In 2007, Bill Wang walked through the doors of what was then an RCR Tomlinson workshop at UGL’s Bennetts Green site in New South Wales, a workshop known for its customised pressure equipment solutions across the oil, gas, and energy sectors. He was fresh out of Wollongong University with a master’s degree in engineering and a hunger to learn. Now leading innovative design solutions as a senior design engineer, Bill reflects on his journey and the projects that fuelled his growth.
It was Bill’s first job in Australia after moving from China, where he’d already earned a master's degree and worked as a design engineer. The pressure equipment workshop quickly became his classroom.
“I still remember walking into the workshop, everything was hands-on, and every day brought something new to learn,” shares Bill.
As the business evolved and was later acquired by UGL — so did Bill’s role. He went from focusing purely on pressure equipment design to handling structural support for power stations, chemical plant outages, and bespoke lifting gear for complex installs.
“Designing lifting gear to install heat exchangers was a real challenge,” explains Bill. “But that’s what I love about engineering. It’s never just the theory; it’s solving problems on the ground.”
Among the many projects Bill has tackled, one stands tall — quite literally.
A towering 56-metre carbon dioxide stripper needed reinforcement back in 2009. The internal structure was compromised, and its stability was threatened by high wind loads. It was a challenge most walked away from, but not Bill.
“The wind load was the issue. We had to think outside the box,” describes Bill. “That’s when I designed a steel band casing — like a cage — to wrap and reinforce the vessel. It was a big, urgent job, and one of my first major contributions.”
In 2022, more than a decade later, Bill returned to that same client, this time to design a methodology to replace the corroded top section, over 60 meters in the air.
“Working at that height is a serious risk,” says Bill. “I had to make sure everything was safely supported while being removed and replaced. It was about precision, planning, and teamwork.”
The project was delivered on time, on budget, and most importantly, safely, earning the client’s gratitude and reinforcing UGL’s reputation for innovative, dependable engineering solutions. In his role, Bill understands the importance of asking the right questions, challenging assumptions, and ensuring every project meets UGL’s high standards of quality, safety, and innovation.
Away from steel reinforcements, Bill finds peace in another passion — fishing.
“I really enjoy it and it's a big topic around here!” Laughs Bill. “Every Friday we’re all asking: Where’s the best fishing spot for the weekend?”
It’s that same mix of curiosity, calm, and camaraderie that defines Bill both in and out of work and makes him such a valuable part of UGL’s story.
