KZN Industrial & Business News - Issue 86

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KZN company masters machine to machine speak

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ith the advent of the industrial internet, there is likely to be more information exchanged machine to machine than there will be from human to human and although most industry overseas has embraced this idea, those South African companies that are prepared to take on the challenge are facing obstacles when it comes to selecting the correct software and getting it to ‘fit’ the specific needs and functions of their organization. On top of this, they are spending huge amounts of money flying in overseas consultants to help them make this ‘tight fit’ work, resulting in frustration.

The good news is that there is another cheaper, more versatile and most importantly, locally designed programme which is proving to be hugely successful across a number of industries in the country.

Live Monitoring, which is a Pinetown-based software company, headed up by Director, Tony Kay, and CEO, Roger Fraser, have spent the last seven years working on and perfecting a range of specialized software efficiency and emissions monitoring solutions for the manufacturing, mining and retail sector.

The company currently offers three different software options, namely liveMon – a versatile asset

monitoring platform, produMax, - an efficiency monitoring programme and greenMon - an environmental monitoring platform.

LiveMon is an internet protocol based asset monitoring platform that is extremely versatile and can be used across many applications. It offers flexibility and the fact that it can monitor and alert across such a broad platform of communication protocols and hardware applications, is what makes it a first choice when looking for cost effective flexible solutions.

ProduMax is a manufacturing execution system that provides real time visual production information via a unified single view.

It provides a settings and resolution knowledge base to keep track of issues as well as being equipped with a basic planning function to see machine loading. It is a Visual Performance Management system that allows for easy communication of production status and issues within an organization.

ProduMax saves time and money by effectively collaborating data that would have taken many man hours to collect manually and - live - as it happens - error reporting allows quick corrective actions.

In an actual case study of

ProduMax in action, a client had been battling for a number of years to improve their productivity from around 56% and in trying to do so has battled with overseas recommended programmes. As a final resort the company decided to utilize the local product and has found that over the past 15 months, productivity has risen by 52% on past productivity levels and is still rising. This they credit to the hands on approach and

versatility of the programme which was structured in such a way as to work around the company and its methods, rather than the other way around.

Finally, GreenMon is an extensive environmental monitoring platform which enables a company to monitor carbon and waste output against the norm – thus allowing for any adjustments needed.

Live Monitoring views its operation as offering solutions that put meaningful and timely information at the disposal of customers in a form and content currently not available from competitors. A customer and service oriented approach to business is more often talked about than achieved.

At Live Monitoring, customer satisfaction is extremely important and the company views the ability to take care of customers and to offer flexible and cost effective solutions as a competitive advantage.

“Produmax has proven to be an invaluable tool to manage the performance of the factory. We initially managed to reduce mould change times and downtime, now we are reducing cycle times by setting faster targets for our setters to achieve better running efficiencies.”

Enquiry No: 1

Marketing Dept 

Issue no. 86

Inside KZN company selected for groundbreaking energy project - page 3 Automation & Robotics - page 7

Petrochemicals - page 9

Metals, Alloys, Fabrication & Machine Tools - page 16 Water & Effluent Management - page 21

TNPA awards contract for SA’s largest dredging vessel

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ransnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) recently announced that IHC Merwede has been awarded a contract for the design, construction and delivery of a 5,500m3 trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD).

IHC Merwede, a global marine company based in the Netherlands was selected after an open and competitive tender process to supply the new trailing suction hopper dredger by 2015. It will be the largest dredging

vessel of its kind operating in South Africa.

“This new dredger is of critical importance to TNPA as it enables us to have sufficient capacity to reliably maintain the dredging of all our ports, which is approximately 4.2 million m³ of material annually. It will also provide spare dredging capacity to assist sub-Saharan ports in terms of our Africa Strategy,” said Tau Morwe, TNPA Chief Executive. continued on page two

Transport, Distribution & Warehousing page 25 Company & Product News - page 30

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2 Largest dredging vessel contract awarded

continued from page one

The new dredging vessel will join TNPA’s existing fleet of IHC Merwedebuilt dredgers, which include the 4,200m3 Isandlwana (ordered in 2008) and the grab hopper dredger Italeni (ordered in 2013). The Italeni is on schedule to be delivered in midJuly 2014.

As part of its contract with TNPA, IHC Merwede will execute a social development plan in order to help improve local industry in South Africa, to the value of 25% of the contract value. This initiative will feature the appropriate transfer of some of the company’s advanced technology and knowledge base to aid the development of the workforce’s skills within Enquiry No: 2 the region.

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KZN Industrial & Business News

outh Africa’s economy is projected to steadily grow with 2.7% in 2014 and 3.2% 2015, and according to Kobus Engelbrecht, spokesperson for the Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year competition, this growth will result in many opportunities for local entrepreneurs. As SA’s economy grows, so will the amount of business opportunities available for entrepreneurs to take advantage of.

“South Africa currently offers many new and exciting opportunities for entrepreneurs, but to capitalise on these opportunities, the country’s entrepreneurial spirit needs to be both promoted and encouraged .”

The recently released Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2013 Global report, which measures the levels of entrepreneurial activity between economies, revealed that in the Sub-Saharan African (SSA) region an average of 69% of all respondents believe that there are opportunities available to start a business, 47% have intentions to start a business and 74% are confident in their own skills to start a business.

These figures are extremely encouraging for

Entrepreneurship attractive but SA hesitant the growth of an entrepreneurship culture in the region, yet South Africa achieved levels below average in these categories.

When taking a closer look at the attitudes and perceptions of South Africa, the report reveals that despite slight increases from 2012, perceptions of entrepreneurship in South Africa remained rather low.

“The 2013 report reveals that only 37.9% (up from 35% in 2012) of respondents believe that there are opportunities to start a business in the country, and 42.7% (up from 39% in 2012)

Fixed and adjustable CIRCUIT BREAKERS as well as a wide range of CONTACTORS to suit every application.

believe that they possess the perceived capabilities to open and run a business. These figures highlight the need for a culture of entrepreneurship to be fostered as opportunities abound and many individuals possess entrepreneurial characteristics. Awareness around how to capture these opportunities and how to develop these skills just need to be created.”

The report also revealed that SSA had the highest average of Total early stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA), which refers to those individuals in the process of starting a business and those running new businesses less than 3.5 years old, when compared to the other global regions.

“While SSA reported an average of 26.6%, South Africa’s TEA is only 10.6%, and the lowest in the SSA region.”

South Africa’s established business ownership rate is only 2.9%, which ranks the country last in the SSA region. When comparing South Africa to Brazil, the country reported an average of 17.3% and 15.4% for TEA and established business ownership rate respectively.”

While TEA contributes to dynamism and innovation in an economy, established businesses are an important source of stable employment for the economy. Engelbrecht says South Africa’s low business ownership rate is concerning.

“These figures need to remain balanced as while it is important that entrepreneurship is promoted, it is also key to support business growth in order to ensure that SMEs survive the first three year of existence, which are the most risky.”

“Government has acknowledged that small businesses play a pivotal role in job creation and economic growth, and in order to grow both these numbers, investment into small business must be provided. As a result training development initiatives offered by Government, such as Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda), have been put in place to assist with the development of entrepreneurs and therefore minimise risk.”

He says that the culture of entrepreneurship in the country is growing slowly and it is starting to be viewed as a legitimate career option. “The 2013 report highlighted that 74% of respondents in South Africa, believe that entrepreneurship is a good career choice.

“While many respondents regard entrepreneurship in a positive light, this doesn’t always translate into individuals actually starting a business.

Enquiry No: 3

P O Box 1322 Wandsbeck 3631 Tel: (031) 266 7511 Fax: (031) 266 7514 Email: editorial@mediaevents.co.za www.mediaevents.co.za Managing Director: Janet Coom Editor: Jacqui Harris Email: editorial@mediaevents.co.za Sales & Marketing Manager: Cheryl Murphy Email: cheryl@mediaevents.co.za Any news items, press releases, articles and photographs relating to business and industry in KwaZulu-Natal are welcome. All contributions will be considered for publication.

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KZN company selected for groundbreaking energy project F unding provided by the Energy and Environment Project, South Africa and East Africa (EEP), has given Pietermaritzburg-based renewable energy solutions provider, Renen, an opportunity to undertake a ground-breaking feasibility study and EPC for a 1 MW waste-toenergy project, in Namibia.

The outcomes of the study have the potential to make a significant impact on Namibia and Southern Africa, bringing new opportunities and exciting growth paths.

GreenDesert1 is a waste-to-energy investment project that involves the installation of anaerobic bio digesters and associated technologies.

The project provides an opportunity to make use of the constant waste stream generated by agriculture and other organic waste streams.

“Partnerships and innovation are the keys to the success of Renen,” says Warren Confait, Renen’s founder and Managing Director. “Our main aim is to add value to the lives of citizens by offering a broad range of alternative energy products and solutions that are considerate of the world in which we live.”

“Namibia is largely dependent on electricity generated by South Africa’s Eskom and as such is exposed to potentially harsh future electricity price increases and supply security,” Confait says. “This fact alone makes the search for alternative power sources vital for the sustainability of their economy.”

Namibia have a vested interest in the success of the project as it potentially offers a method of mitigating GHG emissions (to meet their

goals stipulated under the Kyoto Protocol), reducing dependence on Eskom’s electrical supply, creating jobs, developing skills and providing a project which could be replicated in other areas of the country.

Intensive farming methods are experiencing substantial growth in southern Africa and as a result the need for optimal utilisation of farming waste has resulted in an emerging interest in waste to energy projects.

To date, few such projects have been implemented.

The proposed stakeholder model is considerate of the different skill sets required between Namibian agriculture on the one hand and power producers on the other,” Confait continues. “It has the potential to be adapted for many other waste sources, providing a solution

for clean energy generation and efficient GHG-mitigating waste management.”

As a result of this product, the supplier of waste can also be the power and heat energy user, thus benefiting from long-term energy cost savings.

Confait says, “although no similar projects have been implemented in Namibia, and few have been initiated in Southern Africa, a great number have been successfully installed and managed in Europe and North America.”

“The success of these projects, associated with a direct link to knowledgeable individuals and organisations in the relevant countries, provides a strong empirical base from which this project can be implemented and potentially replicated in the future.”

With South Africa’s largest rooftop Grid-Tied PV power plant of 1MW under their belts Renen are now hoping to role out 3 to 8 MW during 2014.

Enquiry No: 4

Maydon Wharf reconstruction of quay walls gets the green light

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R760 million contract to reconstruct the sheetpile quay walls at Maydon Wharf, awarded to the joint venture consortium of Stefanutti Stocks and Axsys, was signed recently

by Transnet Capital Projects, (on behalf of Transnet National Ports Authority) and the consortium.

The reconstruction and deepening of berths 1 to 4 and 13 and 14 which starts in May 2014 marks the second phase of the project.

Completion of the reconstruction is scheduled for December 2016. The project began in July 2011 with the

reconstruction of berth 12 which ended in November 2012.

The need for the reconstruction of the berths was highlighted in a 2007 feasibility study which concluded that the quay walls had deteriorated and that the 60-year old steel sheet pile quays were failing, said Charl Moller, Group Executive Transnet Capital Projects.

A further detailed investigation by engineering experts established that adhoc repairs on the weakened quay walls could not guarantee their structural integrity as they were severely damaged. As a result

and in order to sustain operations, the quay walls had to be replaced.

It is planned that at any one time during the reconstruction of the quay walls only four berths at a time will be out of commission. To further reduce any anticipated congestion during reconstruction the new berth 12 and berth four currently used as layby and bunker berths will be made available, said Tau Morwe, TNPA Chief Executive.

“In essence TNPA is offering five berths for use as commercial berths in exchange for the four undergoing maintenance,” said Morwe.

The new quay walls and deepened berths will cater for fixed quayside loading and unloading equipment. They will also ensure flexibility to accommodate future changes in various types of cargo handled in the precinct including containers.

Amongst other things the proposed scope of work comprises the demolition of paving, rail track work and services, construction of a new steel sheet piled quay walls, demolition of concrete plinths and foundations, dismantling and reconstruction of conveyer belt structures Enquiry No: 5 and foundations.

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KZN Industrial & Business News

Growing demand for services in municipal sector but funding remains a challenge

onsiderable progress has been made in the municipal sector over the past decade in terms of the rollout of basic services, with key measures of service delivery and living standards having improved across all of South Africa’s geographies particularly in larger urban areas.

This is according to Eyal Shevel (pictured), Head of Corporate and Local Authority Ratings at Global Credit Ratings (GCR), who says that in some ways, this success has fuelled the recent spate of service delivery protests.

“Ongoing urbanisation has seen growing

indigent populations migrating to major city centres, driving the demand for basic services.

This has placed increasing pressure on ageing infrastructure assets (requiring upgrade, rehabilitation or replacement).”

Despite the general improvement, Shevel says local authorities have not utilised resources in an efficient manner. “The level of fruitless and wasteful expenditure, though declining, remains unacceptably high, and employees often lack the skills to implement large and complex projects.”

As such, he says the infrastructure backlogs remain significant.

“While this is true across the country, performance by smaller municipalities in terms of operational efficiencies and infrastructure developments has been worse, as they are more acutely affected by funding constraints and the lack of skilled personal.”

Shevel says what is further compounding this situation is the sluggish economic growth over the past two years. “Unemployment levels remain high and even within the employed sector of the economy, an increased level of financial distress is being reported.”

Whilst the social welfare grants are distributed by national government, Shevel says most

of the burden of providing everyday services such as water, sewerage and electricity to indigent populations falls on the municipalities.

“The national government does provide grants to cover much of this expenditure, but municipalities also need to rely on internally generated revenue through the provision of services.”

Shevel says municipalities have become increasingly pro-active in respect of their debtors’ administration, but affordability issues are likely to affect both the debtors’ performance and the demand for indigent services. “Having improved in the three years to FYE2012, debtors performance has begun to deteriorate for local authorities as a whole, with substantial provisions having to be made for non-collection.”

“With fiscal indebtedness now approaching the levels last seen in the mid-1990s, capacity of government for further borrowing is constrained and could limit capital grant funding to municipalities beyond the medium term (to which central government is already committed),” explains Shevel.

Accordingly, Shevel says municipalities are increasingly expected to be self-sustaining in terms of servicing other residents and the

rollout of new income generating fixed assets/ infrastructure.

“Municipalities are also being forced to seek alternative sources of funding and borrow off their own balance sheets. The diversity of funding available to them has been bolstered by strong appetite from capital markets investors for different fixed income instruments, as well as from commercial banks seeking to lend to lower risk clients.”

“To date bond issuances have only been undertaken by four metros, but at least two more Metros are looking to inaugural bond issuances during 2014,” explains Shevel.

Apart from the other benefits, Shevel says accessing bank or capital market funding, has exposed municipalities to the more rigorous reporting standards required in the private sector.

“There has been vast improvement in terms of municipal reporting, and transparency, which in turn has bolstered the financial strength and sustainability of the municipalities.

“Nevertheless, there is a clear trend of improving service delivery from the municipal sector, if somewhat slower than can be achieved. This is very much in line with central governments mandate to create a self-sustaining municipal sector that is increasingly corporatized and efficiently operated,” concludes Enquiry No: 6 Shevel.

New African flagship station opens in Durban

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HL Express has seen significant trade growth in the Kwazulu-Natal region over the last five years, resulting in the company further investing in the area and opening a new Durban Station facility – a fixed base for receiving, sorting, re-weighing and transporting of parcels to their intended destinations.

Norman George, DHL Express Director of Operations for Southern Africa, said that this trade growth has resulted in the volume of parcels outgrowing the capabilities of the previous station located in Berea and that the establishment of this Station was a positive sign for the region and highlights the potential for trade in Durban.

According to Trade & Investment KwaZuluNatal, the province is home to two of Africa’s busiest and largest ports, Durban and Richards Bay, as well as King Shaka International Airport, thereby providing a key competitive advantage for the area. The region also boasts one of the highest export propensity and level

of industrialisation in the country.

George adds that Durban is a popular document shipping area due to the harbours in the area, as well as a large import express region.

“Durban harbour is the biggest harbour in Africa and we therefore receive a significant amount of documents from various shipping companies for the processing of the containers coming into Durban. We are however seeing an increase in parcel business as the industry develops and we expect an upward trend in both document and parcel business in the future. We have therefore invested in this world class infrastructure to provide great service to our customers at every stage of the industry growth curve.”

George says that the new Station, located in Riverhorse Valley, is fully automated and makes use of a drive-in model, thereby maximising productivity and increasing the volume of parcels processed daily to ensure faster delivery of shipments to customers.

“The new Station’s capacity will enable DHL to increase the amount of packages that were previously processed per hour. The new system is equipped to handle a double digit increase in parcels processed per hour, and will allow further growth of up to triple digits if required.”

The new Station’s location will ensure that the facility remains in the business hub in Durban. “Many businesses are choosing to locate closer to the area surrounding the new King Shaka International Airport, and we wanted to ensure that we were well positioned to meet the increasing needs and demands of our clients,” says George.

The new Durban Station will also become DHL’s flagship station in Africa, and a number of stations in Sub-Saharan Africa will be modelled on the station going forward.

Enquiry No: 7

Tel: +27 (11) 826 6111 Fax: +27 (11) 826 6162 Website: www.uniqueeng.com Email: sales@uniqueeng.co.za

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Consulting Engineers – not a commodity but trusted advisor

onsulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) President Abe Thela (pictured) says that consulting engineers are neither a commodity nor are they contractors.

Consulting engineers provide independent advice to clients, offer technical advice in the procurement of contractors as well as design and supervision of construction work. “This role can only be played by a ‘trusted advisor’”.

Engineering and construction work is a provision of a combination of goods and services arranged for

the development and provision of an asset or refurbishment of an existing asset, including building and engineering infrastructure.

Consulting engineers are designers who create infrastructure projects that generate employment opportunities for millions of unskilled, semiskilled and skilled workers improving the quality of life of citizens.

This impacts positively on inequity and contributes to economic growth,

stimulates the development of other economic sectors and attracts foreign investment,” he said during the Gauteng Presidential visit.

He stressed that price is not an appropriate basis for competing for consulting engineering services because it reduces the profession to a commodity which is demand driven and compromises the ability of the profession to innovate, train staff and attract young engineers to the profession.

“The price driven procurement of consulting engineering services commodify consulting engineering services and relegates the relation-

ship from that of “Trusted Advisor” status to “contracting”.

“This encourages business survival strategies associated with contracting such as variation orders for any additional work not part of the original appointment - which threatens the sustainability of the sector and has a negative impact in terms of the provision of infrastructure. The current procurement environment is complex and politically sensitive and must be treated with due care, and urgency it so much deserves, cautioned Thela.

CESA proposes the reintroduction of quality as part of the total

Traffic congestion choking SA business

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alking earlier this month at the opening of the SA National Roads Agency’s (SANRAL) Central Operations Centre, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe named an inadequate road system as a key constraint to economic growth. ompanies grapple with this shortcoming on a daily basis, with transport being a critical component of numerous industries.

Businesses involved in logistics and transportation will be well aware of the financial losses caused by the roads on which their fleets travel.

According to the SA National Planning Commission, a total of 20 percent of our paved road network is currently classified as being in a “poor” or “very poor” condition.

Add to this the fact that every year more and more vehicles – both private, commercial and freight – are placing increasing pressure on our roads.

Naturally South Africa’s economic

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hubs, experience the greatest volume growth.

Yet despite growth in allocations to provincial authorities, the road network continues to deteriorate.

Mike van Wyngaardt, Executive for Tracker Business says, “The logistics costs of ineffective roads to business are far-reaching. Fleet managers are faced with higher vehicle maintenance and repairs, possibly damage to cargo, greater fuel consumption and delays.

“Poor roads and resulting traffic congestion pose additional challenges to fleet owners so the only way to limit losses is to use intelligent GPS routing.”

Companies that use fleet management solutions are gaining a significant competitive advantage over those that aren’t, according to van Wyngaardt.

“Traffic congestion impacts the entire supply chain by causing delays, wasting fuel and ultimately adding to the cost of every product that a consumer

purchases at their supermarket,” he says.

Tracker Business, powered by TomTom, literally removes the inefficiencies associated with road transport by combining the world’s most accurate traffic information with dynamic route guidance technology.

Rather than simply informing the driver of the current traffic situation Tracker Business powered by TomTom through its HD Traffic capability will actively guide the driver along the least congested route, taking into account toll roads, road closures and any other issues that may cause delays and excessive idling.

Through it’s relationship with TomTom, Tracker Business provides high definition traffic information that is regarded as the most accurate in the world, covering more road kilometres on both secondary and main roads.

Enquiry No: 9

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procurement point’s calculation alongside price and Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment – Construction Industry Development Board Method 4 for routine projects as well as the separation of procurement of Built Environment Professional (BEPs) from the procurement of general goods and services.

He added that CESA also proposes that BEPs’ services are designated as local because it will encourage the use of local companies over international companies without a presence in South Africa.

Enquiry No: 8

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KZN Industrial & Business News

Govt fails to take action T he SA Paint Manufacturing Association (SAPMA) has lodged its strongest objection to the government’s continuous condemnation of the paint industry for producing leaded paints while still neglecting the governmental prosecution of offenders SAPMA has been pleading for.

Addressing a Department of Labour Health Accord in Pretoria recently, Deryck Spence, executive director of SAPMA, said: “The paint industry will continue to follow its Code of Conduct but we want – no, we demand - cooperation from the government to assist us in enforcing the existing legislation against offenders.

“We object to constantly being vilified for producing leaded paint and reading in the press that our industry is causing ‘poison to drip from walls’ – without the government keeping its promises to prosecute offenders.”

Spence repeated his plea to government to ‘name and shame’ offenders, and take legal action against any party – whether a SAPMA member or not – who makes or sells paint with illegally high leaded content.

‘SAPMA can coordinate our members – who represent a sizable pro-

portion of the paint industry – but we cannot eliminate the use of lead in the industry without the assistance and cooperation of the appropriate government departments.

We again confirm that we are committed to continue to endorse the Safety Accord that we willingly signed recently, but the responsibility of the government has to be fulfilled in making sure that the legislation – in this case, the Hazardous Substance Act – be monitored and implemented to the point of naming and prosecuting offenders, even if its means the prosecution of SAPMA members.

That is the only way we are going to succeed in eliminating lead in paint.

“There is no sense in the government conducting dozens of tests and investigating numerous cases of breaches of the Act unless the offenders are not only identified but also prosecuted,” Spence told the meeting.

He said SAPMA had also asked the government to conduct an investigation into the supply and use of methanol in products sold to the public.

“The commonly used DIY product, lacquer thinners, sometimes contains

up to 32% methanol which is poison that can lead to death if unwittingly consumed by a child.

The use of methanol in thinners is favoured because it is cheaper than safer alternatives. Yet again, in this instance also, there has been absolutely no action from the government.”

Spence said SAPMA was now well and truly tired of promises of action by government which fail to materialise while governmental accusations against the paint industry continue relentlessly.

The meeting subsequently decided that the Department of Labour would arrange a special meeting to strategise a way forward.

The Council of SA Trade Unions, represented at the meeting by its Policy Coordinator Occupational: Health Safety and the Environment, Jacqueline Bodibe, requested that COSATU be included in this proposed meeting.

Enquiry No: 10

KNOCK THE ‘BAD’ OUT OF BAD DEBT!

Whistle blowers reports an increase in calls

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outh African based international whistle blowing service provider, Whistle Blowers, is bucking trends – while crime surveys indicate a general decrease in the use of external hot lines, the average number of calls received by Whistle Blowers clients has increased over the last 18 months.

Dale Horne (pictured), Operations Director of Whistle Blowers, said that the PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) Global Economic Crime Survey which is published every two years shows just how crucial it is to provide both employers and employees with a trustworthy and effective means of identifying and reporting commercial crime. The 2014 survey indicated that economic crime remained a serious challenge to business leaders, government officials and private individuals in South Africa with 69 percent experiencing some form of economic crime in the last 24 months. It also showed one of the most disturbing increases in this sort of crime in South Africa since 2009.

Horne understands the finding that whistle blowing may be under threat in South Africa with a suggested steady decline in the effectiveness of whistle blowing systems and internal tip off systems.

The survey also indicated that there was a definite indication that senior management was committing more fraud and that employees were possibly less willing to blow the whistle if the fraudster was more senior than they were.

He said that, in his own organisation’s experience, it did not seem that there was an increase in the number of senior managers committing crimes. However, where senior management was involved, the value of crimes appeared to be higher. An employee would naturally be afraid to report the boss. But this fear will no longer be there if they are comfortable that the external service provider will protect their identity and they can get trustworthy assistance.

A potential whistle blower will take the brave step of making the

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call a lot easier if he knew and trusted the process prior to making the call.

“We promote internal reporting where an employee feels comfortable reporting an alleged crime no matter how serious it is. Employees need to have the peace of mind and trust that should they wish to remain anonymous, their identity will be protected at all costs. They need to know that all reports will be dealt with professionally and that they don’t need to feel uncomfortable or fear intimidation or reprisal.”

Horne said that Whistle Blowers received a large number of calls varying from minor incidents to large scale fraud and corruption with no particular crime more prevalent.

He added that there was no particular category of individual or employee who was most likely to report a crime. “In our experience, a whistle blower is an employee who is honest and doesn’t agree with irregularities that are taking place in his or her company.

A whistle blower can also be a third party who is affected by the irregularities, such as a contractor or even a family member of an employee. The third category of whistle blower is the grudge caller - a syndicate member that has been short changed, a disgruntled employee, supplier or contractor. Often this type of call exposes serious irregularities however caution is always taken when receiving this information and information is always thoroughly investigated,” he said.

Enquiry No: 11

The Editor apologises for the error in the previous edition when NCT, was refered to as NVT on two occasions in a story for NCT Forestry

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KZN Industrial & Business News

AUTOMATION & ROBOTICS

New player in automation industry This new automation division, headed

by Richard Davies (pictured) not only supplies reliable equipment, but also offers complete automation solutions

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roelec Services has been incorporated into the Magnet Group of Companies to form a new engineering division, Magnet Automation.

“Magnet Automation, which offers a specialised automation, telemetry and monitoring solutions service throughout the country, was established to meet growing demand - not only for the supply of reliable field equipment, but also for complete automation solutions,” says Brian Howarth, managing director, the Magnet Group of Companies. “This new automation division, headed by Richard Davies, is well positioned to provide a technical

solutions service, which is tailored for every specific application. The comprehensive range of quality branded products, is enhanced by a dependable support facility.”

Magnet Automation’s services encompass the design and manufacture of PLC, telemetry and electrical panels, as well as the installation and commissioning of these systems.

The new division also supplies electrical standard products, PLCs and inverters, as well as hardware and software modules. Magnet Automation programmes equipment and packages to suit exact requirements and provides complete solutions to water,

sewage and power monitoring.

Included in the extensive product range are power meters which provide the measurement capabilities needed to allocate energy usage and to perform tenant metering. These power monitoring devices also identify energy savings, optimise equipment efficiency and utilisation and perform a high level assessment of the power quality of an electrical network.

Magnet’s PLCs range from small stand alone devices, to complex network systems. The company also supplies human-machine interfaces (HMI) and supervisory control and data acquisitions (SCADA) interfaces.

These systems ensure improved control, monitoring and management of machinery or plants.

By adding a variable frequency drive (VFD, frequency inverter) to a motor-driven system, users benefit from energy savings in the system, where loads vary with time. A wide range of quality branded inverters is available from Magnet, including the full portfolio of Schneider and WEG inverters.

Magnet Automation also offers training courses on SCADA, PLCs and HMI systems to ensure the optimum performance of every automation installation.

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+27 31 830 5184 | info@esteq.com | www.esteq.co.za

7.4.2 of EN600079-0, which refers to the avoidance of a build-up of electrostatic charge on Group I or Group II electrical equipment,” says Cronin.

Available in sizes from 16mm up to 63mm, this new range is compatible with all liquid tight fittings including the new EXD flameproof barrier glands.

The LTPAS liquid tight flexible conduit system is PVC coated, with a special anti-static additive and has high compression strength of up to 400kg; and a high tensile strength of up to 130kg. Available with IP ratings up to IP68 and IP69K, the LTPAS can withstand temperatures from -20°C to 105°C. The LTPPUAS liquid tight flexible conduit system is polyurethane coated with a special anti-static additive,

D igital M anufacturing S olutionS

offering high abrasion resistance and superior protection for demanding environments.

Available with IP ratings of up to IP68 and IP69K, the cable protection system can withstand temperatures from - 40°C to 80°C. Introducing a specialised anti-static product to the local market means that we can further support customers who are working in hazardous and challenging environments,” says Cronin.

He continues: “This will be a welcome addition to the competitive and price-conscious South African market. Customers tend to look for a range of options which would meet their required objectives, while strictly adhering to budgets.”

Both the LTPAS and LTPPUAS flexible conduit systems are included within the new Flexicon hazardous area range, complementing each other perfectly to offer a well-rounded solution to the market.

that Deliver

linking all Manufacturing DiSciplineS together with

or the sixth time, the F Ethisphere Institute has named ockwell Automation NYSE: ROK)

as one of the “World’s Most Ethical (WME) Companies,” a recognition that honours organisations that continue to raise the bar on ethical leadership and corporate behaviour.

World’s Most Ethical Company honourees understand the correlation between ethics, reputation and business success.

“Rockwell Automation is part of an exclusive community committed to driving performance through leading business practices,” said Ethisphere’s CEO, Timothy Erblich.

“The entire community of World’s Most Ethical Companies believe that customers, employees, investors and regulators

place a high premium on trust and that ethics and good governance are key in earning it.”

“Rockwell Automation’s culture of integrity is reflected in the choices we make, and I am proud of our employees who consistently do the right things, the right way, every day,” said Keith D. Nosbusch, Rockwell Automation chairman and CEO. “Our commitment to integrity, reflected in how we engage our employees, partners and customers, is the cornerstone of delivering sustained business value.”

In Rockwell Automation’s most recent Global Voices Survey, employees ranked the company’s culture of ethics, responsibility and accountability among its strongest drivers of employee engagement.

Enquiry No: 14

Enquiry No: 12

Friction-free and safe: new anti-static Flexicon conduit system

he hallmark of a successful manufacturing company is to offer a tailored range of products which few competitors can offer. Local provider of global electrical, automation, mechanical and consumable products Elquip Solutions has recently strengthened its position with an addition from global principal Flexicon, focusing on anti-static flexible conduit systems.

Elquip Solutions MD, Mike Cronin (pictured) says that this product will add significant value to the market, as it provides users with flexibility and ease of operation.

“The LTPAS and LTPPUAS flexible conduits can be used to avoid electrostatic charge build-up on installed equipment, including the surface of the conduit. This issue is particularly prevalent when working in hazardous areas.

Both systems comply with clause

One of world’s most ethical companies for the sixth time

p roDuct e ngineering !

D I G I TA L M A N U FACT U R I N G

Enquiry No: 13

i nnovation

by

Measure

The Real World

Analyse

Using Specialist Software and Computing Platforms

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To Improve Results

CheckIT Systems specialises in Instrumentation, Measurement and Control and offers customised solutions by leveraging its alliance partnership with National Instruments.

Call us on 0860 106 261 for a consult

April / May 2014

AUTOMATION & ROBOTICS

8

Surge arrester

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ALTEK’s SLP-275 V/1+1 is a Class 2 combined varistorbased surge arrester and an encapsulated spark gap connected in the 1+1 circuit mode.

The surge arrester is designed for installation in single phase low-voltage distribution boards and switchgear installations at the boundary of LPZ 1 and LPZ 2 zones.

The surge arrester protects equipment against the overvoltage effects induced during a lightning strike and switching surges.

The varistor module used between phase and neutral is designed to withstand a peak

surge current of 40kA (8/20) and to limit the voltage to less than 1.25k V. The gapped arrester used to protect the neutral is designed to withstand peak surge currents of 40kA (8/20) and limit the voltage to less than 1.25kV. All units are DIN rail mounting and the modules are keyed to ensure that live and neutral modules are not interchanged by accident. In addition, the modules are clearly colour coded to ensure easy identification.

If required, an optional remote status signalling feature is available in addition to the visual fault signal which is indicated in the glass window.

SALTEK is represented locally

by Surgetek.

Enquiry No: 15

New Process Measurement Solution

Head Office: 012 661 0830 KZN Sales: 082 773 6737 WC Sales: 082 784 0088

www.loadtech.co.za

KZN Industrial & Business News

Business enterprise development

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he Durban based business unit of Hytec recently assisted with business enterprise development in the form of a stand-alone hydraulic cylinder repair facility with a former Hytec employee Baron Bantom. Prior to the establishment of Zeuf Contractors, hydraulic cylinder repairs were carried out within the existing Hytec Durban operation.

The scope of work involved with hydraulic cylinder repairs is specialised and requires attention to detail in the assessment, machining, assembly and testing of hydraulic cylinders. This warrants a specialised stand-alone repair facility. Critical aspects of this type of business relate to fast turnaround times without compromising on quality.

Baron Bantom is no stranger to this type of business, with more than 12 years’ experience in the hydraulic cylinder repair business. It was logical that this would be a viable business opportunity for Baron and his team to establish his own hydraulic cylinder repair facility under the name of Zeuf Contractors.

Zeuf Contractors has a team of six permanent staff members, the majority of whom are former Hytec employees and are familiar with the requirements related to cylinder repairs. Bronwyn

Zeuf Contractors & Engineering is owned by former Hytec employee, Barron Bantom (far left) who stands with John Wingrove – Hytec Group Managing Director, Bronwyn Bantom, Mike Harrison – Hytec General Manager Bantom heads up the administrative side of the business and with her previous work experience, she too finds herself in the familiar surroundings of the business world.

The repair facility is able to carry out repairs on hydraulic cylinders ranging from 40 – 300 mm bore. The current throughput of hydraulic cylinder repairs averages 45 units per month.

The facility does have additional capacity to take on more repairs and also is involved in general machining work.

The assistance from Hytec included

start-up capital and involvement by the Hytec management team for guidance and assistance in managing the business. The quality aspect of the business has been addressed in the form of regular in house audits on Zeuf Contractors.

These audits are conducted by Hytec staff to verify that the quality standards and procedures are in place and are being adhered to. All hydraulic cylinders repaired by Zeuf Contractors for the KZN branch network are subject to standard warranty Enquiry No: 16 conditions.

Electric cylinders reduce CO2 emissions

KF’s CASM electric cylinder, a S BeyondZero Portfolio product, reduces CO emissions in a wide

range of industrial applications.

Findings from a study in India with Indian Textiles, an SKF customer, who replaced hydraulic lifts in a textile printing machine with two SKF CASM electric cylinders showed a decline in energy use estimated to be 7MWh per year was observed.

This reduction translates into a CO2 savings of 5.3 tons per year for one machine according to world power grid mix factor CO 2 of 0.749 kg CO2e/kWh*.

“In India, we replaced hydraulic lifts, but the potential CO2 emission

reduction that can be achieved by replacing pneumatic systems with the CASM is immense when looking at the number of factories around the world,” says Markus Lieberherr, Business Development Manager, SKF Industrial Automation.

“The difference between using old hydraulic lifting system and the SKF CASM 63 is huge when it comes to the environmental savings a n d impact.

We no longer consume 400 litres of hydraulic oil per year,” says Niki Thakore, Managing Director, Indian Textile Engineers. “Second, our customers reduce energy usage. With 5,000 machines in India, this means our customers save around 750,000 dollars per month.”

The SKF CASM electric cylinder is an energy-efficient electromechani-

Pressure sensors

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he PQ series pressure sensors from ifm electronic are based on a piezoresistive measuring element and are distinguished by an extremely compact housing and a wide range of possible applications. The units precisely measure the pressure in the negative pressure and overpressure range in pneumatic applications. The silicon measuring cell is insensitive to liquids (e.g. condensed water) and deposits that might occur in the system.

The pressure sensors are designed for pneumatic applications typically found in robotics and material handling applications. The sensors precisely measure the full range of pressure and vacuum typical in these applications. The cube-shaped pneumatic pressure sensor easily retrofits traditional pressure switches at a fraction of the price.

Measuring only 32 mm x 30 mm x 42 mm, the compact sensor can be installed in areas with limited mounting space.

cal solution for replacing conventional pneumatic cylinder systems.

Compressed air is typically a very inefficient way to transmit power and systems often require constant power in order to maintain air pressure, even when the actuators are not moving.

SKF CASM electric cylinders only require energy during movement. This allows customers to realize an energy use reduction of up to 90% when they replace pneumatic cylinders with electric cylinders.

Additionally, electric cylinders are virtually maintenance-free, which significantly reduces maintenance costs.

Pneumatic cylinder systems are used around the world in a range of industries, but most intensively within packaging, factory automation, food and beverage and material handling industries.

Enquiry No: 17

Application parameters are established using two pushbuttons. The bright, four-digit display indicates system pressure and can be clearly seen from long distances. The sensor features two programmable switching outputs or one switching and one diagnostic output.

In addition, the values can be programmed to change colour depending on the switching output status (e.g. red if output 1 is switched; green if output 1 is not switched).

The silicon measuring cell guarantees a high overload resistance as well as an accuracy of ± 0.5%.

For mounting purposes, the PQ pressure sensor can be fixed to flat surfaces and profiles using the sensor’s two M4 drill holes located in the front of the sensor.

The PQ can be mounted to a DIN rail or connected to plates or manifolds using ifm’s robust DIN rail bracket.

The sensor can be connected to air lines through the G-1/8 port using a 6 mm or 8 mm tubing adapter or a 1/8” NPT adapter.

Enquiry No: 18

Two new precision pressure calibrators

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luke’s new 721 precision pressure calibrator with dual isolated sensors for gas custody transfer applications for pressure calibration and temperature measurement, allows for simultaneous static and differential pressure measurements within a single tool.

The Fluke 700G31 precision pressure gauge calibrator - a rugged, high-quality pressure gauge calibrator - delivers fast and accurate test results.

It’s easy-to-use and reliable construction allows for precision pressure measurement from 15 psi/ 1 bar to 10,000 psi/690 bar

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2014/04/10 6:12 PM

with an impressive 0.05% accuracy. It is compatible with most hydraulic and pneumatic test pumps and can be combined with one of the Fluke test pump kits (700PTPK or 700HTPK) for a complete pressure testing and calibration solution.

The 700G/TRACK Software allows for the upload over 8,000 pressure measurements which are logged in the field to a table or PC. Enquiry No: 19

April / May 2014

9

KZN Industrial & Business News

PETROCHEMICALS

International filters company appoints SA distributor F ilcon Filters has signed a distribution agreement with Jonell EurAsia BV of the Netherlands to market its products in southern Africa.

Jonell manufactures its own innovative cartridges as well as over 40 000 replacement OEM cartridges for the petrochemical, oil & gas and power generation industries and replacements for all the famous brand names such as Amazon, Baldwin, Cuno, Domnick Hunter, Donaldson, Facet, Faudi, Pall, Parker, PECO and Velcon, as well as over 200 other brands.

Jonell claims to provide “the highest quality filtration products with the best delivery time in the industry.”

Small wonder when consideration is taken of their fully automated production process to ISO 9001:2008

standards at their world-class production facility in Breckenridge, Texas, coupled with the holding of a large stock in its warehouse in the Netherlands. Satisfied customers amongst others include BASF, BP, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Petrobras, Saudi Aramco, Shell and Total.

Jonell take pride in providing the fastest product delivery times in the filtration industry.

By constantly growing their facility and updating their industry leading production capability they aggressively strive to preserve this status.

In addition to large production capacity, Jonell EurAsia is increasing stock levels for the European, Asian and southern African markets and has invested in custom designed software which automatically tracks stock levels real time

ensuring that minimum levels are consistently maintained.

Jonell has built an advanced laboratory and research facility allowing them to conduct extensive filter development and evaluation.

They maintain a very close association with their material and component suppliers to ensure that they benefit from the latest in filter media technology which is incorporated into their ongoing product development programme.

As an example of this research and development, they recently started the promotion of a new high quality oil adsorption cartridge especially designed to separate the final particles of oil out of water.

In order to discharge water, coming out of an offshore process, going back into the sea, the oil

content in the water must be under 30 PPM (Parts Per Million) or 0.003% which is an exceptionally strict requirement.

The latest test results are showing some astonishing results: the OilAdSorb cartridges far exceed the common performance of the standard type cartridges, that have been used for many years in these offshore applications. The OilAdSorb cartridges have a higher filter efficiency, a higher adsorption capacity and a longer lifetime than the industry standard.

A well established company in the offshore industry is already using the

OilAdSorb product line.

They used to replace cartridges once every 2 weeks but now with the use of the OilAdSorb cartridges they are changing out once every 6 weeks which results in lower maintenance costs as well as realizing a far better separation result.

Enquiry No: 20

Clean-up operations on track at R Bay harbour Clean up crews hard at work pumping out oil out of the harbour

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lean-up operations at the Richards Bay Port are progressing following the detection of an oil spill in early April.

The spill, from a Transnet owned pipeline at the Engen managed Richards Bay Joint Bunker Services terminal, was isolated, is being monitored continuously, and there is no threat of further contamination. Ongoing assessments and monitoring are also taking place along other parts of the pipeline on a daily basis.

An investigation into the cause of the spill has been launched while efforts to manage the impact on the environment, as well as harbour operations, have been intensified.

Engen has also appointed independent environmental scientists to complete an environmental impact assessment of the situation.

“Protecting ecologically sensitive areas and normalising port operations remains our key focus and priority” said Shirley Moroka-Mosia, Engen General Manager Health Safety

impact of the oil spill on sea- and water birds in the affected area.

Venessa Strauss, Conservation Director for SANCCOB said that a thorough survey was conducted inside the port, as well as in the Richards Bay Sanctuary. Recommendations were made

by SANCCOB to the shoreline clean-up teams to protect high risk areas where birds were observed roosting. The efficacy of these measures are being monitored on a daily basis.

SANCCOB remains on standby , to ensure

swift action should the situation on the ground change.

“We would like to publically acknowledge the role the Authorities, Transnet National Ports Authority, KZN Ezemvelo Wild Life and SANCCOB are playing in assisting us with the clean-up operations. We would also like to extend our grateful thanks to everyone else in the community of Richards Bay that has assisted in the operation,” said Moroka-Mosia.

Enquiry No: 21

Environment and Quality, who is heading up the clean-up operations on behalf of Engen.

Additional divers were also brought in to help clean vessels. Oil free berths were identified and were used for vessel relocation and cleaning to speed up the restoration of normal port operations.

Additional resources such as booms and specialised cleaning equipment were also used to help speed up the operations.

“The process of managing and containing the spill is complex. Teams are working around the clock to fix the problem and restore the environment to its natural state,” says Moroka-Mosia.

Engen takes its responsibility to safeguard the safety of people and the environment very seriously and has ensured that the response operations meet all required standards.

SANCCOB, a leading oiled wildlife response organization specialising in oiled seabirds, was requested to make an assessment of the

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RARE Plastics manufacture HDPE pipe in sizes ranging from 110mm to 1000mm.

Our steel pipe is sourced from local and international mills and features a variety of end connections, coatings and linings to suit most applications.

Fast implementation and small footprint allows plants to be installed and maintained with minimal impact and cost.

Our pipes are manufactured to ISO SANS 4427 standards.

We carry a large inventory and a full range of seamless and welded pipe in various grades to API, ASTM and SANS 719 and 62 specifications.

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10

April / May 2014

PETROCHEMICALS

KZN Industrial & Business News

A

Refinery’s giant compressor

South African p e t r o chemical refinery is to install a very large Sundyne process gas compressor as part of a capacity expansion project currently nearing completion.

To be supported by sole authorised distributor AESPUMP, the R11-million Sundyne LMC341F compressor is a 160kW single-stage centrifugal machine, and part of a family of single- and multi‑stage designs for service in API 617 and general industrial applications.

The Sundyne compressor range originated in the aerospace industry, when design work on a high pressure water injection pump to increase jet engine thrust was commissioned

by Boeing Aircraft.

A derivative of the resulting high speed, single stage centrifugal aviation pump was introduced to the hydrocarbon processing industry as a process gas compressor by Sundstrand Fluid Handling, which later became Sundyne Corporation.

Sundyne computer-optimises each of its compressors to meet the exact design requirements of the individual application.

Installation and maintenance is simple and

straightforward across the range.

All compressors allow for continuous duties at low flows as well as the design flow, and permit full curve protection using minimum driver sizes. Open impeller design eliminates efficiency degradation and frequent adjustments.

For the local refinery, AESPUMP will deliver the Sundyne LMC341F compressor configured as a 3-Series machine with a 450hp/335kW gearbox, and featuring a sixinch flange suction and three-inch flange discharge.

Minor modifications were made to the skid isolating valves. A re-rated heat exchanger was also fitted to comply with customer specifications. Delivery is expected to take Enquiry No: 22 place shortly.

Condition monitoring investment enhanced through skills training

A

ccurate oil analysis report interpretation, correct sample taking, pre-planned maintenance schedules and good lubricant management – these, among other skills – are what help to boost the bottom line of companies that rely on an effective, costefficient preventive maintenance programme.

So says Ashley Mayer, newly-appointed training manager for leading oil analysis and condition monitoring specialists, WearCheck. As training manager - a newly-created position - Mayer is based in Johannesburg, but travels to all corners of the globe to conduct WearCheck training courses.

One of the key role-players in prevent-

ing costly unplanned component failure is the analysis of used oil, which enables the prediction of potential problems before they occur, thereby saving money and boosting the bottom line.

Mayer explains, ‘The concept of analysing oil samples from a machine or Ashley Mayer has component is similar been appointed to that of taking a blood training manager sample from a person - the results determine for condition monitoring specialists the health status of WearCheck the unit and the condition of the lubricant.

WearCheck’s highlyskilled diagnostic team then analyses the results and recommends how to rectify any abnormal findings.’

Another key element of a successful condition monitoring programme, Mayer believes, is that employees at each stage of the oil analysis process are equipped with the necessary skills.

‘Staff who have mastered the skills of the various components of a condition monitoring programme will help their companies gain the highest return on investment in the programme,’ he said.

‘WearCheck is committed to helping our customers upskill their workers in the oil analysis field, and we have created several training courses aimed at different levels within the process, from basic understanding of oil analysis through to management of the condition monitoring programme.

‘The course material draws heavily on WearCheck’s database of sample diagnoses accumulated over the past 40 years, as well as the 600 000 new samples we process each year, our experience with a wide variety of makes and models of machinery, and regional and global data on wear trends.”

‘The content of our training courses is created using case studies and other relevant material. Scheduled courses are run in many major centres, or on-site at customers’ premises, or in a variety of alternative locations to suit customers,’ says Mayer.

Training courses can also be arranged in any of the following areas: Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Kimberley, Makopane, Nelspruit, Port Elizabeth, Rustenburg, Steelpoort, Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania (Mwanza), Zambia (Kitwe) – in fact, Enquiry No: 23 anywhere in the world.

April / May 2014

PETROCHEMICALS

KZN Industrial & Business News

T

Process safety management

he Chemical and Allied Industries’ Association (CAIA) presented the Responsible Care (RC) Process Safety Management workshop in Durban recently, to share their knowledge and experience in Process Safety in an endeavour to prevent chemical releases, explosions and fires at chemical process facilities.

It is indicated that as many as 80% of serious incidents in the chemical industry are related to uncontrolled change. Rod Prior, Managing Director of SHEexcellence, illustrated the Management of Change as one element that must be considered in a Process Safety Management system. “All change has the potential to alter the risk profile of a plant or operation”, said Prior.

Louise Lindeque, Responsible Care Manager at CAIA, introduced the new mandatory RC Process Safety Management Practice Standard that drives the continuous improvement of overall Process

Safety performance in the chemical industry. Lindeque commented that: “An effective Process Safety Management system assists companies to reduce risk and to manage the potential safety, health and environmental implications of their activities”.

Other speakers presented on topics that included a demonstration of a process safety tool - RMP Comp - that can be used for the reliable prediction of the consequences and safe exposure distances of chemical release, fire and explosion scenarios.

Francois Holtzhausen from Sasol (Pty) Ltd then provided criteria that can be used to identify “safety critical” equipment that should receive priority attention for maintenance.

RC Process Safety Workshops, together with the RC Process Safety Management Practice Standard, support chemical companies in setting up internal management

systems which allow their operations to be conducted in a safe and responsible manner.

The workshops have contributed towards an improved understanding of Process Safety and its management, the implementation of best practice within the chemical and allied industries, and the potential saving of lives and assets, as well as the protection of the environment.

The workshop was concluded by an interactive session concerning an explosion at Formosa Plastics in Illinois that killed five and injured three employees.

A discussion around the causes of the explosion, and actions that could have prevented it was facilitated by Carina Burger, Environmental Manager at Impala Platinum (Pty) Ltd. For further information, please contact Louise Lindeque (CAIA) on 011 482-1671 or at rcare2@caia.co.za.

ME Aesseall 297 x 210-no bleed* 10/10/13 10:33 AM Page 1

New range of Ex-proof test and measurement devices

ietzsch’s offers a range of four new Ex-proof test and measurement devices: The MegaSafe EP 4 / EP 4Ex compact earth resistance tester A manageable resistance measuring device for fast testing according to VDE 0413 of protective and grounding lines, equipotential bonding lines and lines at lightning arrester.

Additional features: • Safe and universal between 10Ω m and 2 MΩ • High measurement current 0,2 A for Lo-Ω-range up to 10Ω • Fast compensation of measuring line per keypress • Automatic pole change and storage of measurement results ΩMegaSafe ISO 1Ex compact megohmmeter for potentially explosive atmospheres, is a compact high-impedance testing device for insulating resistances and bleeder resistors.

Additional features: • Safe and universal between 1 kΩ and 2 TΩ • Test voltage 32, 100, 500 V • Indication of external voltage and integrated voltage indication up to 500 V • Push-button for rapid discharge of capacitances VarioSafe EXM 25 Multimeter, for mining and chemical industries, is an intrinsically safe multimeter for potentially explosive atmospheres.

Additional features: • Universal for resistance, current, frequency, temperature and voltage up to 2000 V • For intrinsically safe and not intrinsically safe circuits up to 2000 V according to ATEX directive 94/9 EG • Highest degree of safety provided by moulded protective resistors in DATAHOLD test prods CAT IV, 1000 V • Intrinsically safe source of energy NiMH accu or Li-battery • Robust casing made of antistatic plastic VarioSafe EXM 24 is an intrinsically safe voltage and resistance measuring device for potentially explosive atmospheres. The simpler design provides fewer functions than the EXM 25 but has a similar mechanical construction and safety features. The chief variance from EXM25 is the measurement for intrinsically safe and not intrinsically safe circuits up to 1000 V according to ATEX directive 94/9 EG. Enquiry No: 25

KZN Process Safety workshop speakers

Enquiry No: 24 C

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April / May 2014

PETROCHEMICALS

12

KZN Industrial & Business News

Anti-fire protection for petrochemical industry

ntifire Protection distributes a range of products designed primarily for use in the refineries and petrochemical industry where there is an increased call for the application of innovative and cost-effective methods for companies that need to invest in safety.

A fire in a chemical or petrochemical plant which cannot be contained or extinguished in a short time implies not only huge economic damage but also production downtime and negatively influences a company’s image.

Valves, actuators, tanks and various kinds of instruments must be fire protected, so that they can operate for the time necessary to prevent the fire spreading in an uncontrolled manner.

Bilco Antifire Engineering specializes in the field of Certified Fireproof Flexible Protections produced at its plant in Italy.

Continuous research for new solutions and the choice of innovative materials have resulted in a product that meets the most demanding fire resistance applications under critical conditions.

The range of products are designed to effectively fireproof electric, pneumatic and hydraulic actuators, check and control valves, flange couplings, cable trays, command and control panels, tanks and any other critical areas of the plant.

Exhaustive R&D has resulted in the product passing the most severe tests of hydrocarbons fireproof resistance, obtaining the relevant certificates issued by accredited institutions and laboratories in the Oil and Gas fields, such as Lloyd’s Register UK Underwriting Laboratories (UL) 1709.

There are other fire prevention methods such as coatings available on the market but they are prone to losing their integrity through chipping or UV rays, while the Bilco product protects equipment at temperatures of about 1100 deg C for up to 30 minutes. This can be exceeded through additional padding for up to two hours at 1 400 deg c”.

BilcoFlex is an effective method of protecting devices minimising the danger and damage caused by fire in a refinery, oil platform, petrochemical, thermal power, electrical, shipbuilding or defence plant.

It is based on the assembly of various multilayer ‘jackets’ which are attached to each other by belts and

F

Tel: +27 31 701 3261/2

l

Fax: +27 31 701 8216

Email: reception@natalpumps.co.za Website: www.natalpumps.co.za

buckles in stainless steel. There are no rings, wires or seams.

The main advantage of the soft and flexible protection is that it is easy to transport, handle, assemble and disassemble. All panels are made with highly performing materials, designed to work in extreme temperatures – from -50ºC to about 275ºc for the external coating fabric of the panels, while the entire protection ensures its function up to 1044 deg c depending on conditions.

It is possible to create access bays for command buttons, control panels, indicators and automatism.

BilcoFlex systems are designed and tailored to fit the shape of the

component to be protected. The jackets are specially shaped and notched for power cables in positions specified by the customer and can be modified over and over until finally installed.

The jackets can also be made with different colour outer fabric to differentiate various set ups.

With each jacket, the customer also receives an exploded drawing – each jacket is numbered and coded to allow for identification and have an outline diagram for easy assembly.

Each jacket has a stainless steel AISI 316L label specifying customer name, project name and identification for the equipment being protected within.

Enquiry No: 26

Ending rust and saving money

acilities that use handrails, ladders and safety cages face the common problem of maintenance costs and worker-safety issues — however, one maintenance company has found a technologically-advanced product that will end rust and unnecessary costs for good.

R&D Contracting, a specialist maintenance company for the commercial and industrial sectors, has recently introduced a product

by Dynarail to their list of value added services which has already resulted in massive maintenancecost reduction.

“Dynarail’s products, which include Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) for handrails and

ladders as well as Fibergrate molded grating walking surfaces, have made costly periodic maintenance almost non-existent,” says David Williams, Sales Director of R&D Contracting.

According to Williams, the lifespan of these products alone has already attracted customers from the oil and gas, chemical, bridge and highway industries; and owing to the benefits of FRP as well as its non-corrosive properties, the mining sector has particularly taken an interest in this product.

“Corrosion Prone mild steel structures are so problematic,” says Williams, explaining that the continual maintenance of the steel railings means that “business as

usual is inevitably interrupted with associated maintenance budget impact and down time as safety in these areas are compromised.”

In addition to this, installation of the product, which includes pre-drilled hoops for easy assembly, means that companies do not have to halt business to install these products.

“These products are UV-protected and can be painted to clients corporate colour specification with a high quality Polyurethane top coat, structures exposed to high UV weathering will benefit incalculably,” adds Williams.

Enquiry No: 27

Crude oil blending and storage terminal

iltanking MOGS Saldanha (RF) (Pty) O Ltd (OTMS), a joint venture between OTGC Holdings (Pty) Ltd (OTGC) and MOGS

(Pty) Ltd (MOGS), was granted Environmental Authorization by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning for the development and construction of a commercial crude oil blending and storage terminal with a total capacity of 13.2 million barrels, comprising twelve in-ground concrete tanks in Saldanha Bay. The receipt of the Environmental Authorization is a major milestone in the project and brings to conclusion a phase that lasted more than two years. Eight specialist studies were undertaken by independent experts as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Although not required legally, OTMS decided to also conduct a marine oil pollution control study in addition to the EIA to ensure that any and all of its environmental risks are adequately understood and addressed.

The tanks have been designed in such an innovative manner that, should an oil leak develop in one of the tanks, the oil will be collected in a separate layer underneath the tanks and relayed to a special collection point from where it will be pumped back into the tanks. This layer will be continuously monitored.

Enquiry No: 28

April / May 2014

PETROCHEMICALS

KZN Industrial & Business News

13

Upgrading aging pumps T

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STRATEGIC STOCKHOLDINGS IN AFRICAN COUNTRIES

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Understand operational specifics of each country  Local support in Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritania, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe  1 872 000 weeks experience in Africa 

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The GRID is a graphic element that helps to create the ZEST indentity. Derivative of the proportions of the logo, it is based on a proportion of width and height of 2-to3. The distance between the GRID elements is 1/3 of the height of an element.

The GRID What is it?

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Enquiry No: 30

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pproved by major petrochemical companies, the PSV Mitech conventional range of pneumatic and electro-pneumatic high-performance Positioners have three take-off options making them suitable for almost all applications. The electro-pneumatic units are suitable for a 4 – 20 mA signal, while the pneumatic versions are suited for a 20 – 100 kPa signal.

The Positioners are available as both double and single acting types and are ideal for applications up to a 1 000 kPa supply. Easy to set up and calibrate, they are supplied with or without gauges and feature two alternate supply ports.

Locally designed and manufactured, the Positioners are corrosion resistant, have a robust construction, and an intrinsically safe version with ATEX approval is available as an option.

The Positioners are ideal for mounting to linear pneumatic actuators, linear power cylinders or rotary pneumatic actuators. They are field reversible and spares are readily available. If required, a choice of cam characteristics and a NAMUR mounting arrangement are optional.

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High performance positioners

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Enquiry No: 29

Enquiry No: 31

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op liner plate expert, Rio-Carb, has developed a new chromium carbide impact resistant liner plate, which allows the plates to be used in areas and industries where previously chromium carbide plates were restricted due to the limited impact resistance of the plates.

According to Rio-Carb director Martin Maine, there was a need to develop a chromium carbide overlay plate that is more impact resistant than previous RioCarb chromium carbide plates. “The new impact resistant liner plates were developed by adding more manganese to the existing chromium carbide plate formulation, thereby changing the chemical composition of the product by making a manganese matrix rather than a carbon steel matrix, which is more impact resistant.”

The new impact resistant liner plates have a hardness of between 56 and 58 Rockwell C. Normal chromium carbide plates have a measurement of 60 plus Rockwell C hardness.

The new liner plates are still undergoing impact tests in order to determine the limits and capabilities of the product. RioCarb will offer the same support to the new liner plates as it does for its other product ranges. “The after sales support will be the same for all our products. There is very little variation between the new liner plates and our older products, the newer products are simply more impact resistant.

Therefore they fit perfectly into our current product range.We provide full support on the liner plates and are readily available and open for repairs due to wear and tear, as long as there has been no negligence.”

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internal gear pumps. The Wadeville-based company last year increased stock holdings across the Viking range to reduce delivery times, and claims to hold the largest ready stock of these pumps in South Africa.

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standard gear pumps with duties of 0,16 l/s at a head of 13,8 bar.

They come from Viking’s universal seal pump family, which is manufactured in twelve sizes and features castings from stainless steel, ductile iron or cast iron. Customers can choose between gland packing, component seals or cartridge seals, and there is a behind-the-seal option.

Flanged or NPT ports are incorporated in multiple locations. Jacketing is optional. A pressure relief valve is standard.

Mather+Platt reports steady sales of Viking

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Chromium carbide

en Viking model H4124A internal gear pump sets, fitted with 2,2kW motor‑gearbox combinations and mounted on mild steel base plates, have been supplied by Mather+Platt to Optimum Colliery to replace ageing cooling oil pumps.

They will solve inefficiencies experienced with the older, belt-driven pumps installed on crushers at the colliery, where vibration was causing belts to slip on their pulleys and occasionally become dislodged.

Mather+Platt proposed that the new Viking pumps be connected directly to their motors and gearboxes to overcome this problem, and mounted on base plates.

Optimum’s new machines are heavy duty

April / May 2014

PETROCHEMICALS

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Inclusive range of explosion protected equipment

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ale has introduced a range of explosion protected equipment suitable for use in ATEX (ATmospheres EXplosibles) environments.

Marketed as YALE ATEX, this range of products is designed to protect electrical and mechanical machinery that is used in explosive atmospheres, ensuring the safety of both machinery and personnel.

Explosion protected equipment is an important precautionary measure when explosive mixtures of combustible gasses, vapours or dusts and air occur as it eliminates a potential ignition source. Even a small spark caused by machinery at work could ignite these explosive atmospheres.

At-risk industries that should be considering YALE ATEX explosion protection products include the chemical industry, waste disposal sites, recycling companies, energy production companies, gas suppliers, the

petroleum industry, fiery mines, metal processing companies, paint shops, certain agricultural environments, the food and feeding-stuffs industry, pharmaceutical manufacturers and refineries, to name a few.

Yale’s offers pneumatic, electric and manual lifting equipment that is suited to operate safely in these potentially explosive environments. There are four levels of protection with corresponding equipment attributes, namely Basic, Medium, High And Special. Special is targeted specifically at the mining industry. All appropriate values are available in the Yale catalogue under ‘technical data’.

There are several Yale pneumatic chain hoist YALE ATEX models. These are available in lifting capacities from 125 to 980kg and have an operating pressure of 5-7 bar.

The robust and highly durable housing allows for easy transport, making this product

useful in a number of industrial applications such as automobile and aircraft industries, shipyards, power plants and so on.

The self-adjusting automatic disc brake is maintenance-free and an air release for the brake is standard in certain models. Certain models are suitable for use in category 2 hazardous areas.

The CPA ATEX pneumatic chain hoist with suspension hook or integrated trolley has a capacity range of 2000 to 10000kg. A 100% duty rating and unlimited starts makes this unit perfect for heavy duty applications. It is not susceptible to contamination, humidity or aggressive outside mediums. BASIC, MEDIUM and HIGH designs are catered for.

The hand chain hoist model Yalelift 360 ATEX has been further developed for use in potentially explosive environments. It features a protective stamped steel housing and the revolutionary 360° rotating hand chain guide which allows the operator to work from almost Enquiry No: 32 any position.

Steel floor grating and handrailing

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ngoing research has allowed Andrew Mentis, first formed in 1950, to grow a range of products that encompasses expanded metal, Mentrail (guardrails for roads), industrial handrailing systems, steel floor tiles and Mendrill (automatic drilling and boring machines).

“The wastewater, mining, petrochemical and chemical industries are very harsh environments for handrailing and floor grating.

Chemicals and saltwater provide the perfect breeding ground for structural damage through corrosion. This, in turn, compromises the safety of the installation and can result not only in costly downtime, but more critically in slips and falls. The introduction of stainless

steel products was an absolute necessity from both an occupational health & safety (OHS) as well as a productivity perspective,” Elaine van Rooyen, marketing manager of Andrew Mentis, points out.

Andrew Mentis’ corrosion resistant RS40 40 x 40 floor grating and handrailing in 304, 316 and 3CR12 stainless steel is ideally suited to the extreme conditions found in harsh environments. The products are designed and engineered to suit situations where the strength to weight ratio is important and where the integrity of the structure is not negotiable.

Not only is the use of stainless steel in applications such as these a safe and cost effective option, but it does not compromise the aes-

thetics of the environment. The stainless steel handrailing systems boast clean modern lines and the stanchions offer a variety of standard angles and matching accessories. Bends and closures common to mild steel systems are also available for the stainless steel system.

Stainless steel Rectagrid RS40 floor grating is considered to have the highest load bearing capacity. Manufactured using a pressure locking system pioneered by the company, the round transversals are permanently locked to the bearer bars enabling the use of the full depth of the bearer bars when calculating loads. It also guarantees the structural integrity of the product and further enhances its reliability and longevity in corrosive environments.

Stainless steel Rectagrid RS40 is corrosion resistant and non-sparking, so it is perfectly suited to situations where strength to weight ratio is important, such as wastewater treatment plants, petrochemical and chemical plants and mining operations. Stainless steel grating is particularly suitable for areas with elevated temperatures.

The compressive pressure locking of the bearer bars and transversals forms an exact pitch of 40 mm by 40 mm, which results in the bearer bars maintaining a perfectly upright position. In addition, as a result of the strong intersection locking, banding is unnecessary.

Facilities are, however, available to provide banded and tailored grating where this is Enquiry No: 33 required,” says van Rooyen.

Composite

LEADERS IN THE PROVISION OF

FLUID TRANSFER MEASUREMENT & DISPENSING EQUIPMENT ALSO NOW PITSTOP & RAV LIFTS

WWW.METERSYSTEMS.CO.ZA A division of the Set Point Group

DURBAN T: +27(0)31 700 9974/5 F: +27(0)31 700 9978 sales@metersystems.co.za

April / May 2014

PETROCHEMICALS

KZN Industrial & Business News

15

On the rise: Rigging and lifting equipment

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Variable speed planetary gear O nly recently launched, Voith’s new Vorecon variable speed planetary gear is already winning over customers in the oil and gas industry around the world.

Ten of the Vorecons with Dual Torque Converter have already been sold to American pipeline and gas storage operators for use in controlling the speed of electrically driven compressors.

The new Vorecon demonstrates a high degree of efficiency across the entire speed control range, while at the same time offering reliability of 99.98 %.

The American pipeline operator NET Midstream recently ordered four Vorecons with Dual Torque Converter. These are intended for use in the NET Mexico Pipeline Project in South Texas which is scheduled to come on line in December 2014.

It is expected to transport around 2.1 billion cubic feet of shale gas daily from the Agua Dulce hub in South Texas all the way to the Mexican border.

The Vorecon with Dual Torque Converter is ideal for operating levels that frequently fall within the speed range of 60% to 90% of maximum speed.

It is up to 2% more efficient than drive systems with a variable frequency drive (VFD) over the entire speed control range. The operator benefits from greater flexibility with regard to operating characteristics and long-term planning security.

In addition, the Vorecon can save up to USD 200,000 per year in energy costs.

The life cycle costs (LCC) of a compressor station depend on the availability of the drive components, among other things. With its statistical reliability of 99.98 % and an MTBF value of 48 years, the Vorecon avoids un-scheduled downtime of the drive systems and the associated costs. The lifetime of the hydrodynamically controlled planetary gear is several decades and is thus more than three times longer than that of VFDs. The Vorecon has numerous advantages for gas pipelines and storage. It provides high torque at low speeds, a requirement for gas storage. The speed control system, gearbox and oil supply are already integrated directly into the Vorecon. As a result, the customer benefits from lower infraEnquiry No: 34 structure costs.

ince becoming part of Renttech South Africa in 2011, Kelmeg Lifting Services (KLS) has enjoyed strong growth, with manufacturing output increasing by 40%.

This is according to Rodney Young (pictured), Factory Manager at KLS, who was appointed at the time of the acquisition. “The growth that KLS has seen in the last two years may be attributed to a decision we made to first invest in our existing equipment and machinery before introducing any new products. We therefore tested, developed and improved our existing infrastructure and product line, and this has paid off with a substantial growth in the company,” he says.

Established in 1991, KLS manufactures a range of quality lifting accessories which include polyester slings, web slings, endless round polyester slings, steel wire slings, chain blocks and cargo securing straps. Under the brand name Unilift, the company is well represented in the construction, power generation, petrochemical, paper and

pulp, engineering, marine, agriculture, transport and mining industries.

Rather than focusing on the enduser, however, KLS relies on its wide distributor network both in South Africa and further afield, and has built up strong relationships with each of its distributors. Developments in the off-shore oil and gas industry have led to KLS widening its distribution net in other parts of Africa.

In 2012, the company achieved the ISO 9001:2008 certification.

“Over and above ISO, we manufacture according to the SANS 94/1 2003 and SANS 94/2 2003 standards, as well as EN 1492/1 and 1492/2. When it comes to lifting and rigging equipment, safety is paramount, and so we ensure we conduct an extremely stringent testing regime. This includes involving third party organisations for batch testing, such as the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research).”

While much of KLS’s focus has been on improving existing prod-

ucts, the company has also brought new products to market, which, says Young, represent “new ideas based on existing concepts.”

“Our strategy was to seek new ways of doing things, and to identify new materials and applications with an even greater quality product as the final goal.”

Some of KLS’s product line extensions include tool protection, such as their Tool Spider, a lanyard used to protect tools when working at height, cargo nets and a range of 4 X 4 vehicle recovery equipment.

Enquiry No: 35

TANK TRUCK EQUIPMENT

LOADING ARMS

FALL PREVENTION EQUIPMENT

INDUSTRIAL HOSES & DRY BREAK COUPLINGS

COUPLINGS (BREAKAWAY & EMERGENCY RELEASE)

GROUNDING & EARTHING DEVICES

INSTRUMENTATION & FLOW CONTROL

INTEGRATED SYSTEMS

VAPOUR RECOVERY & COMBUSTION

GAS COMPRESSION

Tel: +27 (0) 11 792 2196 Email: sales@soliflo.co.za

www.soliflo.co.za

April / May 2014

16

KZN Industrial & Business News

METALS, ALLOYS, FABRICATION & MACHINE TOOLS SAIW expanding in KZN Ensuring the future of Argon in SA

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uch is the growth of its KZN branch, the Southern African Institute of Welding (SAIW) is currently looking for new premises in Durban to house the burgeoning number of training programmes and other activities that are successfully being run by the branch.

“We have grown considerably over the past few years. All our courses are fully booked and bookings are already running fast for the Welding Inspectors Course which is being held in September. Also, the Pressure Vessels workshop in May is fully booked,” says Ann Meyer SAIW KZN regional representative.

She adds that in general the interest in SAIW KZN and its education and training offerings has grown beyond recognition. “An indication of this is the growth in our active database of interested parties, which has grown from around 150 to over 400 in the last few months,” she says.

SAIW executive director, Jim Guild, says that the growth of the SAIW’s regional activity is not

confined to KZN. “It’s a country-wide phenomenon,” he says. “Skills development is a national priority with the government playing an important role in the process, which includes an intensive drive to uplift and up-skill personnel across the broad spectrum of industry,” he says.

He adds that for the SAIW, being the leading welding training facility in South Africa, this initiative is translating into greater demand for its services and greater pressure on its facilities. “For this reason the SAIW is gearing up for substantial future growth countrywide, initially focusing on expanding in Durban and in Cape Town where we have already found new premises,” he says.

Guild emphasises the importance of decreasing the reliance on foreign welding skills. “Part of the skills development process is to help South Africans get jobs. South Africa currently has a host of large-scale welding projects on the go including the new power stations, the railway renewal programme and others, with many more to come. We need to use these opportunities to employ as many South Africans as possible. For this to happen, especially in our skill-based industry, welding training and education of the highest level is an absolute priority,” Guild concluded.

Enquiry No: 36

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rgon, one of the ‘noble’, inert gases, has a number of applications in industrial processes.

Accessibility and ready supply, however, are dependent on operational and technical expertise, storage capacity and an ability to respond readily to the needs of a dynamic and changing market.

Air Products South Africa prides itself on being the largest producer of gaseous argon in the country, and having sufficient storage capacity to ensure a comfortable supply in the short and medium term.

This is according to Josua le Roux (pictured), General Manager – Central Services at Air Products South Africa. “Demand for argon is dynamic and volatile. To a large extent, it is also dependent on infrastructural development. Air Products has developed specific expertise when it comes to ensuring security of supply for our customers, based on both production and storage capabilities,” he says.

Ranging from high-end customers, requiring a number of tons on a daily basis, to smaller consumers who may only need a couple of kilograms a month, Air Products has several modes of supply that are able to cater for a wide variety of industries.

Air Products delivers argon in gaseous or

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liquid form through a variety of supply modes, including cylinder, CryoEase, or bulk tanker, depending on customer requirements. A number of the company’s country-wide facilities have the capacity to produce argon, and storage sites are strategically placed across the country.

As an inert, shielding gas, argon is used to improve quality, optimise performance and reduce costs in a variety of processes such as cutting and welding in the fabrication, automotive, and machine building industries.

“Future demand for argon will be driven largely by infrastructural growth and development. This includes the construction of power plants, solar devices, wind farms, as well as basic infrastructure, such as roads, rail and ports,” notes le Roux.

“Our argon storage columns ensure consistent supply, but without expert supply chain management, our customers would not have peace of mind when it comes to their argon requirements. Air Products’ real value proposition rests in our flair for operational on-site management, as well as expertise in supply chain management.”

“In addition, by alerting us when levels run low, our on-site telemetry system effectively eliminates the risk of down-time for our cusEnquiry No: 37 tomers,” says le Roux.

New flexible grinding pads

iamond Products has launched a new range of flexible grinding pads for use on hand held grinding machines.

The new range of Diamond Products flexible metal dot pads consist of round diamond segments housed in a flexible rubber pad and operate on the same system as the company’s range of flexible polishing pads.

The system uses a rubber backing pad which has Velcro on the front and is screwed onto the grinder. The flexible polishing pads attach to the front of this backup pad making for ease of change between grit sizes. Until now, if a job required pre-grinding, a cup grinder was used.

The pads offer the user flexibility when grinding, which is often not possible with the cup grinders. The pads are available in four different grit sizes, 30 grit, 60 grit, 150 grit and 300 grit.

The pads from can be used for grinding off excess material, and to remove foreign mate-

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rial on the concrete surface, as well as for pregrinding before commencing with polishing.

The flexible grinding pads are suitable for floor grinding, tool mark removal, and preparation for decorative concrete resurfacing. They offer a faster grinding speed and longer product life.

These grinding pads are ideal for use on concrete, granite, marble and terrazzo. They are ideal for marble work because, unlike a cup grinder, they do not have rigid segments and therefore leave a far smoother finish on rounded surfaces. They are also perfect for all concrete work, and the finer grit can even be used on porcelain tiles and more delicate materials.

The flexible grinding pads are currently only available with a diameter of 100 mm for use on small grinding machines.

Enquiry No: 38

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metals, alloys, fabrication & machine tools

April / May 2014

KZN Industrial & Business News

17

Local company goes from strength to strength L

The Laser Junction team

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vices, construction and hospitality.

This management buy-out enabled the management to restructure and align the company to comply with the requirements of BBBEE, both ensuring the company remains competitive and establishing a solid base for future growth in the South African business environment.

In June 2013 the company attained a Level 4 BBBEE rating, with a 62% black ownership including a 25% black women ownership.

In July 2013 the company successfully underwent an ISO 9001 recertification audit.

With the BBBEE and ISO 9001 successfully completed, managements next initiative was to partner with Productivity SA and imple-

Innovative laser marking solutions for product traceability

s the demand increases for component traceability, manufacturers are implementing various tactics to deal with ingenious counterfeiting and product tampering methods.

One such technology for dealing with these challenges is indelible, direct part-marking which makes use of YVO4 lasers for a permanent and lasting solution.

Automator’s new NanoVIS laser system utilises revolutionary laser technology with auto-monitoring of the frequency and is the world’s smallest YVO4 laser.

Weighing in at only 11kgs and flaunting compact dimensions, (283mm L x 163mm W x 167mm H), the NanoVIS allows for easy portability - particularly from production line to production line.

This laser marking technique involves neither complicated tool parts, which can wear out, nor messy inks but a beam which is emitted to allows the laser to mark specified patterns, logos, barcodes, lot numbers, text, etc. onto a variety of surfaces. YVO4 laser marking systems are capable of high-speed marking on the smallest parts or even on limited areas, with high accuracy and readability.

The laser works in conjunction with a PC, which functions as a controller, and using the proprietary Genius Plus Software, allows the operator to mark virtually anything onto the chosen surface, without damaging the material.

By utilising a YVO4 crystal in the laser, the Class 3 laser has the abil-

Turbo grinders

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aser Junction, the laser cutting and steel fabrication specialist, was established in 1995 and in the last 19 years the company has grown into one of the largest laser cutting and steel fabrication businesses in South Africa with over 220 skilled employees.

In January 2013, a Management Buy-Out of the company was successfully completed, led by the MD Wayne Evans, in partnership with an investor Musa Myeni. Myeni brings a wealth of entrepreneurial skills and business expertise to the company having previously chaired Tsogo Sun (KZN) Board as well as owning several companies across a diverse range of industries including trucking, retail, insurance, financial ser-

MG’s range of fasteners and tools includes Atlas Copco turbo grinders, which are designed for high performance grinding, cutting and sanding, even in confined spaces.

“These hand held Atlas Copco grinders, with axial turbine motors, have power ratings between 2,1 kW and 4,5 kW and offer more efficient and quicker operation than conventional grinders. Turbine technology ensures maximum utilisation of compressed air,” says Andrew Johns, business development manager, BMG Fasteners and Tools.

“These grinders have a maximum weight of 4 kg, which minimises strain on the operator and the compact design, with low height, ensures accessibility in cramped areas. Low vibrations and an optimum rotation speed minimises consumption of abrasives and for enhanced safety, there is an over speed protection device.”

Another important feature is the lubrication-free air supply, which reduces the risk of hose deterioration and prevents oil spills on the grinding surface. These tools are also fitted with an integrated auto-balancer for reduced vibrations (< 2,5 /s²) and a speed governor for optimal performance.

The low height of the GTG 25 range, which allows easy operation, even in cramped spaces, is particularly well suited for overhead grinding tasks. These lightweight (2,8 kg) grinders, with an adjustable support handle for maximum feed force and flexibility, are available with optional dust extraction and diamond cutting kits.

Heavy duty GTG 40 units, with power rat-

ings of 4,5 kW, achieve a higher rate of material removal on uneven surfaces than conventional grinders. These 4 kg hand tools, which are designed for rough grinding, fettling of castings or stock removal, are fitted with a silencer for reduced noise levels.

These grinders have a throttle

ity to mark material such as alloy, anodized, burnished, ceramic, ebony, metal, plastic, polycarbonate, silicon and painted surfaces. The NanoVIS is supported by user-friendly software which allows for the easy importation of custom fonts, logos, bar codes, 2D codes and PDF codes for example.

This “all-in-one” laser marking system differs from other lasers in that it has no external moving parts; this minimises the chances of damage and lessens maintenance requirements.

All components are contained within the laser enclosure, including the air cooling system and galvo lenses. The only external component is the user’s computer which hosts the software used to control the laser.

Designed and built in compliance with the “Eco Philosophy”, the NanoVIS takes cognisance of the environment and energy saving initiatives; there is no power loss as no fibre optic cables are used.

Enquiry No: 40

handle with soft rubber sleeves for temperature insulation and a comfortable grip. An easily adjustable wheel guard ensures maximum accessibility and enhanced operator safety.

Quick and simple wheel changes of these grinders ensures high levels of productivity. Enquiry No: 41

ment the Workplace Challenge Programme, a DTI (government) sponsored project that seeks to transform the company into a World Class Manufacturing Enterprise.

This two year program strives to implement and maintain world class manufacturing processes and procedures with the goals of improving overall manufacturing quality, efficiencies, cost reductions and staff morale. The MD, Wayne Evans feels that “This initiative is key to aligning the company with strategic goals of the Provincial Growth Development Strategy with the focus on job creation and skills development.”

Enquiry No: 39

18

metals, alloys, fabrication & machine tools

Precise in all positions

fm electronic’s new JN incline isurement sensor provides reliable meaacross the whole angu-

counting (± 180° or 0 to 360°) and limit frequency can be set for a stable output signal (20, 10, 5, 1, 0.5 Hz), the sensor can be adapted precisely to different applications.

The sensor with CANopen interface and bus capability allows complete CAN integration according to the communication profiles CANopen CiA DS-301 and CiA DSP-410. Connection is made using M12 connectors with clearly visible LEDs – enabling the terminating resistor is optional.

lar range with angles of inclination in x and y axes. The unit has an extremely low temperature drift of ± 0.002 °K. The JN type sensor for mobile applications features adjustable zero point, counting direction and limit frequency.

The innovative product is designed for levelling of mobile machinery (2-axis position detection and zero-point levelling), automatic adjustment of solar panels or levelling of wind turbines, for example.

Since zero point, direction of

Enquiry No: 42

Safety often depends on the quality of the welding!

The Southern African Institute of Welding (SAIW) offers a variety of courses for a career in the welding, fabrication & inspection industries.

April / May 2014

KZN Industrial & Business News

Multiaxis machining improves productivity

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ulti a xi s machining can dramatically increase a shop’s competitiveness.

Mastercam’s multiaxis machining and addons offer a wide range of multiaxis machining strategies. With Mastercam, you have complete control over the three crucial elements of multiaxis machining—toolpath types, toolpath motion, and tool axis.

Cut Patterns guide the tool along specified paths. These patterns can be simple 2D and 3D wireframe, solid primitives, or complex multisurface grids. Mastercam’s Multiaxis machining has many toolpath types to govern the cut pattern including: • Oscillating tool motion improves tool life by not always machining with the same area of the tool.

• Multisurface 5-axis roughing and finishing, including depth cuts, plunge

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roughing, and flowline machining.

• You can trim your toolpath to the new stock model. Trimming to stock reduces the amount of time the tool is not in contact with the material.

• Stock recognition that trims toolpaths to eliminate air-cuts and drastically reduce cycle times.

• Swarf fanning and swarf machining over multisurface floors, plus rail swarf cutting for added control.

• Machine 5-axis parts using spiral, zigzag, or one way tool motion.

Mastercam’s Tool Axis Control allows orientation of the tool’s center axis to be manipulated as it follows the cut pattern. You have complete and dynamic control over the tool axis, lead/lag, entry/exit, and tilt, which simplifies even the most difficult multiaxis jobs. Full entry and exit control lets you determine exactly where and how the cutter enters and leaves your part.

An automatic point generator adds greater precision, as well as advanced gouge checking and a 5-axis safe zone around the part.

When programming 5-axis parts, it is often necessary to come very close to the part or fixture with the cutter, arbor, or the holder. Mastercam gives you “near miss tolerance” fields so you can specify how close you are willing to get with any part of the tool and how to avoid those situations.

Mastercam’s Blade Expert add-on greatly simplifies the toolpath creation process for any multi-bladed parts, including fans, propellers, impellers, turbines, marine screws, and more. Blade Expert is a very powerful and easy-to-use custom application, designed to generate efficient, smooth, and gouge-free toolpaths for these complex bladed parts.

Mastercam’s Port Expert add-on creates accurate, efficient engine cylinder head porting toolpaths on port surface or solid data. The Port Expert toolpaths use 3-axis machining as far into the port as possible, and then convert automatically to 5-axis motion with minimum tilt. This leaves no fishtails or inefficient reverse moves, and smoothly transitions where the toolpaths meet at the middle of the port.

Enquiry No: 43

Next generation circuit breakers

cope, represented in South Africa by Tia Online, has introduced its next generation of iconic Scot Series Circuit Breaker Time Interval Meters in all new superlight avatars.

SCOT incorporates some state-ofthe-art hardware and smart software features making it a must have tool for testing and maintenance engineers for quick assessment of the operational health of circuit breakers.

It’s a compact, lightweight and reliable instrument used for measurement of operation times of all types of HV and EHV circuit breakers under live switchyard conditions.

Users can choose from two models,

namely the Scot M3K+ and the Scot MXP+ depending on the type of testing to be done.

The Scot M3K+ measures and displays Close, Open and C-O times of Main contacts of 3 poles connected end to end simultaneously, and is ideally suitable for CBs with a single break per pole.

The Scot MXP+ measures, displays and prints Close, Open and C-O times of 2 Main + 2 PIR contacts per pole, 3 poles simultaneously, ensuring measurement of 6 Main + 6

PIR contacts simultaneously.

This is suitable for CBs having PIR contacts & multiple breaks per pole.

Proper functioning of CBs is of vital importance to ensure safety and availability of power networks.

These are expected to operate reliably and within specified time limits in order to isolate the faults and save expensive equipments from stress or damage. In order to be assured of such consistent performance of CBs, periodical timing measurements Enquiry No: 44 are carried out.

SOLE AGENT FOR TRUMPF PRODUCTS IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR OVER 30 YEARS www.trumpf.com/en.html

TruLaser 1030 Fibre Affordable entry into laser cutting Processes an expanded variety of materials Enhanced productivity in thin sheets

Courses offered include: • Welding & Fabrication Inspectors: Level 1 & 2 • ASME Codes of Construction for Inspection Personnel for Inspection of Steam Generators and Pressure Vessels • AWS D1.1 Codes of Construction • Appreciation of Welding for Engineers • Appreciation of NDT for Engineers • Radiographic Interpreters (ISO 20807) • Competent Person Inspectors

TruPunch 3000 Turn waste into money A world first - Skeleton free processing Maximise your sheet with more parts and less scrap Electric punching head

TruBend 5130

For further information contact:

Michelle Warmback Cell: 082 550 3136 E-mail: warmbackm@saiw.co.za www.saiw.co.za

3230mm bending length 1300kN press force Outstanding productivity User-friendly, automatically controlled bending

Productivity, reliability and quality Contact Karel or Derek at:

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metals, alloys, fabrication & machine tools

April / May 2014

KZN Industrial & Business News

19

Washers secure bolted joints from vibrations

B Secure and efficient parting off

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he CoroCut QD system from Sandvik Coromant for deep grooves and parting off with long overhangs, has expanded the range of inserts and durable tools with over and under coolant.

The system is supported with plug and play adaptors for easy handling and efficient coolant supply.

For bar feed manufacturers, process security in terms of good chip control and long reliable tool life is the key to efficient production. To meet these needs CoroCut QD combines strong tools and inserts with rigid clamping and efficient coolant supply.

Good chip control is achieved by combining over- and under coolant on all tools which keeps the temperature down at the cutting edge for less tool wear and a more stable performance, while at the same time providing for efficient chip evacuation.

Add to this the support from plug and play adaptors for easy coolant connection and a rigid yet user-friendly clamping mechanism for easy insert changes, and you get CoroCut QD - a system that not only ensures process security, but also easy handling for real machining efficiency.

To counteract the high forces at the cutting edge, the tool material has high fatigue resistance and the tool tip seat features a back stop so the insert stays in its position preventing the seat wearing down when the insert is indexed.

The inserts themselves are also developed with good coating adhesion and high edge-line security, for long tool life in every parting off operation.

The system was first introduced in Enquiry No: 45 October 2013.

New improved alloys introduced

ickel Chrome Molybdenum N (Nistelle) alloys are commonly used for their exceptional resistance to highly

corrosive service environments in the paper processing, chemical, petrochemical, and other industries.

The new Kennametal Stellite, Nistelle Super C, available to Weartech, has been improved over the traditional composition of the previous product, resulting in improved abrasion and corrosion resistance.

It is also easier to finish, with less tear out (galling) during the grinding process.

Current and potential applications include a bond coat for ceramic coatings used in the paper industry, roll cover coating used in processing chemical for fertilisers, buildup material for surface restoration where corrosion is a factor, buildup coating where support to a top coat such as a WC-containing material is needed, coatings applied using hydrogen as fuel may be single point turned, drilled or milled, surface coating where corrosion resistance and significantly increased wear resistance are required and used to restore and improve component life in marine applications such as pump shafts and sleeves.

When blended with 75% Stelcar Tungsten Carbide Cobalt powder the wear resistance increases significantly without marked degrading of the corrosion resistance.

Nistelle Super C is available in a High Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF) and Plasma Transferred Arc powder while the JK-6806 WC/12 Co containing powder is available in a HVOF Powder only.

MG has extended its range of NordLock bolt securing systems to include the recently launched X-series washers, which is designed to safely secure bolted joints exposed to severe vibration and dynamic loads.

“There are two reasons why bolted joints normally fail – spontaneous bolt loosening and slackening,” says Darryl Campbell, general manager for BMG’s fasteners, tools and equipment division. “Bolted joints in heavy industries are constantly subjected to external forces which results in spontaneous loosening due to vibration and dynamic loads. With the development of new materials and techniques – such as corrosion resistance composites – slackening is a common problem that results from settlement and relaxation.

“Nord-Lock’s recently launched X-series washers has been designed for optimum bolt security, even in the most demanding operating conditions. The wedge-effect design prevents spontaneous bolt loosening and an integrated

spring effect of the system compensates for the loss of preload due to slackening.”

Each washer pair has cams on one side and radial teeth on the opposite side to secure the bolted joint with tension, rather than friction. The conical shape of these washers creates an elastic reserve in the bolted joint to compensate for the loss of preload and prevents slackening.

Advances in polymers and sandwich composite technology have the advantage of strength to weight ratio and corrosion resistant properties that make applications lighter, without losing strength. But these materials are softer than metal materials previously used and make slackening an additional challenge. The multifunctional wedge-locking concept of the X-series combats these problems.

Surface treatments, which are common for

corrosion protection, can also lead to slackening as the bolt sinks into the treated surface after tightening. Even a thin millimetre surface would normally put bolts at risk, but with the compensating spring of X-series, slackening is prevented.

The combined tension and spring action of X-series washers combats the effects of surface treatments, thermal cycling and vibration.

The Nord-Lock X-series washers, which is quick and easy to install and remove with standard tools, has been certified by quality and safety by TŰV, a leading international institute in quality and safety certification.

All bolted joints have a functional preload range in which the joint is safe. Serious problems start as soon as the preload falls outside the functional range. If the preload is too high, yielding occurs. If it is too low, there is separation or sliding between the parts. Enquiry No: 47

Afrox’s new generation gas pressure regulator a world first Afrox has launched the most technologically advanced and engineered gas pressure regulator to hit the global industrial market. Called SMOOTHFLO™, the regulator embodies unique and innovative features which ensure its market leading status worldwide.

in the global gas pressure regulator market,” says Adams. “SMOOTHFLO™ is the new industry benchmark, incorporating all the elements of modern technologies and safety features demanded by the mining, fabrication, manufacturing, shipbuilding, railways and automotive industries.”

“SMOOTHFLO™ represents years of research and development investment, clearly demonstrating Afrox’s total commitment to being a leader in the gas equipment market,” says Nazmi Adams Afrox’s Head of Hardgoods and Exports.

The easy-to-operate SMOOTHFLO™ is one of the safest gas regulators in its class.

The break-off inlet stem is designed to ensure that should a cylinder and regulator be accidently impacted by a fall, the high performing excess-flow valve will automatically safely seal off gas discharge from the cylinder into the atmosphere.

Other safety features include a pistonembedded safety valve that eliminates the need for a diaphragm. Piston-driven technology produces excellent pressure stability at higher flow rates, which allows an operator to achieve greater gas cutting speeds.

“Afrox and BOC changed the world a decade ago when it launched the world class Series 8000 and Series 9500 range of regulators that changed the global competitive landscape. The unique combination of Afrox’s Gas Equipment Research and Development competencies and the German technology heritage of its parent, The Linde Group, has again developed a Leading product that will impact the global arena and significantly improve operator safety.” says Nazmi Adams.

The Development project team included marketing and technical experts from the many Linde global businesses and was project lead by Linde’s global product management team, making this a truly global product for the Linde Group.

“The SMOOTHFLO™ regulator is a South African developed, designed and engineered product, manufactured locally, to global standards which set new heights

pressure stability and reduces internal forces, for improved life and performance of the regulator.

“One of the most exciting features of this new hybrid product is the fact that multistage-like performance is achieved from a single-stage regulator,” comments Adams.

The SMOOTHFLO™ gas pressure regulator is backed by more than 50 years of Afrox competency in designing gas equipment, and is ISO 2503 and AS 4267 certified. The patented design has been oxygen ignition tested as well as promoted oxygen ignition tested by international inspection body Apragaz. Product certification to these standards was witnessed by TÜV Rheinland SA. For more information, contact the Afrox Customer Service Centre on 0860 020202.

The mirror configuration of the SMOOTHFLO™ regulators prevents hose overlap and reduces the potential risk of oxygen/acetylene fires. The panel mounted gauges are an integral part of the regulator, improving safety and reducing potential pressure gauge damage.

The outer casing is manufactured from a robust polymer based material and affords ultimate pressure gauge protection.

A unique lever-activated encapsulated valve with Dynamic Quadflow Stability Control technology (DQSC) offers a high level of

www.afrox.com

Enquiry No: 46

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2013/12/05 4:38 PM

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New electrodes reflect all the criteria for localisation A

frox’s locally manufactured range of welding electrodes reflect all the elements required for a robust contribution to government’s localisation initiative.

“Our Welding Consumables Factory in Brits has created jobs for South Africans for many years and continuously developed their skills, while producing world class value added products. As the brand leader in welding consumables in Southern Africa, with a capacity to produce more than 750 tons per month, Afrox manufactures an extensive range of electrodes that cover most types of material that can be welded,”says Afrox’s Sandy Majatladi, Product Manager for Special Consumables.

“In order to be successful, locally produced products must be able to compete with the imported equivalent on quality and cost and we have met these criteria very effectively with our electrode offering.

All our electrodes are manufactured to AWS (American Welding Society) specifications and we’re even able to exceed these requirements when

producing electrodes to meet specific customer requirements. Most of our electrodes also conform to other international standards, such as TüV, Lloyds Register and ABS.” A leading example of the Afrox Welding Consumables Factory’s commitment to localisation is the recent introduction of a robust new product, the Transarc 6013 electrode, which achieves a significant reduction in cost without compromising key performance fundamentals, with conformance to AWS standards.

“The development of this innovative electrode arose out of our desire to remain competitive in our market,” says Majatladi.

“It had become evident that we needed to develop a good quality, cost effective electrode. The resulting Transarc 6013 product can be used to weld in all positions and is generally used to weld mild steel. The product demonstrates very good weldability characteristics benchmarked against some of the premium competitors’ products.

"A lot of work was invested in this

product in terms of testing the electrode to ensure that it would perform at exceptional levels and that it conformed to world class standards.

When it comes to performance, we left no stone unturned and this electrode is already doing very well in the general fabrication and repair markets, as well as in light steel and construction.”

Towards the end of 2013 Afrox’s Speciality Consumables Factory moved from its historic premises at Spartan near OR Tambo International Airport and was consolidated into the Welding Consumables Factory at Brits.

The decision to consolidate the two factories supported Afrox’s strategy of growing market share and profitability by manufacturing products at the lowest possible cost and enhancing the customer’s experience at all levels.

“This consolidation will achieve reduced operational costs, reduced lead times in terms of product availability, sustained quality and speedy product certification,” says Majatladi.

Enquiry No: 48

Dust protection for all uses

he new Affinity range of disposable dust T masks from the African division of MSA, offers reliable protection from solid and liquid particles,

Robust WARRIOR™ for Reliable Multi-process Welding and Heavyduty Productivity

and is compliant with world leading EN 149: 2001 and local SANS 50149: 2003 standards of filtering protection, including; FFP1 - which filters at least 80% of airborne particles, FFP2 - which filters at least 94% of airborne particles, and FFP3 - which filters at least 99% of airborne particles.

The new range of 1200 cup-shaped respirator and 2200 folded respirator dust masks feature colour-coded attachments which allow for easy identification of the FFP protection level, thereby assisting the user in selecting the correct mask for a specific application.

These masks protect the user against most penetrating solid and liquid aerosol particles. The FFP1 rated dust masks are ideal for cutting, grinding and sawing tasks, whereas the FFP2 dust masks are better suited for more heavy duty applications such as machining, welding or brazing. In more at risk areas such as asbestos environments, FFP3 level dust masks are advised.

The Affinity 1200 cupshaped respirator dust mask boasts an AnthroCurve sealing flange which, together with the pre-shaped nose cup and an external elastic band, offer the user a more secure fit.

This mask has been dolomite tested to ensure breathing comfort even in high dust environments. The FFP3 model has the additional benefits of a separate adjustable elastic band and inner face seal for a better fit in a hazardous environment.

The Affinity 2200 folded dust mask features an anthropological vertical low profile design, while the vertical folds ensure an ergonomic face seal. FFP3 Affinity 2200 dust masks have a separate adjustable elastic band and come with hygienic pocket-size packaging, with an optional exhalation valve that optimises air flow by removing exhaled breath, thereby reducing the temperature and moisture vapour to make breathing easier for the user.

The entire MSA Africa Affinity range of face masks come in one standard size, and can be easily fitted to all face and head sizes and shapes without affecting performance. The high filter media quality allows for five years of storage life Enquiry No: 49 from the date of manufacture.

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A rugged design, multi voltage up to 575V, clear user interface and high duty cycle of 100% at 400A underline the suitability of WARRIOR™ for southern Africa’s demanding work environment. Inverter technology saves money through lower energy costs. A sun-friendly display, IP23 rating for fan operation in the rain and generator compatibility ensures that WARRIOR™ is as at home at site as it is in the workshop. WARRIOR™ is ready to deliver performance wherever and whenever it is needed.

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2014/04/15 7:44 AM

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On track with Thukela project in KZN

relatively large tender was recently awarded to civil engineering and construction group Esor’s pipeline division – the Thukela Pipeline Project that calls for the installation of 29 km of DN900 continuously welded steel pipeline, with 6 mm and 7 mm wall thicknesses, between the Command Reservoir near Mandini and the Mvoti Reservoir at KwaDukuza-Stanger in KwaZuluNatal.

The project, awarded by stateowned water utility, Umgeni Water is part of the Lower Thukela Bulk Water Supply Scheme that will extend the utility’s bulk water infrastructure system along the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast area to meet the ever-increasing water demands of the population in this area.

Esor has successfully completed an extensive amount of work for this client in the past and along with competitive pricing and a technically sound tender, the contract was awarded in February 2013. Laying of the 29 km pipeline, which has a polyurethane exterior coating and an epoxy internal lining, began at the Mvoti Reservoir and has progressed through KwaDukuza and Darnall and is currently en-route to Command Reservoir near Mandeni.

The pipeline will also cross the Nonoti River by attachment to an

existing road bridge. The Esor pipelines team will pay particular attention to pipeline crossings of existing services such as powerlines, fibre optic cables, water and sewer pipelines, as well as the construction of the new pipeline adjacent to existing services.

Eight pipejacks, four beneath major roads and four beneath operational railway lines, are also being constructed.

The contract includes connecting the pipeline into the Mvoti Reservoir and constructing a new outlet chamber at the reservoir, and connecting the outlet to the existing supply pipeline from Hazelmere. Esor will also performance test the pipeline and this will include testing of coatings and linings and hydrostatic pressure testing.

The core Esor pipelines team on this project totals 40 personnel and about 200 local labourers have been recruited to supplement the work crew.

All the specialist equipment necessary for this project has been sourced from Esor’s own fleet.

Esor’s pipeline division operates mainly in the gas and petrochemical, water, stormwater and sewerage sectors. With specialist expertise in laying and welding of steel pipelines as well as in pipeline refurbishment including mechanical and linings and coatings, the division services both public and private sector clients from top mining and industrial groups to regional and municipal government. A fully equipped workshop and yard to support fleet maintenance operates on site at the business unit’s head office.

Enquiry No: 50

Supporting World Water Day

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ASF Holdings South Africa (Pty) Ltd was actively involved in supporting World Water Day in March, through a number of programmes and initiatives aimed at highlighting the importance of this increasingly scarce resource.

With an increasing world population the demand for water continues to grow, resulting in it becoming an increasingly scarce resource. In South Africa alone, more than three million people suffer as a result. This is why, in 2009, the BASF Social Foundation, together with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), started a programme to help the local community of the Maloti-Drakensberg to develop a stable drinking water system. The South African Department of Environmental Affairs implemented the project locally, supported by BASF in South Africa.

“Our project aims to give thousands of people access to clean, affordable drinking water.

At the same time, several new jobs were created – essential in a region where almost half of the population is unemployed”, explains Hartmut Unger Managing Director of BASF Social Foundation, Germany According to BASF’s Head of Business Center South Africa and Sub-Sahara, JoanMaria Garcia-Girona, the company is undertaking a number of initiatives in support of this awareness project.

“Access to water remains a challenge for many of the people in the communities that surround our business operations,” he said.

“In order to support our global access to water campaign, we will be donating 18 ‘Hippo Water Rollers’ to local communities, while at the same time, embarking on an internal awareness programme with our employees about the importance of this scarce resource – if everyone plays their part responsibly, we can collectively make an impact,” he said. “Of the total of 3,862,000 million cubic meters of water withdrawn per year, more than two-thirds are by agriculture and one-fifth by industry. water Enquiry No: 51 in production

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Northern Aqueduct begins

onstruction of Durban’s Northern Aqueduct Augmentation (NAA) which will begin to put in place urgently needed bulk water infrastructure for the rapidly developing northern areas of the city commenced in March.

Project manager, Martin Bright, said that

Esor Franki Construction, which was awarded the contract for the first phase of the NAA project at the beginning of this year, was already on site.

This first phase of the NAA extends from Phoenix 2 reservoir in Phoenix to Waterloo and then to Umhlanga with a feed to the new

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Blackburn reservoir. It comprises 22km of pipeline valued at R150million.

Awarding of the tender to construct the Blackburn Reservoir is imminent. This reservoir is essential for further development of Cornubia which is now regarded as both Durban and KwaZulu-Natal’s largest “sustainable integrated human settlement initiative”.

Once completed, Cornubia will be a 1300 hectare, multibillion-rand development, incorporating industrial, commercial, residential and open space uses. Construction of the first residential phase of the development is underway and completed houses have been allocated. A total of 25 000 units is expected to be built within the next 10 years.

Construction on the 200 hectare Cornubia Business and Industrial Estate has also commenced with the majority of sites already sold to developers.

The existing Northern Aqueduct, currently operated by EWS is stretched to the limit.

This network of bulk supply pipelines serves the north eastern portion of the EWS area of supply to the north of the Umgeni River, to the south of the Ohlanga River and to the east of Ntuzuma. The aqueduct conveys potable water from Durban Heights Waterworks to a large number of terminal reservoirs in the system. These, in turn, supply water to residents and businesses.

The Durban Heights purification works draws water from the Albert Falls, Nagle and Inanda dams and supplies about 93 percent of total water demand for the entire northern area.

“The Northern Aqueduct has reached capacity on various sections of the trunk mains as a

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Enquiry No: 52

Bundled operation and maintenance a growing trend in SA

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ome of South Africa’s largest manufacturing and industrial-sector companies have turned to leading water services company, Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies South Africa (Veolia), to wholly manage the day-to-day operation and maintenance of their on-site water treatment plants.

According to Veolia’s MD, Gunter Rencken: “Our experience in the southern African water industry has shown that many companies do not have the skills and know-how available to suitably manage their own water treatment plants.

Companies tend to focus on their primary activities and, if water plants experience prob-

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result of growth in demand over the years. We may have enough water to meet the current demand but we don’t have the infrastructure or network capacity to deliver it to where it is needed,” Macleod said.

However, Neil Macleod, head of eThekwini Water and Sanitation (EWS), said that now that the NAA was about to commence, concerns about the tenuous water situation to the north of Durban had been alleviated and approval of building plans for much needed new developments such as Cornubia, the Dube Tradeport, DubeAgrizone and DubeCity, La Mercy and Westbrook could be expedited.

Bright explained that the Northern Aqueduct was not being constructed in linear fashion.

Segments in areas of critical need would be put in place first which would allow for back feeding of reservoirs in order to guarantee an uninterrupted supply of water.

Construction of the second contract of the NAA project, which stretches from Duffs Road to the Phoenix 2 reservoir, is expected to begin during the first half of 2014. This 6km pipeline, is valued at approximately R80 million.

Completion of both the first and second contracts is scheduled for the 2nd quarter of 2015.

lems, the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire production process can be placed at risk.”

“It has become increasingly viable to wholly outsource water and wastewater treatment plant operation and maintenance to suppliers, who have the necessary skills, infrastructure and footprints in the region,” he added.

One of the contracts Veolia recently secured requires full operation and maintenance, as well as continuous chemical supply, to improve the quality of discharged wastewater coming from a global food company’s plant near Johannesburg.

According to Hein van Niekerk, GM at Veolia’s local Chemicals & Consumables division, “Before we started managing the plant, the water leaving the plant into the municipal sewer system wasn’t meeting the discharge standards, resulting in our customer having to pay penalties to the municipality.

“Without any upgrades to the plant, and simply by managing the day-to-day operations, we’ve improved the plant’s wastewater quality to exceed the municipality’s minimum standards, which has drastically cut costs for treating the factory’s wastewater.”

Veolia has also been contracted by a leading soft drink manufacturer in Johannesburg to upgrade the bottling plant water purification section and to operate the plant for a fixed period after commissioning.

Veolia also operates and maintains nine plants throughout KwaZulu-Natal, including the flagship Durban Water Recycling plant which treats up to 47 Ml/day of domestic and industrial sewage to near-drinking standards for direct re-use by industry.

Other projects include the two containerised wastewater treatment plants at King Shaka International Airport, which has special wastewater discharge requirements due to its location in an environmentally sensitive area.

Veolia is further helping a leading global FMCG company to recover up to 70% of all water used by operating and maintaining a large-scale rain water harvesting plant.

Enquiry No: 53

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Local supplier for Waste Water Treatment Works upgrades

he recently completed upgrade to the Northern Waste Water Treatment Works in Ethekwini, involved both electrical and mechanical changes to the existing system.

One of the suppliers selected to support this project was Aumanat. The company, a leading actuator specialist, is based in Mahogany Ridge, just outside of Pinetown and was established in 1995 by its owner, Peter Meyer.

According to Ashley Pillay, the design engineer on the project, Aumanat was chosen for the project based on previous experience and for their unsurpassed record in after sales service and communication protocol.

The product supplied for the project was the latest generation .2 AUMA actuator as well as the necessary controls. The purpose of an actuator is to open and close values. They can

be used for isolation or for control and have been installed on penstocks, sluice gates, gate valves and butterfly valves throughout the plant from the head of works all the way through to the digesters, primary settling tanks and clarifiers.

The actuators are controlled via Modbus Interface and the generation .2 actuators feature non-intrusive settings.

The AC controls are ideal when the application requires self-adapting control functions, data logging, configurable user interface or if valves and actuators are to be implemented into a Plant Asset Management by advanced diagnostic function.

AC controls are equipped with large and freely programmable parallel interfaces to established fieldbus systems within process

automation, including the Profibus DP-V2. For fieldbus connections, AC programming can be performed from the control room.

The diagnostic functions comprise a timestamped event report, torque characteristics logging, continuous recording of temperatures and vibration within the actuator and also counts the number of starts and motor running times.

The AC01.2 also offers a number of special functions, including torque by-pass to unseat valves if tightly seated and functions for modifying operating times to avoid water hammer within pipelines. The AC 01.2 design is user friendly and integrates actuators easily into the DCS. Aumanat has been successful in securing the upgrade for the Kwamashu Waste Water

Treatment works from the same client, and installations have already commenced on site.

According to Peter Meyer, “AUMA are the world leaders in the field of electric actuators and our success is the result of both a high quality product and our commitment to uncomEnquiry No: 54 promising service”.

Extended range of sewage and drainage pumps

A

n expanded range of Evak sewage and drainage pumps, many of which are being made available to the South African market for the first time, is generating an immense amount of interest. In fact Corde Africa, which is importing these products, reports that within two weeks of receiving the latest shipment of pumps from this range, more than a third had already been sold.

“Since we launched the expanded range of Evak pumps, the interest these products has generated in the local market by word of mouth has been tremendous, verifying our conviction that we’ve brought something new and exciting to the market,” Errol Cornelius of Corde Africa says. “We’re fielding enquiries from plumbers, pump retailers, consulting engineers and contractors alike. The pumps, available across a spectrum of sizes, a r e made to world class quality standards in Taiwan, where each unit is tested before it leaves the factory. We selected this range because it is proven, robust and efficient, as well as being compatible with local conditions.”

“The sewage industry in South Africa is a huge and growing market and we intend to become a significant player in this arena. We believe the return on investment offered by this extended range of drainage, sewage and contractor pumps will help position us to achieve this objective.”

At the same time Corde Africa has introduced a second new product offering — a range of Corde borehole motors manufactured by international motor producer Sumoto in Italy. The 6” OYC series motor is cooled using a special food grade lubricant and incorporates a plug in lead cable for ease of installation and maintenance, while the 4” 4WP series features a new size stator core and a watertight cable connector.

“The borehole industry is a high volume market that attracts a lot of copies, but Sumoto is one of the world leaders in the production and commercialisation of 3”, 4” and 6” submersible motors,” says Cornelius. “We’re confident that it will offer the local market excellent performance and real value for money.”

Corde Africa also supplies uPVC borehole pipe columns to this industry, which have a number of technical advantages over the traditional galvanised iron borehole piping including being lightweight, easy to transport and corrosion resistant.

“In the coal industry, where the pH of the water is very low, the average lifespan of a galvanised iron borehole pipe is three weeks,” he comments. “Our uPVC alternative has the highest specifications in the industry and is enjoying a steady uptake in the mining and agricultural sectors. The smooth walls of this product ensure water flow at low friction losses, contributing to a high ‘water to wire’ ratio and reduced Enquiry No: 55 energy costs.

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KZN Industrial & Business News

KwaMashu waste water works rehabilitation E thekwini Municipality recently approved the rehabilitation of the KwaMashu Waste Water Treatment Works situated about 25kms north of Durban. Aecom Consulting Engineers specified half a dozen Sika products which were applied in three separate phases of the project.

The first application of Sika products involved waterproofing the roof slabs which measured approximately 900m². Contractor, Industrial Linings Natal, prepared the surface area by grinding and pressure cleaning, prior to an application of Sikalastic-EP Primer II, a two-part, low viscosity, epoxy-polyamine resin. This multi-

purpose primer is easy to apply, with short waiting times, and provides good penetration and high bond strength. It is suitable for internal and external use and can be used as a primer for all PUR and polyurea systems.

This was followed by a 1.5mm layer of Sikalastic-841 ST, a twopart, very fast-curing pure polyurea membrane designed for machine application only. This versatile product is suitable for waterproofing and anticorrosion applications on concrete, steel and many other substrates. It is 100% solids with zero VOC, is UV resistant and provides excellent crack-bridging properties.

The second application of Sika

products for strengthening of the roof slabs was awarded to AMFRA Maintenance Services. After diamond grinding the roof surface, a preparation layer of Sikadur-30 (8 kits) was applied. Based on a combination of epoxy resins and special filler, this structural two-part adhesive is easy to mix and apply and offers high creep resistance under permanent load. The shrinkage-free hardening of Sikadur-30 is not affected by high humidity, a significant factor for this particular project. It provides high initial and ultimate mechanical resistance and is impermeable to liquids and water vapour.

To complete this phase, a layer of Sika CarboDur Plates (S512 x 116 metres) was applied over the adhesive. These pultruded, carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates are designed for external reinforcement of concrete, timber and masonry structures. This internationally approved product is used worldwide in a wide range of applications including load increase, damage to structural elements as in earth quake damage,

service improvements such as stress reduction in steel reinforcement, as well as for changes to a structural system. Supplied in lightweight rolls, Sika CarboDur Plates are very easily installed, while their high strength and outstanding fatigue resistance provide excellent durability.

The third and final stage of the project involved joint sealing on the five Digester Tanks. Fakazi Construction applied 80m x 2mm of the SikadurCombiflex SG system, which consists of a modified flexible Polyolefin (FPO) waterproofing tape with advanced

adhesion, to each tank.

The tank surfaces were prepared by scabbling, prior to a coating of Sikadur-31 CF Normal, a moisturetolerant, thixotropic, structural twopart adhesive based on a combination of epoxy resins and special fillers. This high strength adhesive and repair mortar offers very good chemical resistance.

When fixed to a joint, the versatile Sikadur-Combiflex SG sealing system allows for irregular and high movement in more than one direction, whilst still maintaining a high quality seal. It is easy to install, extremely flexible, weather- and water-resistant and is suitable for use in many difficult situations.

The main contractor on this project, Icon Construction, coordinated the three sub-contractors so that each Sika application was done according to a scheduled programme. After receiving the best possible rehabilitation possible, the KwaMashu Waste Water Treatment Works should be structurally sound far into the foreseeEnquiry No: 56 able future.

Giant nozzle check-valve biggest yet

T

he biggest nozzle checkvalve yet made by Aveng Manufacturing DFC has been delivered to a neighbouring state for incorporation in a pipeline project as a key part of pipeline pressure management.

The giant 1200mm nominal bore Vent-O-Mat NCV model B weighs almost 5 tons and has a flow range of 800 to 4500 l/s. DFC shipped the completed valve in February.

The design engineers for the pipeline project elected to use a nozzle check-valve in the pressure management system because of its of the neighbouring state’s pipeline, suitability for systems using water the time needed to refill the pipeline flow rather than air to protect against against the pressure of indrawn air damage by surge and water hammer. was viewed as undesirable.

Pipeline surge and water hammer Instead, an alternative solution was are caused by separation of the designed to use the vacuum created water column when a pump trips or is by water column separation to draw switched off. The column separates, additional water into the pipeline from and potentially damaging volumes of a feeder tank at the top of the pipeline water begin to surge back and forth profile. within the pipeline.

The nozzle check valve (NCV) is Damage is usually prevented by the the ideal product to aid this process, use of air valves that allow air to be because it is designed to open drawn into or ejected from the pipeline readily for forward flow under normal to compensate for pressure build-up conditions, to backseat firmly at low and vacuum caused by movement flow, and to close fully and rapidly on wmb-706 bredelcolumn, ad_Layout Pageflow 1 of the water but1 in29/04/2014 the case 12:24 reverse without any of the shock

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associated with standard checkvalves as they slam shut.

Seat leakage in the closed position is minimal.

In the case of the DFC NCV, an annular ring design was used to minimise disc weight, allowing the valve to switch from fully open to fully closed in a fraction of a second. Dynamic and head loss performance is outstanding because of the low disc mass and superior pressure recovery capabilities of this annulus configuration. The annular ring design also prevents jamming under conditions of unevenly distributed flow, for example after a bend.

DFC won the neighbouring state contract because of the Vent-OMat NCV’s ability to meet project application parameters. These are that the valve has to be in the closed position at the minimum system static head of 7 metres, and re-open under a differential head of between 2,5 and 5 metres.

The NCVs of other manufacturers require much larger differential heads to open, and competitors declined to Enquiry No: 57 submit tenders.

Automating effluent

A

sampling

Bredel APEX15 hose pump from Watson-Marlow Pumps Group has been installed at a leading UK sewage treatment works (Thames Water).

Thanks to the APEX15, final effluent samples can now be collected automatically before transfer to the lab for testing.

Mogden STW in Isleworth, Middlesex, United Kingdom serves around 2.1 million people. In 2013, Thames Water completed a £140m upgrade to extend the site’s sewage treatment capacity by 50%. Later that same year, Thames Water also wanted to update its effluent sampling process.

“There was a clear business need to replace the manual method of collecting treated effluent samples,” explains Mike Westbrook, SES Project Engineer.

The Bredel APEX15 hose pump is now used daily to take a final sewage effluent sample at 6m suction lift for laboratory testing. The flow rate is 2 litres per minute.

“The APEX15 was specified by the Thames Water sampling team as they had used it successfully at Long Reach STW in Dartford, Kent,” says Mr Westbrook. “It’s robust selfpriming and dry running capability suits our application. The pump has performed well since it was installed in November 2013.”

The Bredel APEX15 is designed to suit all dosing, metering and transfer applications from 2.8 - 1200 litres per hour flow across a broad range of applications.

Unlike other pump types, APEX hose have no expensive wearing components such as seals, valves, membranes, stators, rotors or glands. Subsequently, they are ideally suited for handling ‘difficult’ fluids.’

Enquiry No: 58

April / May 2014

25

KZN Industrial & Business News

TRANSPORT, DISTRIBUTION & WAREHOUSING Two SA logistics R240-million companies merge recapitalisation B programme

D

CD Rolling Stock is a division of international manufacturing and engineering company DCD Group. The company is currently implementing a R240-million recapitalisation programme aimed at the implementation of new and advanced technology to enhance its competitiveness as a manufacturer and supplier of locomotives, wagons and bogies to railway, mining and industrial operations.

Due to its large-scale nature, the programme will be rolled out over a three to five-year period. Phase 1 involves a R100-million investment in the regaining and upgrading of its 42 000 m² manufacturing facility and its manufacturing equipment.

DCD Rolling Stock General Manager Petrus Mulaudzi says: “The DCD Group has invested a total of R80-million to regain this facility from our sister company DCD Protected Mobility, which has moved to a new purpose built manufacturing plant in Isando, Gauteng. An additional R10million was spent on the installation of four robotic welding cells in October 2013, while the balance was spent on repairs.”

According to Mulaudzi, the recapitalisation programme is essential in

promoting internal skills development and growth within DCD Rolling Stock.

“Despite years of downturn, the railway industry in South Africa and the rest of the continent, looks set to rapidly expand. It is therefore important for DCD Rolling Stock to proactively prepare for this by investing in our people and infrastructure.”

Since 1944, DCD Rolling Stock has produced over 130 000 wagons, 1 000 surface locomotives and 4 000 underground locomotives and over 278 000 bogies. With a large focus being placed on South Africa, Mulaudzi notes that billions of rand are being invested by state-owned freight and passenger rail companies. “By establishing a world-class manufacturing facility through the recapitalisation programme, DCD Rolling Stock can add substantial value to this supply chain in the short- to medium-term future.”

Mulaudzi believes that Africa in particular holds the greatest potential for the company’s growth into the future.

“Under-developed countries with burgeoning mining industries, such as Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania, will serve as the catalyst for railway development, due to the fact that

A SOLUTION FOR YOUR EVERY NEED

an increasing number of mines will require a link to a port for exporting purposes.”

DCD Rolling Stock manufacturing manager Frank Ramage explained that the implementation of Swedishengineered Motoman automated robotic welding cells will increase production volumes, in addition to more efficiently utilising the skills of experienced manual welders.

“The larger cells have a reach of 3,2 m and can currently weld structures up to approximately 9 m in length and due to the modular design, can be extended beyond twelve to eighteen metres to ensure faster turnaround times. By incorporating these robotic welding cells into the manufacturing lines on straight weld jobs, we can remove experienced welders from this standard and mundane task, and redirect them to more complex projects with curves and corners that require their skills,” he notes.

Ramage states that automation will not downsize staff numbers, but rather increase volumes while improving worker morale and productivity through effective skills utilisation.

Enquiry No: 59

FASSI F1500

FASSI MINING APPLICATION

SAFELIFT

SOCAGE

HOOKLIFTS

SKIPLOADERS

in Africa’s port and rail sectors.

SDV South Africa will be an integral part of Bolloré Africa Logistics, the leading integrated logistics network on the African continent with a presence in 55 countries worldwide, including 45 in Africa, with a workforce of 25,000. It offers a full scope of logistics-related services including vessel operations, inland distribution, freight forwarding and clearance, Supply Chain Management and warehousing and Industrial Project logistics.

Besides its highly reputed expertise in Africa, Bolloré Africa Logistics has become specialized in promoting South-South trade and offers end-to-end services to clients based in Asia, thanks to dedicated subsidiaries well positioned in India and China.

After the merger, SDV South Africa will have five dedicated offices located in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Richards Bay. Enquiry No: 60

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…enhancing your success

LIFTING AND LOADING

FASSI F245

olloré Africa Logistics has merged two of its subsidiary companies doing business in South Africa, SAEL and SDV. This merger took effect on April 1st, with the new entity now known as SDV South Africa.

The objective of this operation is to provide SAEL and SDV clients both in South Africa and across the entire region with a high level of expertise in logistics functions aimed at industrial projects, in handling freight forwarding throughout Africa and setting up multimodal and transit services.

“We believe it will have an enormously positive impact as we strive to further improve our ongoing relationships, interactions and level of service for our clients in South Africa and the whole region” says Managing Director of SDV South Africa Ken McDonald.

SDV South Africa will offer its South African and international clients access to the expertise and professionalism of the extensive Bolloré Group network, one of the world’s top 500 groups, listed on the Paris Stock Exchange and present on five continents.

Clients can tap into the resources of the SDV brand, specialist in freight forwarding within Europe, the Middle East, the United States and Southeast Asia, as well as those of Bolloré Africa Logistics, renowned for its integrated logistics network and the leading operator of public-private partnerships

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Matching the quality of the Linde R14 reach truck is a tall order.

The Active ‘C’ range offers nifty manoeuvrability in narrow aisle storage and an ergonomic operating compartment built for highlevel efficiency. Twin accelerator pedals combine with a high-torque AC drive motor to deliver impressive performance and handling.

And with up to 1000 operating hours between services and lower handling costs, the Linde R14 reach truck is sure to take your business to the next level.

For more information on Linde dealerships, products and services contact us on Tel : +27 31 716 7460 or visit www.linde-mh.co.za

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Linde Material Handling

26

TRANSPORT, WAREHOUSING & DISTRIBUTION

World class parts distribution operation

ahindra South AfricA, has M shown consistent growth in the last 10 years that it has been

operating in Southern Africa. The company has now upped its game in terms of providing world class parts distribution to its local dealer network.

“We have taken a one-stopsolution approach with Savino Del Bene (SDB) South Africa, one of the world’s leading logistics specialists taking responsibility for the entire supply chain, from ordering to receiving, warehousing and delivery. SDB is already doing the forwarding and clearing of our vehicles, including exports,” said Mahindra SA CEO, Ashok Thakur.

The Mahindra parts operation has been relocated to a 10,000m² warehouse in Khulani Business Park in Jet Park, Ekurhuleni.

Mahindra and SsangYong parts are binned in an area of 3,500m² with space for expansion.

The new system is paperless with Mahindra and SsangYong

dealers being able to track their orders every step of the way in real time. The operation is already running at a first time supply rate of over 90%, with a target of 99.7%.

SDB has a strategic alliance with InSync Solutions, a company in the Imperial fold, which is a specialist in all aspects of logistics management, including extensive experience in the automotive field.

Enquiry No: 61

A

 NORTH REEF ROAD, ELANDSFONTEIN, JOHANNESBURG Tel: (011) 437-7700 sales@symo.co.za Fax (011) 437-7799 NATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR alan@symo.co.za (031) 564-6619 082-577 9646 asuthard@symo.co.za NATIONAL SALES ELANDSFONTEIN GERMISTON sales@symo.co.za (011) 437-7704 (Martie) (011) 437-7706 (Judy) (011) 437-7773 (Natasha)

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Breaking the mould

gainst the backdrop of challenging trading conditions in the global forklift sector which only grew by 6% in 2013 and a disappointing and largely unanticipated decline in sales in the local industry of 21%, Toyota Forklift still managed to maintain their market share position over the past year.

As this year marks Toyota Forklift’s 30th anniversary as an independent dealer in Southern Africa, the National Sales Manager Mike Norton (pictured) observed that the downturn may be a correction after a couple of years of good growth in 2011 and 2012, but the fact remains that overall marketing conditions are tough. He predicts; “Things aren’t likely to ease with issues such as the looming annual strike season, the government elections and low GDP growth expected for 2014 based on South Africa’s real GDP growth of just 1.9% in 2013.”

Despite this, Toyota Forklift has much to be proud of, given its increase in sales and the fact that it is currently ranked as Toyota Forklift’s top independent dealer in the world.

 

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April / May 2014

KZN Industrial & Business News

Mike attributes this to the company’s ability to innovate around challenges.

“We know we have to think smarter and sell smarter than ever before”.

Evidence of the value of this ‘out of the box’ thinking was the visit to Toyota Forklift’s National office in Johannesburg by a group of delegates under the auspices of the Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC) in February this year. Based in Japan, TTC brought a number of key distributors from across the world to visit Toyota Forklift’s South African operation with the latest visit attracting visitors from as far afield as: South America, Mexico, Russia, Kazakhstan, Thailand and Japan.

Mike says that one of the reasons why Toyota Forklift is seen as such a valuable benchmark, is the fact that it constantly innovates. “I think that our more maverick approach to our business, balanced of course by sound financial thinking, stems from South Africa’s economic isolation during the 1970s and 1980s.”

Our business community was forced to supply all product demand from

within South Africa’s borders. As a result, we became used to doing things differently and this continues to stand us in good stead.”

Another reason for EIE’s continued success is the benefits derived from its incredibly strong rental division which currently has around 6 900 machines on its books. This rental fleet provides a solid annuity income stream in difficult trading conditions.

The strength of its rental division aside the company’s core market remains its new vehicle business which maintains the sale of 3 000 trucks a year.

“We operate a highly capitalised business with 9 branches, 267 trained Toyota qualified technicians and R40million worth of spare parts at any one time. Our aftermarket philosophy is actually quite simple. We sell or rent our customers a truck and then offer a service plan for the lifespan of the vehicle. “ He adds; “What I always try and stress to customers is for them to consider the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) in terms of a more sophisticated, initially higher priced product offering’s value over the longer term.”

Enquiry No: 62

Silage in a plastic bag

new system for ensiling in plastic bags to cut costs versus the old bunker method is being introduced in South Africa.

Known as the farm bagger and developed by Budissa Bag Agroservices in Germany for the storage of grain and silage in silage bags at lower capital investments, the system is being marketed by Addcon Africa Feed and Grain Additives of Johannesburg.

The silage is stored in a polyethylene bag with a diameter of 2.70m and lengths up to 90m. The bag is filled with the help of a grain wagon at up to 300t/h. A silage bag with a length of 75 m contains about 250 tons of maize silage on 30% dry matter.

With this performance a harvest of about 3ha/h is possible. Only one person is required to operate the machine and rear tipper trailer or self loading forage wagons for filling. After filling, the bags are tightly closed, immediately hermetically sealed, and covered with protection nets. Compared to the bunker silo time required for compacting, covering with plastic film and

weighing down with sandbags or old tyres – all labour becomes completely unnecessary, says Klaus Oster, MD of Addcon.

In Europe, silage bagging has taken off at an unprecedented rate, says Dr Udo Weber, managing director of Budissa Bag Agroservices, who explained the technology to silage contractors in South Africa. In 1993 no silage bagging was done in Europe.

In 2013 more than seven million tons of grain and silage was stored in bags with 95% silage.

One of the main advantages for farmers or contractors is the cost saving in transport to a central bunker from farms 20 to 25 km apart. Silage can be bagged on the spot, from where it can be extracted for own consumption or sold to buyers.

The real-time, live logbook solution for SME fleets

Separate bags can be used for low or high quality material.

The cost for the harvesting and bagging equipment is about R1.2 million to handle a minimum of 10 000 tons of maize, grass or lucerne a year. Cost of the bag, 2.7m X 75m, is R7 500. Cost for unloading equipment is around R300 000. Long term rental options are also available.

Enquiry No: 63

T

he benefits of a fleet management and tracking system are wellknown and include the improved management of fleet vehicles in terms of accurate recordkeeping for insurance, tax and driver remuneration purposes, live vehicle and trip tracking, as well as improved driver behaviour which leads to reduced fuel consumption, wear and tear and fewer accidents. Until now, few small fleets have been able to harness these benefits due to the costs associated with most fleet management and tracking systems.

But now, thanks to the new GPS Log Book LIVE - the hasslefree, hands-off solution to tracking vehicle mileage, usage and position, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, - small and medium business owners, including plumbers, electricians, building contractors with one or more vehicles, as well as companies that offer company vehicles to their employees, can harness the major benefits of an entry level fleet management, automated log book and tracking system, without the costs.

With a compact and rugged design, the GPS Log Book LIVE simply plugs into the cigarette lighter of a vehicle, or can be installed permanently in the vehicle at an authorised dealer. It records every trip, using high

sensitivity GPS and intelligent logging software. The recently launched GPS Logbook LIVE version uploads this data automatically via the GSM network, where it is stored for the mandatory five-year period and can be viewed online anytime and from anywhere. Users have the ability to track the movement of a vehicle using Google Maps, live and in real-time on the GPS Logbook website or to review the trips later at their convenience.

Each trip can be categorised and annotated with comments, resulting in quick, detailed and SARS-compliant tax logbooks, comprehensive records of billable hours and extensive mileage and usage data for business owners.

PRO Account also extends the functionality of the device to include a mobile app, automatic address look up and even more detailed categorisation of each trip, allowing users to customise their own categories.

Enquiry No: 64

April / May 2014

KZN Industrial & Business News

TRANSPORT, DISTRIBUTION & WAREHOUSING

27

Transport company’s rental’s refurbishment pays off G oscor Rental Company (GRC), a division of Imperial’s Goscor Lift Truck Company, has made significant headway since its major restructuring and realignment just on 18 months ago.

“Our re-engineered business plan, which extended our focus to include the sales of refurbished forklifts, has made a significant difference to the business,” says GRC MD Darryl Shafto.

Among GRC’s clientele are well-known blue-chip companies like Enviroserv, Game and more recently, Nkunzi Pharmaceuticals, which benefited from a uniquely structured deal that, according to GRC sales manager Richard Brown, takes the rental concept to the next phase. “In short it’s used equipment on a long-term rental with a full maintenance plan,” he says.

Nkunzi Planning and Procurement manager Lorraine Stevenson says that the creative financial solution helped Nkunzi get excellent equipment at value-for-money prices. “We’re pleased with the performance of the machines, Goscor’s service and what we are paying. We could not ask for more,” she says.

Brown says that the shrinking new

Revolutionising light commercial transport

A

fter three million kilometres of testing with some of the leading European fleets, Pirelli presents the new Carrier: a high-technology tyre developed specifically for vans.

The Carrier guarantees a long tyre life; decreased fuel consumption thanks to a reduction in rolling resistance, better performance in the wet and increased comfort compared to previous generation tyres.

With the Carrier, Pirelli expands its range of commercial products, transferring the technology that has been developed for Ultra High Performance tyres through to the commercial vehicle sector.

The Carrier was created using state-ofthe-art design criteria, utilised successfully on Pirelli’s headlining products such as P Zero and Cinturato P7, but with increased emphasis on two key factors for the van market: safety and total life costs.

The new van tyre was conceived at the Italian firm’s research and development centre in Milan and was tested in advance by 20 key fleets in Italy, Germany, France, Great Britain, Spain and Turkey.

These tests subjected the tyre to a variety of different climatic conditions and diverse driving environments. All the principal characteristics of the new Carrier were confirmed by the fleets: a significant overall cost saving thanks to an increase in tyre life, reduced fuel consumption because of lower rolling resistance, and - above all - a better feeling behind the wheel.

The results of these life-sized tests correlated perfectly with the traditional development tests carried out by Pirelli’s engineers, who confirmed an improvement in tyre mileage of about 30%, thanks to a radical change in the geometry of the profile and a brand new tread compound.

The reduction in rolling resistance was achieved thanks to optimisation of the profile and the use of innovative materials.

The new tread pattern design, with three wide longitudinal grooves and the new compound, have also led to a 10% improvement in braking distances, better roadholding in the wet and increased resistance to aquaplaning: all guaranteeing safety and driving comfort.

Enquiry No: 66

equipment market (by almost 30%) means that companies are holding on to machines for longer periods and are generally looking to save money wherever they can. “This has boosted the rental and refurbished sales market considerably but has also meant that more creative solutions are required,” he says.

“One of the secrets is the way in which we handle the conundrum of short-term rental versus long-term rental versus the sale of refurbished equipment versus the sale of new equipment.

We take many factors into account and

ultimately give the client the solution that best suits their needs…and their pockets. And often those needs include custom-made machines that are suitable for specific purposes. We also know that the quality of the machines - new, refurbished or part of the rental fleet – and the quality of our service and support is crucial to the process. “ Shafto says that GRC’s refurbished and rental fleet forklifts are all engine inspected and fully load-tested.

“Because of this, we have built up a reputation for reliability and value for money, and, therefore, a loyal clientele.”

Enquiry No: 65

GRC sales manager Richard Brown (left) and Clinton Bagley GRC technician in the workshop with a refurbished Doosan forklift

April / May 2014

TRANSPORT, WAREHOUSING & DISTRIBUTION

28

KZN Industrial & Business News

Order picking in very narrow aisles W ith its new modular medium-lift order pickers, industrial truck manufacturer Linde Material Handling is expanding its product portfolio for very narrow aisle solutions. The current range of Linde V trucks, with a load-bearing capacity of 1 or 1.2 tons, a battery voltage of 24 or 48 volts and picking heights of up to 12 m, boasts exceptional ergonomics, performance and safety.

Thanks to their modular design, their configuration can be tailored to each customer. The optional RFID or barcode-supported aisle safety assistant is a particularly useful aid for the operator. At the same time, the transponders or barcodes can be used to ensure

efficient, semi-automated navigation within the warehouse.

The development engineers have redirected their attention to driver comfort on account of the processes that are typical of orderpicking applications. The picking tasks performed by operators take up a large proportion of their working day, and they spend significantly less time actually driving.

Driving is required in the phases before and after order picking, for example when the operator drives the truck from the battery charging station to the high racks or navigates to the next storage area. The developers have therefore focussed on ensuring that the driver receives as much support

HYSTER. FOR THE MOST DEMANDING WAREHOUSE APPLICATIONS.

when picking and storing goods. For this purpose, the internal length of the cab has been increased to 740 millimetres, giving the operator greater freedom of movement. The stable floormat on both sides of the cab enables the operator to maintain a secure foothold when order picking, and the anti-vibration mat with soft padding in the centre of the cab, featuring a large dead man switch, absorbs shocks while the truck is moving. Optionally, the fork arms on the truck can also be equipped with an auxiliary lift of 740 millimetres. This makes it faster and more comfortable for the operator to place goods removed from the rack onto the pallet. Another feature is the tilting order picking barriers on the sides. If the operator leans against these barriers, they move outwards by 15 degrees and increase the operator’s reach by some 50 centimetres, allowing the operator to reach goods that are stored further back in the racks more easily.

®

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T

Further optional auxiliary equipment includes a load-side operating panel or two operating panels, a cab design with a platform or pallet that can be walked on, a third barrier and protective cage, an additional push button for the auxiliary lift, mast-side or load-side mirror units and a modular fastening system for a terminal, printer and scanner.

The new modular medium-lift order pickers are controlled by a console that is integrated into the cab and fitted with touch sensors, enabling the console to be operated with either hand. Depending on whether the truck will be driven freely or used in a very narrow aisle, the operating panel is fitted either with a steering wheel or a steering knob. What’s more, with its clear layout, the LCD multifunction display provides the driver with all key information at a glance, such as driving speed, operating hours, lift height, steering position, battery status and, optionEnquiry No: 67 ally, load weight.

Optimising warehouse space

he Clasimat Vertical Lift Module (VLM) from Mecalux, a completely enclosed space-saving vertical automated storage system, is marketed, sold and serviced in southern Africa

by APC Storage Solutions SA. It is designed to maximise warehouse storage capacity by optimising storage space through extendable heights in a compact manner which can drive down warehouse costs by up to as much as 30%.

This unique storage system uses compartments within the VLM which can reach heights of 15.4 m. As the VLM is a sealed unit, controlled via the Mecalux EasyWMS software, security and safety are enhanced beyond conventional storage. In addition, limited human inter-

action decreases any possible security issues as only one machine operator is required. This means the goods stored inside are protected from possible accidental impact and improper handling. The door, which opens only when merchandise is picked or delivered, consists of two downward sliding panels preventing access to the shuttle from the front.

“The totally sealable unit also prevents stored items from gathering dust and grime,” points out Fred Albrecht, APC Storage Solutions SA Managing Director. The Clasimat can be used for storing all types of products generally stored in boxes, such as tools and

13th International Good Design Award

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electric components. Its high security value also makes it ideal for valuable or risky items including jewellery, pharmaceutical drugs, optical items and valuable documents, for example. “It can be stored practically anywhere from inside an established warehouse, replacing conventional racking where necessary, to an office environment, a pharmacy back-room and many more, as long as the chosen location has a ceiling of sufficient height to accommodate the elevation required.”

The VLM grows in height according to the number of goods needing storage, greatly reducing the surface area needed for the same quantity in a conventional warehouse.

System operation is simple. The operator selects the required product on the control panel and the shuttle automatically moves vertically to the level where the product is stored, extracts the corresponding tray and returns it to the picking area.

Enquiry No: 68

rown, one of the world’s largest material handling companies, recently announced its Crown ES 4000 pedestrian / ET 4000 rider stacker series earned a Good Design Award from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

Internationally renowned design institutions and associations have recognised Crown forklifts with more than 80 awards since 1965.

This recognition marks the 13th Good Design Award for Crown Equipment.

Crown warehouse and logistics equipment is distributed in Southern Africa by Imperial’s Goscor Lift Truck Company.

The Good Design jury honoured the Crown ES 4000 / ET 4000 stackers in the industrial category for high-quality design that reflects Crown’s understanding of the complex needs of forklift operators in daily work, as well as the company’s ability to provide solutions to improve the forklift-operator relationship.

Designed with operator ergonomics and ease of use in mind, the Crown ES 4000/ET 4000 Series offers enhanced handling and control features with increased visibility and manoeuvrability.

The overall visibility of the Crown ES 4000 / ET 4000 stacker is impressive, and the narrow chassis is perfect for block-stacking in narrow aisles. Overall, the Crown ET 4000 stacker is particularly suitable for continuously changing tasks without forcing any compromises.

Jim Kraimer, Director of Industrial Design at Crown Europe said: “An integral part of our approach to design is understanding the forkEnquiry No: 69 lift and operator relationship.”

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Accreditations add value to clients

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ECO system for container transport

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LT SA, recently introduced the newest product in the Mobicon range to the local market – the ECO series.

“Mobicon container handlers, which are designed to efficiently lift loads onto and off trucks and to carry containers safely around sites, now include the environmentally-friendly ECO system,” says Charity Gumede, marketing director, BLT SA. “The ECO Mobicon, which is economical to operate, has a simpler design than other machines in this range and uses less fuel. There are fewer moving parts and therefore increased reliability. This series has no grease points and the newly designed light frame uses less steel during manufacture to ensure a lower carbon footprint than conventional reach stackers and heavy forklifts. “ “The 2-Tower model is still the only container handler in the world that can bring containers inside a building, as it is only 4 m high while carrying a container.

“This series - with lower upfront investment costs, coupled with reduced operational and maintenance expenses - is ideally suited to companies with a relatively low container throughput. The ECO Mobicon system ensures improved productivity, faster handling times and reduced capital investment costs.”

The simple design of these

low maintenance machines utilises an economical four cylinder 60 hp diesel engine, coupled to a hydrostatic drive system, for reduced fuel costs. Consumption is approximately 5 litres an hour, compared to 22 l/hr for other container handling machines.

These machines, with increased manoeuvrability while carrying a 20’ container, also have a lower engine design, which is more accessible for maintenance.

These new ECO container handlers have also been designed for excellent visibility. The operator has a clear view of the working area and can look under the container while driving. There is no need to travel with a container 3 metres in the air, as with conventional systems.

The Mobicon takes containers off vehicles and places them on the ground so staff are now able to work safely at ground level instead of having to work at a trailer height of 1,5m, These are important safety features during loading, unloading and handling of containers.

Mobicons have a 35 tonne lift capacity and are able to carry any type or size ISO specified container, without the need for modifications or additional lifting equipment. The low centre of gravity of this system enhances stability, preventing the machine Enquiry No: 70 from rolling over.

eflecting its commitment to continuous improvement, Imperial Cargo, member company of Imperial Logistics, recently attained ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 accreditation, as well as RTMS (Road Traffic Management System) accreditation for its Cape Town and Port Elizabeth fleets. The company expects to have its full fleet RTMS accredited by the end of this year, reports managing director Christo Theron.

RTMS is an industry led, voluntary self regulation scheme that encourages consignees, consignors and transport operators to implement a vehicle management system that preserves road infrastructure, improves road safety and increases the productivity of the logistics value chain. “This system recognises sustainable, high standards in driver behavior and fleet maintenance. It measures loyalty and dedication to customers and staff - as well as national legislation compliance - through load control, driver wellness and vehicle fitness,” Theron elaborates. “All these factors impact the way in which we, as a logistics service provider behave on the road.”

Outlining the principles of ISO 14001 accreditation, he explains that it specifies the criteria for an environmental management system for small to large organisations.

“This accreditation reflects an organisation’s commitment to three key environmental management goals - namely legal compliFrom left, Christo Theron, MD; Paul Fredericks, ance, pollution prevention and continuous SHEQ Manager; Angelique Rodriques, Training and Development Manager and Sibulelo Mda, SHEQ improvement. Imperial Assistant from Imperial Cargo Cargo chose to pursue the ISO 14001 as it assists the company to improve its add value to the service that Imperial business, reduce environmental risks Cargo offers customers - many of and minimise our operation’s impact which have longstanding partnerships on the environment. It clearly sup- with the company. “We have forged ports the Environmental Sustainability many longterm relationships with cliPolicy of Imperial Logistics.” ents – some spanning more than two ISO 9001 is based on eight quality decades, but we will never rest on our management principles, including cus- laurels,” he stresses. “We are contomer focus, leadership and continual stantly striving to improve our service, improvement. and exceed our clients’ expectations.”

Enquiry No: 72 Theron says these accreditations

The movement

has begun

from fossil fuel to zero fuel Operating cost of your forklift: FUEL CONSUMING TRUCK

Route planning solutions realise cost savings of around 20-25%

Benefits of an electric Toyota Forklift • Zero carbon emissions • Elimination of fuel costs • Less maintenance less downtime • Reduction of noise • Waste reduction • Operator toxic inhalation eliminated

ELECTRIC TRUCK

efficient possible routes for daily distribution needs.

“Having punched in the required deliveries, locations and available vehicles, the system produces the most efficient possible scenarios,” he says. “The kind of efficiency that allows companies to increase the number of orders they handle without having to buy more vehicles.”

That means increased profits and more cash available to pump into paying off loans, buying new equipment and staffing up to enable the next phase of growth for the company.

Another excellent outcome is happier customers, which inevitably leads to more business. As Marshbank explains, the system can be set up to SMS customers when their deliveries are en route and even updating them if there are delays.

“It’s this kind of professionalism in service that builds good customer relationships and helps companies attract new business,” he says.

“Investing in a route planning tool should be viewed by companies as an essential investment in their growth,” concludes Marshbank. “It’s the kind of investment that renders not only immediate returns, but also longterm ones as the company gears itself for growth.”

Enquiry No: 71

FUEL CONSUMING TRUCK

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dolescence can be a tricky time for companies too. Having made it through the start-up phase, a growth spurt hits that often demands more resources than are readily available.

“That’s when managers need to make sure they’re trimming costs as much as possible in order to save enough cash for growth needs, while offering the bestpossible service so as to attract more customers,” says Grant Marshbank, Chief of Operations of VSc Solutions.

But, this is easier said than done, especially considering the pressure that mounting fuel costs and e-tolls are placing on growing companies that rely heavily on distribution.

“By employing smarter routeplanning techniques, it’s possible for companies to save at least between 20-25% on fuel and fleet costs,” he says, describing the instant impact on the bottom line that using fewer vehicles in a more efficient manner can have.

According to Marshbank, excellent solutions are being introduced to market that offer growing companies ‘big-company’ functionality at affordable prices, rendering the kind of savings that pay for themselves within months.

One such product is VSc Solutions’ Motion, a route-planning tool that generates the most

ELECTRIC TRUCK

TEL : +27 (0) 11 395 0600 EMAIL : toyotaforklift@eiegroup.co.za WEB : www.eiegroup.co.za

April / May 2014

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KZN Industrial & Business News

COMPANY & PRODUCT NEWS

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Coega launches KZN office

OEGA officially launched full-fledged operations at its KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) office recently.

Although the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) has had a presence in the province since 2010, its growth has been exponential and in proportion with its growing basket of projects in the region, particularly those for the Provincial Departments of Education and Social Development.

Chuma Mbande, head of the KZN office outlined Coega’s role in the province. “Coega is operating in KwaZulu-Natal to assist some of its government departments with major infrastructure projects”.

“We have organisational expertise that can be used to fast track and project-manage major upgrades, construction and other infrastructure developments – while at the same time building skills locally that will ensure construction industry businesses are able to handle more complex mega-projects in the future.”

As implementing agent, the organisation is assisting both the KZN provincial Departments of Education and Social Development to contribute to job creation through various infrastructure projects they have commissioned. Its approach is to embrace enterprise development for KZN projects and is operating in its capacity as national development agency to

“assist KZN to build strong contractors and develop SMME’s”.

“This creates a double delivery situation. On the one hand we create new and upgraded infrastructure, while on the other hand we developed the skills set of the emerging construction industry so companies can move up in Construction Industry Development Board grades,” said Mbande.

Statistics from the Construction Industry Development Board (CIBD) which painted an alarming picture of the lack of traction blackowned contractors have across the industry.

According to the CIBD, 86% of the KZN contractors at the lowest level, Grade 1, are black-owned. Contractors between Grades 1 and 4 are also mostly black-owned, with these

businesses accounting for between 85-96% of all contractors, depending on the Grade.

The picture changes at the higher Grades 7, 8 and 9 where the majority of the contractors are white-owned, with only one black KZN contractor at the pinnacle, Grade 9. “This is a recipe for disaster and unless a concerted effort is made to transform the industry, we are likely to run into problems in the future,” Enquiry No: 73 Mbande added.

New distributor in South Africa

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he Gast Group – a designer and manufacturer of compressors and vacuum pumps and a member of IDEX Corporation’s health and sciences division – has strengthened its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) distribution network with the appointment of South Arica-based General Pneumatics Natal (Pty) Limited as a distributor and authorised service centre.

Established in 1996 and originally specialising in the hose and fittings sector, General Pneumatics – a family-owned and operated business with its headquarters in New Germany, KwaZulu-Natal – successfully expanded into pneumatics in 2004 and soon after opened a second branch in Johannesburg. The company now employs over 40 staff, including seven field sales managers and seven internal sales executives. The company also has an established distributor base throughout the region.

Commenting for General Pneumatics, MD William Saunders (pictured) says: “Like Gast Group, we pride ourselves on attention to detail and unparalleled customer service, and

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we look forward to re-establishing the GAST and JUN-AIR brands in South Africa. We have a great relationship with everyone at Gast Group. Their people understand our business and our model; and are very supportive of our requirements for marketing and support.”

Commenting for Gast Group, sales director Andre Goodson says: “General Pneumatics is a progressive company that is passionate about pneumatics.

Its positive approach to sales and marketing is making a significant impact in the region and helping to establish the business in the South African market.”

With the appointment of General Pneumatics, OEMs and end users of GAST and JUN-AIR equipment in South Africa now also have access to fast and reliable warranty and nonwarranty service and maintenance, performed by trained engineers. They will also benefit from access to an increased level of OEM spares in the region and, in some cases, can take advantage of loan equipment while their systems are being serviced or repaired.

Enquiry No: 74

ISO 9001: 2008 : improving ROI

here may be a number of ways to increase sales and revenue in any business. However, not all systems are measurable enough to produce substantial return on investment.

Although customer service initiatives and programmes are good for any business and its image, it only provides part of the data investors or stakeholders require to make necessary fiscal and operational decisions.

Fortunately there is an internationally-recognised system that has been introduced to South Africa, the ISO 9001: 2008.

Owing to this system’s focus on quality control management, through a series of processes, it guarantees an increase in three areas of business: 1. Shareholder value 2. Positive consumer response 3. Product / Service quality.

Companies have already noticed improvement in the overall efficacy of their businesses.

One company that has implemented this quality management system is Cabstrut, a cable reticulation management solutions company.

“The ISO 9001 ensures that our employees understand the importance of quality control,” says Theon Steyn, General Manager of Cabstrut.

What makes this system especially useful to Cabstrut is that through its quality management processes it not only ensures efficient running throughout every department, but, as Steyn confirms, “... it helps control product quality so that customers are consistently satisfied and confident with Cabstrut’s products.”

Moreover, since business objectives are set out before this system is put in place, the process becomes simpler and more streamlined.

This will have an effect, therefore, on customer satisfaction, which will follow to enhance sales and offer a larger share in the market.“We are pleased that we have made this transition within our business,” says Steyn. Enquiry No: 75

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KZN Industrial & Business News

company & product News

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Unlimited design freedom P recast concrete cladding provides the designer with substantial freedom in the choice of form, texture, and appearance because concrete’s flexibility allows for limitless scope in expression and character, says Bryan Perrie, MD of The Concrete Institute.

Precast concrete panels are reinforced concrete units available in a variety of mixes, colours and finishes, such as formed, acid-etched, smooth or coarse ground, rubbed, polished, grit or sand-blasted. Designers revel in the fact that complex and innovative designs can be incorporated using an infinitely mouldable concrete mix.

In specifying precast concrete as cladding material, the designer gives the building contractor the opportunity to have the building “envelope” moved off site to a precast facility where a skilled workforce can pay full attention to the demands for accuracy and quality of workmanship in the finish.

One of the main distinctions between precast concrete cladding and tilt-up concrete panels is that the precast elements are usually cast in a specialised manufacturing plant, away from their final location. Tilt-up panels are usually cast horizontally at or near

their final destination, and then lifted into place.

The precast panels are often cast face-downwards in purpose-moulds, normally made of steel, often with rubber, timber or fibre glass inserts forming a pattern. Prior to the concrete being placed, a steel reinforcement cage is placed in the mould. Through the insertion of mats or rods in the base of the mould, different designs and effects can be created.

Precast cladding offers a wide range of finishes. In off-the-form finishes, the mould detail is mirrored in the concrete surface and can produce, for example, board-marked finishes, ribbed finishes, or rope-patterned finishes. Exposed aggregate finishes, on the other hand, reflect the natural colour of the aggregate. Other finishes available include polished reconstructed stone finishes, or panels can be given a polished stone or ceramic tile finish.

Architectural concrete claddings generally fall into two categories, namely that which purely serves as an enclosure, where the claddings

are applied as self-finished panels or as backing components to other façade materials, such as brickwork. The alternative is cladding that form an integral part of the framework of a building and therefore performs an enclosing as well as a structural function.

Cladding panels can be manufactured in a variety of shapes and sizes but are mainly applied as storey-height or spandrel panels: the storey-height units span from floor to floor; and the spandrel version forms a sill wall beneath fenestration strips.

Storey-height panels can be manufactured with apertures for windows and doors later installed on site.

Window frames can also be attached in the cladding manufacturer’s plant and applied paint finishes can be carried out before the panels are delivered to site.

Apart from its major cost benefits, precast cladding offers property owners long term durability and minimum maintenance without the need for freEnquiry No: 76 quent cleaning.

Upholding strong SHEQ principles at Coedmore Quarry

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friSam’s Coedmore Quarry near Durban has survived tough market conditions and intense competition by adhering to strict SHEQ (safety, health, environment and quality) principles. This strong credo has been instituted and instilled in all employees through a successive line of highly participative plant managers. The result is an operation that consistently achieves showcase status for its unblemished safety record and simultaneously manages to maintain high levels of quality product output.

Perhaps the biggest accolade in terms of health and safety is Coedmore Quarry’s performance on Aspasa’s Health and Safety and Environmental Audits.

For the past five years Coedmore has received showplace status, an achievement that sets it apart as a quarrying operation and underlines AfriSam’s stated values of People, Planet and Performance.

“In its most basic form, this is a commitment to our stakeholders and ourselves not to accept mediocrity and to recognise that injury is not something that ‘happens to someone’ but rather it impacts a colleague or a friend who plays a valuable role in the company,” says Jurgens du Toit, AfriSam’s regional manager – construction materials South KZN and previous Coedmore Quarry works manager.

Du Toit points out that the Aspasa audits are critical to Coedmore’s safety programme. “The audits not only provide us with a checklist and yard-

stick with which we can measure our performance, but they focus on trends within the industry. Through the audit protocol and the knowledge sharing that transpires from it, we are able to determine any potential shortfalls and to rectify them immediately.”

The last Lost Time Injury (LTI) at Coedmore Quarry was recorded on 1 September 2008.

AfriSam places emphasis on high levels of safety compliance and has implemented a number of programmes such as Competency Based Safety (CBS) to achieve organisation wide Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) awareness.

In keeping with continuous improvement and as a typical example of embracing change, in 2013 Coedmore Quarry completely rewrote its safety procedures with regards to working

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on the crest of a drilling/blasting area. Specialised input was received from Southern Rock (indoor and outdoor rock climbing specialist), suppliers of ropes and harnesses used by AfriSam at the quarry and drilling contractors Eire Contractors.

The result of this collaborative effort between Coedmore, aforementioned vendors and the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) is that a practical, user friendly system has been rolled out to all the AfriSam KZN operations. When drilling or blasting takes place, blue poles (supplied by Glassfibre Products) are sunk into the ground three metres away from the crest and a red (top) and blue (bottom) static climbing rope is strung between the poles to indicate the start of the no-go area. The drilling operators are then required to attach the harness they are wearing to a double rope system whenever they work closer than the poles to the crest.

The quarry produces a wide variety of aggregates including 53 mm ballast, 53 mm, 37 mm, 26.5 mm, 19 mm, 13.2 mm, 9.5 mm and 6.7 mm concrete stone, scour (armour rock) and selected first crush, G1, G2, G4, G5 and G7. In addition, it also produces 19 mm, 13.2 mm and 9.5 mm roadstone on request. Annual outputs of one million tons are not uncommon and at any one time, the operation maintains a stockholding of 8 000 tons of product on the intermediate stock pile.

Enquiry No: 77

The range of SR2 enclosures is a complete offering of enclosures suited to small and mediumsized electric switchboards, particularly for control and command or small distribution; their typical use is as an on-board machine switchboard, thermal powerstation switchboard, pump control switchboard, and many others. For additional information: www.abb.co.za/lowvoltage

ABB South Africa (Pty) Ltd Tel. +27 10 202 5000 E-mail: LP@za.abb.com

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April / May 2014

company & product News

KZN Industrial & Business News

Reliable power supply to St Anne’s Hospital U ninterrupted power supply is an essential resource in the health industry, and the South African division of Cummins has supplied St Anne’s Hospital in KZN with a C1400 D5 generator to ensure that the lights stay on.

The health industry is an important business segment for Cummins, as backup power is essential for hospitals to carry out their lifesaving services. In March 2013, Cummins South Africa completed the installation of a new generator set at Netcare St Anne’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg , following the successful installation of a generator set at Netcare Linksfield Hospital in Johannesburg in late 2012.

St Anne’s Hospital realised the need for an open generator set as a result of the regular power outages that were being experienced, and approached the company.

“Cummins SA supplied St Anne’s with a

C1400 D5 generator with a prime rating of 1 250 kVA, along with a customised changeover panel to accommodate the existing infrastructure, as well as diesel pipelines and two 6 000 ℓ diesel bulk fuel tanks. The new generator set provides backup for the entire hospital, while the two pre-existing sets provide backup to the critical areas of the hospital in the event that the new generator fails,” explains Herman Jansen Cummins South Africa power generation representative, .

In 2012, the Cummins Power Generation team in Johannesburg built the unit in a customised oversized container. “The installation and the container build took place simultaneously, and the container was delivered in November 2012, while testing and commissioning of the generator was conducted a month later.”

Jansen notes that electrical, electronic and mechanical engineering firm BFBA Consultants assisted in the installation of the LV cables and control cables, as well as digging the cable trenches and building a concrete plinth. “In addition to removing the existing infrastructure to make way for the new generator, BFBA

Consultants also in lifting the pre-existing paving, and restoring the infrastructure to its original condition.”

“The cables were installed during the rainy season and the first layer was backfilled with soft sand to avoid damaging the cables. On completion of the changeover panel, the cables from the generator, which were inert at this stage, were connected. Upon arrival of the generator, the cables were connected and installed to the bulk tanks and fuel lines.”

A shutdown of the standard power supply had to be arranged in order to make the changes needed to route the power supply through the new changeover panel.

Emergency personnel were on standby while the changes took place, to ensure that no critical services were hindered or interfered with in any way. During this time, the two preexisting generators were used to supply power Enquiry No: 78 to emergency equipment.

Important to use SABS approved products

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n construction it is important to make use of South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) approved products.

“Any polyethylene sheeting that goes into a building has to be SABS-approved. What happens on site is that the builders will go and buy a product from a merchant, such as green under surface bed sheeting The SABS approved product should be 3/4/6 m wide by 250 micron by 30 m, but there are cheaper products on the market that the builder would buy in place of that.”

Says David Tromp, MD of industrial packaging and construction sheeting company, Kahn & Kahn.

When producing SABS-approved

products, there are certain regulations that the manufacturers have to adhere to. “There are companies that produce products using recycled material and these products often run thinner and are available at a cheaper price. These products are under-specification and if so, illegally bear the SABSapproved label on them.”

The SABS and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) are working together to address the problem of inferior quality products on the market.

“There was recently a meeting between the SABS and manufacturers of construction products in order to discuss the issue within the market.

If the SABS receives a report that a manufacturer is producing underspecification material, they have a responsibility to go to that manufacturer and ask for samples in order to test the products.”

“If you make use of inferior products, or products that are not SABSapproved, the shortcomings are not always immediately obvious.

“With damp proofing it can take up to 10 years before an inferior product starts to fail, and it is not possible to check on the product once the concrete slab has been cast. The polyethylene lining used in roofing will yield more immediate results if an inferior product has been used, as it will disintegrate quicker, which causes tears if there is a flaw in the product, thereby leading to leaks. If you make use of SABS-approved materials you are guaranteed a quality product.”

The SABS and NRCS have embarked on a plan to raise awareness among consumers about the difference between the various products and materials available on the market.

Enquiry No: 79

Wireless mobile timecard tracks sales staff

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or 50 years Leader Tread has supplied and manufactured precured rubber tread as well as consumables, required for the retreading process. Retreads are a big saving for large transport fleets and have better cost per kilometer than new tyres and in some cases the tread life of a premium retread will out-perform the mileage of a new tyre at a little more than a third of a new tyre’s price.

“Our customers are the local retread factories across the country which specialise in producing export quality retreads for fleets of large transport in all industry sectors including mining,” says Andrew Summers, Financial Director at Leader. “We are proud of

our one-stop, turnkey service from set up to maintenance, and in this competitive industry, quality service is our edge.”

“We needed to make sure our sales people were on the ball, sticking to their sales cycles and spending quality time with our customers. We conduct regular customer surveys and the majority of our sales staff are excellent performers, but the Econz Timecard system immediately picks up any problems and allows us to intervene where necessary, and even helps with disciplinary and labour issues,” he says. “Econz Timecard provides us with the ability to not only track where the sales team is, but how far they

travelled, how long they spend with the customer and follow up their meeting with, not just an order, but notes on the customer’s needs, expansion plans, issues and production plans.”

This enables Leader to add value to the customer experience and for the sales person to become part of the customer’s team, says Summers.

“From a management point of view,” he says, “this gives us peace of mind our customer service remains at excellent levels. We have shown increased sales, timed time and money where there are issues, assess the full value of our sales reps, and, most importantly, deliver the best customer serEnquiry No: 80 vice we can.”

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+27 31 705 1404 • Bruce +27 82 451 0917 • www.lovemore.co.za • email: bruce@lovemore.co.za

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Take a step back to think about the risks

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usiness owners are so busy juggling the daily challenges of managing their business, suppliers, clients and staff that they often fail to take a step back and assess the various risks that they face.

This is according to Gerrie van Biljon, Executive Director of Business Partners Limited, who says that while it is not very pleasant, in the midst of this juggling, to dwell on the negative incidents that can still go wrong, the simple act of thinking about these, and the mere awareness of it, can mean the difference between success and failure.

“In our daily dealings with small and medium enterprises (SMEs), we have seen setbacks within businesses as a result of disasters that have struck throughout the years, namely external disaster such as floods, power outages and new legislation. But there are also internal business risks such as computers crashes, new competition, strikes and new innovation.”

While it is important for business owners to deliberately set aside time

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company & product News

to assess the risks facing their business, they also need to be aware of key areas within their business that could potentially be affected as a result of these risks, says van Biljon.

“Business owners need to accept that they cannot think of everything and instead need to concentrate on the basics.

These include fire, theft, accident, loss of key personnel and loss of data. By listing the basics and spending time considering these risks in the context of the business, they have already done more than many other business owners, and have awakened a crucial awareness.”

Van Biljon however advises against undertaking the exercise alone as this may lead to significant aspects being left off the list of possible risks which face the business. He recommends that business owners approach any large corporation that they deal with, either suppliers or clients, and ask how these parties consider risks.

Where possible he advises that business owners use experts to assist.

“Risk management is a fairly recent discipline in the corporate world, but most large organisations have

No-limits SHEQ

HEQ must be taken beyond the standards set down by legislation if competitive advantage is to be created.

This is the opinion of Alicia Bouwer, SHEQ manager for mechanical seals company AESSEAL and sister company AESPUMP, who believes that such an approach has benefits for both the customer and the supplier.

“If you are able to raise the bar above the legislated minimum, then customers have the reassurance of knowing that they are dealing with a supplier who is doing more than merely complying,” says Bouwer.

“This creates a confidence which often translates into additional business, because a prospective customer looking at several possible suppliers will almost certainly place his order with the one whose certified quality management systems are continually striving to go beyond the norm.”

AESSEAL and AESPUMP comply with all pertinent South African legal requirements such as the Occupational Health and Safety Act,

the Waste Act and miscellaneous environmental legislative codes.

The two companies also comply with all government regulations, regional legislation and by-laws.

AESSEAL’s SHEQ management system has been in place since 2008. It is monitored and audited twice yearly by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance.

Explains Bouwer: “The International Standards Organisation (ISO) publishes a set of system standards to help companies attain a level of SHEQ management that complies with the global norm, and each published standard defines specific performance levels that must be met.”

“The three main management systems with which both AESSEAL and AESPUMP now comply are, firstly, safety and health as laid out in OHSAS 18001:2007, to protect the health and safety of the worker and the public; secondly, environmen-

undergone at least a few formal risk assessment processes. Knowledge of the approach to risk is therefore relatively widely spread in those organisations and a sympathetic contact on the inside could be willing to help with some pointers.”

He adds that ideally, business owners should contemplate each of the set of risks one by one, prioritise them according to how likely they are to happen, and put precautions and contingency plans in place. “For example, most business robberies happen after the perpetrators have scouted the premises by gaining entry under some pretext, such as pretending to be looking for someone. By installing some form of access control, a business can dramatically lower its chances of being burgled.”

He adds that risk assessment is unfortunately not simply something that a business owner can do once to get it over with. “Risk assessment is an exercise that needs to be done regularly as a business's risk changes constantly, not only because of changes inside the business, but also because of changes in the environment around the business.”

Some of these risks can be countered, or at least the entrepreneur

tal management as defined by ISO 14001:2004, to limit adverse environmental impact and to promote sustainability of the living, nonliving and manmade environments; and thirdly, quality management as described

by ISO 9001:2008, which focuses on customer needs and requirements and the manner in which these must be met in order to ensure supplier profitability and survival.”

Besides the certification carried out by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance on all three of these standards, legislative compliance is ensured by Venture Solutions, which conducts internal health and safety and environmental legal compliance audits at specific intervals at AESSEAL and AESPUMP sites.

The audits focus on evaluating compliance with South African national and provincial legislation and local bylaws and, where necessary, international conventions or treaties to which South Africa is party. Any non-compliance is identified so that corrective action may be taken.

Enquiry No: 82

Harnessing the power of wind

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number of wind turbine projects are being planned to help address South Africa’s crippling power shortage with more sustainable forms of electricity generation.

While solar energy remains the leading light in terms of renewable energy resources, wind power generation does have an important role to play in regions like the Eastern Cape and other exposed areas where consistent wind is experienced and the landscape is not conductive to solar options.

Helukabel South Africa, a supplier of cabling for all renewable energy projects, is stocking-up and preparing for the large number of projects that it expects to be approved in the nearby future, both in South Africa and elsewhere in Africa. The company already supplies large amounts

of cables for renewable power generation in the region and has tailored its offering with dedicated cables that are designed specifically for each type of plant.

Heluwind power cables and dedicated accessories are designed to fit seamlessly into each step of the assembly of a wind turbine plant, making the entire electrical installation project a far simpler undertaking.

Stock holdings, ordering and statutory requirements (in terms of compliances and quality control) are also simpli-

fied with the use of a single-source supplier.

“Helukabel has been integrally involved with those specialists worldwide who originally developed the technologies that are used in wind turbines today. Since those early days we have continued to work with them to develop cabling technology that is suitable for every aspect of the project from infrastructural and tower cables, to electrical, transmission, data and communications cables and even the security and monitoring systems.”

“That means that the designers usually look no further than Helukabel when they are designing a wind turbine plant, as all cables are custommade for wind power generation and have all the necessary certifications and approvals that are required internationally for this type of plant,” says Enquiry No: 83 Doug Gunnewegh.

would be aware of the possible risks, says van Biljon. “A strategy or a back-up plan can be instituted and where possible insurance should be in place.

“Insurance experts could assist

a business owner with a general risk assessment that will protect the business against inadequate or inappropriate cover,” concludes van Biljon Enquiry No: 81

The real cost of not using genuine Cat parts. ®

KEEP IT REAL, KEEP IT CAT® I know I can trust Cat machines to deliver on time, all the time. Using genuine Cat parts is definitely the only way to go. No matter what challenges lie ahead, Caterpillar and Barloworld Equipment are committed to bringing you machines, solutions and support to help your business keep pushing forward.

BUILT FOR IT. For more information contact our call centre on 0800 21 22 48 or visit www.barloworld-equipment.com

Spanner (300x100).indd 1

© 2014 Caterpillar. All Rights Reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, BUILT FOR IT, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow,” the “Power Edge”trade dress as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission.

2014/04/07 3:27 PM

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KZN Industrial & Business News

Concept Store opens in Umhlanga

he launch of the first KwaZuluNatal ‘Legrand Concept Store’, which opened in Umhlanga recently, forms part of Legrand’s drive to boost its specialist electrical solutions offering to contractors, architects, consultants and interior designers, as well as the end user.

“Legrand Concept Stores, which are owned and managed by carefully selected partners, are dedicated showrooms that display a wide range of Legrand products, from high end quality domestic switches and sockets, to sophisticated building management systems,” says Luk Ivens, general manager, Legrand SA. “The new Umhlanga specialist store also

showcases CCTV and access control systems, power equipment, emergency lighting, home automation devices and cable management systems.

“Technical experts are always on hand to advise on the finest electrical solution for every installation – whether it is for an industrial, agricultural, commercial or domestic environment.”

The new Umhlanga outlet, which is owned by specialists in the electrical sector, Amantha Maharaj and Mike da Silva, provides a convenient and easily accessible setting for professionals and the public to discover Legrand’s comprehensive stylish and functional solutions, which are adaptable to spe-

cific requirements.

Legrand’s concept store initiative - which now encompasses outlets in Johannesburg and Durban, with more stores planned around the country - significantly enhances brand awareness.

Enquiry No: 84

Seen at the function from left Mike da Silva, owner of Umhlanga’s Legrand Concept Store, Johan Bosch, sales manager, Legrand, Amantha Maharaj, owner of Umhlanga’s Legrand Concept Store and Luk Ivens, general manager, Legrand SA

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Entrance solutions for seven motor dealerships

edestrian Door Solutions (PDS) specialists, ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems, supplied Besam Unislide door equipment for seven Toyota dealerships based in Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Kwazulu Natal.

“We received the orders from our respective customers who supplied the shop fronts for the dealerships in Bronkhorstspruit, Nigel, Midrand, Brits, Secunda and Greenstone as part of new as well as revamped facilities,” explains ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems Managing Director, André Aiton.

When expanding, upgrading or building new premises, there are a number of extremely important factors on which Toyota will not compromise.

These include the safety and comfort of customers and personnel as well as environmental considerations. The

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company extends its best practices adopted throughout the vehicle supply chain to the construction of its facilities with careful attention to criteria such as quality, reliability, environmental friendliness and aesthetics.

The Besam Unislide system operates quietly and allows convenient and easy pedestrian flow. With safety high on the agenda, the standard automated door specification is combined with an ‘emergency open’ system via the battery as well as a fire alarm system for fast, easy evacuation. This

system can also be fitted with a break-out system which, in the case of an emergency, allows the doors to be hinged in the open position.

Effective climate control is another advantage offered by the Besam entrance solution. The stand open time of the sliding doors can be set to avoid draughts and prevent the air-conditioned air from escaping. In addition, the air-conditioning consumes less energy, which reduces demand on the national grid. A lower electricity bill is another plus factor.

Enquiry No: 85

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Delivering uncompromising quality that is affordable

T Composite

he Chicago Pneumatic brand is no stranger to the South African market with industrial and pneumatic hand tools having been part of the local industry landscape, especially the mining sector, for over 100 years.

The past five or six years has seen a drive by Chicago Pneumatic into the South African construction industry with the introduction of construction-related equipment. Designed and built for hard work in real-world conditions, it did not take long for this range to earn a reputation for affordable quality and reliability.

According to Chicago Pneumatic Business Development Manager in South Africa, Jacques van der Westhuizen, this wide acceptance of the equipment range by the local construction market has resulted in a well-established installed base around the country. “This was instrumental in our decision to enter into the concrete construction business in Q4 2013 with a new strong and competitive tool offering.”

Construction is well known globally for being a tough and challenging environment.

“Our local industry is certainly no different,” says Van der Westhuizen, “having to rely on uncontrolled variables such as weather conditions and timeous delivery of building material. Up time and productivity are fundamental to productivity and unexpected downtime due to equipment failure can be catastrophic; costs related to equipment repair or replacement and penalties can be exorbitant.” Discernment in construction tool selection is thus essential to sustainable productivity and quality and the associated benefits of performance, reliability and extended product life are prerequisites. “We are conditioned to believe that quality comes Enquiry No: 86 at a price.”

April / May 2014

company & product News

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Solving Edendale resurfacing problem

dendale Township is a large area dominated by steep hills and valleys. It was here that Kaytech’s Multi-Cell was chosen to solve a resurfacing problem for two of the area’s dilapidated roads. Kaytech’s Paul Lombard was onsite to offer specialist supervision.

Most of the roads used by the local people to access their homes are constructed of gravel, often so poorly maintained that no gravel was evident. Following heavy rainfalls, the in-situ clay material was exposed, especially on the steeper roads, which were rendered inaccessible to most vehicles. Paving these roads with asphalt was not viable due to the steep gradients and prohibitive costs of paving, so engineers from the KZN Department of Transport decided to resurface two steep road sections with Multi-Cell 100mm filled with Ready-mix concrete. This solution was possible because the roads here are trafficked mostly by light motor vehicles and pedestrians.

This system has been successfully installed in the past on a section of District Road at Vulindlela in 2006 and also at Unit H in Edendale in 2007. In the case of the Vulindlela District Road D1125 project five kilometres of an existing substandard gravel road had deteriorated so badly that approximately 1.4 km of steep section was rendered impassable during wet weather, forcing a 12km detour for com-

muters. This road is an important link for the local residential communities of Vulindlela to Pietermaritzburg. Taxis and buses were thus not able to serve the area, resulting in commuters walking long distances to access transport facilities.

Working within tight budget constraints and the limitations of an existing 20m fixed road reserve, the regrading of the 28% incline and widening of the sharp horizontal curves was particularly challenging. After conducting a feasibility study and having considered other options, a 600m section at 19% design grade was constructed using Multi-Cell geocells infilled with 25 MPa concrete.

The Multi-Cell system proved to be the most economical technical solution providing

an ideal opportunity for labour intensive conSince these rehabilitated road sections will struction (LIC) techniques. Members of the be easy to maintain and will remain serviceEnquiry No: 87 local community were employed and trained able far into the future. to install the system in accordance with the Government’s policy on the LIC and Extended Public Works Program (EPWP) programme.

Multi-Cell is a honeycombed, cellular structure manufactured from strips of a coated slit film. This woven polypropylene tape is stitched together to form three-dimensional diamond shaped cells. It is used as an in-situ shuttering to cast continuous, interlocking concrete paving for road or canal construction. Further uses include effective erosion protection treatment for hydraulic structures, as well as slope protection and load support.

This project was the first Multi-Cell project undertaken by the contractor, Okuhlekwethu Developments who installed the product according to Kaytech’s installation guidelines.

HTPE Advert October 2013.pdf 1 2013/10/21 3:12 PM Since Multi-Cell is quick and easy to install, unskilled, local labour was again employed on this project by simply following Kaytech’s installation guidelines and receiving on-site training by a foreman.

WNR looks to expand into KZN

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NR Plant Hire’s Francois du Randt says the introduction of Powerstar trucks into his fleet made all the difference to his Gauteng business and he is now looking to expand into other areas including KZN. “Before Powerstar – whose assembly plant is in Pietermaritzburg - we were running the very top of the range truck brands which were expensive to buy and very expensive to operate.

With shrinking demand, increasing competition and a general pressure on rates, it was vital that we ran an even more efficient business,” says du Randt.

One of the most important contributors to his success in bringing costs down was changing to Powerstar trucks. “The difference was enormous. In Powerstar we bought trucks that were just as powerful and reliable as the more expensive brands but almost half the price.

Also, cost of spares and service was simply incomparable. In many ways Powerstar enabled us to survive the very tough times and then continue to

Powerstar’s intention is to keep technology as uncomplicated as possible for exactly the reasons that Francois states. “Time is money for our customers and when there is an issue with a truck, they want to be able to be up and running just as soon as possible. This means that wherever they are in the country, and this is often in very remote areas, they must have access to spares and be able to remedy the problem themselves if necessary. The number of our customers that have said that this is the difference for them and one of the main reasons why they have turned to Powerstar,” says Beukes.

Of course all these advantages would be of little consequence if the performance of the Powerstar trucks didn’t match up. “It certainly does,” says Francois. “I have always been able to accomplish everything with my Powerstar trucks that I have with my other brands and, more importantly, the backup service and support form Powerstar has been the best I have ever received,” he says.

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Hi-Tech Pressure Engineering is a medium sized engineering company based in South Africa.

Hi-Tech designs and manufactures pressure vvessels and pressure parts in accordance with international engineering standards. We make compliant pressure equipment for all industries that require compliance to pressure vessel regulations.

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become the successful business we have become today,” says du Randt.

He adds that often, with the toprange brands, if you have a technical issue, significant downtime is inevitable as you must usually wait for spares, and it is often impossible to repair the problem yourself because of the complicated electronics. “This, as everyone knows, can cost you a contract, as your client will simply get someone else to do it,” Francois says.

Mark Beukes, Powerstar’s GM sales and aftermarket, says that

• Pressure vessels

• Stainless process vessels

• Pressure systems

• Heat exchangers

• Storage tanks

• Air receivers

• Level control vessels

• Boiler equipment

Enquiry No:88

Lightning and surge protection for security systems oo many people wait until they have sufT fered extensive damage to their security equipment before considering installing some form of surge and lightning protection. It is a known fact, that in South Africa, lightning is generally seasonal, and some storms are worse than others.

One thing that you can be sure of is that at some stage your equipment will definitely be exposed to surge and lightning induced voltages and currents. Adequate protection is therefore essential. Seeking expert advice can save a lot of money in preventing damage to electronic equipment, as well as coping with hassles such as electric gates not functioning, or the house alarm system out of action. With all the electronic and electrical equipment used in our day- to-day lives we only realise how much we rely on these systems when they suddenly are not working.

This always seems to happen at the most inconvenient time and it is normally at this time that we discover those safety measures we put in place did not work.

Surgetek offers a range of products to protect power, CCTV, data networks, access control systems, alarms systems, in fact, almost all components used in any security / Enquiry No: 89 safety system.

Even better results with hot water.

HDS 8/18-4 C - Cleaning with hot water high pressure cleaners offers numerous benefits. Advantages include improved cleaning results with less detergent. It makes business sense.

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• Seal vessels

8 Sage Road, Jacobs. P.O. Box 41349, Rossburgh. Tel: (031) 461 4193 • Fax: (031) 461 4194 info@htpe.co.za • www.pressure.co.za

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KZN Industrial & Business News

The “non-original parts” debacle rears its ugly head again

lacing your trust in a supplier to give you the best quality parts, made specifically to fit your particular equipment, is a risk every industrial equipment user is nervous to do. Too often end users are foiled into believing that “copy parts” or “other manufacturers’ parts”, not specifically designed for that brand or model of equipment, are sufficiently suitable.

JVT Vibrating Equipment (Pty) Ltd, headed up by Managing Director, Fanie Swart, are the fully-fledged African subsidiary of JÖST GmbH.

JÖST supply an extensive range of vibrating equipment and drive units for most applications and industries inclusive of vibrating screens, thermal processing equipment, vibrating tables, shake-out conveyors, dosing systems, fluidized bed coolers, discharge feeders, dosing feeders, customised conveying systems and other bulk material handling equipment.

Reinforcing JÖST’s footholding in Southern Africa, JÖST terminated their licensor agreement early 2012 with the previous South African enti-

WELDING AND SAFETY SCREENS

A network of agents throughout South Africa ensures excellent technical and installation support, and quick delivery times.

011 452-8723 021 551-5076 KWAZULU-NATAL: 0 8 6 1 0 3 3 3 0 3 PORT ELIZABETH: 041 487-2525 www.apexstrip.co.za JOHANNESBURG: CAPE TOWN:

and process inefficiencies that “non-original parts” have to offer”, states Swart.

“There’s a rumour in the industry that JÖST’s JVM unbalanced motors as well as JU/ JR exciter gearboxes are no longer available. This is a blatant lie – don’t believe what you hear”, he affirms, “JVT have an extensive spares stock holding, ready for despatch from Jet Park, Gauteng. These parts are available exclusively from JVT. Any product obtained from any other supplier, unless obtained via JVT, is not a genuine JÖST OEM part. This

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GENERAL PURPOSE STRIP CURTAINS

HIGH SPEED ROLL UP AND FOLD UP DOORS

ty, with the aim of becoming directly involved in Africa via their own subsidiary.

JVT recommend strongly that only OEM parts and components such as the JÖST drives (e.g. the unbalanced motors branded as “JVM” and the exciter gearboxes branded as “JU/JR”) manufactured by/under full licence of JÖST, be installed on existing equipment.

“If you’re not buying the right part for the right machine, you’re bound to experience shorter lifespans, increased downtime, costly repairs

specifically includes locally manufactured exciter gearboxes which are not branded under the JÖST brand.

JVT are the exclusive African party that is licenced to supply JÖST drive systems (JU/JR exciter gearboxes, JVM unbalanced motors, MS electromagnetic drives, dosing drives) and many other JÖST OEM components. Customers are reassured of the high standards of service and Enquiry No: 90 quality

Moulding for quality and reliability

HIGH IMPACT TRAFFIC DOORS

Coralynne & Associates +27 (011) 849 3142

April / May 2014

company & product News

36

an Mixers South Africa (PMSA) boasts a comprehensive range of precision block, brick and paving making moulds manufactured by German-based RAMPF. PMSA marketing and sales manager Quintin Booysen notes that RAMPF offers a wide range of products that are ideally suited to PMSA’s client base.

“RAMPF manufactures internationally recognised concrete moulds, paving and building bricks, kerbstones, concrete planters, dry wall systems and building brick moulds - which add substantial value to construction and building projects where precast products are specified and used.”

A wide range of RAMPF products are available through PMSA, including; paver moulds, concrete moulds, CSI diamond exchange hollow block moulds and vibration table controllers. The technology utilised in these moulds offer numerous advantages for clients, particularly longer wear life, which is important in the precast

market RA M P F ’ s proprietary CSI diamond hardening technology allows for a hardness of up to 68 HRC, thereby ensuring a considerably prolonged lifespan of the mould, even when it is exposed to highly abrasive types of gravel, crushed stone and other aggregates that cause wear and tear.

With the rising cost of steel, this offers the client a clear cost advantage.

RAMPF CSI diamond exchange hollow block moulds make use of a special hardened steel which improves resistance to wear. The components of the hollow block moulds are bolted and not welded together, which means that there is quick and easy

replacement of damaged or worn parts. What’s more, individual components are easily replaced, resulting in improved turnaround times and cost savings with regards to maintenance and service .

RAMPF also boasts a mould slip system that protects all models of tamper shoes and moulds more effectively against wear. The mould slip system increases the number of cycles and reduces the reject rate of the mould. It also allows for quick change from mould to mould.

Booysen believes that the RAMPF range of products available from PMSA can withstand the tough African terrain, making it ideal for any local concrete moulding application. “The advantages of the RAMPF range of products are boundless and ideal for our clients, as the moulds last longer and maintenance is easier and less time consuming, when compared to other brands,” he concludes.

Enquiry No: 91

New, powerful hydraulic spreader

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he SPX FLS 15 Hydraulic Spreader, available from Power Team SA, is a an extremely powerful hydraulically operated tool which uses the integrated wedge concept to open flanges, parts on engines, gearboxes, pumps, compressors and pleated heat exchangers.

Able to fit into spaces of just 5.5 to 35 millimetres, the spreader is capable of driving a wedge in exceptionally tight spaces, and is ideal for initiating lifting operations from underneath heavy equipment and straightening thick metal sheets or bars.

Fifteen metric tons of wedge

force per tool means the spreader is also ideal for loggers (to split wood or trees), quarries (to split stones) and heavy equipment (for lifting and positioning), but Power Team recommends using the FLS 15 Hydraulic Spreader in pairs, giving up to 2 x 15 metric tons of spreading force.

Weighing just 3.2 kg and with a compact design, it’s highly manoeuvrable and easy to transport and use.

Operators can easily adjust the tool between various tasks using interchangeable shoes (serrated or stepped), and using a single-acting hydraulic cylinder and a 3-way valve, can actuate the tool to pressures of up to 700 bar. The corrosion resistant tool needs minimal maintenance, even in harsh offshore environments, and no special tools Enquiry No: 92 are needed for maintenance.

LEO has introduced a new end suction centrifugal pump range that utilises premium components and the latest technology. The LEP pump is suitable for water supply systems, pressure boosting, heating systems for commercial buildings and heat generation and distribution. It is also suited for use in cooling plants for industrial processing and for general transport in industrial processes.

The pump design complies with the BS EN 733/DIN 24255 standard and conveys low viscosity mediums with non-inflammable and non-explosive liquids not containing solid particles or fibres. The pump operates at 1 450/2 900 rpm at 50 Hz or 1 750/3 500 rpm at 60 Hz with a 0.5 to 440 l/s flow range. It has a head range from 2 to 152 m and is suitable for use in liquids with temperatures up to 105°C. The pump has a maximum 10 bar pressure range, and if required, a 16 bar version is available on request. The materials of construction are cast iron, bronze or stainless steel (304/316). The pump has a stainless steel shaft and shaft sleeve, while the bearings meet NSK, FAG, SKF standards. LEO is represented locally by Raptech.

Enquiry No: 93

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April / May 2014

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Customised attachment chains made to order

MG has established a new facility at BMG Park in Johannesburg, where special attachment chains are assembled, to exact requirements, in less than one week.

“BMG’s special delivery service enables customers to specify a wide range of standard Tsubaki attachments on any suitable American (ANSI) or British (BS) chain product, of up to 50 m in length,” says Carlo Beukes, BMG’s power transmission product manager. “BMG is the only company in the world, outside of the Tsubaki organisation, with accreditation to provide this unique service.”

This specialist assembly service means customers don’t need to invest in expensive stock holdings of specialised attachment chains for a specific machine.

“BMG ensures each attachment chain is

assembled according to a customer’s exact requirements and delivers in just a couple of days after receipt of the order. This service also means there is no compromise in terms of component specification and quality standards are guaranteed.

“Currently, only BS and ANSI chains, between ½” and 1”, are part of this special assembling service. BMG plans to introduce phase two later this year, which will cover double pitch roller chain.”

To prevent any miscommunication between the customer and BMG, a technical brochure has been designed, that clearly indicates 33 different variations of attachments and extended pins. The worksheet has to be completed, indicating the correct spacing of the required attachments.

BMG’s new delivery service is particularly useful to industries that include food and beverage, packaging and automotive manufacturing plants. The complete range of Tsubaki power

transmission components is available from BMG’s national branch network, which offers a technical advisory and 24 hour back-up Enquiry No: 94 service.

Conveyor belt cleaner for aggregates handling

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global leader in bulk material handling technology has announced a conveyor belt cleaner engineered specifically for the aggregate industry. The Martin PV Cleaner is a durable, one-piece blade that contains approximately 20 percent more urethane than comparable primary cleaners, yielding a longer life in challenging service conditions.

This aggressive design for gravel applications is able to remove even wet, sticky sand from belts 18-72 inches (450-1800 mm) wide.

Engineered to simplify maintenance and reduce costs, the mounting system delivers “no-tool” replacement, as it’s simply dropped into place and secured with a wire lock pin.

“This cleaner uses an aggressive angle of attack to the belt for improved cleaning efficiency,” explained Martin Engineering Senior Product Specialist Dave Mueller. “And the quick-replacement feature means never having to deal with corroded bolts or other fasteners during blade changes.”

The belt cleaner from Martin Engineering features the company’s patented Constant Angle Radial Pressure (CARP) design for consistent cleaning throughout all stages of blade life. The specially-engineered curved blade maintains the same contact angle, even as the belt wears,

helping to retain cleaning efficiency.

T h e Martin PV Cleaner fits head pulleys up to 406 mm in diameter and belt widths from 300 to 1800 mm.

Cleaning width is matched to the conveyor load profile. Typically supplied as a complete assembly, it can accommodate a standard cable tensioner, spring tensioner or the Martin Twist Tensioner. The durable frame can be fitted with solid or segmented blades. Maximum recommended belt speed is 500 FPM (2.54 m/s).

Founded in 1944, Martin Engineering supplies conveyor products and flow aids around the world for a wide variety of bulk material applications, including coal, cement / clinker, rock / aggregate, biomass, grain, pharmaceuticals, food and other materials. The firm is headquartered in Neponset, IL, offering manufacturing, sales and service from factoryowned business units in various countries, including South Africa.

Hot water cascade system

Furthermore, to meet these stringent requirements, they are fitted with highly resistant TFM TM plastic and FDA-approved silicone as a sealing material.

Enquiry No: 96

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2014/04/09 2:24 PM

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The hot water cascade system developed

by MMM MünchenerMedizinMechanik GmbH enables liquids in closed receptacles made of glass or other temperature-resistant materials (such as ampoules) to be sterilized quickly, reliably and gently. This plays a major role in pharmaceutical/biotechnology production.

GEMÜ valves are used to regulate the filling of the sterilization chamber during the process.

This is first filled up to a defined level with deionised sterilization water.

This water then circulates through a steamheated heat exchanger and cascades over the item being sterilized at a continuously rising temperature of up to 121 °C. In the subsequent cooling phase, the sterilization water flows through the now watercooled heat exchanger and cools the item being sterilized down to a specific temperature.

Pneumatically actuated GEMÜ 554 globe valves control the filling of the sterilization chamber with water and the way in which the heat exchanger is heated by steam and cooled using water.

By contrast, GEMÜ 490 butterfly valves are used in the circulation line, as these have significantly more compact installation dimensions yet very high flow rates in comparison with pneumatically operated angle seat globe valves of the same nominal diameter.

Enquiry No: 95

Air Liquide Southern Africa

Tel: +2711 389 7000, Rolf Schluep (Welding & Cutting Manager) +2711 389 7095 www.airliquide.co.za

There is an Air Liquide solution that is right for you.

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April / May 2014

company & product News

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KZN Industrial & Business News

Importance of skills and knowledge transfer

n its 30 years in business, Countapulse Controls has witnessed a number of changes within the instrumentation and process control sector, but by sticking to irrefutable principles, the company has managed to maintain a strong market position.

According to the company’s managing director, Gerry Bryant, Countapulse Controls is founded on three important principles – people, professionalism and passion.

“While the company may have grown in the intervening years, we are still driven by the people we choose to employ, their high levels of professionalism and their absolute and unwavering passion for their work and their customers.

As a result of using people as the foundation of our business, we have advanced from being a small company that supplies counter technology, to a multi-dimensional organisation offering expertise in a full spectrum of sensor applications technology.”

“Even before skills shortages became apparent, Countapulse Controls had instilled in its workforce the importance of staying abreast of current technology and trends. We undertake the majority of the training in-house and outsource training only where absolutely necessary. This is made possible firstly because of our relationship with our principals and secondly because of the intellec-

tual property inherent in the company,” Bryant points out.

“In light of the fact that technology and trends are constantly changing, it is critical that we have an open line of communication with our principals.

Part of this relationship includes regular visits from instrumentation engineers who provide our employees with training on new products at our

premises. In addition, where required, we send employees to our principals’ facilities to gain a greater understanding of the processes around the design, development, manufacturing and application of technology solutions,” Bryant says.

With the evergrowing complexity and sophistication of technology available on the global market and the ongoing skills shortage, there is a concern that these may hinder the implementation of next generation technology.

Knowledge transfer remains a lynchpin in providing customers with a solution driven by high levels of productivity and quality, as well as minimal downtime.

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“This knowledge transfer occurs on three levels. Firstly, between employees within Countapulse Controls, then between Countapulse Controls and its principals and finally between Countapulse Controls and its customers. Our principals hold six-monthly international marketing conferences and this plays an invaluable role in facilitating bi-directional knowledge sharing,” says Bryant.

“Looking to the future, it is important to acknowledge that creating a passion for industrial instrumentation and process control technology in young school leavers is critical to the sustainability of this industry and ultimately the industries it serves.

“Schools and tertiary learning facilities need to challenge learners and create a hunger for contributing to productivity and safety in the workplace through the implementation of suitable technology,” Bryant enthuses.

Enquiry No: 97

New appointments Richard Rudling General Manager Sales APE Pumps

Barloworld Equipment has introduced an advanced Master Class hydraulic hose assembly training programme, which is being rolled out across all its operating centres in southern Africa, ensuring that the highest levels of competency are maintained in accordance with industry safety, health and environmental legislation.

The first eight Barloworld Equipment (BWE) hose assemblers to complete the Master Class training programme, seen here with their Caterpillar trainer and BWE accredited assessor.

From left to right (staggered) are Wes Everett, Caterpillar instructor (Peoria, USA); Mischack Tjabadi (BWE Polokwane); Anesh Devduth (BWE Durban); Robert Ratshipanga (BWE Middelburg); Neto Eloy (BWE Angola, Luanda); Desmond Kitchin (BWE Kathu); Vusi Mkhwanazi (BWE Richards Bay); Hans Madisha (BWE Isando); Ryno Jacobsz (BWE Namibia, Windhoek); and Paul Verwey (BWE group product specialist and accredited assessor)

Etienne Minaar Project Sales Engineer APE Pumps

Seggie Naidoo sales engineer.

Magnet Electrical Supplies

Enquiry No: 97

CoroCut QD ad 100x150mm.indd 1

2014-02-04 14:15:26

Fiona Knickelbein office manager Magnet Richards Bay

Sydney Heath sales engineer Magnet Richards Bay

Shirley Enoch customer relationship manager Surgetek’s KZN branch

Steve Davenport Technical Sales Representative Serco Durban

April / May 2014

company & product News

KZN Industrial & Business News

Agriculture poised to share in Africa’s growth

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he projected doubling of Africa’s population to 2 billion people within three decades from now puts the South African agricultural sector at the core of vibrant agribusiness growth.

This was the unanimous message of agri-leaders during a series of Standard Bank roadshows held in all provinces over recent months.

“Opportunities in the growing African and offshore markets, however, need a local agribusiness environment that facilitates every farming entity to excel,” says Nico Groenewald, Head of AgriBusiness at Standard Bank South Africa.

“It is important that the local agricultural industry performs. This has been one of the key motivators for Standard Bank to play an active role in Agbiz, and other organisations, to ensure that a consolidated opinion reaches key decision- and policy-makers in South Africa.

This has further been streamlined by our conversations with South Africa’s

top farmers and agribusinesses during our series of roadshows.”

Dr John Purchase, CEO of the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz), says that Africa is poised to deliver the highest population growth globally over the next 90 years, more than tripling from 1 billion in 2011 to 3,6 billion in 2100. “This makes Africa an extremely important target for agriexports.”

Discussing the risks and opportunities for South African agribusiness on the continent, Dr Purchase says that agriculture and agribusiness together are projected to be a US$1 trillion industry in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. “This compares to $313 billion in 2010. Every effort should therefore be made to ensure that South Africa does not miss the opportunities. The industry should be at the top of the agenda for economic transformation and development.”

Chantell Ilbury, independent scenario strategist, says that agriculture is huge business today.

“Remember that it is a long-term focused sector and that a tactical approach and adaptation strategies will be needed to feed Africa and the rest of the world in 2050. A ‘hedgehog view’ in agriculture is not going to work.” ”While populations are ageing in European countries, Japan and others, Africa and parts of Asia offer opportunities attributable to fast growing populations. With more countries returning to a steady state, more money will become available in these countries. Just remember that, although dictatorial regimes are becoming rarer, they are not necessarily replaced by democracy,” says Illbury.

Other adaptation challenges include dealing with climate change and natural disasters arising out of the blue, the growing scarcity of water and other resources, and the fact that the world is moving away from the ‘Age of Knowledge to the Age of Intelligence’.

Enquiry No: 99

Rotary kiln services closer to customers

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ince launching a local service unit in South Africa dedicated to providing on-site services for rotary kilns and two-pier vessels in the sub-Saharan minerals and cement markets two years ago, FLSmidth has established a far-reaching list of references throughout the region, providing services for FLSmidth and non-FLSmidth rotary equipment.

Services available from the South African base include troubleshooting and root cause analysis, comprehensive hot kiln alignment, in-situ grinding of tyres, support rollers and thrust rollers, installation, maintenance and repair work and technical guidance and support on FLSmidth and non-FLSmidth equipment.

These services incorporate FLSmidth’s new proprietary “OneTheodolite-Solution” of kiln alignment that enables measurement of the kiln axis in a quick and flexible way.

This method ensures that the kiln axis is measured with high accuracy and repeatable reliability. The alignment method is based on advanced measuring techniques and custom-

ised hardware and software. The measurement results are evaluated by experienced alignment specialists with all data collected during normal operation of the kiln, so production not interrupted.

Most kiln failures derive from four root causes; kiln axis, shell ovality or shell flex or crank and axial balance. So, in addition to evaluating the root causes of any obvious symptoms, during a comprehensive hot kiln alignment FLSmidth techni-

Enquiry Service For more information on product or service news please circle the number relevant to the article then return it to: KZN Industrial & Business News P O Box 1322 Wandsbeck 3631 or fax this coupon to enquiries at (031) 266 7514 or log on to www.mediaevents.co.za.

Name: _________________________________________ Surname:_______________________________________ Designation:______________________________________ Company: _______________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________ ____________________________ Postal Code:_____ Tel:______________________ Fax:___________________ E-mail_________________________________________ Nature of business: ________________________________ Issue 86 - April / May 2014 1

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cians also consider kiln drive evaluation, perform a visual mechanical inspection and conduct an engineering study.

Before the local kiln alignment team was deployed, kiln work in the subSahara region was predominantly handled by FLSmidth in Denmark.

“Local service units are now being set up all over the world to position a variety of our services closer to our customers.

“Having a South African team focused on rotary kilns and two-pier vessels has enabled us to offer customers in our region faster response times, lower travel costs and a local contact to call on when required,” Rob Fellows, FLSmidth service technician, says.

Comprehensive hot kiln alignment ensures that rotary kilns are able to achieve maximum efficiency throughout their service lives and help customers avoid unforeseen breakdowns.

The objective is to maintain optimum kiln performance and maximum production.

Enquiry No: 100

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TALK TO YOUR TARGET MARKET Upcoming features in June / July 2014 • Construction, Civil & Structural Engineering • Electrical & Electronics • Environmental & Management Control • Sugar Industry • Zululand Industry Focus For all editorial contributions contact Chantal Haines For advertising Cheryl Murphy Tel: 031 266 7511 Email: editorial@mediaevents.co.za

April / May 2014

SCENE AROUND

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Seen recently at a Rockwell Automation Water Utilities Update day from left Victor Hlophe, Unathi Soni and Adesh Maharaj, Umgeni Water and Sagren Govender, Rockwell Automation

Also at the Rockwell Automation Water Utilities Update day from left, Gift Chikoore, Autotronix; Duran Poonsamy and Anand Poonsamy, Kaizen Automation Systems; Christo Buys, Rockwell Automation and Bernard Radebe, Kaizen Automation Systems

Also at the Rockwell Automation Water Utilities Update day from left, Michelle Junius, Rockwell Automation; Guy Coulson, Clint Jupp and Mike Mulder, East Coast Solutions and Adrian Van Wyk, Rockwell Automation

The sense of community spirit that exists within local industry, was highlighted recently when some 12 cycling enthusiasts from various industries and businesses in the region completed a 1860km cycle across Southern Africa, starting just south of the Namibian border and finishing in Shongweni. The effort raised in excess of R550 000 for the Ingane Yami Childrens Village in Shongweni

KZN Industrial & Business News

Seen at a recent meeting of the Society for Automation, Instrumentation, Measurement & Control (SAIMC) from left, Pulen Govender, Engen Refinery; Zandile Chiliza, Illovo; Ntobeko Myaka, Hosaf; Lindelani Mzimela, Engen Refinery and Zolile Zoko, Illovo

Also at the SAIMC meeting, from left, Mark Stayt, FFS Refiners; Carl De Beer, UIC; Keith Mitchell, Heaton Valves and Kevin Welch, UIC

Marriott hosted a workshop explaining their new Umbrella Fund, pictured from left, Sharon Govender, Tamryn Kelley, Natalie Jansen and Jacquie Faber

Also at the Marriott Umbrella Fund workshop are from left, Liz Valentine, Mark WestonFord, Mike Lalouette and Chantal Redding

At a recent SANRAL discussion with the Progressive Professionals Forum on “How can South Africa meet the challenges of funding infrastructure and the disparate demands made on the fiscus?”

Left, Conrad David, Hashtag South Africa and Dasen Moodley, DI Info Systems

Also at the SANRAL event, are from left, Dr Rudi Kimmi, UKZN, Tsitsi Munedzi, student at DUT, and Nomtombi Shanse,CAXTON

Seen at the recent MSA New product launch and premier of ‘Burn’ at Suncoast Casino are from left, Enrico Jarvis, SA Navy and Patric Eleftheriou, FTS Safety

MSA New product launch and premier of ‘Burn’ at Suncoast Casino are from left, Peter T Nzimande, Anthony Hartley, Chetropaul Jalkay, all Durban Fire Dept

Also at the SAIMC meeting, from left, Back: Mervyn Gans, Engen; Carl Reinecke, DUT and Brian Thompson, Engen Front: Deidre Van Niekerk and Eddie Horn, Instracon

At the recent EY Africa Budget Breakfast are from left, Myhan Naidoo, EY, Bryan Baylis, MSC and Kreesen Naidu, EY

David and Estelle Morck of Jubane Petroleum recently hosted key clients at the company’s golf day held at Umhlali Country Club

Also seen at Jubane Petroleum’s Golf Day are from left, Cornel Else, Suren Radhalal, John Roussot and David Hooper

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