Plasma Cutting in the Shipbuilding and Oil & Gas Industries

The shipbuilding and oil & gas industries are heavy-duty sectors that require high-precision metal fabrication, high productivity, and reliable operation in harsh environments. Steel cutting accounts for a significant portion of fabrication processes—ranging from hull and deck plate cutting to structural bulkheads, pipelines, storage tanks, and offshore platforms.

Metal processing in these industries demands not only the ability to cut thick materials (typically 10 mm to 100 mm steel plates) but also requires equipment capable of cutting through paint, rust, or surface contamination—and doing so efficiently and reliably on-site. This is why modern plasma cutting, especially from Hypertherm, has become the preferred solution for shipyards and offshore contractors around the world.

Industry-Specific Cutting Requirements

• Thick and extra-thick steel cutting: Ship and offshore structures use heavy-duty steel plates that require high-power plasma sources with deep cutting capabilities.

• Long and continuous cuts: Required for large assemblies; consistent quality and minimized dimensional deviation are critical.

• On-site and overhead operations: Equipment must be lightweight, portable, and resistant to marine weather conditions.

• Repair and retrofit cutting: Machines must support gouging (beveling) functions to remove old welds and prepare joints for re-welding.

Hypertherm – The Complete Cutting Solution for Shipbuilding and Oil & Gas

With proven durability, high cutting capacity, and reliable performance in demanding environments, Hypertherm plasma cutting systems are trusted by shipyards, offshore contractors, and oil & gas equipment manufacturers worldwide.

By choosing plasma, you can mitigate expenses incurred by labor costs, waste, time, and safety risks.

• Safety: Minimize risks such as tripping hazards, secondary grinding, and combustible gases to keep your crew healthy and productive, while increasing profitability.
• Material handling: Eliminate bottlenecks and reduce the cost of material handling processes in both lost time and safety risks.
• Workpiece distortion: Avoid heat-induced warping or buckling, as well as making necessary corrections faster, safer, and easier to maximize operational value.
• Secondary operations: Minimize the need for secondary grinding and finishing operations after cutting to reduce risk and make the most of your time and your workforce.
• Skilled labor: Get ahead of the skilled labor shortage by shrinking the learning curve for newer employees.

Handheld Plasma Cutting – Flexible On-Site Operations

Hypertherm’s handheld plasma cutters—such as the Powermax45 XP, Powermax65 SYNC, and Powermax85 SYNC—are purpose-built to meet the demanding requirements of field fabrication, installation, and repair. These conditions often involve unstable work environments, restricted access, and suboptimal material surfaces.

Thanks to their fast cutting speeds, clean cuts, and high stability on thick materials, these machines allow technicians to work directly on ship hulls, pipelines, decks, steel floors, and pre-assembled structures, without the need to disassemble or transport materials to a shop.

One of the most valuable advantages of Hypertherm handheld plasma cutters is their ability to cut through poor surface conditions—including paint, rust, grease, and dirt—which are extremely common in marine and offshore environments. This minimizes or eliminates surface preparation, helping save time, reduce labor, and increase real-world productivity.

In addition, these machines feature a compact, portable design, fast startup time, and minimal dependence on industrial power sources—making them ideal for field crews, shipbuilding technicians, and offshore maintenance teams who need mobility, flexibility, and cutting performance in one system.