Engineering Stack
Explore the MARCH Engineering Stack and the services that support every stage of the asset lifecycle, from design and delivery to maintenance and optimisation.
Process Engineering & Fabrication is one of nine capabilities within the MARCH Engineering Stack.
Our teams design, manufacture, install and relocate process assets within live operational environments, combining technical rigour with a practical understanding of safety, compliance, access, hygiene and long-term maintenance.
Services range from precision mechanical manufacturing and pipework through to modular process skids, chemical dosing package plants, factory line relocations, compressed air systems and ongoing asset upgrades.
Our embedded teams work alongside customer operations, supporting live environments and ensuring solutions are tailored, responsive and sustainable.
Precision manufactured components form the foundation of reliable mechanical systems and assemblies. Material selection, machining, fabrication, assembly and quality inspection activities help ensure components are produced to the required specification, performance standards and tolerances. The result is high-quality components, improved repeatability and reduced risk of failures within wider systems.
Industrial pipework systems are essential for the safe and efficient movement of steam, process fluids, gases, utilities and wastewater throughout a facility. Design, fabrication and installation activities ensure systems are matched to pressure, temperature, corrosion, hygiene and regulatory requirements, supported by commissioning and operational verification. The result is safe and compliant distribution of critical services, reduced leaks and unplanned maintenance requirements, and more efficient plant operation.
Modular process systems bring equipment, pipework, instrumentation and controls together into a single integrated assembly. Bespoke process skids are designed, manufactured and tested off site where practical, helping verify functionality before installation and reducing the complexity of on-site delivery. The result is shorter site programmes, reduced installation risk, improved quality through controlled fabrication and testing, and faster deployment of process capability.
Protecting people from moving machinery and hazardous operations requires safeguarding measures that balance safety with practical access for operation, cleaning and maintenance. Machinery guarding solutions are designed, manufactured and installed to control risk while maintaining usability and operational efficiency. The result is improved workforce safety, stronger compliance with machinery safety requirements and reduced risk of incidents that could lead to downtime, enforcement action or reputational damage.
Standard support solutions are not always suitable where equipment, services or site constraints require a tailored approach. Bespoke structural bracketry and supports are engineered and fabricated to suit specific load requirements, geometries and access constraints, helping ensure equipment and services are installed securely and correctly. The result is safer load management, improved installation quality and reduced rework caused by clashes or unsuitable standard components.
Process systems perform most effectively when mechanical and electrical disciplines are developed as a single coordinated solution rather than separate workstreams. Integrated design and installation activities bring together layouts, power, services, instrumentation and controls to create systems that are practical to construct, operate and maintain. The result is reduced interface risk, fewer programme disruptions and process systems that are safe, efficient and straightforward to manage.
Process tanks and vessels provide the containment, storage and treatment functions that underpin many industrial processes. Design and fabrication activities consider material selection, structural requirements, nozzle arrangements, access provisions and hygiene requirements to ensure the equipment is suited to its intended duty. The result is safe and compliant containment, improved product integrity and reduced risk of leakage, corrosion and process disruption.
Factory relocations, refurbishments and decommissioning projects often involve moving, upgrading or removing complex equipment while maintaining control of safety, programme and operational impact. Planning and delivery activities cover isolation, disconnection, lifting, handling, reinstatement, alignment and recommissioning to ensure assets are managed safely throughout the transition. The result is reduced production disruption, protection of high-value equipment and the ability to relocate, upgrade or remove assets safely and efficiently.
Off-the-shelf components do not always meet the dimensional, interface or performance requirements of specialist applications. Machining services provide bespoke manufacture and modification of components to suit specific operational needs, helping ensure parts fit, perform and integrate correctly within the wider system. The result is reduced lead times, less reliance on OEM modifications and faster availability of fit-for-purpose parts for maintenance, upgrades and new installations.
Stainless steel fabrication is often selected where hygiene, corrosion resistance and long-term durability are critical to operational performance. Structures, pipework and equipment are fabricated to suit demanding process environments, with appropriate finishing and quality control to meet application-specific requirements. The result is durable, corrosion-resistant assets that support hygiene standards, extend service life and reduce lifecycle maintenance requirements.
Secondary steelwork creates the support framework needed to carry services, equipment and access systems safely within existing structures. Design and installation activities consider load paths, structural interfaces and site constraints to ensure supports are suited to both the equipment and the environment in which it operates. The result is safe load-bearing support, improved installation efficiency and reduced rework caused by clashes, movement or unsuitable standard components.
Compressed air plays a critical role in many manufacturing and process environments, where reliability, quality and efficiency have a direct impact on operational performance. High and low pressure compressed air systems are designed and implemented to manage generation, storage, filtration, distribution and pressure control in line with process requirements. The result is improved energy efficiency, reduced operating costs and a stable supply of high-quality compressed air that supports equipment reliability and product quality.
Related expertise: Compressed Air Management
Accurate process measurement provides the information needed to monitor performance, maintain control and make informed operational decisions. Instrumentation selection, installation and configuration ensures devices are matched to process conditions and measurement requirements, helping deliver reliable data for monitoring, control and optimisation activities. The result is improved process stability, enhanced product quality and earlier identification of faults and performance issues.
Distributing utilities and process services to multiple users or connection points benefits from a structured and clearly organised approach. Bespoke mechanical output panels provide isolation, regulation and labelled connection points within a single assembly, helping simplify service distribution and ongoing maintenance activities. The result is simplified installation, safer isolation procedures and a flexible distribution system that can support future expansion and modification.
Production lines often have untapped opportunities to improve capacity, reliability and operational performance without the need for complete replacement. Factory line upgrades involve targeted enhancements to mechanical systems, services and controls, helping address performance constraints, improve safety and support changing production requirements. The result is extended asset life, increased throughput and improved overall equipment effectiveness through focused investment.
Wastewater treatment assets often need to evolve to meet changing production demands, performance expectations and compliance requirements. Upgrade activities can include improvements to mechanical equipment, instrumentation, controls and system integration, helping increase treatment capacity, resilience and operational efficiency. The result is reduced environmental compliance risk, improved treatment performance and a lower likelihood of permit breaches or production constraints.
Related expertise: Delivering AMP8 for the Water Utilities Sector
Many fabricated components rely on precise forming to achieve the fit, strength and appearance required within the final assembly. Press brake forming produces consistent bends, angles and profiles to defined tolerances, supporting the manufacture of guards, enclosures, brackets and structural components. The result is improved fit and finish, reduced waste and rework, and reliable production of repeatable components for fabrication and project delivery.
Moving large production equipment requires careful planning, specialist handling techniques and precise positioning to avoid damage and disruption. Heavy machinery moving services cover lifting, transport, rigging and installation activities, supported by risk assessments and engineered lifting plans to ensure equipment is relocated safely and accurately. The result is protection of high-value assets, improved safety and efficient delivery of plant relocations, upgrades and site changes with minimal operational disruption.
Safe access is essential for the operation, inspection and maintenance of industrial plant and equipment. Platforms, gantries, balustrades, staircases and specialist access structures are designed and fabricated to suit the operational environment, helping provide secure access while supporting regulatory and safety requirements. The result is improved maintainability, safer access to critical assets and reduced risk of delays or incidents during routine inspection and maintenance activities.
Accurate and reliable chemical dosing is critical to many process, water and wastewater applications. Chemical dosing package plants bring together storage, dosing, pipework, instrumentation, containment and control systems into a fully integrated solution that can be assembled and tested before delivery to site. The result is improved dosing accuracy, reduced installation time and lower operational risk, supported by a factory-tested package that simplifies site integration and delivers reliable, repeatable chemical dosing performance.
Related expertise: Delivering AMP8 for the Water Utilities Sector
Standard food manufacturing equipment is not always suited to unique products, processes or site constraints. Bespoke equipment can be designed, manufactured and integrated to meet specific operational requirements, from conveyor systems and CIP assemblies to product sanitisers and specialist process components. The result is equipment tailored to the application, improved process fit and the ability to deliver capabilities that are not available through standard OEM solutions.
Effective control of fumes, dusts, mists and solvent emissions starts with extraction systems that are designed, installed and integrated as a complete solution. Turnkey LEV projects bring together hoods, enclosures, booths, ductwork, filtration plant, fans, stacks and controls to provide coordinated control of airborne contaminants and combustible dust risks. The result is effective capture at source, simplified project delivery and a single accountable solution from design through to handover, supported by a complete documentation package.
Related expertise: Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) Systems
Effective extraction systems rely on ductwork, hoods, structural supports and pressure equipment that are designed to work together as a complete solution. Fabrication of galvanised and stainless-steel ductwork, hoods, enclosures, support steelwork, access platforms and pressure equipment helps ensure components are matched to the process and assembled to the required standards. The result is controlled quality, shorter lead times and equipment that integrates seamlessly with the wider extraction system, supplied through a single contractor.
Related expertise: Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) Systems