What are process and industrial piping engineering services?
Process and industrial piping engineering services define how liquids, gases, steam, compressed air, cleaning chemicals, product streams, and utilities move through a facility. The work typically includes process flow diagrams, P&IDs, pipe routing coordination, equipment utility requirements, sanitary or industrial material selection, valve and instrumentation coordination, drainage planning, safety reviews, and construction documentation.
Which industries does Hixson support with piping engineering?
Hixson supports piping-related engineering across Food & Beverage, Pharma & Biotech, Science & Technology, Laboratory, and Workplace projects. Relevant applications include sanitary process piping, clean utilities, CIP systems, process water, compressed air, natural gas, high-pressure rinse water, industrial refrigeration, wastewater, and manufacturing utility infrastructure for both new facilities and renovations.
Can Hixson help develop P&IDs for a manufacturing project?
Yes. Hixson’s process and manufacturing engineering teams develop P&IDs as part of broader project deliverables, supported by process flow diagrams, equipment layouts, utility requirements, equipment lists, and safety reviews. P&IDs can also be coordinated with automation, CIP, sanitary design, HAZOP, procurement, startup, and commissioning activities.
Does Hixson design sanitary process piping systems?
Yes. Hixson designs sanitary and hygienic process systems for food, beverage, dairy, nutraceutical, and cGMP environments. Services address cleanable piping, sanitary equipment specification, CIP-ability, slope-to-drain design, hygienic zoning, allergen control, raw/RTE segregation, process drainage, and coordination with recognized standards such as FDA, USDA, SQF, 3-A, BISSC, and EHEDG where applicable.
How does Hixson integrate piping with controls and automation?
Hixson’s controls and automation group works with process engineers to align piping, valves, instrumentation, batching, blending, thermal processing, CIP, packaging, and utility systems. The team supports URS and FDS development, network design, PLC and HMI programming, electrical control panels, FAT/SAT, and startup so control logic matches the intended process operation.
Can Hixson support existing facility upgrades and line additions?
Yes. Hixson supports new construction, existing facility modifications, building utility upgrades, process line additions, capacity studies, and utility capacity analyses. Teams evaluate existing conditions, process requirements, available utilities, sanitary and safety constraints, equipment integration, shutdown considerations, and phased implementation so upgrades can be planned around active operations.
What safety and compliance factors are considered in piping design?
Hixson incorporates safety and compliance considerations such as HAZOP, PHA, LOPA, OSHA PSM, ammonia refrigeration documentation, combustible dust evaluations, hazardous materials, sanitary design, cGMP requirements, and environmental permitting needs. These reviews help identify operational risks early and coordinate piping decisions with regulatory, process safety, and facility requirements.
What project phases can Hixson support?
Hixson can support projects from early business case development and master planning through detailed design, procurement support, construction documents, construction administration, FAT/SAT, startup, commissioning, and validation-related activities. The firm’s integrated architecture, engineering, estimating, project management, and construction administration capabilities help maintain continuity from concept to operation.