Industry news

HV assets offered as power-as-a-service

IN COLLABORATION WITH Vattenfall, Bowers Electricals can now provide high voltage (HV) electrical assets via Vattenfall's Power-as-a-Service offer, reducing upfront investment requirements and providing ongoing maintenance and support.

Power-as-a-Service enables businesses to benefit from the latest technologies, upgrades, and innovations without additional CAPEX investment. Modern energy-efficient technology and active network management can help reduce costs while delivering carbon savings.

The model sees Bowers Electricals supplying new assets and Vattenfall owning and operating them – taking full responsibility for IOM (installation, operating and maintenance), compliance (safety, technical and environment), planning and management. Vattenfall adopts the assets for an initial 10-year term.

The offer applies to any sector and any size business where the client owns a HV private network, which can include heavy industry, data centres, process and manufacturing, healthcare, mining and aggregates, and local authorities. Vattenfall can adopt all HV assets downstream of the distribution network operator (DNO) equipment; primary switchgear, secondary ring main units (RMU), transformer's, cables, and HV generators.

FLEET RENEWAL MAINTENANCE PROGRAM FOR TYNE & WEAR METRO

SWISS TRAIN MANUFACTURER Stadler has signed a contract with electro-mechanical repair specialist, Houghton International, to extend maintenance support for the Tyne and Wear Metro until October 2023.

Houghton International will work with Stadler to deliver an accelerated maintenance plan, increasing contracted volumes to extend the life of the current fleet of trains until the transition to a new fleet of trains from 2023.

The scope of the agreement covers both planned maintenance and emergency repairs and encompasses assets including traction motors, motor alternator sets and compressor motors.

The renewal of the maintenance contract follows the announcement that Stadler will be providing Nexus Metro with a complete fleet renewal and a new depot by 2025. Stadler assumed responsibility from Nexus for servicing and maintenance of the Metro's fleet in October 2020.

Commenting on the project, Chris Robson, Sales Director at Houghton International, said: "Having worked closely with Nexus and Tyne and Wear Metro for almost 15 years, it is great to start a new journey with Stadler and continue to support the existing vehicles until their end of life. "It is satisfying to know that Stadler will continue to trust Houghton International to support the ongoing maintenance of traction motors, as well as other components, as they condense the maintenance programme to coincide with the depot demolition and new depot build. Our expertise in traction motors and other light rail assets means Houghton International is well placed to continue to provide support.

Marc Robson, fleet manager at Stadler, said: "Houghton International is already working with us to support our traction motor maintenance programme, so when we required further rotating machinery support for our accelerated maintenance plan, they were a natural choice. "Their commitment and willingness to serve Stadler and the community as a whole has always stood out, and communication at all levels has been consistently excellent. "Houghton International has proved quick to mobilise and provides high-quality overhauls with a speedy turnaround. The fact that they are based locally means that together, we can work nimbly to resolve any issues that may arise. We look forward to our continued close working as we move from the old fleet to the new one."

SULZER OPENS NEW BIRMINGHAM SERVICE CENTRE

FOLLOWING THE RECENT completion of Sulzer's purpose-built service centre in Birmingham, the facility was officially opened by His Royal Highness, The Duke of Kent, on October 27, 2021. The investment in this state-of-the-art service centre represents Sulzer's ongoing commitment to delivering the next generation of service excellence and provides 24/7 support to customers around the world.

Located on the Birmingham Business Park, the latest enhancement to Sulzer's network of service centres has been specifically designed to optimise workflows. It ensures customers receive best-in-class service in terms of quality and speed of repair. Following the official opening, guests were given a guided tour of the new facilities and shown how their businesses will benefit from the latest in advanced repair technologies provided by Sulzer.

Chris Powles, Head of ElectroMechanical Services - EMEA, commented: "We have created a centre of excellence that operates on lean manufacturing principles and sets the benchmark for the maintenance and repair of all vital equipment. Our engineering expertise and experience mean we deliver the highest quality of service, and we encourage customers to visit us and see for themselves."

As part of the relocation, Sulzer has invested in new equipment, including larger, 50-tonne overhead cranes and constructed an upgraded overspeed balancing pit, which is the only independent facility in the UK. The company offers optimised overhaul projects for all crucial industrial equipment, including cutting-edge additive manufacturing and state-ofthe-art digital technologies.

EDWIN JAMES JOINS THE 5% CLUB

EDWIN JAMES companies, Parker, Musk and Peak, have been accepted into The 5% Club, a dynamic movement of employers committed to 'earn and learn' in order to build and develop the workforce they need as part of a socially mobile, thriving and cohesive nation.

Joining The 5% Club demonstrates a commitment to the UK's growth agenda and acknowledges the chronic skills shortage and youth unemployment that the UK faces. It also recognises the importance of developing people – making a public declaration about the commitment to reaching 5% of the workforce as apprentices and graduates within the next five years.

SPP PUMPS KEEPS ON GROWING

SPP PUMPS HAS OPENED ITS NEW Aberdeen Service Centre, which is in a prime location near the heliports in Dyce.

The facility features a large workshop complete with an overhead crane, joined open-plan offices, boardroom, offices and welfare facilities.

Recent and ongoing recruitment has enabled SPP to grow its Aberdeen based team with exceptional pump repair and industry knowledge. SPP's Scotlandwide onshore and offshore operations are further supported by 15 UK-based field service engineers.

The company has also relocated and upsized from its previous Portlethen address in Aberdeen, following contract awards and continued growth as it supports preventative and unplanned maintenance scopes for centrifugal pumps, gearboxes, diesel engines and valves.

SPP is also continuing to invest in its local support facilities, personnel and equipment in line with our commitment to its UK customer base.

With a dedicated Engineering Service Division, SPP can support all pump types and repairs, upgrades and rerates paired with onsite servicing, commissioning, removal, fault finding and upgrades.

AEMT MOURNS THE LOSS OF A GREAT FRIEND

WITH GREAT SADNESS, THE AEMT announced the passing of Prof David Walters OBE, a longstanding friend and supporter of the association.

The AEMT and the wider rotating machinery sector has lost a strong, valuable, and committed supporter of many years. In 2019, David was presented with a Lifetime Contribution Award by the AEMT to recognise his tremendous work around energy efficiency and electric motor design. He was pivotal in many technical developments for both industry and the association.

At the turn of the millennium, David was influential in developing the AEMT's joint project with American counterparts to publish the 'AEMT/EASA Rewind Study' and the 'Good Practice Guide to Maintain Motor Efficiency,' which now forms the backbone for the new international repair standard that all service centres should be working towards. The study was important for determining that electric motors can be repaired or rewound without losing efficiency.

The diligence and time David put into raising the sector's profile was illuminated when, in 1997, he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his service to energy efficiency.

In his memory, the AEMT has made a donation towards the charitable work carried out by Marie Curie.

LITHIUM-ION BATTERY RESEARCH

FOLLOWING A PREVIOUS announcement by Morgan Advanced Materials about its partnership with The Faraday Institution, which is powering the battery revolution in Britain, the company has recently announced its involvement in a new Industry Sprint project focused on lithium-ion conducting fibre for composite solid-state electrolytes.

Initial studies have indicated that a composite material using lithium-ion conducting fibres can be an effective solidstate electrolyte. As a key member of the ZeST project, targeting the development of a lithium-ion conducting fibre material for use in a composite solid-state electrolyte for next-generation batteries, the Thermal Ceramics business at Morgan Advanced Materials will work with the novel glass group at the University of Southampton to develop a process to manufacture specialist fibres of a new composition to a tight tolerance with high yield.

The University of Southampton is contributing world-leading experience and equipment in drawing novel glasses into fibre form to the project, which targets early commercial scale-up using greener and more efficient processes. Morgan's Thermal Ceramics business is engaged with a leading battery producer with a view to supplying the material commercially if the project is successful.

WÖLFER WINS LARGE MOTOR CONTRACT FOR OFFSHORE WIND TURBINE INSTALLATION VESSELS

GERMAN MOTOR MANUFACTURER, Wölfer has won a large follow-up contract for various hoist applications on an offshore wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) currently under construction.

This is the second order from the same large international maritime engineering firm. The current order is for 45 motors with outputs up to 510 kW for various drive applications in the main hoist – main drive, boom, whip, slewing etc. Wölfer will supply all motors in marine design, many with brakes, encoders and various technologically demanding solutions.

The WTIV market is expected to continue growing, with next-generation vessels being equipped for larger wind turbines installed in deeper waters. Wölfer has set up its production to cater to this industry.

Two sets of challenging requirements must be combined to achieve high-quality motors that ensure operator safety, overload capacity and efficiency over a long lifetime. Wölfer motors provide rated performance over the full control range, thus ensuring full functionality of the entire system under harsh marine conditions.

The rugged, steel-welded motor casings and dedicated rotor constructions are produced in-house, and the motors are fitted with a C5M surface finishing to ensure full compliance with maritime and hoist requirements.

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