Prefabricated Pump Skids

Miles of Pipework made

Over 1

Clients

Over 1

established for 20+ years

We provide fabrication and mechanical installation support for prefabricated pump skids for use in manufacturing, processing and industrial sites throughout the UK. Our workshop can provide bespoke steel supports, pipework assemblies and fabricated components to your project drawings, equipment and installation requirements.

Prefabricated pump skids are sometimes described as modular process skids or skid mounted pump systems. A prefabricated pump skid brings pumps and associated mechanical components together on a common frame, allowing much of the assembly work to take place before delivery. This can reduce the amount of fabrication required on site, improve control of critical dimensions and simplify installation during planned shutdowns.

We work with project managers, engineering teams and equipment suppliers to establish the fabrication scope, coordinate mechanical interfaces and plan installation around existing plant. Pump selection, detailed process design, electrical controls and complete skid testing are agreed separately when required.

Send us your drawings or project specification to discuss fabrication and installation requirements.

Custom Pump Skid Systems and Mechanical Assembly

The main thing with a pump skid is getting the fabrication right for the installation. There’s little point manufacturing a complete assembly if it arrives on site and the pipework doesn’t line up, or there isn’t enough room to get it into position.

That’s why we work from your drawings and equipment specifications, taking into account what’s already on site and how the new assembly will connect to it.

Depending on the project, our fabrication work can include:

Steel base frames and pump supports: We manufacture support steelwork and brackets to suit the approved drawings and equipment requirements.
Prefabricated pipework: Suction and discharge lines, pipe spools, manifolds, flanged connections and the supports needed to hold everything in place.
Mechanical assembly: Where required, we can assemble fabricated components around client-supplied pumps, valves, strainers and other equipment.
On-site installation: We can position the fabricated assemblies, connect them to existing pipework and carry out any agreed modifications.
Inspection and testing: We carry out visual and dimensional checks, along with hydrostatic testing where appropriate. Specialist testing can be arranged externally if the specification requires it.

We work with stainless steel, carbon steel and mild steel, with the material and welding requirements determined by the application.

Benefits of Prefabricated Pump Skid Systems

We’re fabricators first. We don’t supply a standard pump package and expect you to make it fit. We look at the drawings, establish what’s involved and agree which parts of the job we’ll be responsible for. If you’re already working with a pump manufacturer or system designer, we can coordinate the fabrication and installation requirements with them.

Simplified Installation With Less Site Fabrication

One of the biggest advantages of prefabrication is having less work to do when we arrive on site. If the pipework and supports have already been fabricated, we can concentrate on getting everything into position and making the final connections.

This can make a real difference when we’re working around existing equipment, during a planned shutdown or where the plant needs to remain in continuous operation. There’s less welding and cutting to carry out on site. We still plan the connections and safety arrangements around the actual installation, rather than promising a particular reduction in downtime.

Quality Assurance and Dimensional Control

Working in the workshop gives us more control over the fabrication. We can check dimensions, flange positions and pipework alignment against the drawings before anything leaves for site.

Quality assurance doesn’t stop at checking dimensions. We also work to the agreed welding procedures and inspection requirements. That can mean material traceability, weld records and suitable hydrostatic testing of the fabricated pipework, depending on the specification.

It’s much better to identify a problem with a connection or measurement in the workshop than discover it during installation.

Compact Skid Layouts Around Existing Plant

Floor space is often an issue, particularly when we’re fitting new equipment into an existing plant room. There might be pipework running across the proposed installation area, steelwork in the way or limited access for lifting the assembly into position.

These are things we need to establish before fabrication starts. We look at the skid layout, flange orientations, support positions, where the connections need to be and how the assembly will get into position. The approved design also needs to allow for the equipment to be maintained once it’s installed.

Pre-assembled Pump Skids and Maintenance Access

Depending on the project, we can supply pre-assembled pipework, valves, supports and other mechanical components from our workshop. Skid mounted pump systems still need their lifting, connection and installation arrangements considered before delivery.

We also need to think about what happens when the equipment requires maintenance. Can the valves be reached? Is there enough clearance to remove a strainer or work on a pump? Can parts of the pipework be disconnected without dismantling everything around them?

There’s no benefit in making a skid as compact as possible if nobody can get to the equipment afterwards.

The amount of assembly and testing completed before delivery is agreed as part of the project. A prefabricated skid isn’t necessarily a fully commissioned system.

Our Pump Skid Fabrication Process

1. Reviewing Drawings and Project Requirements

We start by looking at your drawings and what’s involved in the job. That usually means reviewing the P&IDs, general arrangement drawings, pump specifications and any existing pipework the new assembly needs to connect to.

We also need to establish who’s supplying what. You might already have the pumps and motors on order and just need us to fabricate the steelwork and connecting pipework. Or there may be other contractors involved with the electrical installation and controls.

Before fabrication begins, we look at the pipework routes, connection points, support positions and available space. If anything doesn’t look right or needs clarifying, we’d rather sort it out at this stage than discover a problem when we’re on site.

2. Workshop Fabrication and Assembly

Once the drawings are agreed, we can start the fabrication.

Depending on the job, that might involve cutting and welding pipework, manufacturing steel supports, preparing flanged connections or assembling components around the specified equipment.

We carry out visual inspections and dimensional checks as the work progresses. Where the specification calls for pressure testing or specialist non-destructive testing, we’ll agree what’s required and how it will be carried out.

If a trial assembly would help check the fit before delivery, we can discuss that as part of the fabrication scope.

3. Delivery and On-Site Installation

Getting everything to site and into position needs planning too. A skid might fit comfortably in the workshop but be difficult to manoeuvre through an existing plant room.

We look at the delivery route, lifting arrangements and site access before deciding whether an assembly should arrive complete or in sections.

Once on site, our engineers can position the fabricated components, make the agreed pipework connections and carry out any necessary mechanical installation work.

We plan this around your site requirements, permits and shutdown arrangements. Electrical connections, controls and final commissioning are coordinated with the responsible contractors where those activities fall outside our scope.

Pump Skid Packages Built Around Your Specification

We work from your drawings and equipment specifications, whether you’ve already finalised the design or are still working through the details with your pump supplier.

Pump skid packages can include centrifugal or positive displacement pumps, valves, strainers, instruments and associated pipework. Our role is to fabricate and install the agreed mechanical components, ensuring they suit the equipment and site requirements.

We can also coordinate mechanical connections with suppliers responsible for electrical controls and instrumentation.

Key Considerations Before Pump Skid Fabrication

Before fabrication begins, we need to establish a few things:

Equipment and layout: Pump dimensions, connection points, available space and maintenance access.
Steelwork and pipework: Base frames, supports, material specifications and welding requirements.
Installation: Site access, existing pipework connections, foundations and lifting arrangements.
Inspection and testing: Required checks, documentation and any specified testing.

Getting these details agreed early helps us avoid unnecessary modifications during installation.

Common Applications for Prefabricated Pump Skid Systems

We work on industrial projects where new equipment needs connecting to existing pipework, or where sections of an installation are being replaced or upgraded.

Prefabricated pump skids can be useful in several types of installation, particularly when there’s limited room to work or the site needs to remain operational.

Manufacturing and process plants: Fabricated pipework, steel supports and mechanical assemblies for new or replacement pumping equipment. This can include fluid transfer systems connected to existing production machinery.
Chemical processing: Stainless steel or carbon steel pipework and supports manufactured to the specified materials and operating requirements. Equipment selection and suitability for the process need to be confirmed by the system designer.
Water treatment and utilities: Pump-related pipework, support steelwork and connections for water handling and treatment installations, subject to the agreed fabrication scope.
Energy centres and plant rooms: Prefabricated assemblies for installations where available space, existing services and access can make on-site fabrication difficult.

Maintenance, Shutdowns and Specialist Skid Applications

Maintenance and planned shutdowns: Replacement pipework and supporting steelwork prepared in advance, helping reduce the amount of fabrication needed once equipment is taken out of service.

Similar fabrication work may also be required for modular process skids and chemical injection packages. These applications can involve additional material, pressure and safety requirements, so we’d need to review the specification before agreeing what we can undertake.

If you’ve already got a pump supplier or system designer involved, we can work with them to establish the mechanical fabrication and installation requirements.

Relevant Fabrication and Installation Experience

We’ve worked on industrial projects involving fabricated pipework, equipment supports and connections to existing installations. While these weren’t all complete pump skid packages, they involved much of the same fabrication and installation work.

Isle of Mull Loading Skid Installation

On the Isle of Mull loading skid project, we installed a loading skid incorporating pumps, pipework and fittings mounted on a dedicated frame. The job also involved an offloading cabinet, connecting pipework and support brackets, with restricted space around the existing tanks.

Thatcham Loading Skid Project

At an industrial site in Thatcham, we worked on the replacement of loading infrastructure, including pipework that needed to connect into the existing installation.

It’s the sort of project where understanding what’s already on site matters. The new components need to fit the existing arrangement, and the connections have to be considered before fabrication begins.

Dudley Manufacturing Plant

For a manufacturing project in Dudley, we installed stainless steel pipework connecting four mixing vessels, along with steam and condensate pipework.

We also fabricated pump supports as part of the work. That’s particularly relevant to pump skid projects, where the supporting steelwork and pipework need to be considered together.

Kettering General Hospital Energy Centre

Our work at Kettering General Hospital Energy Centre has included large-bore prefabricated pipework, with installation taking place around structural steelwork and other building services.

Projects like this require careful planning around access, pipework routing and the space available for installation.

Across these projects, the principle is much the same. We need accurate drawings, a clear understanding of the existing installation and a practical plan for getting the fabricated components into position.

Quality, Testing and Project Responsibilities

Before we start fabrication, we need to know what inspection and testing the project requires. This will normally be set out in the drawings, pipework specification and any associated quality documentation.

During fabrication, we carry out visual inspections and dimensional checks to make sure the work meets the agreed requirements. Depending on the specification, we can also undertake suitable hydrostatic testing of the fabricated pipework.

Some projects call for additional checks, such as radiographic or ultrasonic testing of welds. Where specialist non-destructive testing (NDT) is required, we can arrange this through external providers.

We also need to agree what records you’ll require at handover. These might include weld documentation, inspection reports, material traceability records and test results, depending on the scope of work.

Testing the Fabrication Is Not the Same as Testing the Complete System

Checking a fabricated pipework assembly is different from proving that a complete pump skid operates as intended.

Factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), pump performance testing and final commissioning may involve the pump supplier, system designer or other specialist contractors.

We establish these responsibilities before work begins, so everyone understands what’s included in our fabrication and installation scope and what needs to be provided by others.

The same applies to pressure-system requirements, hazardous-area installations and any specialist certification. These need to be identified in the project specification and agreed with the responsible parties rather than assumed to be part of the mechanical fabrication work.

What Affects Custom Pump Skid Fabrication Costs?

There’s no standard price for a prefabricated pump skid because the work involved can vary considerably. A straightforward frame with a few pipework connections is a different job from a larger assembly with multiple pumps, manifolds and more complex fabrication requirements.

When we’re pricing a project, the main things we look at are:

Steelwork and pipework: The amount of fabrication involved, material grades, pipe sizes and welding requirements.
Equipment and layout: Pump supports, connection points, access requirements and how much mechanical assembly is needed.
Inspection and testing: Any specified weld inspections, pressure testing or specialist testing that needs arranging.
Delivery and installation: Transport, lifting arrangements, site access and whether the work needs to take place during a planned shutdown.

The more information we have at the quotation stage, the easier it is to establish what’s included and identify anything that still needs confirming.

If you’ve already got drawings, equipment specifications or a proposed layout, send them over and we can review the fabrication and installation requirements with you.

Choosing a Practical Pump Skid Arrangement

A pre-engineered pump package may be an efficient solution for a standard duty, but custom skid systems can fit existing pipework, handle access limits, and include specific parts. We can look at these options together with transport and installation needs, rather than assuming a fully assembled unit is always best for every site.

Pump skid systems are used for duties such as water and wastewater handling, industrial fluid transfer and chemical processing. Some applications call for accurate chemical dosing, additional instrumentation or automated controls. The pump supplier or process designer specifies those requirements; we establish how the agreed mechanical assembly will be fabricated and connected.

For complex pump skid designs, the appointed designer may use 3D modelling to check a compact layout, service clearances and connections before fabrication. Workshop conditions also make it easier to check weld fit-up and dimensions consistently than working around operating equipment on site.

Where practical, preparing and checking pipework in the workshop can reduce site fit-up problems. The amount of pre-assembly and testing before delivery depends on the project, so we don’t assume a skid will arrive ready to plug in and run.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a prefabricated pump skid?

Skid fabrication is the manufacture of the supporting structure and associated assemblies to the agreed specification. A prefabricated pump skid is a mechanical assembly in which the pump and associated pipework or equipment are mounted on the supporting frame prior to installation. The arrangement can result in a reduction in the amount of assembly that has to be carried out on site. The components, extent of assembly and testing depend on the project.

Can you work with our existing pump supplier?

Yes. We can review fabrication and installation requirements for pumps or equipment from your preferred supplier. The drawings, datasheets and connection details are required to establish the mechanical interfaces and what can be fabricated within our agreed scope.

Do you design and supply complete turnkey pump skid systems?

Our established strengths are industrial pipework fabrication, coded welding, steel fabrication and on-site installation. We review complete skid enquiries individually. Hydraulic design, pump selection, electrical controls, commissioning and certification must be allocated to appropriately responsible parties and should not be assumed to be included.

Can you include instruments, valves and controls?

We can review the mechanical installation requirements for your specified valves, pressure gauges, sensors and other components. Instruments and control systems may bring in their own additional mechanical interfaces but the electrical wiring, programming and specialist commissioning are all things that need to be dealt with separately unless otherwise agreed on the project.

Can you fabricate pump skids for an existing plant?

We can provide a bespoke pipework and support fabrication assessment for installations which connect to existing plant. Site dimensions, access, tie-ins and proposed shutdown arrangements are all particularly important in situations where there is very little scope for alteration.

What information do you need for a quotation?

Please send any available P&IDs, general arrangement drawings, pump and valve datasheets, pipework materials, site details and proposed timescales. Please provide the inspection and testing requirements and confirm whether you require fabrication only or fabrication and on-site installation. Draft drawings are useful for an initial discussion too.

Discuss Your Prefabricated Pump Skid Requirements

If you’re looking at a new industrial pump installation, an equipment replacement or a modification to an existing plant we can look at the proposed mechanical fabrication and installation scope.

Send us your drawings or project specification. We will discuss the pipework, support steelwork, equipment interfaces, site constraints and any quality requirements relevant to your project.