Pressure Vessels

Complete In-House Pressure Vessel Solutions from Holdens Engineering

Holdens Engineering provides a full range of pressure vessel design and fabrication services to clients across the UK, offering end-to-end solutions from initial design and fabrication through to installation, testing, inspection, and regulatory compliance. Working with customers in energy, process industries, manufacturing, water treatment, and building services, we deliver safe, reliable, and fully certified pressure systems built to withstand demanding operational conditions.

Based in Lancashire , Holden’s CVE Limited is a leading name in pressure vessel design and manufacture providing innovative design, fabrication and installation services throughout the UK for sectors including:

All our pressure vessel services are carried out in-house under our ISO 9001:2015 certified quality management system and in full compliance with applicable UK and international standards, including PD5500, ASME Section VIII, and EN 13445. Whether your requirement is for a standalone vessel, a skid-mounted process system, or part of a turnkey plant room, Holdens has the technical expertise, production capability, and project management support to deliver.

A Proven UK Pressure Vessel Manufacturer

We have over fifty year’s experience in pressure vessel design and manufacture. We understand the critical nature of our works therefore our dedicated team of designers, welders and fabricators ensure we deliver a product that not only meets but excels our customers expectations. Holden’s CVE Limited’s manufacturing facilities based in Preston are fully equipped including overhead cranes with a lifting capacity up to 30 tonne. We are able to manufacture pressure vessels in a variety of metals including:

Stainless steel
Carbon steel
Copper

For decades, Holdens Engineering has supplied pressure vessels to sectors where performance, safety, and regulatory compliance are critical. From atmospheric tanks and low-pressure receivers to high-pressure process vessels, our team works to exacting tolerances, ensuring that every product meets its intended design life and duty conditions.

We manufacture in carbon steel, stainless steel, duplex, and high-grade alloys, depending on the application and contents. Our facility is equipped to handle both small bespoke vessels and large-scale production runs, offering flexibility in volume and complexity. Each vessel is traceable throughout its lifecycle, with full material certification, weld documentation, testing records, and design files available to support insurance, legal, or quality system requirements.

Full Lifecycle Support

At Holdens, we understand that pressure vessels are not simply components—they are critical elements in integrated mechanical and process systems. That’s why we offer a complete suite of services covering the full lifecycle of your equipment, from early design input through to inspection and life extension assessments.

Our pressure vessel services include:

Pressure Vessel Design and Engineering: Custom vessel design to PD5500, ASME VIII, or EN 13445 standards using CAD and stress analysis tools.
Pressure Vessel Fabrication: In-house welding, forming, assembly, and finishing using coded welders and approved procedures.
Pressure Vessel Installation: On-site positioning, integration with existing systems, and final mechanical connections.
Pressure Vessel Testing: Hydrostatic and pneumatic pressure testing, leak testing, and functional trials.
Inspection: Scheduled in-service inspections to support PSSR compliance and risk-based maintenance plans.
Repair and Modification: Weld repairs, nozzle additions, rerating, and refurbishment.
Documentation and Certification: Full QA packs, CE/UKCA conformity declarations, and notified body liaison.

By keeping every stage in-house, we ensure that vessel quality, specification, and compliance are maintained without compromise.

Built for Performance

All pressure vessel projects begin with detailed design work carried out by our engineering team. We work with client specifications, process parameters, and layout constraints to develop vessel designs that match the application—whether for steam, gas, liquid, or mixed-phase contents. Design calculations are carried out using advanced software, with allowances for internal and external pressure, temperature variation, corrosion, fatigue, and service duty.

Our vessels are designed to the most relevant codes for the intended market and application. Where required, we work directly with notified bodies or approved inspection agencies to secure third-party design approval and certification. Once the design is approved, we produce full GA drawings, fabrication drawings, and welding documentation in preparation for manufacture.

High-Quality Fabrication in a Controlled Facility

All pressure vessel fabrication is completed in our purpose-equipped facility by skilled engineers and welders. We control every aspect of production, from material procurement and plate forming to weld preparation, assembly, and post-weld treatment.

All our pressure vessels are designed and manufactured to British standards PED5500 and ASME VIII and bearing CE marking 1090.Welds are carried out using procedures qualified to ASME IX and BS EN ISO 15614, with welders certified to BS EN ISO 9606-1. Where required, we apply post-weld heat treatment (PWHT), radiographic or ultrasonic testing, and surface finishing to meet client or code requirements. The fabrication process is supported by full QA documentation and progress reporting, with regular inspection milestones and witness points as agreed with the client.

Seamless Installation and On-Site Integration

Once fabrication and testing are complete, Holdens Engineering provides full installation services for pressure vessels. We handle lifting plans, positioning, baseplate mounting, and all mechanical connections to pipework, pumps, instrumentation, or control systems. Our teams work closely with the main contractor or client engineering department to ensure that interface points are aligned and sealed correctly. We support hot or cold connections, as well as the installation of insulation, cladding, and ancillary systems. Installation can also include the integration of vessels into pre-packaged plant rooms or modular skids, where pipework, valves, and control panels are prefabricated and delivered as part of a turnkey assembly.

Testing, Commissioning and Documentation

All vessels undergo pressure testing prior to handover. This typically includes hydrostatic testing to 1.3 or 1.5 times the design pressure, with all test data logged and reviewed. For certain applications, pneumatic testing is used where hydrostatic testing is impractical or would compromise vessel cleanliness. Where applicable, leak tests and functionality tests for associated safety systems—such as relief valves and pressure gauges—are completed as part of the commissioning process.

Clients receive a complete documentation package, including:

Pressure test certificates
Material traceability records
Welding and NDT reports
Calibration records (for instruments)
CE/UKCA declarations (if applicable)
Operating and maintenance guidance

These documents ensure that clients can meet the legal and technical obligations under the Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations, PSSR 2000, and other applicable frameworks.

In-Service Inspection and Repair Support

Beyond manufacture and installation, Holdens Engineering also provides periodic inspection and assessment services for vessels in operation. This supports clients in complying with statutory inspections under a Written Scheme of Examination and enables early identification of wear, corrosion, or fatigue issues. Our inspection service includes visual inspection, ultrasonic thickness testing, leak detection, and functional safety checks. If repairs or modifications are required, our team can carry out site-based work or transport the vessel back to our facility for full refurbishment.

For older vessels approaching the end of their design life, we can also assess suitability for life extension or advise on rerating to new operating conditions.

Trusted Partner for Pressure Vessel Projects

From one-off pressure vessel builds to multi-vessel packages and complete mechanical plant systems, Holdens Engineering is a trusted partner for high-quality, compliant pressure vessel solutions. We combine technical expertise with flexible delivery and long-term customer support—ensuring that every vessel we supply is fit for purpose, fully documented, and built to last. Whether you need assistance with design, a certified fabrication partner, or end-to-end delivery of pressure vessels as part of a larger mechanical installation, our team is ready to help.