Engineering ingenuity with Carl Hamm and STÜWA

Boreholes are vital for deep soil water extraction. Much like everything else on your farm, taking care of your borehole will ensure that it takes care of you. That is why you need quality parts that are both effective and durable.

Carl Hamm PPS, supplier of specialised pumps and pipes for the agricultural and mining industries, together with their German partner and manufacturer, STÜWA, is geared to ensure your borehole is well managed and will continue to deliver pure water through superior equipment.

Two products specifically produce proven effective results:

The slotted bridge well screen

A well screen is a part of the casing at the bottom of a well or borehole that stabilises the structure of the hole while also preventing debris such as rocks and dirt from the surrounding borehole wall from entering the water supply system.

What makes this product effective is the shape of the holes in the screen. The holes appear to have bridge-like structures over them, ensuring that water can still pass through the holes, but preventing any rocks and sand from doing the same. The slotted bridge well screen is produced according to internal STÜWA standards.

“STÜWA bridge slotted screens and casings are at the cutting edge when it comes to stability and material quality,” says Chris Munnick, CEO of Carl Hamm PPS. By using a well screen, it stabilises the aquafer strata and helps water flow into the borehole at a consistent rate, therefore protecting the area around it.

Depending on wall thickness of each well screen, slot widths are approximately 0,5 mm or more. The wall itself can be up to a thickness of 12 mm. Screens are available in plastic and stainless steel, making them rust resistant and durable.

The ZSM riser connection

A wide range of connections are available, but the ultimate decision rests on the technical requirements of your borehole or well. Depending on the circumstances in which these connections will be used, the following factors need to be considered:

• tensile strength,

• collapse resistance,

• outer diameter, and

• installation guidelines

“What makes this coupling strong and unique is that, unlike a screw-in pipe, it doesn’t need to be exactly straight to prevent a leak, and it is connected in seconds,” Chris explains. “The fact that there are no screws that can damage the pipe is also a plus.”

A ZSM connection has a restraining pin that slides into the slot to form a perfect seal. This pin acts as a hook that holds the opposite part of the connection perfectly in place. Since there are no grooves, as with screw connections, the seal is tight and prevents sand from making its way into the thread. Furthermore, water cannot escape past this type of connection’s seal ring.

The ZSM connection is quick and easy to install and can handle a lot of pressure — up to 40 bar! The pipes can fit into wells of up to 300 m deep and 250 mm in diameter.

This slim, thin connection is the ideal choice for any project where there is little wiggle room. The couplings are made from stainless steel, meaning that they are durable and rust- need to replace tarnished connections because they last exceptionally long.

SICcasts combine silicone carbide and epoxy resin to make corrosion resistant, moulded parts.

German engineering that offers durability and longevity

Carl Hamm and STÜWA share a similar beginning. Both are family businesses that are currently being managed by the fourth generation of their respective families. Together they strive to deliver customers with products of proven efficacy and durability. All products are developed in-house in Germany and shipped straight from the factory.

Hard as a diamond

Carl Hamm PPS is a proud distributor of SICcast.

SICcast produces the complete range of MC pumps and coats parts affected by strong erosion, abrasion and/or corrosion in liquid media based on patented silicon carbide materials.

This is an artificially produced industrial material with a diamond-like hardness. Silicon carbide (SiC) is a special mixture of epoxy resin cast into precision moulds and formed under a vacuum.

It started with the casting of several pump parts for the MC series and afterwards for the MCC series of affiliated company DÜCHTING pumps.

The important key feature of the material is the simultaneous resistance against corrosion and abrasion.

Based on the hardness of silicon carbide (9,7 on the Mohs' scale and close to the hardness of diamond), and the high filling grade of the components, it has very good results in casting new pump parts and in coating worn spare parts. The benefits of the SICcast-technology are longer service lives and lower costs compared to new parts.

For more information on the products and services that Carl Hamm provides, contact Chris Munnick on +27(0)10-900-2005 or send an e-mail to chris@carl-hamm. co.za. Visit their website at www. carl-hamm.co.za

While typically used for hunting animals, thermal vision devices can benefit other areas, including wildlife protection. Schalk Kruger, the CEO of Ultranexus Pty Ltd, official Pulsar distributor in South Africa, says that many Pulsar devices are used to protect wildlife from poachers.

South Africa and Africa at large face the continuous issue of rhino and elephant poaching, driven by the hunt for their valuable tusks and horns for the illegal market. This illicit activity has pushed rhinos to the brink of extinction, presenting a significant challenge that requires the collective efforts of the government, law enforcement agencies, and anti-poaching units to combat.

Game reserves establish antipoaching units, equipped with a range of resources including dogs, helicopters, 4x4 vehicles, firearms, and other necessary equipment. These units play a crucial role in patrolling and safeguarding the game reserves, promptly responding to illegal incursions by poachers.

Previously, rangers conducting this admirable work often faced inadequate equipment. However, thanks to the rapid advancements in night vision technology, they now have the capability to operate effectively during nighttime. With thermal imaging devices like the exceptional products offered by Pulsar, rangers can identify poachers from distances of up to 2 000 me - tres, enhancing their ability to combat poaching activities at night.

With devices such as thermal imaging monoculars and binoculars, these anti-poaching units have experienced a significant increase in their ability to prevent poaching attempts. Setting ambushes and tracking poachers has become considerably easier, leading to a remarkable decline in poaching incidents at reserves equipped with thermal imaging. The crucial advantage of thermal imagers is their ability to provide the anti-poaching teams with an upper hand during nighttime operations, the preferred time for poaching activities.

The sales of Pulsar devices also undergo strict monitoring procedures. Prospective buyers are required to complete an end-user declaration, providing their address, ID number, intended use of the device, and the device's serial number. Any discrepancies or inaccuracies in the declaration lead to the denial of sale. In certain cases, individuals are subjected to criminal record checks.

Clientele primarily consists of game reserves, farmers, hunters, and security companies, enabling us to have a clear understanding of the end-user and their intended device usage. Thermal imaging devices are also prohibitively expensive, rendering them inaccessible to poachers who typically lack financial resources and proper equipment. Poachers usually rely on stolen hunting rifles equipped with basic iron sights, lacking the means to acquire advanced thermal imaging technology.

In addition to the efforts to keep thermal imaging devices out of the hands of poachers, the success and positive impact of these devices have resonated with their users. The Pulsar Helion and Axion lines, along with the Merger LRF XP50, have received widespread acclaim. Heartwarming feedback on the devices has been received recounting instances where they have been instrumental in safeguarding the lives of rangers, protecting them not only from poachers but also from the formidable threats posed by elephants, lions, and hippos.

Building on this success, Ultranexus Pty Ltd, actively collaborates with some of the largest private game reserves. Through engaging presentations, we showcase the remarkable efficacy of thermal vision. Ultranexus has also made substantial contributions to the conservation efforts in South Africa by donating a significant value of equipment to numerous game reserves across the country. These contributions aim to provide crucial support in the ongoing battle against poaching activities.