CFI completes huge project

SUE WATSON Staff Writer
 

One of the largest vessels used in the crude oil refinery industry shipped out from Contract Fabricators Inc. in Holly Springs March 9.

The project took a year to complete, including engineering, material procurement, and fabrication, according to Matt Riley, project engineer lead.

The vessel, to be installed in a crude oil refinery in Illinois, is used in the catalyst regeneration process, he said.

It is constructed of 0.625-inch thick carbon steel with a 0.125-inch thick stainless steel liner on the inside. Its overall shipping size was roughly 138 feet long, 15.5 feet wide, 16 feet high, and weighed 245,000 pounds, according to Wiley. It took about two weeks to move it from Holly Springs to the refinery. The vessel was mechanically designed and fabricated entirely in Holly Springs.

Wiley said the vessel was fabricated in halves and then joined together.

“It’s one of the largest combined shipping envelopes to ship from the Holly Springs facility,” he said. “We have shipped some as wide but not as long.

And some items have been heavier though not as large.” CFI’s facility in Iuka, due to barge shipping capability, has constructed several vessels larger than this one, Wiley said. This vessel was fabricated inside the Shop A building. CFI employs over 80 in the Holly Springs facility and over 40

in the Iuka facility. Much of the fabrication involves welding and fit-up, and CFI trains in-house, Wiley said. “We are always looking for good help,” he said.

And some items have been heavier though not as large.” CFI’s facility in Iuka, due to barge shipping capability, has constructed several vessels larger than this one, Wiley said. This vessel was fabricated inside the Shop A building. CFI employs over 80 in the Holly Springs facility and over 40 in the Iuka facility. Much of the fabrication involves welding and fit-up, and CFI trains in-house, Wiley said. “We are always looking for good help,” he said.