Pilgrim International

What Pilgrim International does

Pilgrim International Limited is a UK-based, privately-held engineering company (founded 1960, headquartered in Oldham, Lancashire) that designs, manufactures, and supports proprietary controlled bolting, hydraulic tensioning, and drive-up systems for heavy industrial applications. Its portfolio is anchored by Radial Fit Bolts (hydraulically installed taper-shank bolts that draw into matching sleeves to deliver an interference fit and enable reusable installation/removal without damage), the HYDROCAM® line of bolt tensioners (acquired June 2019), hydraulic locking nuts and PN Nuts rated for temperatures up to 450°C, the MorPress range of high-pressure hydraulic pumps (including the Mk 12), the CHAT coupling alignment tool, and supporting accessories such as tensioning kit boxes. The company reports over 60 years of experience and thousands of installations across power generation (nuclear, gas, coal, hydro), marine and shipbuilding (commercial, naval, dredgers, FPSOs), defense and naval (Royal Navy, US Navy, Canadian Coast Guard), and industrial/mining markets.

Pilgrim monetizes through one-time hardware sales (bolts, tensioners, pumps, nuts, accessories) supplemented by professional services covering engineering support, equipment refurbishment, on-site installation/inspection with 24-hour response, and the "Outage Ready" campaign for nuclear and power-sector outage cycles. Pricing is quote-based, engineered to customer specifications, and typically delivered under multi-year contracts; public price lists are not disclosed. The go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales targeting utilities, shipbuilders, and defense contractors with a global channel of distributors (BeNeLux 2021, Canada 2023, Japan/Daiken 2024) and OEM supply arrangements, where Pilgrim products are specified into new equipment from manufacturers such as Siemens (30+ year relationship), GE, Doosan, MAN Energy Solutions, Toshiba, and BAE Systems. Notable named customers include EDF Energy (Heysham nuclear), Evergreen Marine (100+ vessels), Framatome, Eskom, SBM Offshore, BHP Titanium Minerals, the Royal Navy (Astute class, Type 23 frigates), US Navy (Watson-class), Canadian Coast Guard, and PECO Energy. Pilgrim holds ISO 9001 certification (re-certified 2021) and registered trademarks across its product lines, manufacturing at a single UK facility while serving customers across 18+ countries.

Name

Pilgrim International

Legal name

Pilgrim International Limited

Website

https://pilgrim-international.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pilgrim International is a UK-based, privately-held engineering firm that designs and manufactures proprietary hydraulically installed controlled bolting, tensioning, and drive-up systems for power generation, marine, defense, and industrial customers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Controlled Bolting Systems

NAICS

Fluid Power Pump and Motor Manufacturing (333996)

SIC

Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561)

akta.pro primary industry

Propulsion Integration, Commissioning & Testing (Factory/sea trials, alignment) (IMAJAHAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Propellers & Waterjets (IMAJAHAE), Propulsion Drives, Gearboxes & Shaftlines (IMAJAHAD), Propulsion Cooling, Lubrication & Auxiliaries (Pumps, heat exchangers, filters) (IMAJAHAL)

Keywords

• Controlled bolting systems
• Hydraulic bolt tensioning
• Marine drive-up systems
• Industrial bolting solutions
• Turbine coupling bolts

Headquarters

HQ city

Oldham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Bolting Equipment Sales: Sale of proprietary bolting hardware including Radial Fit Bolts, Clamp Bolts, Morgrip Bolts, PN Nuts, and associated components. One-time hardware purchase model with standard and custom-designed products.
2. Tensioning Equipment Sales: Sale of HYDROCAM® bolt tensioners, tensioning kits, and multi-tensioner units. Includes bespoke designed tensioners for specific applications.
3. Hydraulic Power Equipment: Sale of MorPress hydraulic pump range including air-driven and hand pumps along with accessories, distribution blocks, hoses, and spare seal kits.
4. Technical Services: Technical support, inspection services, refurbishment of existing equipment, and training. Includes 'Outage Ready' campaign offering free inspections and refurbishment of customer bolt tensioning kits.
5. Legacy Product Support: Ongoing support for legacy products including replacement parts, refurbishment, and reverse engineering solutions for older Pilgrim equipment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pilgrim International designs, manufactures, and supplies high-integrity controlled bolting, hydraulic bolt tensioning, and hydraulic drive-up systems for industrial applications. Its core products — Radial Fit Bolts, HYDROCAM® Bolt Tensioners, Hydraulic Locking Nuts, Pilgrim Nuts, and MorPress hydraulic pumps — are engineered for turbine couplings, marine propellers, naval vessels, and heavy industrial equipment, and are complemented by technical support, inspection, refurbishment, and training services.

Product overview

Pilgrim International is a technology leader in controlled bolting, tensioning, and hydraulic drive-up systems with over sixty years of experience. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of mechanical/hydraulic products organized around core solutions: (1) Bolting products including Radial Fit Bolts, Morgrip Bolts, Clamp Bolts, and MorThrust Bolts for high-integrity coupling and flange connections; (2) HYDROCAM® Tensioners for controlled bolt tensioning; (3) Hydraulic Locking Nuts rated for high temperatures; (4) Pilgrim Nut (PN Nut) series for propeller and equipment drive-up applications; (5) MorPress Pump Range for hydraulic power; (6) CHAT Tool for coupling alignment; and (7) Technical Support Services including 24-hour response, equipment inspection, refurbishment, and the 'Outage Ready' campaign. These products serve industries including Power, Marine, Oil & Gas, Mining, Nuclear, and Defense, with applications ranging from turbine couplings and marine propellers to telescopes and dredgers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HYDROCAM: Bolt tensioning product range acquired by Pilgrim in June 2019.

Products and services

• Bolting / Radial Fit Bolts Hydraulically installed high integrity bolt range featuring taper shank bolts drawn into matching sleeves, providing true interference fit for easy installation and removal without damage. Used for couplings, shafts, and flange connections across power, marine, defense, and industrial sectors.
• HYDROCAM® Tensioners Bolt tensioning products for secured joint integrity, including HTA series multi-size tensioners used for homogeneous tightening of multiple bolts simultaneously. Acquired as a product line in June 2019 and now sold under Pilgrim ownership.
• Hydraulic Locking Nuts Hydraulically installed locking nuts designed for high-temperature applications up to 450°C, available in various sizes (M36 to M100) with collar locking features for gas turbines and power generation equipment.
• Drive-Up Systems Hydraulic drive-up systems for propelling components onto tapered shafts, primarily used for marine propeller and industrial equipment mounting applications.
• MorPress Pump Range High pressure hydraulic pumps including the Mk 12 MorPress pump and air-driven GHP series pumps for powering bolting and tensioning operations, including accessories such as distribution blocks, hoses, and spare seal kits.
• Bolt Tensioning Kit Box Organized protection case for bolt installation equipment including tensioning kits and accessories.
• Pilgrim Nut (PN Nut) Hydraulically operated nuts for driving propellers and equipment onto tapered shafts, available in various sizes including PN2, PN5, PN14, and PN15 for different applications including submarines, surface ships, and dredgers.
• Technical Support and Services Engineering support, on-site service within 24 hours, equipment inspection, refurbishment, calibration, and training services including the 'Outage Ready' campaign offering free inspections and refurbishment of customer bolt tensioning kits.

Quantifiable outcome

• Bolt installation reduced from hours/days to 10-15 minutes per bolt
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered regional, core and minor.

• Daiken (Japan Distributor)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2024New distributor partnership for Japan market announced June 2024, expanding Pilgrim's presence in the Asian Pacific region.
• Canadian DistributorregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2023Canadian distributor appointed September 2023 to serve the North American market with local support and distribution.
• BeNeLux DistributorregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 August 2021Distributor appointed for Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg region in August 2021.
• HARADAregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJapanese sales agent representing Pilgrim for marine and industrial applications, instrumental in securing Evergreen Marine and other Japanese shipyard contracts.
• IHC (Holland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing relationship with IHC of Holland for cutter dredger applications, including world's largest cutter suction dredger J.F.J. De Nul.
• SBM OffshorecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBM Offshore specified HYDROCAM® bolt tensioners as recommended by SKF for turret slewing bearings on FPSO vessels.
• Doosan Heavy IndustriescoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerDoosan specified Pilgrim Radial Fit Bolts for gas turbine coupling applications in their 270 MW DGT6-300H gas turbine units.
• GEcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerGE incorporates Pilgrim Hydraulic Nuts into their gas turbines, with standardized design covering M36 to M100 size range for high-temperature applications.
• SiemenscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLong-term OEM partnership spanning 30+ years. Siemens specifies Pilgrim Radial Fit Bolts across their power generation equipment including nuclear, gas, and steam turbines.
• MAN Energy SolutionscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerMAN ES specifies Pilgrim HYDROCAM® multi-tensioner units for diesel engine maintenance applications in marine and power generation.
• ToshibacoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerToshiba America Energy Systems specifies Pilgrim products in supplier agreements for power plant projects in the Americas.
• Babcock InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBabcock Devonport maintains long supply relationship supporting Royal Navy surface ships fleet with Pilgrim bolting and drive-up systems.
• TSP EngineeringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTSP Engineering supplies Pilgrim tensioner units for heavy engineering applications including continuous caster refurbishment at Port Talbot.
• BFW (Coupling Services)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBFW Coupling Services performs installation of Pilgrim products at power plants, recommended alongside Pilgrim products.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Nord-Lock Group: Nord-Lock manufactures bolt-securing solutions including wedge-locking washers and Superbolt mechanical tensioners that compete with Pilgrim's hydraulic drive-up and tensioning products in mission-critical joints.

Broad incumbents

• Atlas Copco Industrial Tools: Atlas Copco's broader industrial tools and assembly solutions business includes pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric bolting tools that compete with Pilgrim's MorPress hydraulic pumps and tensioning equipment across power, marine, and general industrial customers.
• Tentec (Atlas Copco): Tentec, now part of Atlas Copco's industrial tool division, supplies hydraulic and mechanical bolt tensioning equipment alongside a broad portfolio of industrial tools. Its tensioning line is a direct alternative to Pilgrim HYDROCAM, while Atlas Copco brings much broader scale.

Direct peers

• Hydratight: Hydratight is a leading global provider of controlled bolting, bolt tensioning, and on-site machining services to power, oil & gas, marine, and aerospace customers. It directly competes with Pilgrim's HYDROCAM tensioners and Radial Fit Bolt offerings.
• Enerpac: Enerpac manufactures high-pressure hydraulic tools, bolt tensioners, and torque equipment widely used in power generation, marine, and industrial maintenance. Its bolt tensioning portfolio competes head-on with Pilgrim's HYDROCAM and MorPress lines.
• Torc-Tech Ltd: Torc-Tech is a UK-based specialist in bolt tightening, hydraulic torque, and tensioning services for marine, oil & gas, and industrial customers. It competes with Pilgrim in controlled bolting services and hydraulic tooling.
• ITH Bolting Technology: ITH specializes in hydraulic bolt tensioning and controlled bolting solutions for wind energy, power, and industrial customers. It is a close functional competitor to Pilgrim's HYDROCAM multi-tensioner offerings.
• Boltight: Boltight provides hydraulic bolt tensioning tools and on-site controlled bolting services for power, oil & gas, and marine applications, directly overlapping with Pilgrim's tensioning and drive-up system business.
• Hiretech Engineering: Hiretech designs and manufactures hydraulic torque and tensioning tools, including subsea tensioners and bolt tensioning equipment for marine and offshore applications. Its product range overlaps with Pilgrim's hydraulic pumps and bolt tensioners.

Others

• SKF (Slewing Bearings and Bolted Joints): SKF is both a partner (recommending HYDROCAM tensioners for its slewing bearings on SBM Offshore FPSO turrets) and an indirect competitor in bolted-joint engineering for large bearings, putting it in an ecosystem-participant role relative to Pilgrim.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pilgrimlimited
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@pilgriminternationaloffici6763
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1381287

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pilgrim International