Atkins has completed the acquisition of Flex Process, a leading process engineering, safety and digital simulation company.

Based in the UK, Flex Process specialises in the support and transformation of process plants across a wide range of power and industrial sectors.

It offers advanced engineering and digital twin expertise to support asset design, improve operational efficiency, optimise asset life and reduce emissions for global clients across a number of energy industries including power and nuclear, iron and steel, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

To date, it has worked alongside Atkins and the wider SNC-Lavalin Group on numerous projects including the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority’s Hydrogen-3 Advanced Technology facility, Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset and an ammonia production plant in the Middle East. 

The acquisition adds to Atkins’ rapidly growing net zero energy capability which sees multidisciplinary services delivered across power and renewables; transmission and distribution; hydrogen; carbon capture and storage; energy storage and industrial decarbonisation. 

Ian L Edwards, president and CEO SNC-Lavalin, said: “As an organisation we’re committed to advancing net-zero projects around the world by harnessing data and technology to give our clients more insight and certainty than ever before. The acquisition of a highly specialized firm with niche expertise will strengthen this offering, as we look to engineer the future of infrastructure and power generation on a scale appropriate to the challenges our world faces.” 

Chris Ball, managing director of Nuclear & Power, EMEA, SNC-Lavalin, added: “Flex Process has an established track record with a client base complementary to our own which will open up new opportunities to sell fully integrated services into growing markets. We now look forward to building on the success we’ve already shared together working across entire project lifecycles in complex industries.” 

Flex Process’ team of 11 staff and long-term associates will become part of SNC-Lavalin’s Nuclear Sector.

Roger Rayner, managing director and founder of Flex Process, said: “Flex Process has been pioneering new techniques to help its clients to optimise their processes, increase safety and support their decarbonisation plans. The decision to become part of SNC-Lavalin strengthens these capabilities and allows us to support the decarbonisation schemes of more sites, across more countries, and deliver more benefits to those clients we already support. 

“We look forward to working within the fast-growing net zero energy business to help new and existing clients to reduce complexity, increase efficiency and identify more ways to decarbonise their plants and processes.”