28 February 2026
In February 1976, Peter Hallam incorporated Hy-Ram Engineering in Nottinghamshire. Now, five decades later, we are celebrating our huge landmark anniversary as a leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of specialist pipeline equipment and tools worldwide.
In 50 years, our progression has been extraordinary as the company has gone from strength to strength, developing products that have transformed distribution pipelines across the globe.
Let’s take a look back at our 50 years of progress and success, leading to where we are now as an established company in the pipeline space.
A legacy built on hydraulics
While Hy-Ram was officially founded in 1976, our history starts with our founder, Peter Hallam, and the hard work he did that led to the creation of the company.
Peter spent the 1950s and 60s gaining a solid education in the industry, including: a traditional engineering apprenticeship; a membership in the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), which was the hallmark of a UK senior engineer; and membership to the Institute of Engineering designers (MIED).
This knowledge and education led to Peter further building his career at W.E. & F Dobson – a powerhouse in engineering within Nottingham. W.E. & F Dobson was world-renowned for developing hydraulic roof supports for the coal mining industry during the 1950s and 60s.
Here, Peter mastered the design and commercialisation of hydraulic systems that could withstand the harsh environment of underground mines, and was instrumental in creating Rail Destressing equipment that allowed for the continuous welded tracks that we know today. He also saw the potential for specialised hydraulic tools in other sectors.
By the mid-1960s, Peter moved to form his own standalone entity known as Permaquip with his wife, Gill, and long-term friend, Peter Martyn. Permaquip took the Stressor and Ironman (a rail lifter), and turned them into the backbone of British Rail’s maintenance fleet.
From his foundation and deep-rooted expertise in hydraulics learned at W.E. & F Dobson, and business success and partnerships with Permaquip, Peter established Hy-Ram Engineering in 1976 to apply his skills in hydraulics to a slightly different field.
A decade of innovative beginnings
In its infancy, Hy-Ram operated in tandem with a partner firm called Britton & Kimberley Ltd, a manufacturing firm specialising in welding, fabrication, assembly, and testing. It was eventually acquired by Hy-Ram in 1979. These in-house capacities continue to remain a point of pride today.
During the first decade, Hy-Ram’s early success was tied to work in the coal mining industry, with nearly 80% of our output going underground in the UK’s coal fields. However, the mining industry eventually began to struggle, and the North Sea oil and gas fields were expanding rapidly in the 1980s. The extreme environments of offshore platforms required the exact kind of heavy-duty, reliable hydraulic systems that Hy-Ram had already established in the mining sectors.
So, the company used its specialised knowledge of high-pressure hydraulics to move from the ‘coal face’ to the ‘offshore platform’. This tactical move into the offshore oil and gas sector was a major chapter in our history.
During this time, we operated as a specialist ‘tier-two’ manufacturer with our many offshore contracts, focusing on:
- Platform commissioning: We carried out large-scale projects that involved the design, manufacture, and commissioning of hydraulic power units (HPUs) used on drilling platforms
- Drilling systems: We provided the hydraulic rams and control manifold used for heavy lifting, moving, and positioning on rigs
- Slant drilling: This was a new technique pioneered by Hy-Ram. By positioning the derrick at an angle of 30 to 40 degrees, operators could reach gas pockets that weren’t directly beneath the rig, proving invaluable in shallower waters
- Subsea controls: Our expertise in high-precision hydraulics extended to developing subsea control valves and actuators, which had to operate under the immense pressures of the ocean floor
This era of offshore development proved that Hy-Ram wasn’t just operating for the mining sector, but that we were a high-level engineering firm capable of solving complex problems in many environments and industries.
The 1990s – a pivot to utilities
By the mid-1990s, a new opportunity presented itself to Hy-Ram – a collaboration with British Gas on the rollout of polyethylene (PE plastic) piping across the UK. This came with a pivot towards the onshore utility markets of gas and water.
It was also during this time that Tim Hallam, Peter’s son, joined the company as the Technical Manager following his graduation from Trent Polytechnic with an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering. In his early years, he bridged the gap between the outgoing offshore projects and the new incoming utility contracts.
Crucially, Tim led the implementation and Lloyds Register approval of the BS 5750 Quality system (now known as the ISO 9001), ensuring that with Hy-Ram’s rapid growth, our continued commitment to quality remained at the forefront as both standardised and world-class.
The rise of Hy-Ram’s revolutionary equipment
The transition from traditional metal piping to plastic required new tools and jointing techniques. The move defined our trajectory for the next 30 years, as we quickly developed our first manual, semi-automatic, and fully automatic range of Butt Fusion machines for the welding of PE pipes.
We became one of the first companies to receive formal recognition and accreditation from British Gas for these machines to BG specification PS PL-2 Part 3. Now, the heritage of the Butt Fusion machines runs through four revisions of automatic ranges: Mk 3, Mk4, Superweld, and WeldMaster.
During this time, we also expanded into secondary premises in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, to accommodate our growth and provide vital space for product assembly and testing.
Beyond Butt Fusion, our product range significantly expanded for gas and water pipelines. This included our Electrofusion tools, Squeeze Off equipment, Under-Pressure Drilling equipment, and more.
Towards the end of the 1990s, we collaborated with Severn Trent Water to develop the Hi-Flow Drilling Saddle and Sandwich Valve ranges. This kickstarted our introduction into the valve and fittings industry. All of these ranges continue to be part of our core offering today.
Evolving beyond manufacturing
With this growth came a remarkable evolution from Hy-Ram being a product manufacturer, to a full-service partner. We recognised that water and gas companies and their contractors needed specialised equipment for short-term projects, without the expenses of a full purchase.
This led to the creation of our Hire division. By renting out our products, our clients gained the unique advantage of hiring impeccably maintained equipment directly from the manufacturer for a set period, alongside our ongoing technical support and expertise.
Alongside Hire, we also created a high-value Repair division, expertly carrying out crucial repair and refurbishment works to customers’ plant and equipment.
In 1999, we moved to a large-scale headquarters and manufacturing facility in Mansfield, where we are still situated today. In 2001, Peter Hallam took a well-earned step back, and Tim Hallam took the reins as Managing Director of Hy-Ram.
Hy-Ram today – a global leader with local values
50 years on from Peter’s decision to create the company, and Hy-Ram still continues to stand as a global leader in the utility infrastructure sector. We now proudly operate across water, gas, and wastewater industries in over 60 countries.
Our core pillars were established in our humble roots, and still remain integral to our operations today:
- Design and manufacturing: Our dedicated in-house design and development team is constantly driving innovative ideas, resulting in an ever-evolving product range. This process is shaped by vital interactions and feedback gathered directly from the market. We continue to precision manufacture, assemble, and test these products in-house
- Stockholding: From our two warehouse facilities in Mansfield, a knowledgeable commercial team, and same-day despatch available, we have capacities for large stock holding of our products
- Sales: Our passionate UK and export sales teams manage our contracts with over 60 countries worldwide
- Hire and training: We are a unique firm in the UK for offering both manufacturing equipment and running a substantial rental fleet. Our Hire teams operate in satellite depots in Mansfield, Bury, and Enfield. We also have our own training team to support the best practice and safe use of our equipment
- Repair: Our experienced engineers are able to work on the repairs of a large range of both mechanical and electrical equipment, operating from our Hire depots to provide a localised service
A team built on expertise and family legacies
Despite our extraordinary global reach and impact, Hy-Ram remains a family-run business at its heart. With Tim Hallam at the helm, and his wife, Debbie, by his side, our company has stayed true to the values of integrity and engineering excellence that Peter established in 1976.
To ensure Hy-Ram’s future success, four directors have been appointed in crucial areas of the business:
- Kris Sharratt – Operations Director
- James Thornton – Commercial Director
- Kerry Limer – Finance Director
- Lee Bullock-Jones – Technical Director
The designation of these leaders has proved invaluable for the growth and progression of the company, providing a blend of fresh ideas and enthusiasm with deep expertise.
Looking ahead to the next 50 years
As we fondly reflect on the past 50 years of Hy-Ram Engineering, it is clear that our unwavering commitment to engineers, contractors, global clients, and the vital networks that sustain the world remains our priority, and has been since day one.
Since 1976, our core values have guided our business, and they remain central as we look ahead to a future where Hy-Ram continues to thrive as an established, unique world leader in pipeline equipment. Our legacy is set to continue!
Get in touch with the specialist Hy-Ram team today to find out how we can partner with you on your next project.
