanical expertise to design or specify the machinery and control systems. Our approach is to co-ordinate the design across all disciplines involved in a bridge or structure in order to achieve the most economic and practical design. We employ engineers with multidisciplinary experience so that the interfaces between different components and specialities can be dealt with effectively. We can specify the most appropriate types of motive power, transmission and control systems for the best results without having to promote any particular manufacturer's equipment.

We have also authored control software for a number of structures from very simple systems, such as the Lowry Centre footbridge that allows the operation of the bridge to be controlled with just three buttons, to more complex systems such as the bespoke package we provided for the Humber Bridge cable dehumidification project. This comprehensive software solution included a complete supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system for the project including remote access, data logging, archiving, system monitoring and diagnostic capabilities.

We offer a full range of services from consultancy advice through to full turnkey support incorporating full detailed design and project management from the concept stage through to installation and commissioning. Our experience has shown that it is necessary to strive for perfection during the installation of movable structures in order to eliminate the possibility of faults when it is in operation.