Oil and Gas
Why EPCs and Systems Integrators Specify the Full ATAC Analyser Range for Oil & Gas Installations
EPCs and systems integrators specifying instrumentation for refinery and petrochemical projects need more than compliant hardware — they need a supplier with a proven track record and the technical depth to support project engineering from FEED through to commissioning.
ATAC brings over 70 years of physical property analyser manufacturing under the Hallikainen and Hone brand names, giving EPCs and system integrators a single, trusted specification across an entire installation rather than sourcing viscometers, vapour pressure analysers and colour/opacity monitors from separate suppliers.
The range covers multiple physical property measurements typically required on a refinery or petrochemical project: Hallikainen process viscometers (491/421/1077) for dynamic viscosity, correlating with ASTM D445 and D2170; the Hallikainen 1354 Vapour Pressure Analyser for TVP & RVP, correlating with ASTM D323 and D1267; and the Hallikainen 7613 Colour Monitor and 7612 Opacity Monitor, correlating with ASTM D1500-07, D156 and D1209. All are ATEX- certified for hazardous-area installation and manufactured in the UK under ISO 9001:2015.
Beyond the hardware, ATAC works directly with EPCs and integrators to supply the datasheets, certification documentation and technical detail refinery owners require for approval — reducing back-and-forth during project engineering and helping specifications pass owner review first time.
Process Viscometry
The range covers the full viscosity spectrum through three variants: the single-capillary Hallikainen 491 and multi-capillary Hallikainen 421 for high-viscosity applications, and the Hallikainen 1077 for lower-viscosity streams — allowing one trusted product family to be specified across multiple process points on a project. All are manufactured in the UK, are ATEX-certified, and are customisable to project-specific requirements, easing specification for EPCs managing multiple hazardous-area installations.
A key differentiator for integrators is measurement method: unlike many competing instruments, Hallikainen viscometers provide real-time, non-cyclable measurement using the continuous flow of the product itself, with no sampling required — eliminating the need for sample return systems and, importantly in sandy or dusty environments, avoiding pistons used to pressurise samples. This reduces maintenance overhead and points of failure across the installed base.
Vapour Pressure Analyser
Accurate measurements correlating with ASTM D323 or D1267 can be made on samples with viscosities up to 80 cP at the measurement temperature, and the 1354 is unique in that vapour pressure is directly and continuously measured in a bubble formed in an eductor jet — a distinct measurement principle worth noting when comparing analyser technologies.
For integrators managing multiple installations, the maintenance case is clear: unlike many competitors, the Hallikainen Vapour Pressure Analyser provides real-time, non-cyclable measurements of TVP and RVP, using the continuous flow of the product without the need for sampling, so no sample return systems are required. The measurement requires no moving parts and does not use pistons to pressurise samples, reducing maintenance costs — a meaningful advantage on hazardous-area installations where downtime and intervention carry real cost. The unit is ATEX-certified and manufactured in the UK under an ISO 9001:2015 quality system.
Colour & Opacity Monitors
As with ATAC’s process viscometers and vapour pressure analyser, the Hallikainen 7613 Colour Monitor and Hallikainen 7612 Opacity Monitor carry the same heritage that makes the Hallikainen name a trusted specification across refinery and petrochemical projects.
The Hallikainen 7613 is a completely automatic process stream colour analyser, with standard colour ranges including ASTM D1500-07, Saybolt ASTM D156 and ASTM D1209 (Hazen), plus custom ranges available. The Hallikainen 7612 is a completely automatic process stream opacity analyser, for measuring opacity caused by dirt and haze in a liquid stream, and both units can operate across a wide range of environmental conditions.
For systems integrators, installation and maintenance simplicity matter as much as measurement accuracy.
The Hallikainen 7612 is housed in a stainless steel cell capable of withstanding the high temperatures and pressures typical of industrial process streams, allowing direct in-line installation without bypass loops or complex sampling systems. Its fibre optic technology and differential light absorption technique deliver precision unaffected by the sample’s own opacity, while a rapid validation facility keeps operational checks quick and downtime low. The unit also operates as a single installation with no separate safe-area controller required, streamlining setup and saving plant space.
Both monitors are ATEX-certified for Zone 1 hazardous areas and rated to IP65, manufactured in the UK under an ISO 9001:2015 quality system.