Hot Riveting Replacement on a Kier Pressure Vessel

We were commissioned to carry out rivet replacements on the seams of a Kier pressure vessel at a specialist paper manufacturing facility in Manchester. The work was required due to a number of leaking rivet heads, which were compromising the vessel’s sealing and operational efficiency.

Given the tight summer shutdown window, careful planning was essential. Prior to commencement, we provided all necessary documentation, including risk assessments, method statements and material certifications. This ensured that the work could proceed safely and in full compliance with industrial standards.

During the scheduled shutdown, our team mobilised specialist mobile riveting equipment and carried out the replacement of approximately 25 rivets (7/8” diameter) along the vessel seams. The work involved:

1. Careful removal of defective rivets
2. Preparation of rivet holes for new rivets
3. Heating and installation of new rivets using pneumatic and hot riveting techniques
4. Sealing and inspection to ensure leak-tight joints

The rivet replacement restored the structural integrity and sealing performance of the Kier pressure vessel. The project required both precision and efficiency due to the short downtime, and our team successfully completed the work on schedule. The success of this project led to repeat contracts, where we returned to carry out similar repairs on three additional Kier vessels on-site.