Nico Industrial Services UK

What Nico Industrial Services UK does

Nico Industrial Services UK is the British subsidiary of the Italian-headquartered Nico Industrial Services s.r.l., a specialty industrial services contractor serving petroleum refineries and petrochemical plants across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Founded in Italy in 1977 by Dr. Giovanni Balistreri and originating from work with Esso and ExxonMobil, the group operates from its registered headquarters in Priolo Gargallo, Sicily, with a commercial division in Milan and the UK entity established in Southampton in 2015 to serve the UK market. The company is privately held and founder-controlled, with no external investors or holding company disclosed in the available data.

The company delivers four core service lines: (1) catalyst handling, including loading, unloading, screening, and Wet Dumping developed jointly with ExxonMobil; (2) industrial tank cleaning for crude oil storage tanks using proprietary systems (NicoTank closed-circuit process, NES-MOVER ATEX-certified desludging tool, and NICODRYER waste treatment) and the ORECO BLABO automated no-man-entry system; (3) chemical cleaning of process equipment, steam generators, and alkylation units including hydrofluoric acid handling; and (4) mechanical and plant maintenance works such as precision torquing, tensioning, and welding under nitrogen atmosphere. Revenue is generated on a project basis and through long-term general contracts with refinery engineering and maintenance departments, with a consultative field sales motion targeting enterprise accounts.

The group holds ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001 certifications from RINA and MOG 231 compliance, and its technician workforce is trained by Hytorc, HTL, and ORECO. Named enterprise customers include Esso Fawley, ExxonMobil, Linde, ISAB, Sarlux-SARA, Petrotel-Lukoil, Rominserv, PAZ, and A2A Energiefuture. The combined entity has disclosed projects spanning Italy, the UK, Romania, Israel, and Kuwait, with a research collaboration with the University of Catania supporting ongoing technology development.

Name

Nico Industrial Services UK

Legal name

Nico Industrial Services s.r.l.

Website

https://nicoindustrialservices.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Nico Industrial Services UK is the Southampton-based British subsidiary of Italian-headquartered Nico Industrial Services s.r.l., a privately held specialty contractor delivering catalyst handling, industrial tank cleaning, chemical cleaning, and mechanical maintenance services to petroleum refineries and petrochemical plants across Europe and the Middle East.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Cleaning and Maintenance Services for Refineries

NAICS

Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance (811310)

SIC

Specialty Cleaning, Polishing And Sanitation Preparations (2842)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial & Warehouse Cleaning (Degreasing, Machine/Plant Cleaning) (BPABABAG)

Keywords

• Industrial tank cleaning
• Catalyst handling services
• Refinery maintenance services
• Chemical cleaning services
• Mechanical plant maintenance

Headquarters

HQ city

Priolo Gargallo

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Catalyst Handling Services: Project-based professional services for catalyst loading, unloading, screening, and handling in refineries. Includes wet dumping services, reactor loading with sock and dense loading methods.
2. Industrial Tank Cleaning Services: Closed-circuit tank cleaning services using proprietary NicoTank technology. Recovery and treatment of hydrocarbons from sludge in crude oil storage tanks.
3. Chemical Cleaning Services: Chemical cleaning services for refineries including acid cleaning, alkaline cleaning, furnace cleaning, process equipment cleaning, and tank degassing.
4. Mechanical & Plant Maintenance Services: Mechanical works including elbow/dumping nozzle removal/reinstallation, internal repairs, modifications, and welding under nitrogen atmosphere. Bolt torquing and tensioning services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Nico Industrial Services UK provides on-site industrial cleaning and maintenance services to petroleum refineries and petrochemical plants. Core offerings include catalyst loading/unloading, industrial tank cleaning with hydrocarbon recovery, chemical cleaning of process equipment, and mechanical plant maintenance including bolt torquing and tensioning. Services are delivered by specialized technicians using proprietary systems (NicoTank, NES-MOVER, NICODRYER) and third-party automated technology (ORECO BLABO).

Product overview

Nico Industrial Services is an industrial services company offering a portfolio of specialized services for the petrochemical and refinery industry. The core offerings include: (1) Catalyst Handling Services using proprietary Flow Bins and Wet Dumping techniques developed with ExxonMobil; (2) Industrial Tank Cleaning using the proprietary NicoTank closed-circuit system complemented by the ORECO BLABO automated system; (3) Chemical Cleaning Services for steam generators, furnaces, and process equipment; (4) Mechanical and Plant Maintenance including bolting, torquing, and welding services. Supporting technologies include the NES-MOVER automated desludging system and NICODRYER waste treatment system. All services are delivered by technicians trained by certified professional bodies (Hytorc, HTL, ORECO) and backed by ISO quality, environmental, and safety certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NicoTank: Innovative tank cleaning process for cleaning crude oil storage tanks through an automatic process suitable for cleaning all types of tanks and for the recovery of hydrocarbons.
• NICODRYER
• NES-MOVER

Products and services

• Catalyst Handling Services Catalyst handling activities including loading, unloading, screening, and reactor loading using sock and dense loading methods for petrochemical refineries. Includes Wet Dumping capabilities developed jointly with ExxonMobil. Targeted at refinery turnaround and maintenance operations.
• Industrial Tank Cleaning Services Cleaning of crude oil storage tanks (fixed roof and floating roof) through automatic closed-circuit processes with hydrocarbon recovery using jet washers, three-phase and two-phase centrifugation, and the NICODRYER system. Includes the NES-MOVER purpose-built desludging tool and ORECO BLABO automated no-man-entry system.
• Chemical Cleaning Services Specialized chemical cleaning for refineries including acid and alkaline cleaning of steam generators, furnace cleaning, process equipment cleaning, tank degassing, and alkylation plant cleaning with hydrofluoric acid handling capabilities. Delivered by highly specialized technicians with full logistical autonomy.
• Mechanical and Plant Maintenance Services Mechanical works including elbow and dumping nozzle removal and reinstallation, internal repairs, modifications, and welding under nitrogen atmosphere. Operators are trained and qualified by Hytorc and HTL for industrial sealing applications.
• Mechanical Bolting Services Bolt torquing and bolt tensioning services using hydraulic tools for industrial sealing applications, with operators trained and qualified by Hytorc and HTL (Hire Torque Limited).

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% hydrocarbon recovery from tank sludge
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Catania - Department of Industrial EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with University of Catania for developing tank cleaning technology and new trials. Research partnership focused on improving NicoTank process with last-generation technologies and equipment.
• HytorcminorOthersHytorc provides training and qualification for technicians in bolt torquing and tensioning techniques. Technicians are trained and qualified by approved professional bodies.
• HTL (Hire Torque Limited)minorOthersHTL provides training and qualification for technicians in bolt torquing and tensioning techniques. Training courses exceed all industry standards.
• ORECOcoreTechnology or IntegrationORECO provides BLABO automated tank cleaning technology. BLABO is an automated no-man-entry system and cutting-edge technology for large storage tanks. Nico uses this technology as part of its tank cleaning service offering.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bilfinger: European industrial services provider serving process industries including refineries and petrochemical plants with maintenance, catalyst handling, and cleaning services. Closest European-headquartered scaled peer to Nico's service portfolio.
• Clean Harbors: Leading North American provider of industrial cleaning, chemical cleaning, and environmental services to refineries and petrochemical plants. Overlaps directly with Nico's tank cleaning, chemical cleaning, and hazardous waste handling offerings, though at materially larger scale.
• ORECO: Provider of automated no-man-entry tank cleaning technology (BLABO) used by Nico. Directly comparable as a tank cleaning technology and service provider even though also a partner relationship.
• Brand Industrial Services (BrandSafway): Global industrial services company providing maintenance, scaffolding, and specialty services to refineries and process plants. Comparable in plant maintenance and turnaround work to Nico's mechanical services.
• Mistras Group: Provider of integrated asset protection and industrial services to the petrochemical and refining industry, including mechanical services and inspection. Comparable in mechanical plant maintenance scope.
• Team Inc. Provider of specialty industrial services including mechanical services, inspection, and cleaning for the refinery and petrochemical sectors. Directly comparable in mechanical plant maintenance and turnaround services to Nico.
• CR3 Group: Catalyst handling and reactor services provider for refineries and petrochemical plants. Directly comparable to Nico's catalyst handling services line and a direct competitor in the same niche.
• HydroChemPSC: Specialty industrial cleaning and chemical cleaning services company for refineries and petrochemical plants (now part of Clean Harbors). Closely comparable service lines to Nico's chemical cleaning and tank cleaning.

Broad incumbents

• Veolia: Global environmental services and industrial solutions provider with refinery and petrochemical waste treatment, cleaning, and recovery capabilities. Overlaps with Nico's hydrocarbon recovery and hazardous waste services, but as part of a much broader portfolio.

Regional players

• Dalkia: European industrial services company providing energy and process services to industrial customers including refineries. Operates primarily in France and adjacent European markets, comparable in industrial services to refineries.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nico-industrial-services-uk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Nico Industrial Services UK