Column internals rarely fail because of the metal. They fail because of a dimension that didn't match, a support ring that was missed, or a delivery that landed after the shutdown window closed.
PunchTech's engineering team works alongside your process, project and maintenance teams — reviewing data, developing manufacturing drawings, resolving fit-up issues before fabrication starts, and supporting the equipment through installation and beyond.
New builds, existing columns and live shutdowns each demand a different kind of engineering attention. We're set up for all three.
We take your process conditions, equipment data and project specifications and convert them into manufacturable internals — reviewing hydraulics, mechanical loading and installation practicality before anything reaches the shop floor.
Whether you arrive with a fully detailed specification or only a process datasheet and a column drawing, our team can work from where you are.
Review of vapour and liquid loading, pressure drop expectations, turndown and operating range against the proposed internals configuration.
Panel layouts, support ring and beam arrangements, clamping details, manway clearances and sectional sizing for installation through existing access.
Fabrication drawings, bill of materials and assembly details issued for client approval before manufacturing release.
Guidance on metallurgy against temperature, corrosion conditions and mechanical loading — including duplex, nickel and copper alloy options.
Review of client drawings and specifications to identify dimensional conflicts, missing data or fit-up risks before fabrication starts.
Where drawings are already approved, we manufacture strictly to print and raise technical queries through a documented clarification process.
Most of the columns we work on are already in service. Damaged trays, fouled packing, corroded distributors and capacity constraints all need internals that fit an existing shell — not an ideal one.
We work from as-built drawings, site measurements or the removed component itself to engineer a replacement that installs cleanly into equipment that may be decades old.
Removed trays, packing sections, distributors or anchor components are measured and re-drawn for manufacture where original drawings are unavailable.
Support in reconciling site measurements against original drawings — support ring elevations, shell ovality, nozzle positions and manway sizes.
Evaluation of tray-to-packing conversions, higher-capacity tray configurations and distributor upgrades to improve throughput or separation.
Direct replacements manufactured to match existing geometry where the objective is restored performance, not redesign.
Re-specification in higher-grade materials where corrosion, erosion or temperature has shortened the life of the original internals.
Sectional sizing and assembly sequencing checked against existing access so replacement internals can physically enter the column.
A shutdown window is the least forgiving environment in the plant. Every hour is scheduled, access is restricted, and a component that doesn't fit becomes a critical-path problem within minutes.
Our engineering involvement continues past dispatch — through delivery sequencing, installation guidance and on-site technical support when the column is open.
Dispatch planned around the shutdown schedule, with items packed and marked in installation order rather than manufacturing order.
Assembly drawings, part marking schedules and installation sequence notes issued with the consignment.
Technical support during fit-up to resolve clearance, levelling and clamping issues while the column is still open.
Site supervision available on request for critical or first-of-type installations, coordinated with your maintenance contractor.
Support for unplanned outages and damaged internals discovered after the column is opened, with expedited manufacturing where feasible.
Close-out of site queries, retention of as-supplied records and documentation of any field modifications for future reference.
The same six steps apply whether the scope is a single replacement tray or a full column of internals.
Drawings, datasheets, samples or site dimensions reviewed and technical gaps identified.
Recommended configuration, materials, scope and commercial offer issued.
Manufacturing drawings submitted for client review and formal approval.
Production released against approved drawings with in-process inspection.
Final inspection, documentation compilation, marking and packing for site.
Installation guidance, fit-up assistance and close-out of field queries.
Our design team sits inside the same facility that manufactures the parts — so what gets drawn is what can actually be built, inspected and installed.
Drawings are developed with direct knowledge of our own fabrication tolerances and equipment.
Comfortable working from incomplete data, ageing drawings and physical samples rather than perfect documentation.
Drawing control, revision management and inspection documentation handled through a certified quality system.
Engineering and production planned backwards from your outage date, not forwards from order entry.
Send us what you have — even if it's incomplete. Our engineering team will review it and come back with a recommended approach, scope and indicative schedule.
