Fred Gardner B.Eng Member IMechE, Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer at Valero Energy Ltd., Pembroke Refinery, was installed as H.T.S. President for 2024.
Fred Gardener started his career at ICI Wilton Site gaining 20 years practical experience (including a 4-year apprenticeship), working on all aspects of equipment in the petrochemical industry. He then obtained a B.Eng in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Teesside.
After returning to ICI Wilton in the role of Mechanical Designer, Fred developed an interest in pressure vessel design and operation. When the opportunity arose, he transferred to the Vessel Design Group as a Vessel Designer. Then Fred moved to Wellman Graham Ltd in Gloucester as Principal Engineer, involved in the mechanical design of heat exchangers and later Foster Wheeler Energy Limited in Reading as Senior Heat Exchanger Engineer, later Principal Heat Exchanger Engineer.
During this time the Heat Exchanger & Vessel Departments merged and Fred became Principal Equipment Engineer. Fred then moved to Foster Wheeler Energy Limited in Teesside as Chief Equipment Engineer, leading and managing the Equipment Group. He maintained a hands-on approach involved in all aspects of mechanical design, specifying repair procedures & carrying out fitness for service evaluations for pressure equipment.
Fred then decided to move across to Valero Energy Ltd at Pembroke Refinery as Lead Mechanical Engineer, leading and managing a team of Fixed Equipment & Piping Engineers. After a re-organisation to align Pembroke Refinery based upon the Valero US model. He was assigned to the Reliability Department as a Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer, continuing to support the refinery as the sites subject matter expert for Fixed Equipment.
