S MECHANICAL A ENGINEER June 2019
Publication of the SA Institution of Mechanical Engineering, incorporating News of Associate Organisations
NOW FOR 5D ON A 747
EARLY BOILER LEAK DETECTION WITH THE HELP OF SENSORS
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AN ENGINEER’S VIEW
Money Engineering: 101
A
s engineers we spend most of our formative years expanding our technical and managerial experience, but rarely do we invest in cultivating the business acumen required to operate and run a profitable venture. In lieu of this enterprise culture, we resort to the primal essence of a business, which for most of us means adopting a daily mantra of “job out - money in” the hustle of a small engineering company. As many an entrepreneur would know, managing a small business is more than just balancing the books and accounting for expenses, it’s about charting a course, sailing a ship and keeping it afloat. It’s about cash flow. But do engineers make for good business owners? While it is inherent in engineers to itemise, systemise and optimise, we would sooner bury our heads in advanced triple integration, than formulate a 3 month cash flow prediction. For the most part, we lack the insight for trade and commerce, and cannot comfortably adopt these concepts without intentionally endeavoring into the finance-discipline. Without these basic business essentials, engineers are short a tool to effectively and profitably trade our intellectual property as a small business owner. This, in turn, limits both the expansion of independent specialised engineering consultants within the engineering industry, as well as the individual life-span of these companies. Ultimately, we require the empowerment of engineers, not so much with the principles of accounting, but rather with an economic–conducive ‘school of thought’. This would create appropriate flexibility in our thinking and assist us to incorporate relevant factors and dynamic variables into the functioning of a business. Paired with our natural ability for
Brita Govan, Mechanical Engineer at Nautilus Engineers
problem solving, good business savvy would prove highly effective in establishing smart and operational business strategies.
As many an entrepreneur would know, managing a small business is more than just balancing the books and accounting for expenses
Substantial efforts have thus been made to ensure educated engineers are capable of designing and building fully functional ships, perhaps then the next step is to equip us to navigate the seas and sail. Brita Govan Mechanical Engineer at Nautilus Engineers
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S MECHANICAL A ENGINEER June 2019
Publication of the SA Institution of Mechanical Engineering, incorporating News of Associate Organisations
S MECHANICAL A ENGINEER June 2019 VOLUME 69
Contents NOW FOR 5D ON A 747
EARLY BOILER LEAK DETECTION WITH THE HELP OF SENSORS
On the Cover Jet Demolition Tel: (011) 495-3800 rashree@jetdemolition.co.za www.jetdemolition.co.za
Cover Story
Infrastructure
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23 The Gift of Water
Specialised Demolition
SA Institute of Tribology
Maintenance
10 The SAIT 2019 Annual Awards Dinner
25 Plugging Leaks
Environment
27 A Grease For Any Application
15 Tech to Remove Harmful Gases 16 Combating Disease Outbreaks
Lubrication SACEEC Awards
Investment
28 Recognising Local Manufacturing Exporters
19 Scaling Up
Regulars
Technology 22 Putting Digitalisation Into Practice
3 An Engineer’s View 32 Market Forum 38 On the Move
Copyright
All rights reserved. No editorial matter published in “SA Mechanical Engineer” may be reproduced in any form or language without written permission of the publishers. While every effort is made to ensure accurate reproduction, the editor, authors, publishers and their employees or agents shall not be responsible or in any way liable for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in the publication, whether arising from negligence or otherwise or for any consequences arising therefrom. The inclusion or exclusion of any product does not mean that the publisher or editorial board advocates or rejects its use either generally or in any particular field or fields.
Produced by: PROMECH PUBLISHING, P O Box 373, Pinegowrie, 2123, Republic of South Africa Tel: (011) 781-1401, Fax: (011) 781-1403 Email: samecheng@promech.co.za, www.promech.co.za Managing Editor Susan Custers Editorial Contributors Liesl Venter/Patricia Holburn Advertising Sales: Louise Cresswell Cell: 071 886 1263 DTP: Sanette Badenhorst Circulation: Netta Janse van Rensburg Subscriptions Please email us at accounts@promech.co.za if you wish to subscribe to “SA Mechanical Engineer” at R550,00 (excl postage and VAT) per year; R1 380,00 per year for Africa/ Overseas. Disclaimer
PROMECH Publishing and The South African Institution of Mechanical Engineering as well as any other body do not take responsibility for the opinions expressed by individuals.
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Official Publication of
THE SA INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING and endorsed by:
CONSULTING ENGINEERS OF SA CORROSION INSTITUTE OF SA INSTITUTE FOR CERTIFICATED MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK ENGINEERS NUCLEAR INSTITUTE SA ASSOCIATION FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY SA CAPITAL EQUIPMENT EXPORT COUNCIL SA INSTITUTE FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING SA INSTITUTE OF TRIBOLOGY SA PLASTIC PIPE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION SA PUMP MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION SA VALVE AND ACTUATORS MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION VALVE & ACTUATOR MANUFACTURERS CLUSTER OF South Africa
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VOL 69 June 2019
SA INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Council 2018 - 2020
Company Affiliates
Office Bearers
President......................................................Prof D Blaine (Debby) Vice President....................................... H Makwarela (Hangwani) National Treasurer.............................Prof JL van Niekerk (Wikus)
Branch Chairpersons
Amoricom Autodesk as represented by Worldsview Technologies
Central ............................................................... A Celliers (Alicia) Eastern Cape........................................... G van den Berg (Gideon) KwaZulu-Natal ........................................ Dr J Padayachee (Jared) Mpumalanga Highveld .....................................N Lecordier (Noel) Vaal.............................................................. N Swanepoel (Niekie) Western Cape ............................................... Dr M Venter (Martin)
Babcock Ntuthuko Engineering Pty Ltd
Procedures.......................................................... SZ Hrabar (Steve) Communications and Marketing..................G Bartholomew (Bart) TBC...........................................................MAE Black (Malcolm) TBC..............................................................HG Bosman (Tertius)
Portfolios:
Chief Executive Officer..................... Vaughan Rimbault National Office Manager................ Anisa Nanabhay PO Box 511, Bruma, 2026 Tel: (011) 615-5660 Email: info@saimeche.org.za Website: www.saimeche.org.za Membership Email: membership@saimeche.org.za
Eskom Rotek Industries SOC Ltd
Osborn Engineered Products SA (Pty) Ltd Plant Design & Project Services (Pty) Limited (PDPS) PPS Insurance Co Limited Proconics
Esteq Group (Pty) Ltd
Redheads Engineering Services (Pty Ltd)
Exxaro Resources (Pty) Ltd
S.A.M.E Water (Pty) Ltd
Festo (Pty) Ltd
SA Power Services (Pty) Ltd
Fluor SA (Pty) Ltd
Sasol Technology (Pty) Ltd
Kelvion Systems (Pty) Ltd
Siemens (Pty) Ltd
Hatch Africa (Pty) Ltd
Spirax Sarco (Pty) Ltd
Howden Power (a div of Howden Africa)
Tenova Mining and Minerals SA
Howden Projects (a div of James Howden)
Thyssenkrupp Engineering (Pty) Ltd
MBE Minerals (SA) (Pty) Ltd
Vital Engineering (Pty) Ltd
Megchem
Weir Minerals Africa
Mod-U-Flow CC
Digital Accreditation for SAIMechE Members We are pleased to announce that we are now offering all our members the ability to demonstrate and verify their SAIMechE membership standing in real time using the Privyseal digital accreditation service.
W
hat is Digital Accreditation?
The digital accreditation service provides you with a dynamic digital seal, called a Privyseal, and a detailed certificate of Membership.
of this new free service. The process of signing up will only take you between 5-10 minutes.
Why should I use my Privyseal? • Our Privyseal is a powerful way to prove your status and good standing in real-time.
• Your Privyseal and linked certificate of membership will verify your SAIMechE membership grade and status.
• Your Privyseal confirms that your status is real and has been evaluated against SAIMechE’s membership records.
• Your Privyseal can be inserted into your email signature, website and social media profiles.
• Your Privyseal assists to decrease fraud, loss of certificates and the associated risks of poor service and costly mistakes.
• Neither your Privyseal nor certificate of membership will display if there is a problem with your records at SAIMechE. Effective immediately, all SAIMechE members in good standing can register for free for their individual Privyseal and certificate of membership. The ‘Getting Started Guide’, available on our website, will walk you through the registration process and provide you with more details on PrivySeal. We recommend that you sign up as soon as possible to join your fellow SAIMechE members in reaping the benefits
What about my old SAIMechE membership certificate? • Effective immediately, the only way to demonstrate and verify your SAIMechE membership in real time will be using Privyseal. • Those who still have the old certificates can either return to them to the national office, destroy them, or keep them for sentimental or historical value.
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COVER STORY
Specialised Demolition Furnaces in the steelmaking, glass, or general manufacturing industries have a finite lifetime before requiring significant maintenance and repair work. Jet Demolition offers a myriad of specialised services easily adapted to suit the challenging conditions of a furnace demolition project.
T
he company owns a variety of specialised machines and equipment modified specifically to work within the confined space of a furnace structure. “These machines offer us the best chance of improving on project schedules, resulting in decreased downtime for our clients,” says Kate Bester, Jet Demolition Contracts Manager.
Jet Demolition has modified various items of its equipment, significantly reducing the overall size, enabling them to fit and manoeuvre in incredibly confined spaces “More often than not, furnace shutdowns are planned over cold winter months, and will be on a 24-hour schedule so as to best minimise production downtime,” Kate explains.
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The elements that require demolition depend greatly on the extent of the maintenance or repair work to be undertaken. Smaller, less serious shutdowns often require only the burden and solidified product from within the furnace to be removed, so as to allow for localised repairs to the refractory and/or insulation lining. Other extensive repairs may call for the demolition and removal of the refractory lining, sections of the shell-plate, or even entire furnace structures so as to facilitate modernised installations.
Tight space are no problems
Jet Demolition has modified various items of its equipment, significantly reducing the overall size, enabling them to fit and manoeuvre in incredibly confined spaces. It has also recently lifted modified mini excavators onto engineered scaffolding, enabling it to demolish refractory lining at height. “This activity has historically only ever been done by hand at this specific facility,” Kate reveals. “We use specialised lances and tubes, affording us a better burn-rate through solidified iron, and have applied metallurgical research into develop-
VOL 69 June 2019
ing unique wire-packs suited specifically to the base-metals within the furnace to be demolished,” Kate continues.
Demanding working conditions
In addition, it is inevitable that furnace demolition activities have an array of extreme conditions and circumstances associated thereto. These range from working in a wet environment during quenching and cooling to working in an extremely hot environment with restricted visibility during lancing activities.
Specialised lances and tubes offer a better burn-rate through solidified iron “Just about every element of a furnace structure is large and heavy, and has the potential to cause harm. Thus it is imperative that there is no slip in focus or attention throughout all phases of the works,” Kate concludes. Jet Demolition Rashree Maharaj Tel: (011) 495-3800 Email: rashree@jetdemolition.co.za www.jetdemolition.co.za
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The SAIT 2019 Annual Awards Dinner
T
his elegant event was held in the Kalahari Room, and was attended by many of the engineering elite of Johannesburg: Professor & Mrs Kucukkaragoz of the University of the Witwatersrand; Dr Jean-Patrick Leger of Vesconite and his wife, Dr Marianne Felix; Dr Natasha Sacks, Associate Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand; members of the SAIT Executive Committee, President Doug Herschell, Treasurer David Beard and Leon Bradley; and representatives of Corporate Members Astron Energy, BP, Flexilube and Total. Among those unable to attend this year were Professor and Mrs Philip de Vaal of the University of Pretoria, Past-Presidents and current Executive Committee Members of the SAIT, Dave Gamble and Patrick Swan and their wives.
Leslie Frank Barker was the recipient of the 2019 Louw Alberts Award for consistently upholding the values of tribology As the guests arrived and mingled, cocktails were served and there was a warm buzz of conversation. People found their seats at the stylish black, white and silver tables, joining friends and getting to know new acquaintances. Another happy table was occupied by Dr Sacks and a group of her School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering students from the University of the Witwatersrand. Representatives from Astron Energy and Total South Africa also enjoyed the evening. The SAIT Secretariat, Secretary Mrs Gill Fuller, Assistant Secretary, Mrs Isabel Bradley and Bookkeeper Mrs Berice Fayard, attended with their husbands, Trevor, Leon and George. SAIT President, Doug Herschell, was Master of Ceremonies. He welcomed the guests to the 2019 Annual Awards Dinner of the SAIT and introduced Dr Sacks, who proposed the traditional, toast to the SAIT before
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On Friday evening, 17 May 2019, CedarWoods of Sandton graciously hosted the Annual Awards Dinner of the South African Institute of Tribology, known to its Members, Executive Committee, Administrative Staff and loyal the delicious buffet-style main supporters as meal was served. the SAIT. After mouth-watering desserts, the Annual SAIT Awards were made.
Award winners
The prestigious Louw Alberts Award for 2018 was presented retrospectively to Doug Herschell: David Beard made the presentation, explaining that Doug was unable to attend the 2018 Awards Dinner. Leslie Frank Barker was the recipient of the 2019 Louw Alberts Award for consistently upholding the values of tribology and perseverance in ensuring its survival in the face of great odds within the industry. Through his competence and tenacity, he has promoted this discipline in many areas. As Leslie was unable to attend this event, Doug Herschell accepted the award on his behalf. The Best Technical Presentation Award for 2019 went to Dr Jean-Patrick Leger of Vesconite for his presentation “Adventures in Wear: From Underground Gold Mines to Desert Railways to Ocean Floors” at the SAIT Technical Meeting on 15 May 2018. The SAIT Student Award for 2019 went to Thuli Mkhaliphi for her MSc project “Influence of Ruthenium and Molybdenum Ion Implantation on the Machining Performance of WC-Co Straight Grade Inserts” David Beard then gave a fascinating and entertaining presentation on the Millau Bridge in France, which concluded the evening. We appeal to all tribologists to join The South African Institute of Tribology in carrying out our Mission Statement: “To promote technology transfer, whereby local tribological problems can be solved and products improved.”
VOL 69 June 2019
SAIT President 2018/19, Doug Herschell, with SAIT Secretary, Gill Fuller
CONTRACT LOGISTICS SA INSTITUTE OF TRIBOLOGY
Gill and Trevor Fuller Galina Fuller with George and Berice Fayard
SAIT Treasurer, David Beard, SAIT Executive Committee Member, Leon Bradley and Doug Herschell Leon and Isabel Bradley
Everyone at the Flexilube Table seemed to thoroughly enjoy the company and the THEevening SOUTH AFRICAN MECHANICAL ENGINEER
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SA INSTITUTE OF TRIBOLOGY CONTRACT LOGISTICS
Dr Natasha Sacks (centre) of Wits University with companions
Jean-Patrick Leger, CEO of Vesconite with his wife, Dr Marianne Felix Kathy and Thomas Surmon The Total table
Anton von Knoblauch with Gill Fuller
David Beard gave his presentation on the Millau Bridge
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The Wits Table
Presentation of the Louw Alberts Award for 2018 and 2019 Doug Herschell and David Beard
Presentation of the Best Technical Presentation Award for 2019 Jean-Patrick Leger of Vesconite with Doug Herschell
“Miss Astron Energy”
The Astron Energy table Presentation of SAIT student for 2019 Doug Herschell with Thuli Mkhaliphi
Astron Energy Representatives
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VOL 69 Thornhill June 2019Office Park • Bekker Road • Vorna Valley • Midrand
ENVIRONMENT
Tech to Remove Harmful Gases New South African legislation decrees that by April 1 2020 existing plants must comply with Minimum Emission Standards (MES) in terms of meeting NO x (Nitrogen Oxides) levels of less than 350 mg/Nm 3. Some nitric acid plants are already compliant with the 2020 MES standards in terms of NO x. However, for other plants compliance with NO x emission requirements is border line, making it necessary to put new technology in place.
I
n chemistry, NOx is a generic term for the nitrogen oxides that are most relevant for air pollution. Nitrous oxide (N2O), commonly known as laughing gas, is produced as a by-product in the manufacture of nitric acid, an important raw material used among other things to make fertilizers. Nitrous oxide is a potent greenhouse gas implicated in the destruction of the ozone layer. “Operators are under increasing pressure to produce more and more efficiently both from an operational cost and environmental point of view,” notes Neville Eve, General Manager of thyssenkrupp. “To meet the challenge of managing emissions to minimum levels and still be up on production requires proven technologies that allow cost-effective set-up and operation and at the same time make a significant contribution to environmental protection.”
The EnviNO x process is capable of removing NO x, and if required the greenhouse N 2O gas Turning gas into water
The EnviNOx process from thyssenkrupp is capable of removing NOx, and if required the greenhouse N2O gas, turning it into harmless nitrogen and water. The technology has been proven on an industrial scale with around 30 plants using the EnviNOx process around the globe, with two of these plants located in South Africa. The EnviNOx reactor removes NOx through a process not dissimilar to what is used to reduce emissions in modern vehicles, namely selective catalytic reduction (SCR), which uses a catalyst and a small amount of ammonia in the reaction process.
thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions Kgothatso Ntsie Tel: (011) 236-1000 kgothatso.ntsie@thyssenkrupp.com
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ENVIRONMENT
Combating DISEASE Outbreaks The recent spilling of sewage into the Durban harbour has something in common with another recent event. Two hundred SANDF technical team members were called out to the Vaal Dam in November last year.
T
he water that thousands of people rely on is contaminated either by sewage or by pollution, putting people at risk of waterborne diseases.
We started asking ourselves: ‘Do we really have to build a field lab every time we go out to test water?’ That’s where the mobile lab idea was born”
In these situations, it is critical to test water and get the results quickly so the water can be made safe. But these events usually happen far from big cities. And that’s where the laboratories that can analyse water samples are. So driving back and forth means it takes much longer before people have safe water.
Mothers and water
“The idea for a mobile lab started a few years ago. The moment that really sticks in my head happened during the Carolina diarrhea outbreak. The thenminister of water and sanitation said ‘I had to listen to moms crying about babies who were critically ill, asking: ’Why can’t we sort this out now?’’ And we knew we still had to go sample and drive three hours back to the laboratory, before we could even start the analysis,” says Prof TG Barnard, Director of the Water and Health Research Centre, University of Johannesburg (UJ). “We knew if we had a laboratory on site, we could do things much faster. We could start testing water at a household level, telling people to bring their water and give immediate results,” Prof Barnard continues.
Building labs from scratch
In the past, the research team drove for hours to deep rural communities to test water and had to build a field lab from scratch. “We started asking ourselves: ‘Do we really have to build a field lab every time we go out to test water?’ That’s where the mobile lab idea was born,” adds Dr Kousar Hoorzook. Research coordinator at the process energy environment technology station (PEETS) at the University of Johannesburg. “For each trip, we packed up everything we needed
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from the UJ laboratory, and carried it out of our building to a trailer outside. It would take nine hours to drive to the site. When we got there at 5pm, we would find we have a derelict hut to work in,” she says. “Then we started cleaning the space. After that we would sterilise it. Only then could we start testing the water samples, and it would be 10pm already,” she adds. Kousar is the co-designer of the lab with Prof Barnard and Robin Robertson, an industrial designer.
Off-the-grid
The laboratory design is really a ‘shell’ that can be customised, continues Prof Barnard.
Cholera Vibrio Cholerae human biopsy
The mobile lab runs its sample fridge and incubator, analysis equipment and air-conditioning on solar panels, a generator and batteries “The space inside was set up so we can bring in different types of equipment for various tests. We designed it with the idea of transporting as much equipment to test for as many viruses as possible. The mobile lab runs its sample fridge and incubator, analysis equipment and air-conditioning on solar panels, a generator and batteries. It carries its own safe water supply and a side tent to accommodate more testing equipment and staff needing shelter. Because it can operate without grid electricity or water, the mobile lab can stay on site for several days if needed,” he concludes.
Dysentery Bacillary Shigella
University of Johannesburg Therese van Wyk Tel: (071) 139-8407 Email: tgbarnard@uj.ac.za Diarrhea Gastroenteritis E. coli
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WORLD-CLASS performance requires speed, agility and endurance
STRATEGY
INFRASTRUCTURE
OPERATIONS
Planning strategic direction benchmarked to world-class standards
Development of world-class infrastructure from concept to realisation
Development of operations to best practice and world-class standards
Supply Chain Strategy
Facility Design & Development
Process & Operations Design
• Supply Chain network analysis & design • National & Regional DC strategy development • Facility Sizing and OPEX estimates • On-line fullllment • Slow vs. Fast movers network set-up • A Supply Chain that supports business strategy • Site development strategies • Technology, IOT and digitilisation strategy
• Greennelds site development
• Operations assessment and benchmarking • WMS / WCS review • WMS / WCS functional requirements • Process and operations optimisation • Long term operational development strategies • Process audit • Labour standards and incentive programs
planning • Brownnelds site development planning • Functional building requirements speciication • Technical liaison to professional / development team • Facility sizing requirements (short to long term) • Design to execution • Procurement, program and vendor management
In today’s competitive business world you need to focus on every opportunity to advance your company mission
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Cape Town: (021) 816 2000 | ils-ct@ils.co.za Johannesburg: (011) 656 1100 | ils-jhb@ils.co.za VOL 69 June 2019 www.ils.co.za
INVESTMENT
Scaling up FLSmidth has relocated the manufacture of its core screen media products to the modernised Delmas Supercenter facility, providing a cost-effective base from which to grow its sub-Saharan markets.
“
The targeted efficiency improvements for the production lines at the facility will allow us to better serve our installed base of FLSmidth equipment in the sub-Saharan Africa and Middle East region,” says Stephan Kruger, FLSmidth Director for Manufacturing and Warehousing in the region. This follows the 2017 decision by FLSmidth to proceed with an investment at the 120 000m2 premises in Delmas.
In-house manufacturing
In line with this strategy, FLSmidth has opted to focus on the in-house manufacture of three core product lines, polyurethane, wedge wire and ceramic wear solutions.
Fettling and cleaning before final quality checks are conducted on FLSmidth polyurethane screen panels
The company concluded the sale of its non-core screen media product lines, including woven wire screens, perforated plate and wire conveyor belts, to crusher support services. During this process, FLSmidth secured a preferential supply agreement to support local industry customers with the continued supply of these products.
Opted to focus on the in-house manufacture of three core product lines, polyurethane, wedge wire and ceramic wear solutions The transaction has also preserved 79 jobs in the manufacturing sector, retaining a considerable production capacity within the country. Thirty of the employees have been relocated to the FLSmidth Delmas operation.
Optimised production costs
“We have invested in state-of-the-art equipment, including full Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining capability,” says Stephan. “The new facilities include 5-axis and 6-axis machining centres, introducing a high level of technology to support the product lines in our business while optimising production costs.” The Delmas operation includes a 10 500m2 workshop with 120 ton lifting capacity and 11,5m under crane hook. More than 100 staff members are currently employed at the facility. It hosts modern offices, warehouse facilities and a dedicated training centre that can accommodate up to 65 people for technical training purposes.
Quality approved polyurethane screen panels being packed
FLSmidth Willie van Wyk Tel: (010) 210-4820 Email: marinda.kerr@flsmidth.com www.flsmidth.com
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nternational, Inc. obally recognized bribery business organization and provider of third isk management solutions.
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TECHNOLOGY
Putting Digitalisation Into Practice There has been much conversation about the Industrial Internet of Things and Industry 4.0, but the focus has generally been about the concept and the technology surrounding this revolution, rather than about the ways it can be put into practice.
“
Recent improvements in connectivity, control and analytical capabilities have unlocked the potential for significant improvements in the cost, quality and productivity of industrial operations. However the secret to truly successful digitalisation for these companies lies in putting the technology to use in such a way that it delivers real and measurable customer value,” says Mattias Årstadius of SKF. The mistake that is often made is to focus on developing a system solution, rather than looking at the customer’s specific needs. Digitalisation should be about improving customer performance. So, the first step needs to be to determine what value means to that specific company and what they consider to be their key performance indicators (KPIs).
The digitalisation of predictive maintenance
SKF has been working with a large pulp & paper company in Sweden to deliver one of their KPI’s, operational efficiency. With high levels of unplanned stoppages, condition monitoring was introduced. Mattias Årstadius, SKF Industrial Sales Unit Manager Sweden
“Not only has this move to
predictive maintenance saved the paper mill several hundred thousands of euros in terms of downtime reduction, but the monitoring system is delivering real-time noise, temperature and vibration data to allow SKF to not only solve present issues but avoid future ones,” says Mattias. Thanks to the introduction of 4G and 5G and real-time connectivity, the door is beginning to be opened to the next stage in predictive maintenance, the bigger picture.
Thanks to the introduction of 4G and 5G and real-time connectivity, the door is beginning to be opened to the next stage in predictive maintenance, the bigger picture Real-time data is also opening the door to far greater integration across the supply chain. For example, in the very near future, component manufacturers will be able to access customer machine data and will be able to manufacture replacement wearing parts before each asset actually needs replacing.
How digitalisation is transforming business models
Through condition monitoring and the digitalisation of the industrial process, traditional transactional models are increasingly being replaced by performance and functional based contracts. “SKF is beginning to see this shift, with more companies choosing either its performance, or functional based contract models. The former is a base fee paid monthly, with a bonus performance payment added at longer intervals if the customer’s KPI’s have been reached. Functional model agreements however commit the provider to deliver in terms of functionality for an agreed fee. There are real advantages for both sides to these models and we believe we will continue to increase in popularity, as more companies begin to exploit the potential of digitalisation to create different ways of financing operational performance,” adds Mattias. A case in point is a mining operation where SKF has placed 8 000 sensors on the production lines, monitoring 2 400 assets, such as pumps, fans, gearboxes and large rotating grinding mills. A continuous service agreement is in place with the mine owners and as a result of digitalisation, SKF has been able to document that the predictive maintenance measures being carried out are saving the company almost i8 million per year. SKF, Samantha Joubert Tel: (011) 821-3602 Email: samantha.joubert@skf.com www.skf.com
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INFRASTRUCTURE
The Gift Of Water The port city of Pemba in the Cabo Delgado Province of Mozambique is receiving a gift of life with the area soon to extend its clean water supply following the installation of the 42 kilometre long bulk water pipeline which will provide water for the city’s growing population.
T
he new 500mm diameter ductile iron pipeline forms part of a larger project which includes new pump stations and the expansion of the well field to double the volume of water that can be supplied to Pemba. The pipeline is due to be completed and commissioned in August 2019 following 12 months of activity on site. Tshwane based Nyeleti Consulting Engineers is part of an international project team entrusted by the Mozambican government’s Water Supply Investment and Assets Fund (FIPAG) to complete this project. Nyeleti’s services included the preliminary and detailed design of the 42km DN500 ductile iron transmission main. Some of the major tasks that have been completed include hydraulic and surge design of the new transmission main, route selection and an external condition assessment of the existing transmission main.
International players
Nyeleti CEO Pine Pienaar and Valize Scholtz on site
Some of the major tasks that have been completed include hydraulic and surge design of the new transmission main, route selection and an external condition assessment of the existing transmission main
“This project meant that we had to work with a diverse international team that included role players from China, Germany, Mozambique and South Africa. With the completion of the pipeline in August 2019, the supply of clean water to Pemba will already be improved. The real benefit will however come when the pump station and borehole expansion projects have also been completed,” says Valize Scholtz, an associate engineer at Nyeleti Consulting. Nyeleti Consulting, Valize Scholtz, Tel: (012) 361-3629 E-mail: info@nyeleti.co.za, www.nyeleti.co.za
Pemba Group at the kick off meeting for the project
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Piecing together your success.
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MAINTENANCE
Plugging Leaks Presently in South Africa, boiler tube leaks are something of a hot topic, as the country’s national power supplier continues to contend with various complex challenges, including that of boiler maintenance issues caused by, among other factors, boiler tube leaks.
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his is not a uniquely South African issue, as the US-based organisation, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), reports that power generation plants in the US and Europe have, on average, around 6% loss of plant availability due to boiler tube leaks, a major loss factor for these facilities.
Early leak detection
However, in South Africa, industrial solutions provider RTS Africa Technologies has an effective solution to the challenge of boiler tube leaks. This is in the form of a boiler tube leak detection system from UK-based Procon Engineering. “Early detection of boiler tube leaks include increased operating profit, personnel safety, availability and tube life,” says Ian Ian Fraser
Fraser, Managing Director of the RTS Africa Group. “In addition, early tube leak detection means unscheduled outages can be avoided or at least reduced as can repair costs and secondary damage, with the attendant reduction in financial penalties and insurance costs,” he adds.
Picking up frequencies
Commenting on how the technology works, Ian says that Procon manufactures microphones which bear little resemblance to conventional audio microphones. These microphones detect the very particular noise made by steam leaking from a boiler tube. “The sound of a boiler tube leak has a particular frequency which these microphones are selectively able to detect. In itself, this is quite a technical feat, as the firebox of a boiler is a fairly noisy environment,” he explains. The operational importance of the leak detection system is that it can detect small leaks before they become catastrophic failures. A further key advantage lies in the number of microphones installed in a boiler. For example, a typical power station might have as many as 24 of these acoustic devices installed in a boiler. The output from the microphones is fed into an IT controlled display with each microphone being represented by a bar on the display. This shows the sound levels from each microphone inside the firebox. For recordkeeping purposes and system analysis, it is possible to print out the data from a Procon system. When the leak occurs, the microphone nearest to the leak will display an elevated bar level. What is particularly useful is that other microphones in the area will also pick up the noise. “The system has been designed not only to serve power stations, but also the range of boilers used in the broad spectrum of industry,” Ian explains. “With boilers which might service manufacturing or production environments, prevention of major failures will also assist in the avoidance of punitive financial penalties, and ultimately bring about a marked improvement in the company’s bottom line,” he concludes. RTS Africa Group Ian Fraser Tel:(012) 433-6335 www.rtsafrica.co.za
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LUBRICATION
A Grease For Any Application From construction machinery to automotive, mining, steel, cement, packaging, and manufacturing, FAG Arcanol greases from Schaeffler, distributed locally by Bearings International (BI), is ideal for roller bearing and linear applications.
F
AG Arcanol greases from Schaeffler are a guarantee of the highest performance in roller bearing and linear applications, according to Andrew Altree, Product Manager for FAG & INA at BI. The grease range developed under the Arcanol brand is subdivided into four major groups, namely multipurpose greases, heavy-duty greases, high-temperature greases and special greases.
Extensive R&D has been undertaken in the development and application of greases to determine what grease is suitable for a specific application Wide application range
The greases have been designed for a wide range of roller bearing applications. After thorough testing in Schaeffler’s tribology department, only the top 10% is used. “Extensive R&D has been undertaken in the development and application of greases to determine what grease is suitable for a specific application,” Andrew explains. As a premium brand in the BI stable, FAG Arcanol plays a major role in the supplier’s value-added product and services portfolio. Aftermarket service and support is provided by Schaeffler South Africa. BI also offers two automatic lubrication systems to give its customers contaminant-free automatic lubrication for critical machinery. Andrew Altree is BI Product Manager for FAG and INA
BI, Andrew Altree Tel: (011) 899-0000 Email: info@bearings.co.za www.bearings.co.za
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SACEEC AWARDS
Recognising Local Manufacturing Exporters
Exporter of the Year Small – NXCO Mining Technologies
The SACEEC Exporter of the Year Awards were presented at the inaugural Local Southern African Manufacturing Expo (LME) on 22 May 2019. The Expo, which is endorsed by the Premier of Gauteng, David Makhura, is the culmination of a collaborative effort between the South African Capital Equipment Export Council (SACEEC) and Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery.
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ric Bruggeman, CEO at SACEEC, says, “the SACEEC Exporter of the Year Awards allow us to further recognise the supreme efforts invested by a number of local manufacturers. There were a large number of entries, all of which are notable by their focused drive to provide products that are characterised by out-of-the-box thinking, coupled with careful and systematic attention to detail.”
There were a large number of entries, all of which are notable by their focused drive to provide products that are characterised by out-of-the-box thinking Exporter of the Year Medium – African Mixing Technologies
Emerging Exporter of the Year – T-Legacy Components
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Exporter of the Year Large – Bell Equipment Company South Africa
VOL 69 June 2019
Winners
The exporter of the year winner with a small turnover of less than R25 million was NXCO Mining Technologies followed by Kama Industries. The exporter of the year winner with a medium turnover of between R25 million and R200 million was African Mixing Technologies. It was followed by Weba Technical Services, Urethane Moulded Products and Mitech Control Valves.
The SACEEC Exporter of the Year Awards allow us to further recognise the supreme efforts invested by a number of local manufacturers The exporter of the year winner with Exporter of the Year Services – Consulmet a large turnover of over R200 million was Bell Equipment Company South Africa followed by Multotec Process Equipment, Hall Longmore, Lixil Africa, Aard Mining Equipment, Kwatani and lastly, Brelko Conveyor Products. The exporter of the year winner in the services category was Consulmet followed by Azmet Technology & Projects. The winner of the exporter of the year in Africa with a turnover of over R100 million was Multotec Process Equipment followed by Bell Equipment Company South Africa, Consulmet, Lixil Africa and Hall Longmore. SA Capital Equipment Export Council Eric Bruggeman Tel: (011) 849-7388 www.saceec.com Exporter of the Year Africa (turnover of >R100-million) – Multotec Process Equipment
Exporter of the Year Africa (turnover of <100-million) – Aard Mining Equipment SACEEC Member of the Year 2018 – Fabchem Mining
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“THE LINK FOR AFRICAN TRADING”
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TRANSNET FREIGHT RAIL
www.transnetfreightrail-tfr.net
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MARKET FORUM
Forget 3d lets do 5D After a five-day mega transport from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Badhoevedorp, the Corendon Boeing 747 arrived in the garden of the Corendon Village Hotel. There the plane will be converted into a 5D experience about the 747 and the history of aviation. Visitors will be able to walk on, over or under the plane and visit places that are normally not accessible to the public. They can visit the cargo area where the luggage is loaded, learn about the fuelling of the plane, take a look in the kitchen of the business class and the cockpit on the upper deck. They can even do a wing walk over the thirty metre long wings. Visitors also have the opportunity to take a journey through the history of aviation. Which begins with the ancient human desire to fly and leads them from the first serious flight attempts around 1900 to the
www.pumprental.co.za
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development of the Boeing 747. The highlight of the trip is the 5D experience, in which they can experience flying in all its facets. The transport of the aircraft coincided with the celebration of the first test flight of the Boeing 747 on February 9th, 1969. The 747 is an iconic plane and was the largest aircraft in the world until 2007. It could transport 2.5 times more passengers than other conventional types. It was also the first wide body aircraft, with two aisles. Characteristic is also the upper deck, where the cockpit is located. Corendon Hotels & Resorts Tel +312-0820-7888 Email: info.vitalityamsterdam@corendonhotels.com www.corendonhotels.com
dewatering k c o l c e h t d roun
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tel: +27 11 894 2906 email: admin@pumprental.co.za
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Sealing ventilation walls safely and easily Developed to assist coal mines to seal their ventilation walls and air-crossings, the Chryso Vent Block Sealer can seal any porous substrate quickly and cost-effectively. Chryso responded to the coal mining industry’s need to address ventilation wall leakage, according to the company’s new business manager, Frans Bakselerowicz. The styrene acrylic copolymer sealer efficiently addresses the challenge of hollow blocks and joints in the walls. “The conventional use of a bitumen emulsion paint-on application product had proved to be very labour-intensive and costly,” says Frans. “By contrast, the Chryso Vent Block Sealer is a spray-on product, using a knapsack pump which does not need any compressed air to spray. This allows its application even in back areas of a mine, where there are no electrical and compressed air services.” The ventilation walls in a mine are usually made of concrete hollow blocks, clay bricks and corrugated iron sheets. However, he emphasises that any porous substrate can be sealed, as well as gaps of up to 1mm in magnitude. Any larger crack or hole can be repaired with a.b.e. paintable flashing tape and then sprayed over. In high leakage areas, a second coat can be applied if required. Chryso Frans Bakselerowicz Tel: (011) 395-9700 za.chryso.com
Self-extinguishing characteristics of the vent block sealer
An attractive cost saving Fast payback from steam turbine cogeneration systems makes this power source an attractive option across numerous industries. This is according to Leandro Magro, manager of steam turbines at Zest Weg Group who says that any factory with a boiler installed has a potential for cogeneration using a steam turbine.
that typically, industrial steam turbine models start from a 30kW capacity and go up to 150MW. “These turbines can operate at a very low steam pressure (5 bar or less) or a high steam pressure up to 140 bar, saturated or superheated steam up to 540°C,” he explains. “Steam turbine cogeneration is not only
suitable for large installations but can play a vital role in medium and small applications, saving the end-user a significant amount in energy costs,” Leandro concludes. Zest Weg Group , Tel: (011) 723-6000 Email:info@zestweg.com www.zestweg.com
“The electricity cost savings usually pay back the investment in less than three years, but this payback period can be further reduced depending on the applicable electricity price tariff in effect,” he says. Power plants, sugar mills, pulp and paper mills, steel mills, petrochemicals, oil and gas installations, food and beverage manufacturing operations and many other industries including commercial and institutional facilities use steam turbines for electricity production or to drive mechanical equipment such as compressors, fans, mills and blowers. When used for the production of electricity, the steam turbine is coupled to a generator, which is commonly referred to as a steam turbo generator set. Leandro says
A backpressure steam turbo generator running with saturated steam, producing 100 kWh of electricity to the plant
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MARKET FORUM
High pressure efficiency Building on its success with ELGi’s range of high pressure, diesel-driven compressors, Integrated Air Solutions has introduced the ELGi EG Series of electric air compressors. ELGi’s electric screw air compressors are available from 5.5kW to 15kW for smaller air requirements (EN Series) and from 22kW to 250kW for medium and large applications (EG Series). Reduced pressure losses and increased efficiencies are what most customers are looking for in a compressor and the ELGi electric range has been designed with that in mind. Packed with state-of-the-art technologies, these compressors present a giant leap in design and performance from the unique encapsulated airend (EN Series) to the efficient three-stage air-oil separation system. “The result is a compressor that delivers air efficiently and reliably with minimum pressure drop. This, combined with a low lifecycle cost, places the benefits of a lower total cost of ownership in the hands of customers and end-users,” says Trevor Volker, Integrated Air Solutions product manager for electric compressors. Airend encapsulates all major functional systems such as intake, compression and separation within a common frame, ensuring silent operation. The efficient three-stage air-oil separation system reduces oil particles to less than 3ppm. The robust air-cooling system comprises high efficiency coolers and cooling fans to ensure low operating temperatures,
extending compressor life. The two-stage air filtration system facilitates air to enter through a pre-filtered enclosure, thereby enabling cleaner suction which keeps internal components clean and increases the life of consumables. Integrated Air Solutions Graham Russell, Tel: (011) 894-2906 Email: graham@air-solutions.co.za
26 Nagington Road, Wadeville, Germiston 1400, South Africa Tel +27 11 824 4810 / Fax +27 11 824 2770 E-mail info@apepumps.co.za / info@matherandplatt.com Website www.apepumps.co.za / www.matherandplatt.com
Split Case Pump • Sugar and Paper Mills • Refineries • Petro Chemical
Horizontal Multistage Pump
Vertical Turbine • Cooling Water • Circulation • Irrigation
• Power Generation Plants • Cooling and Heating Systems • Mining Applications
Locally Manufactured
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Securing railway coaches BMG supplies the local railways sector with custom-designed planetary gearboxes for use in railway maintenance programmes. “Dinamic Oil gearboxes, which are supplied with 22 kW brake motors, are used to lift, turn and hold railway coaches securely in place during maintenance procedures, like welding and machining,” says Kelly Mac Iver, gears manager at BMG. “A notable feature of this system is enhanced safety during operation. Prior to the introduction of these planetary gear units, large overhead cranes were used for lifting, turning and holding during maintenance and which was a highly dangerous operation.” These planetary gear units have a nominal output torque of 210 000 Nm and turn 15 ton railway coaches at 1rev/min. Other advantages of these energy-saving units include efficiency at low RPM’s, easy access for maintenance, a smaller box for a given load and a wide range of ratio permutations. BMG Kelly Mac Iver Tel: (011) 620-1615 Email: kellym@bmgworld.net www.bmgworld.net
Custom-designed planetary gearboxes for use in railway maintenance programmes.
Environment friendly lubricants In a rapidly changing global climate and with every industry under pressure to mitigate environmental damage, even wire rope lubrication can play its part.
Engineers South Africa, explains that in the maritime sector, having a non-toxic lubricant for wire ropes, moving chains and cable parts is particularly important for preserving marine life.
Wire ropes need to be well lubricated to withstand increasingly harsh climate conditions, especially in the maritime and mining industries, but the lubricants used on them can negatively affect the environment. Products are now available that help to minimise adverse effects.
While environmentally friendly lubricants have long aimed to be biodegradable, the value of products like the Earthwise range supplied by Lubrication Engineers (LE) is immense because of its focus on non-toxicity. LE’s Earthwise EAL Wire Rope Grease (3353) is a certified environmentally acceptable lubricant and is recommended for use in applications on or near waterways. It is readily biodegradable, exhibits minimal aquatic toxicity and will not accumulate in the cells of fish and other aquatic life forms.
Llewellyn Owen, National Marketing Manager for Lubrication
LE also supplies a wire rope lubricant, Wirelife Almasol Coating Grease, for the mining sector. This lubricant is highly tacky, ensuring that it sticks to the rope and doesn’t fall onto the ground and affect the earth’s surface where it is used. Lubrication Engineers South Africa Llewellyn Owen, Tel: (011) 464-1735 Email: info@lubricationengineers.co.za www.lubricationengineers.co.za.
Robots slash document reporting time While the manual compilation of a Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ) documentation reporting can take up to 20 man hours, Passport 360 has slashed this time to three minutes. This is thanks to built-in Robotic Process Automation (RPA), which allows for custom documentation to be compiled in mere minutes. “It provides for a greater level of real-time intelligence and insight into SHEQ,” Passport 360 Director and Co-Founder, Siobahn Whitehead, comments. In addition, the dashboard view feature consolidates all contractor SHEQ documentation into a high-level dashboard, again for real-time access of all data, which can be managed and interpreted accordingly.
Without consistent monitoring and review, SHEQ information quickly becomes outdated, thereby ramping up the risk considerably. Digitising these records and then applying Passport 360’s built-in RPA allows for mining operations to better pursue the industry’s ultimate goal of zero harm. This also has significant implications for clients in terms of transparency and security, Siobahn highlights. “Passport 360 allows contractors to access client systems and information without exposing those internal systems,” she concludes. Passport 360, Siobahn Whitehead Tel: (010) 045-3679 Email: info@passport360.co.za www.passport360.co.za
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Aftermarket services KSB Pumps and Valves is intensifying its focus on aftermarket services that add value to customer operations far beyond the supply and maintenance of its own products. All aftermarket services now fall under the new KSB SupremeServ banner which encompasses existing and new maintenance, logistics and engineering infrastructure and is entirely focused on elevating customer assistance within the pump industry. “SupremeServ is a safety net that ensures KSB’s extensive South African, as well as global infrastructure. Expertise is available to support customers’ fluid transfer projects, including equipment and related infrastructure to ensure its long-term success,” says KSB Pumps and Valves SupremeServ division manager, Grant Glennistor. Simultaneously, the company has ongoing programmes to continuously improve services through constant upskilling and development of its staff in line with market requirements. This level of commitment has also led to
KSB Pumps and Valves SupremeServ division manager, Grant Glennistor
Tel: (011) 876-600 Email: Annett.Kriel@ksb.com www.ksbpumps.co.za
the company qualifying as a Level 1 BBBEE provider. KSB Pumps and Valves Annett Kriel
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Tel: 0861 009378
www.zestweg.com
2018/12/04 10:28
MARKET FORUM
Saving screens with high-quality motors Harsh operating conditions on vibrating screens demand high quality engineering and the strictest tolerances for unbalanced motors and gearboxes, or they simply do not last. Kenny Mayhew-Ridgers, chief operating officer at Kwatani says, “We design our own motors with local conditions in mind, giving the customer a high performance and long lasting product.” This includes optimal sealing arrangements for keeping electrical components dry and clean. The design must consider various orientations of the motor, depending on the angle of installation. Dusty conditions on mines also present a challenge. “Dust ingress can compromise the sealing configuration of the lid,” he says. “Our design is therefore like a top-hat, so the O-ring is not on a flat surface but rather on a cylindrical, vertical surface.” He also highlights the massive centripetal forces that are exerted on the screening machine by the unbalanced motor and gearbox. This makes it vital to secure them well to the screen. “To achieve this, we specify our own fabricated bolts, nuts and washers,” he says. “If sub-standard fasteners are used, components can come loose and cause extensive damage,” concludes Kenny. Kwatani, Kenny Mayhew-Ridgers, Tel: (011) 923-9000 Email: sales@kwatani.co.za www.kwatani.co.za
Unbalanced motors engineered to internal technical specifications and manufactured exclusively for the company in partnership with one of the world’s leading motor manufacturers in Europe
SKF Multilog On-line System IMx-8
More data capture opportunities. Even in a limited space. Configure your IMx-8 and monitor your data wirelessly from your iOS or Android device. The IMx-8 can be fully configured via luetooth, and can use existing template configurations stored in the SKF Cloud. Machine data can then be viewed on your iOS or Android device. And with direct access to world-class software, analytics and support through SKF @ptitude or SKF Enlight, it’s the cost-effective route to high performance.
SKF South Africa (Pty) Limited Tel: +27 11 821 3591, Fax: +27 86 677 7876 Email: sales.za@skf.com, Web: www.skf.co.za ® SKF is a registered trademark of the SKF Group. | © SKF Group 2018
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On the Move
Tamper proof spindle keeps plugs in place When a customer encountered a problem with the removal of the restrained plug from the socket which posed a safety risk to underground mining personnel, Proof Mining Solutions found a solution in the form of a tamper proof spindle that prevents the restrained plug from being removed without first isolating the circuit.
Andrew Gerald Altree
Quintin Ras
Bearings International (BI) has appointed Andrew Gerald Altree as the Product Manager for its FAG and INA brands.
Quintin Ras has been appointed as the Branch Manager for Tectra Automation, Cape Town.
“Following some research, we engineered the tamper proof spindle for restrained plugs and sockets,” says Proof Mining Solutions Director, Donovan Marks. He adds that the solution is similar to locks used on wheel nuts. “We fitted the female section in the spindle and the male sprocket on the handle which is now loose. Thanks to this, the plug can only be removed once the circuit has been isolated.” Proof Engineering, Donovan Marks Tel: (011) 824-1146 Email: donovan@powermite.co.za www.proofeng.co.za
THE LEADING INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION
FOR THE KZN REGION
VISPROM AD 210X148 INTERACT MEDIA PATHS.indd 1 ENGINEER 3812789 - KITE2019 THE SOUTH AFRICAN MECHANICAL
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High security welded mesh
Pallisade
Gates
Gate Automation
Razor wire and more ....
What is High Security Weld Mesh HIGH Security Weld Mesh is wire fused and welded at a Horizontal distance of 76.2mm and a vertical distance of 12.7mm also known as 35B/3510 where 3 denotes 3”(distance between vertical wires), 5 denotes 0.5” (distance between horizontal wires), and B or 10 denotes gauge of wire
Salient Features • Difficult to Climb: The spaces between the Horizontal wires are too narrow for fingers to have grip • Impregnable: Extremely difficult to cut with a hand cutter as the beak of a wire cutter will not be able to penetrate the horizontal wires • Excellent Replacement option to Solid Wall as: 1. More economical than a solid wall 2. Faster to install than a solid wall 3. CCTV Camera has a clear view • Further upgrade possible with electric security system • Anti-corrosive & low maintenance
Standards
• Manufactured according to BS EN 10016-2 • Wire Sizes in accordance with BS EN 10218-2 • Tolerance on Mesh Size in accordance wiht EN 10223-7 • Tolerance on Panel Size in accordance with EN 10223-4 • Welding Strength in accordance with BS EN 1461 • Zinc Coating in accordance with EN 10245-1 • Anti Corrosion in accordance with BS En 3900 E4/F4
Tensile Strength • Wire has a tensile strenght of min 550 MPA
MARK: 083 454 6488
Email: mark@palifence.co.za
www.palifence.co.za