Packed and Trayed Columns | Custom Fabrication

Roben, Mfg., Inc. specializes in the custom engineering and fabrication of packed and trayed columns for chemical, fine chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, defense, and power-generation industries. Every project is designed to ASME Section VIII Division 1 (with optional Division 2), is National Board registered, complies with the European Pressure Equipment Directive (PED 2014/68/EU) for CE marking, and is registered under the Canadian Registration Number (CRN) system for all Canadian provinces.

What Packed and Trayed Columns Are

Packed and trayed columns are vertical mass-transfer vessels in which the gas–liquid contact medium is either solid packing (random or structured) or horizontal trays (sieve, valve, or bubble cap). Packed columns provide high mass-transfer efficiency per unit height with low pressure drop; trayed columns are preferred for high liquid loads, fouling services, and large-diameter towers.

Why Packed and Trayed Columns Matter

Packed and trayed columns are critical to distillation, absorption, stripping, and scrubbing operations. The choice between packing and trays — or a hybrid — directly determines column height, energy consumption, turndown ratio, and product purity. Roben's engineering team helps clients select and configure the optimal internal arrangement for each service.

Packed and Trayed Columns — Specifications and Capabilities

Tray types: Sieve, valve, bubble cap, fixed valve

Packing types: Random (rings, saddles), structured (gauze, sheet metal)

Diameters: From 4 in. up to 470 in.

Height: Custom-engineered up to 1,250 in.

Weight capacity: Up to 150 tons

Materials: Stainless Steel (Austenitic, Duplex, Super Duplex, Ferritic), Nickel Alloys, Hastelloy, Inconel, Aluminum, Monel, Alloy 20, Clad combinations

Certifications and Codes

ASME Section VIII Division 1 — U-stamp

ASME Section VIII Division 2 — available on request

National Board registration — R-stamp

PED 2014/68/EU — CE marking with Notified Body coordination

CRN — registered for all Canadian provinces

NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156 — sour-service compliance

AWS D1.1 / ASME Section IX — qualified welding procedures and welders

Frequently Asked Questions About Packed and Trayed Columns

When should I use a packed column versus a trayed column?

Packed columns are best for vacuum service, heat-sensitive products, low pressure-drop requirements, and small-to-medium diameters. Trayed columns are preferred for high liquid loads, large diameters, fouling services, and where a wide turndown ratio is required.

What is the difference between random and structured packing?

Random packing (rings, saddles, Pall rings, Berl saddles) is dumped into the column and is suitable for most general services. Structured packing (gauze, sheet metal corrugated) is precision-engineered for higher efficiency, lower HETP, and is typical in vacuum distillation and high-purity applications.

What tray types does Roben Mfg. fabricate?

We fabricate sieve trays, valve trays (fixed and floating), bubble cap trays, and dual-flow trays. Tray selection depends on the service, fouling potential, turndown requirements, and pressure drop budget.

Can a column be both packed and trayed?

Yes. Hybrid columns are common — for example, a stripping section with packing for low pressure drop and a rectifying section with trays for high liquid load. Roben's engineers design the transition geometry, support rings, and distributors for hybrid configurations.

What certifications do Roben Mfg. packed and trayed columns carry?

All Roben columns are ASME VIII Div. 1 U-stamped, National Board registered, PED-compliant for European deployment, and CRN-registered for Canada.

Request a Quote on This Project

Contact Roben Mfg., Inc. to discuss your project specifications, timeline, and material requirements.

📞 (732) 364-6000 ✉ sales@robenmfg.com 📍 760 Vassar Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701

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Custom Packed and Trayed Column Fabrication