Specialised Engineering 

Helping you solve your toughest challenges

Specialised Engineering provides custom engineering solutions and services, supplies mature product lines, and pioneers technology development. These are built on our custom machine design and advanced automation expertise, along with 1st-principles-based ideation and analysis through FEA, CFD, and DEM among others. From supporting clients in assessing their aging assets through to our fitness-for-service studies; developing cutting-edge automation and robotics solutions; and supporting clients from concept studies to testwork to piloting to full plant scale-up; the group specialises in developing fully catered solutions that meet our client’s needs, even in the most extreme conditions and environments. We use our technology development expertise to support our client’s visions while developing our own award-winning products and product families. These include the Coilbox, Coating Mass Control, MacroEtcher, Crust Breaking Sounding Bars, and many other established and developing products while introducing latest artificial intelligence, advanced automation, and vision systems to new areas.

Tackle unique problems efficiently & effectively

Projects that involve automation, high temperatures, heavy loads, or other challenges can benefit from custom machine designs. In many cases, optimized, purpose-built equipment can perform tasks much more efficiently than generic off-the-shelf machines.

Our experts provide tailor-made solutions for new or existing facilities. We offer detailed design, supply, installation, and commissioning services. We also provide inspection services and can make recommendations for maintenance and upgrades to improve the reliability and performance of existing machines.

Advanced Design & Analysis

With a well-established design methodology and renowned expertise with advanced multiphysics numerical modeling, Hatch works with you to effectively execute projects from concept to execution. We use 3D-parametric modeling to provide easy visualization and communication of design intent. Physical 3D-printed prototypes of equipment improve spatial recognition. These scale models are beneficial for prototyping, design mock-ups, construction sequence demonstrations, and training maintenance staff on complex assemblies.

Advanced Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is used to estimate stresses and other parameters that optimise designs ensuring they are safe and reliable. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to complement a first-principles-based approach in understanding the fundamentals of transport phenomena (fluid flow, heat & mass transfer). Finally, Discrete Element Method (DEM) facilitates the analysis of material flow allowing potential issues to be identified and design solutions to be verified. Altogether, Hatch provides a full-service analytical service offering, leveraging the best of computer-aided engineering.

Our team has extensive specialization in various areas including:

• Fluid, heat & mass transfer
• Solid mechanics
• Dynamics & kinematics
• Plasticity, creep, fatigue
• Seismic analysis
• Turbulent gas flows and multiphase flows
• Compressible gas dynamics
• Chemically reacting flows
• Soil structure interaction
• Structural and foundation dynamics
• Linear & non-linear transient analysis
• Unsteady flow dynamics
• Magnetohydrodynamics

Innovative Equipment Designs and Implementation Services

We work closely with asset owners and operations staff, to fully understand the underlying issues with existing equipment and processes while addressing your specific needs.

Hatch holds 400+ granted patents. Specialised Engineering is at the forefront of developing innovative products for areas such as battery and light metals, decarbonization, energy transition, robotics, and vision systems. Our track record goes beyond the conventional and dives deep into the world’s toughest engineering problems, including structures and equipment in the following areas:

• Space mining
• Helium gas systems
• Hydrogen handling
• Plasma heating
• Molten salt and molten metal systems
• Hot material handline
• Overhead traveling cranes
• Automated cranes, transfer cars, and other vehicles
• Hydraulics and pneumatic systems
• Electrode columns and electrode seals
• Industrial robotic applications
• Nuclear energy:
• Nuclear Fusion
• Nuclear Fission, including small and micro modular reactors
• Waste recovery and cleaning systems
• Deep geological repository high-level waste handling
• Energy storage
• Electrometallurgy, electrolysis
• Battery manufacturing and recycling
• Mechanical shaft sinking
• Historically significant assets
• Alternative comminution of ore
• Large moving structures/equipment
• Stadium movable roofs
• Ship locks and related machinery
• Movable bridges
• Mine hoists
• Mega-tonne scale moves and lifts

Our differentiated services span the full lifecycle. Through full design-supply, we deliver comprehensive support to efficiently support your assets, wherever and whenever including the following:

• Fabrication support, QA, FAT
• Installation support, testing
• Commissioning support, handover
• Ramp-up support
• Inspection, on-going support