African Petrochemicals Edition_16.2
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Quarterly <strong>Edition</strong> <strong>16.2</strong><br />
IN THIS EDITION<br />
GARLOCK SEALS AND SEALING SYSTEMS FOR SEALING INTEGRITY IN OIL AND GAS APPLICATIONS<br />
ANOTHER 68 SOUTH DURBANITES GRADUATE FROM ENGEN’S COMPUTER SCHOOL
GT BTX Commercial Plant<br />
in operation.<br />
SULZER GTC WINS AWARD WITH SIBUR KSTOVO FOR BENZENE PRODUCTION<br />
COMPLEX MODERNIZATION PROJECT IN RUSSIA<br />
Sulzer GTC Technology has signed an agreement with JSC SIBUR-Neftehim (SIBUR) to provide its licensed pyrolysis gasoline<br />
(pygas) processing technologies, including design of the fractionation, first and second stage hydrotreating, aromatics extraction<br />
and thermal hydrodealkylation technologies for the modernization of a benzene production facility at SIBUR’s Kstovo olefins<br />
production plant near Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia.<br />
2<br />
The modernized facility will serve as a<br />
hub for processing full range pygas from<br />
several SIBUR facilities, allow production<br />
of high-purity benzene with the lowest<br />
cash cost, and recover non-aromatics to<br />
be used as cracker feed. Sulzer GTC will<br />
design a new GT-BTX® unit as well as revamp<br />
the existing pygas fractionation; first and<br />
second stage hydrotreating; and the thermal<br />
hydrodealkylation unit to process additional<br />
feed. Scope of supply includes the basic<br />
engineering package, technical services,<br />
proprietary catalyst, solvent and equipment.<br />
“We are pleased to work with such a<br />
prestigious company as SIBUR to provide<br />
effective solutions for producing aromatics<br />
from pyrolysis gasoline and modernizing<br />
olefins production complexes,” said Ilya L.<br />
Aranovich, Sulzer GTC Director of Licensing<br />
for North America, Europe, and CIS Countries.<br />
He added, “We are excited to extend our track<br />
record of providing leading-edge solutions<br />
to improve the economics of naphtha-based<br />
crackers for clients in the CIS region and<br />
around the world.”<br />
Image Caption: Sulzer GTC will design a new<br />
GT-BTX® unit as well as revamp the existing<br />
pygas fractionation; first and second stage<br />
hydrotreating; and the thermal hydrodealkylation<br />
unit to process additional feed.<br />
About Sulzer GTC Technology and JSC<br />
SIBUR-Neftehim<br />
Sulzer GTC Technology, based in Houston,<br />
Texas, is a global licensor of refinery and<br />
petrochemical process technologies that<br />
offer a variety of approaches for managing<br />
aromatics and other high value-added<br />
molecules in petrochemical complexes.<br />
These technologies include the GT-BTX®<br />
Extractive Distillation process for recovery of<br />
aromatics; GT-Styrene® Extractive Distillation<br />
process for recovery of styrene monomer;<br />
GT-C5SM Extractive Distillation process for<br />
recovery of isoprene, piperylenes and DCPD;<br />
GT-TolAlkSM/GT-TransAlkSM – alkylation/<br />
transalkylation of toluene to produce mixed<br />
xylenes, and others.<br />
JSC SIBUR-Neftehim (SIBUR), is a subsidiary of<br />
PJSC SIBUR Holding - the largest integrated<br />
petrochemicals company in Russia. SIBUR<br />
operates 26 production sites across Russia<br />
and has 27,000 employees. SIBUR serves more<br />
than 1,400 companies in the energy, chemical,<br />
consumer, construction, automotive and<br />
other industries in approximately 75 countries.<br />
The company was founded in 1995 and is<br />
headquartered in Moscow, Russia.<br />
About Sulzer<br />
Sulzer, headquartered in Winterthur,<br />
Switzerland, is a global industry leader in<br />
pumping solutions and services for rotating<br />
equipment, as well as separation, mixing and<br />
application technology.<br />
Sulzer Chemtech provides processing<br />
industries with mission critical technologies<br />
and equipment, whether they are in the oil<br />
& gas, chemical, pharmaceutical or food and<br />
beverage sectors.<br />
Our capabilities extend from technology<br />
licensing through products to services,<br />
offering customers a one-stop concept for<br />
the design, manufacture, maintenance, repair<br />
and upgrade of process equipment.<br />
The range covers individual components,<br />
such as column internals, complete units,<br />
skids and technologies for refineries,<br />
petrochemical and bio-polymer plants.<br />
With over 180 production and service sites<br />
around the world, we deliver solutions that<br />
truly support our customers.<br />
In 2018, we achieved sales of CHF 3.4 billion<br />
with around 15’500 employees. Our shares<br />
are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX:<br />
SUN).<br />
www.sulzer.com
<strong>African</strong> <strong>Petrochemicals</strong> is published quarterly by Direct Publications cc<br />
Quarterly <strong>Edition</strong> <strong>16.2</strong><br />
Direct Publications<br />
Publisher<br />
Richard Scott<br />
richard@africanpetrochemicals.co.za<br />
Accounts and Admin<br />
Ashni Padiachie<br />
accounts@africanpetrochemicals.co.za<br />
Sales<br />
Sales Team<br />
sales@africanpetrochemicals.co.za<br />
Graphic Designer<br />
Linda Graae<br />
production@africanpetrochemicals.co.za<br />
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magazine are those of the respective authors<br />
and do not necessarily express the views and<br />
opinions of Direct Publications cc. We do not<br />
endorse any of the products , services or<br />
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CONTENTS<br />
Sulzer GTC Wins Award with SIBUR<br />
KSTOVO for Benzene Production Complex<br />
Modernization Project in Russia ..................... 2<br />
Converting Shelter-In-Place Locations to<br />
Zero Vulnerability Safe Havens ..................... 4<br />
On course in deep cold ...................................... 5<br />
Garlock Seals and Sealing Systems<br />
for Sealing Integrity in Oil and Gas<br />
Applications ........................................................... 6<br />
thyssenkrupp brings the test laboratory to<br />
the customer’s doorstep ................................... 8<br />
Rockwell Automation Announced<br />
as Founding Member of ISA Global<br />
Cybersecurity Alliance ....................................... 9<br />
Stafsjö Knife Gate Valves used worldwide to<br />
protect valuable installations from fires ...... 9<br />
Veolia Upgrades Water Treatment Plant for<br />
Mozambique Bottling Plant .......................... 10<br />
Rand-Air’s Oil-Free Compressors, Portable<br />
Generators and Nitrogen Generators ensure<br />
‘well-oiled’ Refinery shutdowns ................... 12<br />
ARCA Anti-Surge Control Valves in<br />
Operation ............................................................ 13<br />
Skyriders has a blast deploying UHP<br />
cleaning at large petchem tank ................... 14<br />
Mobile CO2 Measuring Device ...................... 15<br />
Protect Your Equipment with Smart<br />
Lubrication Accessories .................................. 16<br />
Fast and accurate automatic pressure<br />
testing and documentation of critical<br />
regulatory and compliance calibrations ...17<br />
The Brands we love! Engen remains SA’s<br />
favourite petrol station ................................... 18<br />
New head of thyssenkrupp Technical<br />
Training Academy spearheads training<br />
centre excellence ...............................................20<br />
Zwick for Molten Sulphur or Sulphur<br />
Tail Gas ..................................................................22<br />
Another 68 South Durbanites graduate<br />
from Engen’s Computer School ....................23<br />
Air Products Continues 50 th Birthday<br />
Celebrations with Prestigious Golf Day .....24<br />
HFT adds StatGuard fuel storage tank<br />
filtration to its <strong>African</strong> offering ..................... 25<br />
Sasolburg Roadshow ....................................... 26<br />
HF launches Kenya’s first WhatsApp<br />
Banking ................................................................28<br />
Bitumen measurement under difficult<br />
conditions ............................................................ 29<br />
Fixing lubrication storage can help avoid<br />
90% of contamination .....................................30<br />
A really ‘refined’ solution: Rand-Air Durban<br />
supplies Class-0 oil-free air to oil refinery<br />
shutdowns ........................................................... 31<br />
VISIT AFRICAN PETROCHEMICALS ONLINE:<br />
www.africanpetrochemicals.co.za<br />
Visit our e-paper section to view the<br />
magazine archive:<br />
epaper.africanpetrochemicals.co.za<br />
(No Log-in details required)<br />
3
MINEARC EDITORIAL: CONVERTING SHELTER-IN-PLACE<br />
LOCATIONS TO ZERO VULNERABILITY SAFE HAVENS<br />
AirBANK Positive Pressure System with breathable air cylinders.<br />
4<br />
While it is not uncommon to find<br />
shelter-in-place or safe haven locations<br />
designated across chemical facilities,<br />
what varies is the level of protection<br />
offered at these sites. Functionality<br />
can range from merely a muster point<br />
(shelter-in-place) to a positively<br />
pressurized room (safe haven). Either<br />
way, when determining if a room is<br />
acceptable for the job, the industry<br />
generally applies a vulnerability factor;<br />
in other words, the probability of a<br />
fatality being less than one percent.<br />
Emergency shelter-in-place (SIP) should<br />
form an integral part of any chemical<br />
plant’s broader emergency response plan.<br />
Explosions, fires, and the release of smoke<br />
or other toxic gases are some of the types of<br />
incidents that can occur despite high levels<br />
of planning and safety precautions.<br />
Numerous government agencies and other<br />
organisations recommend SIP to protect<br />
personnel from harm in the event of a<br />
chemical release. Any building may be used<br />
as a temporary measure to reduce health<br />
risk from exposure to the toxic materials<br />
by simply closing windows and doors<br />
and turning off ventilation fans and air<br />
conditioning/heating systems.<br />
Three factors govern the effectiveness of a<br />
SIP location:<br />
• the tightness of the building or leakage<br />
rate<br />
• the concentration of the toxic gas, and<br />
• the release duration.<br />
The tightness of the building is primarily<br />
based on building construction; however,<br />
temperature differential and wind speed can<br />
also play a factor.<br />
Identification of the maximum toxic<br />
concentration occurs during a Facility Siting<br />
Study (FSS). FSS’s are a hazard analysis<br />
that defines Maximum Credible Event<br />
(MCE) scenarios using a consequencebased<br />
approach to produce a quantitative<br />
risk assessment. Determining potential<br />
consequences is a necessary step in the<br />
process of developing a comprehensive<br />
safety plan.<br />
The FSS also determines the expected release<br />
duration based on stored inventories of toxic<br />
materials. The higher the toxic concentration<br />
and longer the release duration, the less<br />
effective sheltering-in-place becomes.<br />
While occupants may feel safe sheltering-inplace<br />
from the external toxic hazard, typical<br />
buildings have high leakage rates. A typical<br />
wood framed constructed building can<br />
have 3-5 air changes per hour, rendering it<br />
ineffective against most chemical releases.<br />
Additionally, sealing to an acceptable<br />
airtightness can be time consuming and<br />
expensive and even with professional air<br />
sealing it is very difficult to seal existing<br />
structures to an acceptable tightness.<br />
There are considerations for effectively<br />
sealing existing infrastructure and ensuring<br />
positive pressure to ensure contaminants<br />
do not infiltrate safe haven locations along.<br />
Critical elements of life support that are<br />
of primary importance to human survival<br />
must also be considering when converting a<br />
shelter to a safe haven; including:<br />
• Positive pressure<br />
• Breathable air supply<br />
• Supplemental oxygen<br />
• Removal of accumulated carbon dioxide<br />
• Cooling and dehumidifying<br />
MineARC Systems have converted SIP spaces<br />
to positive pressure safe havens with the<br />
installation of life support systems across<br />
many chemical sites globally. The MineARC<br />
AirBANK Positive Pressure System provides<br />
rapid pressurization, which is activated<br />
and maintained using the AirBANK Control<br />
via a simple human-machine interface<br />
(HMI) touch screen. MineARC’s integrated<br />
Aura-FX Gas Monitor ensures breathable air<br />
automatically remains within acceptable<br />
limits. Additionally, supplementary oxygen<br />
and carbon dioxide scrubbing systems can<br />
be installed as required.<br />
Reducing the risk of harm to personnel is a<br />
priority for emergency response planning.<br />
While the likelihood of an Maximum Credible<br />
Event occurring may be low, the risk to onsite<br />
personnel in the event of an incident<br />
is high. Converting shelter-in-place (SIP)<br />
locations to zero vulnerability safe havens<br />
improves emergency response.<br />
For more information about the conversion<br />
of a shelter-in-place to a safe haven on<br />
your site, please contact a local MineARC<br />
representative at info@minearc.co.za.
FRONT COVER STORY<br />
ON COURSE IN DEEP COLD<br />
Whether at sea or on asphalt: 80-GHz radar level measurement makes<br />
cryogenic applications secure<br />
80-GHz radar level measurement makes cryogenic<br />
applications secure on the high seas<br />
The liquid gas market is booming. LNG and<br />
LPG, liquefied natural gas and liquefied<br />
petroleum gas, are among the most<br />
promising sources of low-emission<br />
mobility in the future. When the first<br />
LNG-powered container and cruise<br />
ships are launched in the next<br />
few weeks, extraordinarily coldtolerant<br />
level sensors will also be<br />
on board.<br />
It is not only the extreme<br />
temperatures that make<br />
life difficult for measuring<br />
instruments when they<br />
are being used at sea or<br />
measuring liquefied gases.<br />
Petrochemical products are<br />
characterized by their low<br />
dielectric constants and are<br />
generally difficult to measure.<br />
Because they are temperature<br />
decoupled from the process,<br />
the 80-GHz radar sensors from<br />
VEGA are optimized for the extreme<br />
process temperatures that prevail in<br />
LNG applications: they easily withstand<br />
temperatures as low as -196° C. Ice does<br />
not form on the housing, nor is there any<br />
condensation on the antenna system. In<br />
addition to cryogenic applications, the specially<br />
protected housing and front-flush antenna cover<br />
of PTFE are also suitable for reliable measurement of<br />
aggressive media, whether acids, alkalis or abrasive substances.<br />
From the top of the housing to the business end of the measuring<br />
cell, the sensor is extremely robust and equipped with high-quality<br />
components. The key element is its highly resistant stainless steel<br />
housing, which thermally decouples the sensitive electronics inside.<br />
But it’s also their high dynamic range that makes the 80-GHz radar<br />
sensors VEGAPULS 64 so unique they can detect even the tiniest of<br />
signals. This is especially important when measuring hydrocarbons.<br />
The sensors can detect virtually all media in the petrochemical<br />
80 GHz radar level sensor VEGAPULS 64 is ideal for cryogenic applications on<br />
the high seas, withstanding temperatures as low as -196° C.<br />
industry, from crude oil to cryogenic liquefied gases, with high<br />
reliability despite their poor reflective properties.<br />
More information at www.vega.com<br />
5
GARLOCK SEALS AND SEALING SYSTEMS FOR SEALING<br />
INTEGRITY IN OIL AND GAS APPLICATIONS<br />
BMG – distributors in Southern Africa for Garlock Sealing Technologies – supplies and<br />
supports the full range of Garlock seals and sealing systems, including specialist fluid<br />
sealing products for the oil and gas industry.<br />
“BMG’s Garlock seals and sealing systems,<br />
which meet stringent safety and emission<br />
compliance standards in the hydrocarbon<br />
processing sector, are enhanced by<br />
customised solutions for efficient plant<br />
operation and maintenance. Sealing services<br />
extend from simple solutions to critical<br />
applications, ensuring safe, sustainable<br />
and dependable sealing integrity in every<br />
application,” explains Marc Gravett, BMG’s<br />
business unit manager, Seals and Gaskets<br />
division. “BMG’s Garlock products and<br />
technical expertise - including on-site<br />
maintenance, emission monitoring and repair<br />
programmes - ensure reduced operational<br />
costs, improved efficiency, minimal downtime<br />
and uninterrupted production.”<br />
Garlock products, which have been<br />
developed especially for the oil and gas<br />
industry include Klozure oil seals, Gylon<br />
and Gylon Epix gaskets, pipeline isolation<br />
products and Link-Seal modular seals.<br />
Garlock expansion joints and Klozure oil seals<br />
ensure that fluids run smoothly, making the<br />
transition of loading or offloading of gas<br />
and liquid safe and efficient in offshore buoy<br />
applications.<br />
Garlock Klozure oil seals and bearing isolators<br />
are designed to retain lubricants, but exclude<br />
contaminants, like moisture, dust and dirt,<br />
from penetrating the primary seal or bearing<br />
houses. These components play an important<br />
role in protecting bearings, preventing<br />
downtime and extending the service life of the<br />
system, even in arduous operating conditions.<br />
Klozure oil seals are available from BMG in<br />
numerous shaft sizes, materials and designs,<br />
including solid and split configurations.<br />
Seals with a reverse bevel lip allow<br />
installation in either direction without<br />
rollover and Stainless Steel garter and finger<br />
spring configurations provide tension to<br />
create an effective seal against the shaft.<br />
Klozure oil seals with a Gylon lip material<br />
offer reduced creep and cold flow, compared<br />
with the standard PTFE material.<br />
Gylon sealing products are used for many<br />
applications in hydrocarbon refineries,<br />
including flanged connections and tube and<br />
shell heat exchanger flanges. Gylon gaskets<br />
are suitable for media like hydrocarbons,<br />
acids, caustics and solvents.<br />
Newly-developed Gylon Epix gaskets<br />
are manufactured from the same PTFE<br />
material as standard Gylon products, but<br />
with one universal thickness of 2,4 mm.<br />
The consolidation of two thicknesses into<br />
one product, reduces the need for users<br />
to stock gaskets with multiple thicknesses.<br />
These colour-coded gaskets, which have<br />
been designed for increased compressibility<br />
and conformability, improve performance<br />
in misaligned flanges and are suitable<br />
for a broader range of applications than<br />
conventional PTFE gaskets used in worn and<br />
pitted flanges.<br />
This range features a hexagonal surface<br />
profile that combines the torque retention<br />
and blowout of a thin gasket and the<br />
conformability of a thicker gasket, for<br />
optimum sealing performance. The<br />
patented profile surface design reduces the<br />
contact area during initial compression to<br />
concentrate the compressive force of the<br />
flange for improved sealability.<br />
Various high-performance sheet materials<br />
in this range are suitable for use in different<br />
applications, including acids, steam, chlorine,<br />
water, solvents, gases, refrigerants and<br />
hydrocarbons.<br />
Garlock pipeline isolation products include<br />
new ElectroStop fittings that complement<br />
PSI/Pikotek isolation joints, to ensure the<br />
security of flange connections by providing<br />
electrical isolation, extreme temperature<br />
electrical isolation and high integrity sealing.<br />
ElectroStop monolithic isolation fittings<br />
provide a positive leak-proof, long-lasting<br />
block against the flow of electric current<br />
in all piping systems. ElectroStop fittings,<br />
which eliminate short circuits, provide a<br />
maintenance-free welded in-line isolation<br />
joint in below-ground pipe systems.<br />
Many applications involve connections where<br />
the pipe is penetrating a wall, floor or ceiling<br />
and sealability is required between the pipe<br />
and the penetrated surface. In these throughwall<br />
piping applications, BMG recommends<br />
the use of Link-Seal modular seals. Link-<br />
Seal - suitable for ductile iron, pre-stressed<br />
concrete and metal or plastic pipe, conduit<br />
and cables - will effect a hydrostatic seal<br />
capable of holding 20 psig (40 feet of static<br />
head) between the pipe and the penetration<br />
cylinder through which the pipe passes.<br />
BMG’s full range of Garlock seals and sealing<br />
systems include metallic and Gylon gaskets,<br />
oil seals, bearing isolators, expansion joints<br />
and butterfly valves. Components extend<br />
from a standard sealing ring, available<br />
from BMG’s stock and ready to install, to<br />
customised designs, which are fabricated to<br />
specific requirements.<br />
Garlock sealing products, with a user-friendly<br />
design and advanced materials, ensure<br />
dependable sealing in all sectors. These<br />
industries include chemical and petrochemical,<br />
pulp and paper, power generation, electronics,<br />
food and pharmaceuticals, as well as steel<br />
mills, mining and OEMs.<br />
All Garlock seals and sealing systems<br />
undergo stringent field and in-house testing<br />
to ensure safe and reliable use, as well as<br />
extended service life in all industries.<br />
For further information<br />
Marc Gravett, Business Unit Manager, Seals<br />
and Gaskets Division, BMG<br />
Tel: +27 11 620 1575<br />
Email: marcg@bmgworld.net<br />
Website: www.bmgworld.net<br />
BMG’s Garlock seals and sealing systems, which meet stringent<br />
safety and emission compliance standards in the hydrocarbon<br />
processing sector, are enhanced by customised solutions<br />
for efficient plant operation and maintenance.<br />
6
7
thyssenkrupp BRINGS THE TEST LABORATORY TO THE CUSTOMER’S DOORSTEP<br />
thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions South Africa (tkISSA) has streamlined the sample testing process with the recent<br />
development of a mobile containerised High-Pressure Grinding Roll (HPGR) test unit. By enabling customers to test<br />
samples on site, this eliminates the costs, time delays and complex logistics related to the transportation of samples for<br />
testing purposes.<br />
8<br />
The inspiration to create this distinctive<br />
containerised laboratory was spurred on by<br />
a customer who required the pre-crushing<br />
of uranium ore causing various dilemmas<br />
in ore processing, transportation logistics<br />
as well as handling of radioactive material.<br />
Taking all these factors into consideration,<br />
the company came up with a gamechanging<br />
idea; bring the test laboratory to<br />
the customer. The mobile laboratory consists<br />
of a semi-pilot scale HPGR fully enclosed in a<br />
20-foot container.<br />
“The HPGR was developed in Germany,<br />
but we have adapted the design for<br />
manufacturing in South Africa,” says Gerhard<br />
Van Wyk, Process Manager: Minerals<br />
Processing at tkISSA. When installed in the<br />
container unit features a ground-breaking<br />
plug-and-play configuration; as the machine<br />
is transported as a final assembly and<br />
customers only need to supply a main power<br />
connection, it is possible to immediately start<br />
the machine for production.<br />
Depending on customers’ needs the<br />
capabilities of the containerised laboratory<br />
include the ability to run single pass tests<br />
on numerous different material types. “This<br />
would be required to determine the HPGR’s<br />
specific performance parameters,” explains<br />
Van Wyk. In addition, this versatile lab is also<br />
able to process large quantities of sample<br />
through the unit, ready for downstream<br />
processing. “In fact, with our very first unit,<br />
which we rolled out to a customer in Africa<br />
in Q2 2019, was used for the crushing of a<br />
massive 700t sample, bearing testament to<br />
the success of our locally adapted design.”<br />
This unit was subsequently returned to the<br />
original installation in thyssenkrupp’s test<br />
facility and the first test campaign since its<br />
return has already been completed.<br />
This containerised lab offers a host of<br />
benefits; the fact the machine is deployed<br />
at the rock face at the customer’s mine<br />
removes the need for sample transportation<br />
which leads to increased uptime and<br />
enhanced productivity for lowest total cost of<br />
ownership for the customer. tkISSA will also<br />
configure the machine into the customer<br />
flowsheet if required.<br />
“Not only are we responsible for the<br />
manufacture of the machine but, given<br />
the fact that it remains on the customer’s<br />
site for a relatively short period we are also<br />
responsible for operation,” notes Van Wyk.<br />
He also points out that the company will<br />
provide an additional process engineer if the<br />
customer requires specialised tests. In the<br />
event of longer durations, thyssenkrupp will<br />
train the site personnel and empower them<br />
to operate the machine themselves.<br />
thyssenkrupp has already received enquiries<br />
from America, Australia and Europe for this<br />
solution. Based on the experience gained<br />
by operating the unit, thyssenkrupp plans<br />
to develop Container Version 2.0 which will<br />
incorporate Industry 4.0 equipment as well<br />
as a wide range of upgrades.<br />
According to Van Wyk, who is Concept<br />
Designer and Project Manager, adapting<br />
the containerised lab was a solid team<br />
effort and he extends his sincere thanks<br />
to the entire team which includes Jeffrey<br />
Johns (Mechanical Engineer), Craig Harvey<br />
(Workshop Manager), Louis Nel (Workshop<br />
Apprentice), and Donald Swanepoel (Field<br />
Service Representative).<br />
“We are extremely proud of our in-house<br />
developed and manufactured containerised<br />
laboratory which sets the sample testing<br />
benchmark,” says Philipp Nellessen,<br />
thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions CEO,<br />
Sub-Sahara Africa. “By continuously tailoring<br />
our offerings to meet customers’ needs, we<br />
look forward to further assisting them in<br />
maximising their productivity potential.”<br />
About us:<br />
The Industrial Solutions business area at<br />
thyssenkrupp is a leading partner for the<br />
engineering, construction and service of<br />
industrial plants and systems. Based on more<br />
than 200 years of experience we supply<br />
tailored, turnkey plants and components<br />
for customers in the chemical, fertilizer,<br />
cement, mining and steel industries. As a<br />
system partner to the automotive, aerospace<br />
and naval sectors we develop highly<br />
specialized solutions to meet the individual<br />
requirements of our customers. More than<br />
21,000 employees at over 100 locations form<br />
a global network with a technology portfolio<br />
that guarantees maximum productivity and<br />
cost-efficiency.<br />
For more information visit:<br />
www.thyssenkrupp-industrial-solutions.com<br />
Contact:<br />
thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions<br />
(South Africa)<br />
Kgothatso Ntsie<br />
Marketing & Communications<br />
Tel: +27 11 236-1000<br />
Fax: +27 11 236-1125<br />
Email: kgothatso.ntsie@thyssenkrupp.com
ROCKWELL AUTOMATION ANNOUNCED<br />
AS FOUNDING MEMBER OF ISA GLOBAL<br />
CYBERSECURITY ALLIANCE<br />
Production facilities can contain thousands of technologies from<br />
different vendors. Cybersecurity threats only need to exploit<br />
one of them to steal trade secrets, stop production or even harm<br />
workers. To better secure today’s complex and often vulnerable<br />
production operations, the ISA Global Cybersecurity Alliance<br />
recently announced Rockwell Automation as a founding member.<br />
The alliance is a coalition of industry,<br />
government agencies and others working to<br />
help secure industrial operations. Some of its<br />
objectives include:<br />
• Accelerating the expansion and use of the<br />
ISA/IEC 62443 standards<br />
• Developing a skilled and cyber-aware<br />
workforce<br />
• Optimising compliance and prevention<br />
initiatives<br />
“We need to work together as an industry,<br />
because an attack on one of us is an attack<br />
on all of us,” says Megan Samford, Director<br />
of Product Security, Rockwell Automation.<br />
“Working with partners and competitors<br />
alike, we can develop common solutions<br />
to better secure operations. And we can<br />
address issues like skills shortages that<br />
directly impact security. We also strongly<br />
encourage our customers to join us in this<br />
effort, because it’s their operations that we’re<br />
working to protect, and it’s their voices we<br />
most want to hear.”<br />
“Cybersecurity is critical to digital<br />
transformation. It’s critical not only for the<br />
protection of information and intellectual<br />
property but also for the protection of physical<br />
assets, the environment and worker safety. Our<br />
engagement with the Global Cybersecurity<br />
Alliance will be another important step in our<br />
efforts to help customers identify and mitigate<br />
risks,” explains Rockwell Automation CEO Blake<br />
Moret.<br />
ISA developed ISA/IEC 62443, the world’s<br />
only consensus-based cybersecurity<br />
standards for automation and control system<br />
applications. Rockwell Automation has<br />
earned ISA/IEC 62443-4-1 certification for<br />
its Security Development Lifecycle, which<br />
it uses to design security into the lifecycle<br />
of its products. The company also recently<br />
introduced the first industrial controller to<br />
obtain ISA/IEC 62443-4-2 certification.<br />
Companies can join the Global Cybersecurity<br />
Alliance here.<br />
About ISA<br />
The International Society of Automation (www.<br />
isa.org) is a nonprofit professional association<br />
that sets the standard for those who apply<br />
engineering and technology to improve the<br />
management, safety, and cybersecurity of<br />
modern automation and control systems used<br />
across industry and critical infrastructure.<br />
Founded in 1945, ISA develops widely<br />
used global standards; certifies industry<br />
professionals; provides education and training;<br />
publishes books and technical articles; hosts<br />
conferences and exhibits; and provides<br />
networking and career development programs<br />
for its 40,000 members and 400,000 customers<br />
around the world.<br />
About Rockwell Automation<br />
Rockwell Automation Inc. (NYSE: ROK),<br />
the world’s largest company dedicated to<br />
industrial automation and information,<br />
makes its customers more productive and<br />
the world more sustainable. Headquartered<br />
in Milwaukee, Wis., Rockwell Automation<br />
employs approximately 23,000 people<br />
serving customers in more than 80 countries.<br />
Enquiries:<br />
Michelle Junius<br />
Marketing Communications Specialist Sub<br />
Saharan Africa & Mining EMEA<br />
Rockwell Automation<br />
Tel: +27 11 654 9700<br />
Email: mjunius@ra.rockwell.com<br />
Web: https://www.rockwellautomation.com<br />
STAFSJÖ KNIFE GATE VALVES USED<br />
WORLDWIDE TO PROTECT VALUABLE<br />
INSTALLATIONS FROM FIRES<br />
Firefly, one of the world’s leading<br />
suppliers of spark detection and fire and<br />
dust explosion protection systems uses<br />
Stafsjö valves to protect installations<br />
worldwide.<br />
When it comes to industrial fire protection<br />
systems, reliability is essential. The system<br />
which is often on constant standby during<br />
long periods should be able to respond<br />
immediately and extinguish possible ignition<br />
sources to prevent fires and dust explosions.<br />
In the Firefly solution, Stafsjö’s valves have an<br />
important duty.<br />
For more than 30 years, Firefly have been<br />
using Stafsjö’s valves in their fire protection<br />
systems. Stafsjö’s valves are robust, reliable,<br />
and deliver performance when required. It is<br />
a reliable product that provides the quality<br />
that our customers’ require. With a closed<br />
knife gate valve, fires and dust explosions can<br />
be prevented this therefore enhances levels<br />
of fire safety for our customers.<br />
Stafsjö’s HG isolation valve has a throughgoing<br />
gate for reliable shut-off performance<br />
which is independent of pressure direction.<br />
Its ability to cut through static media<br />
columns also serve its purpose well. Superior<br />
flow characteristics enable it to act as a<br />
part of the pipe system without affecting<br />
the process flow. Stainless steel metal<br />
seats extend the service life and offers low<br />
friction to achieve ultra-fast isolation time.<br />
Sometimes the valve is also supported by a<br />
pressure tank to speed up the shut-off time.<br />
To learn more go to https://valve.co.za/<br />
stafsjo-knife-gate-valves-for-fire-protection/<br />
9
VEOLIA UPGRADES WATER TREATMENT<br />
PLANT FOR MOZAMBIQUE BOTTLING PLANT<br />
Veolia Water Technologies South Africa recently commissioned a<br />
new water treatment plant for Refrigerantes Spar Mozambique Lda,<br />
a bottling plant contracted to bottle Coca-Cola and other soft drink<br />
products in Mozambique.<br />
Veolia replaced the entire water treatment plant, which treats a nominal<br />
flow of 15 m3/hour (with a peak of 20 m3/hour) of water from the municipal<br />
bulk supply, and a supplementing borehole, to the quality standards for<br />
ingredient water required by Coca-Cola.<br />
This included new dual media filters, activated carbon filters, a reverse<br />
osmosis system (including CIP system) and an ultraviolet treatment system.<br />
All ancillary equipment, such as pumps, piping and valves, were also replaced<br />
as part of the plant upgrade.<br />
The new treatment equipment needed to be installed in the existing, limited<br />
plant space, without any civil modifications. The RO, CIP and UV systems are<br />
mounted on skid frames and Veolia executed the necessary re-engineering<br />
to interface the new technologies with the remaining concrete storage<br />
tanks and treated water tank. The RO system is part of Veolia’s standard RO<br />
package, integrated into an engineered solution and modified slightly to<br />
comply with the client’s strict hygiene standards.<br />
Veolia’s UV systems<br />
ensure disinfection and<br />
zero contamination<br />
to meet the quality<br />
standards for<br />
ingredient water<br />
required by Coca-Cola.<br />
10<br />
The skid-mounted<br />
reverse osmosis system<br />
was engineered to meet<br />
the requirements of the<br />
bottling plant.<br />
Veolia will also supply the required water treatment<br />
chemicals for the plant, including Hydrex coagulants and<br />
flocculants, RO speciality chemicals (such as antiscalants,<br />
cleaning and CIP chemicals), hygiene chemicals and other<br />
miscellaneous and commodity chemicals. These chemicals<br />
are manufactured at Veolia’s new 6 600 m2 Hydrex® chemical<br />
blending facility in Pomona, Johannesburg.<br />
Veolia will support the plant with specialist maintenance and<br />
other services as required by Refrigerantes Spar Mozambique.<br />
The project is Veolia’s latest water treatment plant installation<br />
in Mozambique, and adds to the company’s expanding<br />
portfolio of projects in the <strong>African</strong> food and beverage industry.<br />
Veolia group is the global leader in optimized resource<br />
management. With over 171,000 employees worldwide,<br />
the Group designs and provides water, waste and energy<br />
management solutions which contribute to the sustainable<br />
development of communities and industries. Through its<br />
three complementary business activities, Veolia helps to<br />
develop access to resources, preserve available resources, and<br />
to replenish them.<br />
About Veolia<br />
In 2018, the Veolia group supplied 95 million people with<br />
drinking water and 63 million people with wastewater<br />
service, produced nearly 56 million megawatt hours of<br />
energy and converted 49 million metric tons of waste into<br />
new materials and energy. Veolia Environnement (listed on<br />
Paris Euronext: VIE) recorded consolidated revenue of €25.91<br />
billion in 2018 (USD 30.6 billion). www.veolia.com<br />
Contact<br />
Gerhard Burger<br />
Tel: +27 (0) 11 974 8161<br />
Email: gerhard.burger@veolia.com<br />
Web: www.veoliawatertechnologies.co.za
PROTECTING THE LIVES OF YOUR<br />
GREATEST ASSET: YOUR TEAM.<br />
Convert an existing site structure into a purpose-designed safe haven with<br />
MineARC’s ChemSAFE Sealed Rooms solution. Intended for facilities that do not<br />
have the physical space for a portable safe haven, ChemSAFE Sealed Rooms are<br />
designed to have minimal air changes per hour (ACH), protecting your personnel<br />
from a toxic gas release. The incorporation of life support systems ensures<br />
occupants remain safe for the entire duration of the emergency.<br />
TOXIC GAS<br />
PROTECTION<br />
ZERO AIR CHANGES<br />
PER HOUR<br />
INTEGRATED LIFE<br />
SUPPORT<br />
REMOTE<br />
MONITORING &<br />
DIAGNOSTICS<br />
For more information go to<br />
MINEARC.COM<br />
11
RAND-AIR’S OIL-FREE COMPRESSORS,<br />
PORTABLE GENERATORS AND NITROGEN<br />
GENERATORS ENSURE ‘WELL-OILED’<br />
REFINERY SHUTDOWNS<br />
An oil refinery is a very large and highly complex installation.<br />
Because of this complexity and the nature of the process, shutting<br />
the plant down for ad hoc repairs is not an economical option. Oil<br />
and gas refineries are designed so that they will run uninterrupted<br />
for a period of 18 months to two years, after which sections of<br />
the refinery are shut down for scheduled periods of repair and<br />
maintenance. During what is invariably a period of frenetic activity,<br />
all repairs, upgrades and maintenance are carried out. These preemptive<br />
measures prevent the eventuality of unscheduled (and<br />
extremely expensive) down time.<br />
12<br />
As a shutdown at a major refinery could<br />
disrupt the flow of fuel to the nation, these<br />
events have to be meticulously planned and<br />
timed.<br />
This is according to Rudi de Vry, Rand-Air’s<br />
Area Manager in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal.<br />
“Before a shutdown, the oil refinery<br />
contacts all the repair and maintenance<br />
subcontractors that will be needed during<br />
the shutdown. In order to ensure that the<br />
shutdown proceeds as swiftly and smoothly<br />
as possible, these contractors need to ensure<br />
they have the tools and equipment with the<br />
correct capability and the highest levels of<br />
safety,” de Vry explains.<br />
He adds that, to give an idea of the scale<br />
of a refinery shutdown, often thousands of<br />
contract workers are involved, who in many<br />
cases need to be supplied with temporary<br />
compressed air and power, as well as other<br />
tools and equipment.<br />
For Rand-Air Durban, situated strategically<br />
near a number of major oil refineries,<br />
shutdowns are therefore critical events in<br />
their annual project hire planning.<br />
“For these, before the shutdown starts, we<br />
need to assemble a specific ‘fleet’ of rental<br />
equipment which can include dozens of<br />
items. In terms of this, the logistics can<br />
be very challenging, as often equipment<br />
items have to be brought from our other<br />
branches in order to meet refinery shutdown<br />
requirements. Once in Durban, these will<br />
have to be checked to make sure they meet<br />
the refinery’s scrupulous quality, safety and<br />
reliability standards,” he advises.<br />
“We been in business for some 46 years<br />
and, during this time, we have become the<br />
preferred rental equipment partner to many<br />
South <strong>African</strong> oil refineries,” de Vry continues.<br />
For example, in July this year, South Africa’s<br />
largest refinery completed a month-long<br />
shutdown, during which contractors worked<br />
on site around the clock. With its reputation<br />
for supplying high quality, ultra-reliable<br />
generators and compressors, Rand-Air was<br />
called upon to hire out significant quantities<br />
of equipment to the refinery.<br />
“With the immense deadline pressure,<br />
equipment downtime had to be avoided<br />
at all costs – something which Rand-Air<br />
managed to do with great success in this<br />
instance,” he adds.<br />
During the shutdown, various sections of the<br />
refinery needed to be activated temporarily<br />
for testing purposes. Here, compressed<br />
air is used for driving the refinery’s control<br />
systems. Ironically, though the installation is<br />
an oil refinery, the air used in control systems<br />
has to be absolutely free of oil vapour and<br />
other contaminants. “Fortunately, we are able<br />
to meet this requirement with our Class-0<br />
oil-free compressors. Our ability to supply<br />
absolutely pure, clean, dry compressed air<br />
has built up a strong niche for Rand-Air in the<br />
refinery market,” de Vry continues.<br />
Similarly, during the shutdown, temporary<br />
power was also needed for various functions in<br />
the refinery. These included extensive welding<br />
for repairs and maintenance, the execution of<br />
which was also achieved more efficiently with<br />
the use of Rand-Air portable generators.<br />
On a second refinery shutdown-related hire<br />
by Rand-Air this year, contractors working in<br />
the tank section of the refinery also needed<br />
compressors to carry out cleaning, shot<br />
blasting and spray-painting. Furthermore,<br />
this refinery’s alkylation unit was shut down<br />
completely for maintenance and upgrade,<br />
and Rand-Air’s generators were used for<br />
chemical washing in the alkylation unit and<br />
for the change rooms.<br />
Apart from compressed air and portable<br />
power, Rand-Air - through parent company<br />
Atlas Copco’s global rental network - is also<br />
able to supply nitrogen generators to its<br />
refinery customers. Nitrogen is used for<br />
inerting, blanketing, and purging, the aim<br />
being to suppress flammability by reducing<br />
oxygen levels to a point where combustion is<br />
no longer possible.<br />
“Refineries are, after all, in the business of<br />
producing highly flammable liquids - and<br />
therefore the potential for risk is high unless<br />
very stringent counter-measures are taken.<br />
Rand-Air recognises this critical operational<br />
and safety consideration - and therefore<br />
every single equipment item that is sent to<br />
a refinery is checked and double-checked<br />
to ensure that it meets with the customer’s<br />
safety, health, environmental and quality<br />
standards,” he comments.<br />
De Vry also explains that Rand-Air goes to<br />
considerable effort to familiarise itself with<br />
the refinery’s safety standards, so that it can<br />
be 100% compliant with its customer’s allimportant<br />
safety requirements.<br />
“During nearly five decades of operation,<br />
Rand-Air has developed and nurtured a close<br />
relationship with South Africa’s oil refineries,<br />
including those in Durban,” observes Rand-<br />
Air’s General Manager Louwrens Erasmus.<br />
“At Rand-Air, we have achieved this through<br />
scrupulous adherence to one of our<br />
fundamental business tenets – to always<br />
exceed what our customers expect of us,<br />
in every single area of the business,” he<br />
concludes.<br />
About Rand-Air<br />
With several depots, branches and<br />
substantial representation across Southern<br />
Africa, Rand-Air continues to expand their<br />
footprint to service a diverse market. Since<br />
1973, Rand-Air has been driven by an<br />
ethos to exceed customer expectation and<br />
satisfaction. This is complemented by a<br />
product offering that adheres to the highest<br />
quality standards in the industry. Rand-<br />
Air’s products portfolio includes oil-free<br />
compressors, industrial air compressors,<br />
diesel compressors, electric air compressors<br />
(all screw compressors), diesel generators<br />
and lighting towers.<br />
As the market leader in portable air<br />
compressors and generator rental, Rand-<br />
Air upholds its reputation through regular<br />
training and upskilling in business related<br />
and product-specific matters.<br />
Rand-Air is part of the Atlas Copco group and<br />
is a Level 3 B-BBEE contributor.
ARCA ANTI-SURGE CONTROL VALVES IN OPERATION<br />
Arca supplies its extensive range of valves to nearly all types of industry. An<br />
important part of the product range are valves for turbines and turbo compressors,<br />
especially anti- surge control valves. Arca manufactures its ECOTROL® series of<br />
valves Type 8C / 6N / 6H and 130, from DN50 / DN2“ to DN700 / DN28“ in pressure<br />
class PN10 / ANSI150 up to PN400 / ANSI2500.<br />
Recently valves of a nominal width of 24“<br />
have been delivered to several customers.<br />
In recent years the design of these valves<br />
has been further optimized in order to<br />
fulfil the requirements of the customer. Be<br />
it large valves for single-axle compressors<br />
or multistage high pressure valves for<br />
multistage gear box compressors, Arca have<br />
a valve for every application, including hotgas<br />
compressors or cryogen plants, or even<br />
for acid gas and oxygen.<br />
Arca not only manufacture all types of valves<br />
but also a wide range of pneumatic actuators<br />
for special requirements are being made.<br />
With extreme operating conditions the<br />
actuators of the series 811 / 812 / 814 and<br />
MA60 guarantee a steady control mode and,<br />
in case of an incident, move extremely fast<br />
into the safety position. By means of cleverly<br />
devised component parts, large valves can<br />
open fast regulated and on the other side<br />
close slow regulated, as appropriate to<br />
customer’s needs. A fast opening on a large<br />
valve is possible with an opening time of<br />
less than < 1 sec. The ECOTROL® valves<br />
with component parts that are<br />
suitable for assembly in exzone<br />
and in all climate zones. Special<br />
requirements are being placed<br />
on valves that are mounted in<br />
process gas plants where the<br />
process gas is used in food<br />
processing.<br />
Valve & Automation are the<br />
agents for ARCA products.<br />
Contact<br />
Desmond Delport<br />
Tel: 011 397 2833<br />
Web: www.valve.co.za<br />
13
SKYRIDERS HAS A BLAST DEPLOYING UHP CLEANING<br />
AT LARGE PETCHEM TANK<br />
Ultra high pressure (UHP) washing is a highly-effective<br />
and environmentally-friendly cleaning method using<br />
water jets to remove old coating systems and industrial<br />
dirt and contamination, without the use of potential<br />
contaminants such as detergents or grit.<br />
Skyriders washed the tank<br />
and prepared the surface<br />
and then applied a specific<br />
protective coating.<br />
14<br />
Leading rope-access specialist Skyriders<br />
recently deployed UHP to clean the top<br />
part of a large tank, which is exposed to the<br />
harsh elements, and therefore subject to the<br />
worst weathering, for a major petrochemical<br />
producer in Mpumalanga.<br />
The scope of work for Skyriders was to deploy<br />
UHP at 2 800 bar in order to wash the tank<br />
and prepare the surface, and then to apply<br />
a specific protective coating system. This<br />
consisted of a primer and an intermediate<br />
coating, followed by the final two coatings.<br />
“The client, which has stringent health<br />
and safety and quality standards, had a<br />
documented specification for the application<br />
that we had to adhere to rigorously at all<br />
times,” Skyriders marketing manager Mike Zinn<br />
comments. This was necessary to guarantee<br />
the integrity of the entire protective system.<br />
Major industrial customers such as petchem<br />
and chemical plants and refineries, among<br />
others, often have separate budgets for both<br />
maintenance and access. “On this specific<br />
project, for example, we were able to prove<br />
to the client that our per-square-metre rate,<br />
which is all-inclusive of both access and<br />
maintenance, represents a significant costand<br />
time-saving,” Zinn asserts.<br />
He adds that Skyriders’ holistic approach<br />
to access and maintenance generally<br />
translates into a 20% to 25% budget saving<br />
for its clients, in addition to benefits such as<br />
enhanced health and safety and guaranteed<br />
quality of any work undertaken.<br />
The traditional means of cleaning such large<br />
tanks is grit blasting, which leaves behind a<br />
residue that itself needs to be cleaned up.<br />
This sand can also pose a safety risk during<br />
the cleaning process, as the tank remains<br />
operational during maintenance so as not to<br />
impact on productivity. The high-pressure<br />
water used in UHP, on the other hand, simply<br />
evaporates.<br />
Skyriders intends to expand the scope of its<br />
UHP service offering, as this cleaning method<br />
is ideal for major industrial structures as<br />
diverse as smokestacks, silos, and storage<br />
tanks. “It is not only an important valueadded<br />
service, but is an integral part of the<br />
turnkey access and maintenance solutions<br />
we can offer,” Zinn concludes.<br />
About Skyriders<br />
Skyriders (Pty) Ltd., established in 1998, is<br />
a leader in the South <strong>African</strong> rope access<br />
industry, providing cost- and time-saving<br />
solutions to clients in the power generation<br />
and petrochemical industries who require<br />
rope access aided inspection, NDT and<br />
maintenance work to be done in difficult to<br />
reach, high-up locations.<br />
Connect with Skyriders on Social Media<br />
to receive the company’s latest news<br />
Facebook: www.facebook.com/<br />
SkyridersIndustrialRopeAccess<br />
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SkyridersZA<br />
Skyriders Contact<br />
Mike Zinn, Marketing Manager<br />
Tel: (011) 312 1418<br />
Email: mike@ropeaccess.co.za<br />
Web: www.ropeaccess.co.za<br />
Leading rope access<br />
specialist skyriders<br />
used UHP to clean<br />
the top part of a<br />
large tank.
MOBILE CO2 MEASURING DEVICE<br />
The measurement of CO2 emissions throughout industry is a critical activity. Across<br />
many industries CO2 leaks in equipment resulting from non-maintenance, mechanical<br />
damage or wear and tear can impact on the wellbeing and safety of not only<br />
employees but also on the manufacturing processes involved, for example in the food,<br />
beverage and refrigeration industries.<br />
Adding to their already extensive range of<br />
instrumentation, Greisinger, part of the GHM<br />
Group of Companies, has launched its brand<br />
new G 1910-2 and G 1910-20 CO2 mobile,<br />
handheld measuring devices. They offer<br />
benefits to the user such as a compact CO2<br />
monitor with an integrated sensor and an<br />
optical and acoustic alarm function with a<br />
large rechargeable battery life, easy charging<br />
and a wide measuring range.<br />
“From breweries, wine presses and<br />
dispensaries to heating, ventilation and<br />
air-conditioning to energy management in<br />
buildings and use in research and education,<br />
this newly launched, compact CO2 handheld<br />
measuring device fits perfectly into the hand<br />
and can be taken anywhere. It is the most<br />
cost-effective portable device available”<br />
said Jan Grobler, Managing Director, of GHM<br />
Messtechnik South Africa.<br />
“Every mining or pulp and paper plant, for<br />
example, has to monitor the environment<br />
and this device offers a wider measuring<br />
range than usual that can reach up to 2,000<br />
ppm in the G 1910-02 version and as much<br />
as 19,999 ppm with the G 1910-20 model.<br />
Additionally, having a calibration connection<br />
enables the customer can recalibrate the<br />
device themselves, or we can do it for them.<br />
This eliminates the need to for devices to<br />
leave the place of operation for recalibration<br />
purposes” said Grobler.<br />
The devices are equipped with benefits such<br />
as: a long-lasting rechargeable battery with<br />
very low power consumption which enables<br />
measurements over a period of 24 hours.<br />
Standard AA NiMH batteries can be used<br />
and recharged via the Micro USB connection<br />
with a standard Micro USB charging cable<br />
without the need for a special mains adaptor.<br />
The device has an easy to read display, with<br />
backlighting.<br />
The instruments have alarms for many<br />
applications in air quality monitoring, green<br />
houses, energy management. The CO2 is<br />
measured with a high-class non-dispersive<br />
infrared (NDIR) sensor via an opening at<br />
the instruments head. The display of the<br />
time-weighted average over eight hours<br />
(TWA) or 15 minutes (STEL) can be read<br />
simultaneously.<br />
Grobler added “CO2 is dangerous at a<br />
concentration of >3%, these new portable<br />
instruments of CO2 monitoring are ideal for<br />
warnings of moderate but non-dangerous<br />
levels. They offer an impressive price/<br />
performance ratio and a high durability<br />
as has come to be expected with German<br />
precision manufactured instrumentation”.<br />
Further information is available from:<br />
Jan Grobler, Managing Director, Messtechnik<br />
South Africa<br />
Tel: 011 902 0158<br />
Email: info@ghm-sa.co.za<br />
It’s all good<br />
with 360º gas<br />
& welding solutions<br />
Afrox offers a complete range of gases, welding<br />
solutions, safety solutions and related consumables<br />
to cover every aspect of your gas and welding needs.<br />
Providing quality service and products you can trust<br />
is at the centre of what we do.<br />
It’s all good with quality you can trust.<br />
Customer Service Centre: 0860 020202 Shop online: www.afroxshop.co.za www.afrox.co.za<br />
15<br />
Afrox Generic 190x130.indd 1<br />
2018/01/12 3:26 PM
PROTECT YOUR EQUIPMENT WITH SMART LUBRICATION ACCESSORIES<br />
One of the most effective ways to keep your machinery running smoothly is to keep equipment well lubricated. But to ensure your<br />
lubrication is effective, you need to monitor your lubricant and keep moisture out of the system. To do this, Lubrication Engineers<br />
(LE) South Africa suggests installing oil sight glasses and replacing the standard OEM breather cap or dust cap on your machinery<br />
with a desiccant breather.<br />
Callum Ford, National Marketing Manager<br />
at LE South Africa, explains that oil sight<br />
glasses give people visual insight into what<br />
is happening with their lubricant at all times,<br />
allowing them to catch potential problems<br />
early on and to address these. In the long run,<br />
this minimises downtime, ensures machinery<br />
runs optimally and reduces repair costs.<br />
“Our Xtract sight glasses take the<br />
guesswork out of fluid lubrication<br />
management,” Ford says. “They<br />
are designed to give users the<br />
ability to continuously monitor<br />
the clarity, colour, sediment and<br />
water contamination levels of<br />
their lubricants. Some models<br />
even allow you to easily remove<br />
the water by draining it right out<br />
of the system.”<br />
The oil sight glasses can be piped<br />
to the desiccant breather, which<br />
removes humidity and tiny dust<br />
particles out of the air as it passes<br />
through the filter, ensuring<br />
moisture does not enter your<br />
lubrication reservoir. Ford says that<br />
desiccant breathers are advised<br />
for all applications except waterbased<br />
hydraulic fluid lubricants.<br />
“We stock Xclude breathers<br />
– high airflow, long-lasting<br />
desiccant breathers with checkvalve<br />
Technology, which are<br />
ideal for tank farms and large<br />
applications,” he says. “They have<br />
multiple 3-micron polyester<br />
filter elements that remove solid<br />
particulate from the wet, dirty air<br />
as it passes through the unit. They<br />
make use of colour-indicating<br />
silica gel, which not only extracts<br />
moisture, but also gives insight<br />
into the condition of the unit, so you can<br />
gauge when it’s due for replacement. When<br />
air is expelled from the container, the top<br />
foam pad prevents oil mist from contacting<br />
the silica gel or entering the atmosphere.”<br />
Additionally, the breather is outfitted with a<br />
resilient nylon standpipe and polypropylene<br />
oil mist reducer to allow oil mist to coalesce<br />
and drain back into the reservoir, rather than<br />
compromising the desiccant. “Each breather<br />
has six high-quality umbrella check valves<br />
underneath it to isolate equipment from<br />
ambient conditions, which prolongs breather<br />
life and protects system integrity,” Ford says.<br />
The breathers are suitable for use in storage<br />
tanks, wind turbines, large gearboxes and<br />
remote applications, and used in industries<br />
ranging from wind energy to storage, pulp<br />
and paper, mining, aviation, manufacturing<br />
and petrochemical.<br />
Lubrication Engineers (LE) South<br />
Africa represents the LE brand in<br />
South Africa, Botswana, Namibia,<br />
Mozambique, Zimbabwe and<br />
Zambia. LE hold the rights to<br />
Southern Africa on the LE brand,<br />
recognised internationally as a<br />
specialist in lubrication.<br />
Through LE Incorporated, they<br />
are a member of a worldwide<br />
network of companies spanning<br />
Europe, South America, Asia and<br />
Africa, while LE Incorporated<br />
operates in the USA and covers<br />
North America including Canada,<br />
Mexico and the USA.<br />
LE provides high performance,<br />
heavy-duty, quality lubricants<br />
for virtually every industry and<br />
application, as well as expert<br />
technical back-up and support.<br />
For more information, visit www.<br />
lubricationengineers.co.za.<br />
Further information is<br />
available from:<br />
Callum Ford, National Marketing<br />
Manager, LE<br />
Tel: 011 464 1735<br />
Email: callum@<br />
lubricationengineers.co.za<br />
Online<br />
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16
FAST AND ACCURATE<br />
AUTOMATIC PRESSURE<br />
TESTING AND<br />
DOCUMENTATION OF<br />
CRITICAL REGULATORY AND<br />
COMPLIANCE CALIBRATIONS<br />
Calibrator generates accurate pressure for<br />
single or multiple tests and automates the<br />
calibration process<br />
Pressure instrument calibration is a significant part of the<br />
maintenance workload in process plants that requires a high level<br />
of accuracy and repeatability. Comtest is offering the latest Fluke<br />
729 Automatic Pressure Calibrator - simplifying the calibration<br />
process by automating pumping to the precise test pressure,<br />
improving calibration integrity by compensating for minor leaks, and<br />
automatically documenting the pressure calibration process to meet<br />
compliance and regulatory requirements.<br />
With the rugged, portable 729, technicians simply input a target<br />
pressure and the calibrator automatically pumps to the desired setpoint<br />
while the internal fine adjustment control stabilizes the pressure<br />
at the requested value, delivering more accurate results and speeding<br />
the calibration process.<br />
Fluke 729 features:<br />
• Automatic pressure generation and control for multiple tests to 300<br />
psi, (20 bar, 2 MPa). Fill in a test template and the 729 automatically<br />
pumps to and documents a multiple-point pressure calibration test.<br />
• Easy calibration documentation using defined templates for<br />
transmitters and switches. Input the starting and ending test<br />
pressures and number of test points and the calibrator documents<br />
the applied pressure, measured mA, and percentage error for each<br />
test point. The bright color graphical display flags out of tolerance<br />
test results in red.<br />
• HART communication enabling mA output trim, trim to applied<br />
values, and pressure zero trimming of HART pressure transmitters.<br />
Technicians can also perform light configuration tasks such as<br />
changing a transmitter tag, measurement units, and ranging.<br />
• Measurement of mA signals on transmitter outputs and sourcing<br />
and simulation of mA signals for testing I/Ps and other mA loop<br />
devices. It includes a 24V loop power supply for testing and<br />
powering transmitters in standalone tests disconnected from the<br />
control system.<br />
Fluke 729 Automatic Pressure Calibrator.<br />
As part of the Fluke Connect® reliability platform, the 729 allows<br />
technicians to remotely monitor calibrations using the Fluke<br />
Connect mobile app as well as manage, store, and share pressure<br />
measurements and logging events.<br />
Documented calibration results can be uploaded to the included<br />
DPCTrack2 Calibration Management Software, to easily manage<br />
instrumentation, create schedule tests and reports, and organise<br />
calibration data. For more information on the Fluke 729 Automatic<br />
Pressure Calibrator, contact Comtest, local distributor of Fluke test and<br />
measurement tools, or for upcoming seminars, demos or to locate the<br />
nearest dealer, contact COMTEST.<br />
Contact:<br />
Tel: 010 595 1821<br />
Email: sales@comtest.co.za<br />
17
18<br />
The “Favourite Petrol Station”<br />
honour was attributed to<br />
Engen in the 2019 Sunday<br />
Times Top Brands*, which<br />
recognises brands<br />
that have earned top<br />
consumer sentiment<br />
in South Africa over<br />
the past 12 months.<br />
For a company that<br />
excites motorists<br />
and shoppers on<br />
their forecourts<br />
by offering them<br />
top quality fuels,<br />
alongside all the<br />
yumminess of partner<br />
brands such as the<br />
Woolworths Foodstop,<br />
Wimpy, Debonairs, Steers<br />
and Corner Bakery, as well<br />
as recently added Krispy<br />
Kreme (whose world-famous<br />
glazed doughnuts broaden any<br />
smile!), the Sunday Times Top Brands<br />
award affirms the special place<br />
Engen occupies in the hearts and<br />
minds of South <strong>African</strong>s.<br />
“At Engen, our brand promise ‘With<br />
us you are number one’ is about<br />
delighting customers and that’s<br />
what drives every action we take<br />
and decision we make,” comments<br />
Seelan Naidoo, Engen’s head of<br />
Retail.<br />
While Engen continues to have the<br />
largest service station footprint in South Africa, operating over 1 000<br />
service stations, it is their constant innovation and focus on customer<br />
service that places it ahead of the pack in terms of brand recognition<br />
and loyalty across all audiences.<br />
“To remain a compelling, top of mind destination for fuel and<br />
convenience needs, we maintain a firm focus on consistently<br />
invigorating the Engen brand and our associated offerings, never<br />
standing still, and continually seeking relevant and innovative ways to<br />
meaningfully impact our customers lives,” adds Naidoo.<br />
While pumping over 1 in every 4 litres of petrol purchased in SA,<br />
and with over 143 million customer visits to their forecourts in 2018,<br />
Engen is also continuing to woo customers by increasing its industry<br />
leading service station footprint and continually growing its share of<br />
the local fuels and convenience market.<br />
“We opened a record 15 new service stations in 2018, completed<br />
nine major renovations and added 20 new Quickshop convenience<br />
stores to our network. Furthermore, we installed energy saving LED<br />
lighting at 112 service stations so that we offer a welcoming and safe<br />
appearance to our customers.”<br />
Engen has continued with another aggressive new site build and<br />
revitalisation programme in 2019, with Naidoo affirming that “we<br />
expect to grow our share of the South <strong>African</strong> retail fuels market in the<br />
years ahead to ensure that an Engen service station is in easy reach of<br />
THE BRANDS WE LOVE!<br />
ENGEN REMAINS SA’S FAVOURITE<br />
PETROL STATION<br />
For the ninth consecutive year, South <strong>African</strong>s have<br />
backed Engen as their favourite petrol station, with the<br />
company extending a hearty “THANK YOU” to all their<br />
customers for this kind endorsement!<br />
our loyal customers across the<br />
length and breadth of South<br />
Africa.”<br />
A pioneer of fuel<br />
station convenience<br />
in South Africa -<br />
notable market<br />
firsts introduced<br />
by Engen include:<br />
the country’s<br />
first “vacation<br />
station” concept<br />
in 1986 with the<br />
Bloemfontein 1Stop;<br />
the first convenience<br />
store brand,<br />
Quickshop in 1992;<br />
the first gourmet food<br />
offering on the go, with<br />
Woolworths Foodstop in<br />
2000; and the first rewards<br />
partnership with eBucks in<br />
2009.<br />
This spirit of constant innovation<br />
has catapulted Engen to the<br />
forefront of South <strong>African</strong> motorists’<br />
imagination, explaining its enduring<br />
success in the Sunday Top Brands<br />
(2011-2019) and the Sunday Times<br />
Generation Next, where the youth<br />
have voted Engen the country’s<br />
“Coolest Petroleum Brand” for 10<br />
consecutive years (2010-2019).<br />
This trailblazing spirit lives on,<br />
assures Naidoo, with Engen entering<br />
into an exclusive agreement with<br />
eBucks in 2018 and an exciting new partnership with international<br />
doughnut brand, Krispy Kreme.<br />
“eBucks is one of South Africa’s largest and most successful loyalty<br />
programme’s and offers Engen customers up to R8 back per litre in<br />
rewards.<br />
“In 2019, we extended the Krispy Kreme offering, rolling out to<br />
105 select service stations in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. And in<br />
November, we are extremely excited to finally bring this new offering<br />
to our Cape Town customers.”<br />
The results of Sunday Times Top Brands continue to validate Engen’s<br />
presence, investments and marketing focus.<br />
“We are honoured and humbled to once again receive this award and<br />
thank our customers for choosing Engen.<br />
“South <strong>African</strong> motorists and consumers are assured that Engen will<br />
continue to provide them with the best service, the best value and<br />
the best convenience offerings,” concludes Naidoo.<br />
* Sunday Times Top Brands Awards is commissioned by Avusa Media and conducted by<br />
TNS Research<br />
For further details please contact:<br />
Engen’s External Communications Manager, Gavin Smith<br />
Tel: 021 403 4312, or Email gavin.smith@engenoil.com
MegaCPK<br />
At the dawn of a new era<br />
With continuous research and investments, we have developed a totally new generation of<br />
products. A milestone in KSB's history and the dawn of a new era focused on quality,<br />
efficiency, safety and reliability in one package, worldwide. Our innovative new product<br />
line-up offers first-class quality and a host of new features that combine to make this pump<br />
truly unique.<br />
• Maximum operating reliability<br />
• Outstanding efficiency from improved hydraulic systems<br />
• Optimum energy efficiency<br />
• Global availability<br />
KSB Pumps and Valves (Pty) Ltd<br />
www.ksbpumps.co.za<br />
> Our technology. Your success.<br />
Pumps• Valves, Service<br />
KseliJ
NEW HEAD OF THYSSENKRUPP TECHNICAL TRAINING ACADEMY SPEARHEADS<br />
TRAINING CENTRE EXCELLENCE<br />
Employee development remains a core focus for thyssenkrupp Industrial<br />
Solutions South Africa, a company that continues to raise the bar in<br />
technical proficiencies, digital technologies and industry standards not<br />
only in South Africa but throughout the <strong>African</strong> continent. Central to this<br />
drive is the Technical Training Academy which opened its doors in Q4<br />
2018 at the thyssenkrupp Service Centre in Chloorkop, Johannesburg.<br />
New head of thyssenkrupp Technical Training Academy spearheads training centre excellence.<br />
20<br />
Steve Parkinson who was recently appointed<br />
Head of the Technical Training Academy, is<br />
committed to creating a centre of training<br />
excellence that can be replicated at every<br />
thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions office in<br />
Africa. “I am eager to use my new position to<br />
make a difference on the continent through<br />
the Training Academy,” states Parkinson who<br />
brings to the table notable qualifications<br />
in manufacturing and operations as well<br />
as vast industry experience. His extensive<br />
job portfolio includes training delivery and<br />
development, compliance as well as sales.<br />
The technical skills-centric Academy boasts<br />
unparalleled success with its first-class,<br />
in-house developed technical training and<br />
development programmes. “We are extremely<br />
proud of the third-year apprentices from<br />
the training facility who, without exception,<br />
achieved a 100% pass rate on the first<br />
attempt of their trade tests!” says Parkinson.<br />
“This achievement has set a high standard<br />
which we most certainly aim to maintain.”<br />
To ensure its students of a best-practice<br />
training, the Academy adopts a proactive<br />
approach and also included a collaboration<br />
between thyssenkrupp and the German<br />
Chamber of Commerce in the development<br />
of a Mechatronics trade qualification. This is<br />
the first artisan qualification in South Africa<br />
whereby qualifying learners not only obtain a<br />
South <strong>African</strong> qualification but also a German<br />
qualification. Currently two students are<br />
undergoing the Mechatronic pilot project<br />
which is set to expand to eight students in<br />
2020. The Academy has also applied for the<br />
inclusion of this new mechatronics trade in<br />
its accreditation, which is expected to be<br />
obtained before the end of 2019.<br />
Keeping in line with strategic objectives, the<br />
Academy develops and maintains MERSETA<br />
/ Quality Council for Trades and Occupations<br />
(QCTO) approved apprentice training<br />
programmes. “We received accreditation<br />
from the QCTO for both the Metal Machinist<br />
and Mechanical Fitter trades in July 2019, ”<br />
adds Parkinson.<br />
He also reveals that the popular<br />
Commercial Apprentice Training Scheme<br />
(CATS) programme will be expanding<br />
to accommodate two annual intakes of<br />
students over the next few years. “These<br />
various accreditations and accomplishments<br />
are indicative of the high quality of training<br />
we offer apprentices. On the back of these<br />
achievements, the Academy is perfectly<br />
positioned to further grow its in-depth<br />
capabilities and footprint into Africa.”<br />
The Academy forms part of thyssenkrupp’s<br />
Industry 4.0 transition in order to provide<br />
innovative, effective and efficient customercentric<br />
solutions. Parkinson points out that<br />
the development and introduction of the<br />
new Mechatronics apprenticeship was also<br />
part of the move towards Industry 4.0, as<br />
this qualification includes learning about<br />
PLC’s and robotics; an essential component.<br />
“The latest digital technologies incorporated<br />
into the automation of thyssenkrupp<br />
equipment makes it imperative that<br />
customers, operators, as well as technical and<br />
maintenance staff undergo training prior to<br />
hand-over.”<br />
Echoing thyssenkrupp’s strive to reduce<br />
its carbon footprint, the Academy plans to<br />
develop several e-learning programmes<br />
which will be made accessible to all<br />
employees. “We will also be looking at<br />
converting a number of existing customer<br />
training courses into e-learning,“ says<br />
Parkinson. “This will allow us to further<br />
sell the Training Academy capabilities and<br />
programmes to customers and to offer them<br />
a cheaper alternative for the continuous<br />
training of their operators and staff.” The<br />
Academy also plans to provide training<br />
participants with tablets with pre-loaded<br />
programmes, eliminating the use of paper to<br />
print training manuals.<br />
Customers are essential in thyssenkrupp’s<br />
drive to develop exceptional skills in Africa<br />
for Africa. With a focus on getting closer<br />
to customers, thyssenkrupp’s account and<br />
regional managers maintain open lines of<br />
communication and conduct regular visits<br />
to existing customers. So when a training<br />
need arises, the Academy is informed and,<br />
together with the customer, specialised<br />
training is developed. “A prime example<br />
of this seamless collaboration is an online<br />
e-learning platform developed by the<br />
Academy which enabled the employees<br />
of a customer in Madagascar to access the<br />
required operator and maintenance training<br />
round the clock.”<br />
thyssenkrupp is passionate about<br />
uplifting and developing underprivileged<br />
communities. The Academy holds a key role<br />
in this objective and is working on creating<br />
community development initiatives in which<br />
unemployed youth from local communities<br />
are equipped with an entrepreneurial skills<br />
course as well as basic skills such as welding<br />
which includes the provision of welding<br />
equipment.<br />
A central driving force behind thyssenkrupp’s<br />
decision to establish the Academy was<br />
to train and upskill young people on<br />
thyssenkrupp equipment in line with<br />
company standards to the ultimate benefit<br />
of its customers. “I am extremely proud to be<br />
a part of this game-changing company and<br />
endeavour to help the Academy reach its full
Online<br />
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potential as a trailblazer in the digitalisation<br />
and automation space,” states Parkinson.<br />
Welcoming Parkinson to thyssenkrupp,<br />
Philipp Nellessen, CEO at thyssenkrupp<br />
Industrial Solutions Sub-Sahara Africa says<br />
that he is integral to upholding the Technical<br />
Training Academy‘s commitment to deliver<br />
exceptional technical training programmes<br />
that will set further benchmarks for<br />
excellence on the <strong>African</strong> continent. “We gave<br />
a clear mission to the training academy: We<br />
develop exceptional skills in Africa for Africa,<br />
and Steve Parkinson is exactly the head we<br />
need to continue and expand this mission. ”<br />
In April 2019, WorleyParsons and Jacobs’<br />
Energy, Chemicals and Resources division,<br />
two global leaders in engineering, technical<br />
and professional services, came together<br />
under a new name, Worley. Our customers<br />
now have access to a wide network of<br />
highly capable people around the globe<br />
to help them meet the world’s changing<br />
energy, chemicals and resources needs.<br />
About us<br />
The Industrial Solutions business area at<br />
thyssenkrupp is a leading partner for the<br />
engineering, construction and service of<br />
industrial plants and systems. Based on more<br />
than 200 years of experience we supply<br />
tailored, turnkey plants and components for<br />
customers in the chemical, fertilizer, cement,<br />
mining and steel industries. As a system<br />
partner to the automotive, aerospace and<br />
naval sectors we develop highly specialized<br />
solutions to meet the individual requirements<br />
of our customers. More than 21,000 employees<br />
at over 100 locations form a global network<br />
with a technology portfolio that guarantees<br />
maximum productivity and cost-efficiency.<br />
For more information visit:<br />
www.thyssenkrupp-industrial-solutions.com<br />
Contact<br />
thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions<br />
(South Africa)<br />
Kgothatso Ntsie<br />
Marketing & Communications<br />
Tel: +27 11 236-1000<br />
Fax: +27 11 236-1125<br />
Email: kgothatso.ntsie@thyssenkrupp.com<br />
worley.com<br />
Power Ad 190x130.indd 1 2019/08/06 15:35 21
ZWICK FOR MOLTEN SULPHUR OR SULPHUR TAIL GAS<br />
If you work with Molten Sulphur or Sulphur Tail gas, please take time to read more.<br />
Design engineers at Zwick in Germany have looked at solving on-going<br />
problems being experienced with valves on sulphur units.<br />
Typical valve problems on large bore line sizes range from seizing of the<br />
packing to severe seat damage when valve need to be operated after long<br />
periods of time of inactivity. Valves should be specified as steam jacketed<br />
valves as this is a standard mandatory type of valve requirement.<br />
Generally a standard valve may be suitable in an ideal line were there are never<br />
any shutdowns or upset conditions as once the valves body temperature has<br />
reached that of the hot sulphur or tail gas passing through it will not allow for<br />
any solidification, however in an upset condition were the valve body cools<br />
down with sulphur cooling also, then this will solidify in the bearing / shaft<br />
areas which will consequently generate a seizure of these elements.<br />
Based on international experience, Zwick engineers recommend the use<br />
of steam jacketed valves as these would maintain the critical areas under a<br />
constant temperature, thus eliminating any potential seizure.<br />
Zwick are capable of supplying valves in both wafer and double flanged style<br />
with steam jackets, and we can also apply a steam traced trim (stem and disc).<br />
Zwick Tri-Con series valves come with bearing protectors, which reduce the<br />
ingress of the medium into the critical areas, which coupled with the bearing<br />
flush purge ports constitute a true cleansing and protection of these critical<br />
areas.<br />
The following explanation highlights the technical differences between the Zwick<br />
Tri-Con valve and other manufacturers of valves ranging from double eccentric to<br />
unjacketed valves which will fail in this type of application.<br />
The Zwick Tri-Con series valve is a specially designed process isolation, on/<br />
off and control valve, which has a wide range of application uses limited<br />
only by that of the actual materials used, in fact Zwick manufacture valves<br />
for applications which range from -196ºC up to +815ºC. Valves can be<br />
manufactured in any machinable form of alloy available on the market for<br />
specific client requirements.<br />
The Zwick Tri-Con series valve is a triple offset valve with true cone in cone<br />
design which totally eliminates any rubbing of the seats, hence eliminates<br />
any wear and tear which would generate leakages across the seat, this is<br />
technically not possible for other typical high performance valves, which<br />
means it is limited to a double eccentric design, rubbing sealing in the last 15-<br />
18º which will generate leakage as the time goes by.<br />
22<br />
The other standard double eccentric are not designed for these severe<br />
applications therefore any attempt to use it for particular process applications<br />
may result in a problematic outcome.<br />
Self Centering disc<br />
With it’s unique self centering temperature compensating disc, the Tri-Con<br />
series construction guarantees the optimal position of the laminated seal<br />
against the seat. Jamming due to thermal expansion is therefore eliminated.<br />
The torque transmission with keys<br />
The disc is keyed to the shaft and not pinned, providing equal torque<br />
transmission and eliminating the danger of pins sheering off.<br />
Ideal lamination and disc design<br />
The strong disc with it’s elliptical supporting surface offers the best fixing of<br />
the lamination. The zero leakage is achieved by the special machining of thre<br />
lamination.<br />
Supporting bearing bushing<br />
The optimal position of the bearing reduces the bending of the shaft. This<br />
guarantees bi-directional tightness under maximum pressure.<br />
General characteristics<br />
• Triple eccentric design<br />
• Metal seating<br />
• Zero leakage<br />
• Pressure classes<br />
• Full bi-directional shutoff tp API & DIN, ZERO Leakage<br />
• Temperature range -196ºC up to +815ºC<br />
• Size range 2” to 72” (DN50 to DN1800)<br />
• Friction free opening and closing<br />
• Vacuum tight<br />
• Laminated seal and seat made of stainless steel<br />
• Anti blow-out shaft to API 609<br />
• Steel casting, stainless steel and special alloys<br />
• Fire-safe acc. To BD 6755 and API 607 for both flow<br />
directions<br />
• Fugitive emission control acc. To “TA-Luft II”<br />
Valve & Automation are the agents for Zwick products. Please<br />
contact Desmond Delport on 011 397 2833 or sales@valve.co.za
Roadshows to look out<br />
for in 2020…<br />
• Secunda <strong>Petrochemicals</strong> IPP & Renewables Roadshow<br />
• Sasolburg <strong>Petrochemicals</strong> IPP & Renewables Roadshow<br />
• EPC, IPP & Renewables Roadshow<br />
• Durban Petrochemical IPP & Renewables Roadshow<br />
• Germiston Everything Industrial Roadshow<br />
• The Mossel Bay Petrochemical Roadshow<br />
Visit our website or join us on social media for updates on the Roadshows<br />
Bookings are now opened.<br />
Find out more about our early bird specials<br />
accounts@africanpetrochemicals.co.za • 011 083 5125 / 084 894 9800 • www.africanpetrochemicals.co.za<br />
ANOTHER 68 SOUTH DURBANITES GRADUATE FROM ENGEN’S COMPUTER SCHOOL<br />
The Engen Computer School in Wentworth held a graduation ceremony on 5 September where 68 proud community members<br />
received certificates for completing an End User computing course.<br />
Over the past decade, Engen’s free<br />
computer skills training school<br />
has transformed many lives in<br />
South Durban, boosting graduates’<br />
prospects of finding employment.<br />
“Including yesterday’s graduates,<br />
just over 2000 students have<br />
graduated to date, each of them<br />
gaining the knowledge and<br />
confidence to go out and seek<br />
jobs that would otherwise never<br />
have been possible,” says Sheryl<br />
Casalis, training director of Added<br />
Advantage Academy.<br />
The Engen Computer School<br />
offers South Durban residents<br />
introductory-level computer skills<br />
training, covering eight units of the National<br />
Certificate: Information Technology, End User<br />
Computing qualification.<br />
To enrol, applicants must be unemployed<br />
school-leavers and reside in South Durban.<br />
While matric and age criteria are not<br />
prescribed, most students who attend the<br />
school are aged from 20 to 40.<br />
According to Casalis, three four-month<br />
courses are offered per annum, each<br />
accommodating 80 people. Engen invests<br />
Proud graduates of the Engen Computer School.<br />
approximately R15 000 per student to attend<br />
the course.<br />
“The competency rate for students is<br />
between 94% and 99% by the time they<br />
complete the course,” adds Casalis. “Upon<br />
graduation they are computer literate<br />
individuals able to work independently using<br />
the most common computer programmes<br />
utilised in offices today.”<br />
The third course for 2019 commenced on 26<br />
August and has 78 attendees.<br />
Engen’s head of Transformation<br />
and Stakeholder Engagement,<br />
Unathi Magida, says the Engen<br />
Computer Centre is well known<br />
in South Durban and almost<br />
always has a waiting list of people<br />
wanting to upskill themselves.<br />
Magida says Engen is both proud<br />
and humbled to play a small role in<br />
positively changing lives of South<br />
Durban community members, who<br />
reside in an area where the Engen<br />
Refinery is located.<br />
“With poverty and<br />
unemployment rife in South<br />
Africa, Engen is cognisant of the<br />
fact that the government cannot<br />
be relied on to provide solutions alone,”<br />
says Magida.<br />
“As such, we are committed to stepping<br />
up and doing the right thing, starting with<br />
paying special attention to the people in the<br />
communities in which we operate,” she adds.<br />
For more information, please contact:<br />
Gavin Smith, Engen External<br />
Communications Manager<br />
Tel: +27 21 403 4312<br />
Email:Gavin.Smith@engenoil.com<br />
23
AIR PRODUCTS CONTINUES 50 TH BIRTHDAY<br />
CELEBRATIONS WITH PRESTIGIOUS GOLF DAY<br />
Air Products invited key customers and distributors to a prestigious golf day at the<br />
Glendower Golf Club in Edenvale on 18 September 2019 as part of the company’s 50 th<br />
birthday celebrations. Golfers received special treatment during the entire day and won<br />
great prizes. More importantly, it was an opportunity for guests and key Air Products<br />
employees to relax and enjoy some time outside the office and meeting rooms.<br />
During the prize giving ceremony, Managing<br />
Director, Rob Richardson thanked customers<br />
and distributors for their loyal support over<br />
the years. He emphasised the fact that the<br />
company is currently one of the largest<br />
suppliers of industrial gas in Southern Africa,<br />
which is largely as a result of their loyal<br />
support. Richardson further highlighted<br />
that Air Products has managed to build a<br />
reputation for its innovative culture, operational<br />
excellence and commitment to safety, and the<br />
environment, resulting in the company being<br />
able to manufacture and supply products of the<br />
highest quality for 50 years.<br />
The winning four-ball.<br />
L – R: Clayton Tree (Special Steels), Ismail Abdul (Special Steels), Marco Steyn (Horizon Global), Jason<br />
Allen (Horizon Global) and Rob Richardson (Air Products) .<br />
Richardson concluded by saying: “I am<br />
honoured to be the MD as we celebrate this<br />
milestone in Air Products’ proud history – it<br />
is such an achievement for the company to<br />
have shown the growth and experienced<br />
the successes that we have celebrated over<br />
the years. Our aim with this event was to<br />
thank our customers and distributors for the<br />
role they have played in our business and to<br />
commit to providing an even better service<br />
and secure supply of gas in the future”.<br />
24<br />
Second place winners enjoying some oysters and champagne…<br />
L – R: Alan Glutz (EWN&S), Gavin Bryson (EWN&S), Jorg Scholz (Air Products) and Archie Woods (EWN&S).<br />
For more information on Air Products,<br />
visit www.airproducts.co.za.<br />
About Air Products South Africa<br />
Air Products South Africa (Pty) Limited<br />
manufactures, supplies and distributes a<br />
diverse portfolio of atmospheric gases,<br />
specialty gases, equipment and services to the<br />
Southern <strong>African</strong> region.<br />
Air Products touches the lives of consumers in<br />
positive ways every day, and serves customers<br />
across a wide range of industries from food<br />
and beverage, mining and petrochemicals,<br />
primary metal and steel manufacturers,<br />
welding and cutting applications to laboratory<br />
applications.<br />
Founded in 1969, Air Products South Africa<br />
has built a reputation for its innovative culture,<br />
operational excellence and commitment<br />
to safety, quality and the environment. In<br />
addition the company aims to continue its<br />
growth and market position in the Southern<br />
<strong>African</strong> region.
HFT ADDS STATGUARD FUEL STORAGE TANK FILTRATION TO ITS<br />
AFRICAN OFFERING.<br />
Up to 85% of fuel system component failures are caused by<br />
contamination. The main attributable causes of engine failure<br />
are inadequate fuel filtration, diesel fuel contamination and<br />
water in the fuel system. According to the World Wide Fuel<br />
Charter, only 43% of the world diesel fuel supply meets the ISO<br />
cleanliness standard for diesel fuel delivered from the filling<br />
station nozzle.<br />
Keeping your engine running smoothly is critical to increasing fuel<br />
efficiency. To help fleet owners and managers minimise the risks of<br />
fuel contamination in their fuel storage tank systems, Hytec Fluid<br />
Technology (HFT) has introduced the Fleetguard® StatGuard for<br />
bulk fuel cleanliness. It reduces electrostatic discharge through antistatic<br />
reducing media, and provides unique grounding solutions.<br />
Electrostatic discharge can be created when diesel passes through<br />
filter media at high flow rates.<br />
StatGuard has been engineered for use with single pass filtration<br />
for clean transfers, high efficiency kidney looping, inlet and<br />
outlet filtration at bulk storage tanks and mobile and stationary<br />
applications. “It features better dust holding capacity than<br />
competitor products and has a superior filter life. Additionally,<br />
the lower static build-up – at only 246 lpm – reduces filter media<br />
damage,” explains Sandor Bottyan, General Manager, HFT.<br />
StatGuard for bulk fuel cleanliness can be used on fuel islands or<br />
anywhere there is bulk fuel filtration. It is suitable for all remote sites<br />
such as farms and agricultural holdings, forestry commissions, mine<br />
sites and marina fuel stations, and is ideal for large fleet locations like<br />
bus, truck and rental depots.<br />
“Essentially there are three main diesel fuel contaminants,” Bottyan<br />
points out. “Organic contaminants; inorganic contaminants; and free<br />
and emulsified water.” The last is the most common form of diesel<br />
fuel contamination. StatGuard is designed to help overcome these<br />
component failure causes,” he says.<br />
He adds that the majority of tank systems, either new or existing, are<br />
fitted without any filter. Feetguard’s StatGuard is available as an<br />
up-fit solution or replacement, and existing competitor filters can be<br />
replaced with StatGuard using Fleetguard’s cross-reference table.<br />
Hytec Fluid Technology (HFT) a member of Bosch Rexroth Group of<br />
Companies is a Mega Distributor of Fleetguard’s filtration products in<br />
South Africa and Africa.<br />
StatGuard from Fleetguard®, developed for bulk fuel filtration,<br />
features high dust holding capacity, superior filter life and low static<br />
build-up that reduces filter media damage.<br />
About Bosch Rexroth South Africa Group of Companies<br />
The Bosch Rexroth South Africa Group of Companies (previously<br />
the Hytec Group) is Africa’s largest fluid power and automation<br />
company. It comprises eight specialist companies: Bosch Rexroth<br />
South Africa (previously Hytec Holdings), Hytec South Africa, Tectra<br />
Automation, Hytec Fluid Technology, Hydraulic and Automation<br />
Warehouse, Hytec Engineering, Hytec Services Africa and HYSA,<br />
which collectively source, market and distribute over 30 international<br />
hydraulic, pneumatic and automation brands. The Group employs<br />
approximately 850 people through a network of 40 sales and service<br />
branches across sub-Saharan Africa.<br />
Enquiries:<br />
Sandor Bottyan, General Manager, Hytec Fluid Technology<br />
Tel: +27 (0) 11 976 7300<br />
Email: sandor.bottyan@boschrexroth.co.za<br />
Web: www.hytecgroup.co.za<br />
25
PETROCHEMICALS IPP & RENEWA<br />
ROADSHOW<br />
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR EXHIBITORS AND<br />
VISITORS FOR JOINING US ON THE DAY.<br />
Bookings<br />
are now opened<br />
for 2020. Book your<br />
stand today to avoid<br />
disappointment.<br />
26
BLES<br />
EXHIBITORS 2019<br />
accounts@africanpetrochemicals.co.z 011 083 5125 / 084 894 9800<br />
http://africanpetrochemicals.co.za/sasolburg-petrochemical-roadshow/<br />
27
Pumps • Valves • Systems<br />
RPH process pump – robust, reliable, efficient and<br />
now to API 610 11 th edition<br />
The RPH process pump for the chemical and petrochemical industries is a horizontal,<br />
radially split volute casing pump designed for flow rates of up to 4800 cubic metres per hour<br />
and pressures of up to 110 bar. It meets all requirements of API 610,11th edition and<br />
ISO 13709 (heavy duty).<br />
Benefits of the RPH Process pump:<br />
• Low maintenance costs<br />
• Low operating costs<br />
• Long service life of mechanical seal and bearings<br />
• High flexibility<br />
• Reliable and robust<br />
• Economical<br />
KSB Pumps and Valves (Pty) Ltd<br />
www.ksb.com/ksb-za
HF LAUNCHES KENYA’S FIRST<br />
WHATSAPP BANKING<br />
The Group promotes financial inclusion in Kenya<br />
by launching WhatsApp Banking, unlocking the<br />
opportunity for millions of new consumers to<br />
experience an improved way to initiate day-today<br />
secure banking activities and digital product<br />
purchases from within the chat application<br />
NAIROBI - HF has launched the HF WhatsApp<br />
banking solution to offer customized mobile<br />
banking services to its customers, effectively<br />
becoming the first bank in the region to<br />
commercially go live with this product. HF<br />
has partnered with Infobip, the global cloud<br />
communication company for businesses and<br />
a leader in omnichannel engagement and<br />
other partners i.e. Wayawaya, Kocela and<br />
Myriad to implement and take to market this<br />
revolutionary product to its existing and new<br />
customers.<br />
The implementation allows customers to<br />
interact with the bank through WhatsApp for<br />
functions such as virtual account opening,<br />
funds transfers, loans, bill payments, goods<br />
purchases among other services<br />
‘’ A highly popular messaging platform with<br />
millions of active users in Kenya, WhatsApp<br />
unlocks an opportunity for us to offer our<br />
customers a more personal, intuitive and<br />
efficient way to engage with them on chat.<br />
This capability we are pioneering enables<br />
HF’s customers to manage their banking<br />
needs within their WhatsApp chat with<br />
the same efficiency as services obtained<br />
at our branches and other digital banking<br />
platforms. Customers can simply add HF’s<br />
WhatsApp phone number to begin a secure<br />
Chat Banking session,’’ said HF Group CEO<br />
Robert Kibaara.<br />
To subscribe to this service, customers are<br />
required to save the bank’s WhatsApp phone<br />
number – meaning access to the chat is<br />
granted on an individual and personalized<br />
basis.<br />
Combining this powerful and interactive<br />
platform with Artificial intelligence (AI),<br />
enables businesses to scale their offerings<br />
to keep abreast with customer changing<br />
preferences. AI makes it possible for<br />
machines to learn from experience, adjust to<br />
new inputs and perform human-like tasks.<br />
“Customers’ expectations are constantly<br />
changing and it’s our duty as a customercentric<br />
bank to ensure that our customers are<br />
provided with the means to initiate or carry<br />
out banking services through any channel<br />
they desire wherever they are conveniently,”<br />
added Mr Kibaara.<br />
This new channel is part of HF’s digital<br />
banking strategy and cements its<br />
commitment to providing solutions to<br />
social and economic challenges through<br />
innovation geared at resolving critical issues<br />
around ease of access, convenience, safety<br />
and simplicity of essential financial services.<br />
“We are very honored to collaborate with<br />
such a prominent financial solutions<br />
provider. By offering WhatsApp as an<br />
alternative channel to their clients. HF<br />
Group is strengthening its relationship with<br />
customers and acting as a true leader in<br />
digital innovation. Enhancing the customer<br />
experience is a goal that all big companies<br />
should strive to achieve, and we’re thrilled<br />
that HF Group was one of the first financial<br />
institutions that recognized this opportunity<br />
in Kenya.” Said Rachel Njiru, Infobip’s<br />
Managing Director for Kenya & Director OP<br />
in Africa.<br />
Kenya tops the list of <strong>African</strong> countries<br />
with ease of access to financial services<br />
thanks in part to its high uptake of mobile<br />
money, placing the country ahead of<br />
economic giants such as South Africa,<br />
Nigeria, and Ghana. Other key drivers of this<br />
development include mobile adoption and<br />
internet connectivity. 84 percent of Kenya’s<br />
population has access to the Internet. 91<br />
percent of Kenya’s total population has a<br />
mobile phone, compared to the average<br />
of 80 percent mobile penetration in all of<br />
Africa. The most used social media platforms<br />
identified in Kenya is WhatsApp with 74%<br />
population usage according to the Jumia<br />
Kenya Mobile Report 2019.<br />
About HF<br />
HF is a multi-dimensional financial services<br />
provider with capability in digital banking,<br />
retail banking, SME and institutional banking,<br />
banc assurance, property development and<br />
finance. Information on HF is available on<br />
www.hfgroup.co.ke<br />
About Infobip<br />
Infobip is global cloud communication<br />
company for businesses and a leader in<br />
omnichannel engagement with over a<br />
decade of industry experience and presence<br />
on all six continents. The company serves<br />
and partners with leading mobile operators,<br />
messaging apps, banks, social networks, tech<br />
companies, and aggregators.<br />
www.infobip.com<br />
About Wayawaya<br />
Wayawaya a Digital banking platform that<br />
offers clients one account combining their<br />
bank, mobile wallet, savings and payments<br />
accessible across the world with instant,<br />
secure and cost effective transactions.<br />
www.wayawaya.co.ke<br />
About Kocela<br />
Kocela is a financial and technology firm<br />
premised on user-focused approach in<br />
building disruptive solutions for Africa.<br />
The company was recently named the best<br />
Payments and Transfer Company in Africa at<br />
the <strong>African</strong> Fintech Awards.<br />
www.kocela.com<br />
About Myriad Connect<br />
Myriad Connect helps address digital<br />
transaction fraud with out of band<br />
authentication and SIM Swap services that<br />
secure digital and mobile transactions and<br />
protect consumers and financial services.<br />
Myriad Connect’s service is delivered across<br />
a host of different channels, including USSD,<br />
mobile app and web protecting consumers’<br />
online accounts, transactions and digital<br />
financial services accounts.<br />
www.myriadgroup.com<br />
28
BITUMEN MEASUREMENT UNDER DIFFICULT CONDITIONS<br />
A product application case history<br />
The Task: The special challenge of this<br />
application was to determine the exact<br />
temperature of heat-tracing, and to be<br />
adapted to the respective type of bitumen<br />
product used. The meters had to be robust<br />
and temperature-stable, and their accuracy<br />
should be unaffected by portable custody<br />
transfer devices.<br />
The Solution: Kobold’s TM/TME/TMU<br />
Coriolis Mass Flowmeters, offering:<br />
• Precise measurements, even with high<br />
temperature fluctuations<br />
• Durable due to bigger wall thicknesses of<br />
measuring tubes<br />
• Variable, stable tracing systems for various<br />
heating media<br />
• Up to DN400/16” for media temperatures<br />
up to 260°C<br />
• Versions for custody transfer operation<br />
• High process security by tempering also<br />
during power failure<br />
• Maintenance easy due to open design of<br />
the devices<br />
• Retrofitting possible<br />
The Application: The robust construction of<br />
the Coriolis devices allow usage in mobile<br />
plants or machinery, such as in a “HOT-<br />
RECYCLER”, which removes the tarmac and<br />
re-applies it with the addition of asphalt and<br />
bitumen. The hot recycling method is used<br />
solely for the rehabilitation of damaged<br />
asphalt surface courses. The hot recycler<br />
processes the existing road pavement,<br />
improving it with virgin mix, if necessary.<br />
Contact Instrotech for more information on<br />
Kobold’s range of coriolis mass flow meters<br />
for bitumen measurement under difficult<br />
conditions.<br />
KOBOLD Messring GmbH is a leading<br />
international instrumentation engineering<br />
enterprise that develops, manufactures<br />
and sells instruments for monitoring,<br />
measuring and regulating the physical<br />
quantities of flow through pressure, level<br />
and temperature.<br />
Instrotech:<br />
Tel: 010 595 1831<br />
Email: sales@instrotech.co.za<br />
29
FIXING LUBRICATION STORAGE CAN HELP AVOID 90% OF CONTAMINATION<br />
According to research by Lubrication Engineers (LE), 90% of all lubrication contamination occurs before the lubricant is ever<br />
applied. “Only 10% of lubrication contamination happens after the oil has been applied to the machinery, mainly thanks to human<br />
error or cross-contamination within the machine itself,” says Callum Ford, National Marketing Manager at LE South Africa. “The<br />
major contamination risk is actually created by poor lubrication management, especially storage and distribution.”<br />
By focusing on improving these areas,<br />
organisations can drastically reduce the risk<br />
of lubricant contamination and spills, thus<br />
protecting their equipment and ensuring<br />
operational health and safety compliance.<br />
“Traditionally, lubrication storage has not<br />
been a priority for companies, but it should<br />
be,” says Ford. “They might be buying the<br />
ideal product for a plant, but if the lubricant<br />
is contaminated before it’s even applied, it’s<br />
a waste. Organisations need to move away<br />
from haphazard lubrication storage and<br />
dispensing to a systematic approach. This sort<br />
of simple house-keeping is the foundation for<br />
good asset reliability management.”<br />
LE’s Xpel oil bulk storage containers have<br />
been designed around optimising lubrication<br />
management so that it is clean, organised,<br />
safe, efficient and reliable. “Basically, the ideal<br />
is to have a closed loop system,” says Ford.<br />
“This minimises risk at every stage of the<br />
lubrication management cycle, right from<br />
taking delivery of a lubrication to storing it<br />
and applying it. The more chance the oil has<br />
to be exposed to the elements, the more<br />
chance it has to be contaminated before it is<br />
added to the machinery.”<br />
LE offers Xpel bulk storage systems, which<br />
are modular and thus customisable, and are<br />
available in different sizes and configurations to<br />
meet every requirement. They are colour-coded<br />
for accurate lubricant identification and come<br />
with either gravity-fed dispensers or pressured<br />
dispensing capability. They meet best practice<br />
guidelines and standards for fire safety and are<br />
built for spill control and durability.<br />
All LE Xpel bulk storage systems come<br />
with top-mounted level gauges to allow for<br />
easy and safe viewing of tank fill level, as<br />
well as a retractable cable reel grounding kit<br />
and system earth lugs to mitigate staticelectricity<br />
build up. They are suitable for<br />
storing machinery lubricating oils and glycolbased<br />
coolants and come standard with 110V<br />
single phase TEFC motors (although they can<br />
be configured for other power supplies as<br />
required).<br />
LE also supplies smaller Xpel oil storage<br />
containers, which are the next link in the<br />
lubrication storage chain. “From the bulk<br />
dispensers, lubricants are decanted into<br />
specially designed containers, each of which<br />
has a specific shape and adheres to the<br />
same colour-coded system as the bulk units,<br />
ensuring that the right lubricant is dispensed<br />
for application. This means there’s no<br />
problems with lubricant cross-contamination<br />
from putting a product into a container that<br />
has previously housed a different lubricant,<br />
and that the entire process becomes<br />
standardised. For example, you only decant<br />
lubricant from the yellow bulk tank to the<br />
yellow storage container, and applied it to<br />
the yellow-labelled machine. If your colours<br />
don’t match up – you have gone wrong<br />
somewhere.”<br />
The storage containers are also available with<br />
a variety of nozzles, with or without a pump<br />
and / or hose, as required.<br />
“We’ve seen how putting a lubrication<br />
storage process and system in place has<br />
helped our clients to make their lubrication<br />
management less messy and more effective,<br />
and how this has ripple effects in terms<br />
of needing to buy less lubricant, and<br />
seeing better overall productivity and less<br />
downtime,” says Ford. “By weeding out<br />
lubricant contamination before it happens,<br />
machinery lasts longer and lubrication<br />
schedules are more accurate. We honestly<br />
believe that a cradle-to-grave lubrication<br />
management system is one of the most<br />
effective upgrades a company can make.”<br />
About<br />
Lubrication Engineers (LE) South Africa<br />
represents the LE brand in South Africa,<br />
Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe<br />
and Zambia. LE hold the rights to Southern<br />
Africa on the LE brand, recognised<br />
internationally as a specialist in lubrication.<br />
Through LE Incorporated, they are a member<br />
of a worldwide network of companies<br />
spanning Europe, South America, Asia and<br />
Africa, while LE Incorporated operates in the<br />
USA and covers North America including<br />
Canada, Mexico and the USA.<br />
LE provides high performance, heavy-duty,<br />
quality lubricants for virtually every industry<br />
and application, as well as expert technical<br />
back-up and support.<br />
For more information, visit<br />
www.lubricationengineers.co.za<br />
Contact:<br />
Callum Ford, National Marketing Manager, LE<br />
Tel: 011 464 1735<br />
email: callum@lubricationengineers.co.za<br />
30
A REALLY ‘REFINED’ SOLUTION: RAND-AIR DURBAN SUPPLIES CLASS-0 OIL-FREE<br />
AIR TO OIL REFINERY SHUTDOWNS<br />
While Durban is one of South Africa’s major industrial hubs, it is also home to some of South Africa’s major oil refineries. The<br />
fuel and oil from these refineries keep much of South Africa and its economy on the move and flowing smoothly every day.<br />
A refinery is a very large and highly complex operation which<br />
has been designed to run most of the time with a minimum<br />
of supervision. However, usually every two years, oil refineries<br />
need to be shut down for a period of intensive maintenance,<br />
replacement or repair. Naturally, this disruption to fuel supplies<br />
has to be very carefully planned and timed.<br />
This is according to Rudi de Vry, Rand-Air’s Area Manager in Durban.<br />
“During oil refinery shutdowns, thousands of subcontractors<br />
are hired to carry out the many maintenance procedures which<br />
are required. These subcontractors need to be supplied with<br />
temporary compressed air and power - as well as with other<br />
equipment – in order to carry out their allotted tasks. This is<br />
where Rand-Air comes in,” de Vry explains.<br />
Over its 46 years of operation, Rand-Air has become the preferred<br />
rental equipment partner to South <strong>African</strong> oil refineries, including<br />
those in Durban.<br />
“We have built up these relationships over many years, on the<br />
back of service which invariably goes beyond what the customer<br />
expects of us,” he says.<br />
The Durban branch has recently completed just such a project,<br />
partnering with South Africa’s largest oil refinery during a<br />
shutdown which extended from 15 May until 15 July this year.<br />
During the shutdown, the refinery needs dozens of equipment<br />
items. All of these have to be sourced and if necessary transported<br />
to Durban. The equipment then has to be checked by our<br />
technicians to make sure that it is as reliable as they it can possibly<br />
be, and then dispatched to the refinery site.<br />
De Vry observes that with a small but highly motivated and<br />
efficient team in Durban, for Rand-Air during the refinery shutdown<br />
it was a case of ‘all hands on deck’, and extended working hours.<br />
“Fortunately, we have an excellent, committed team here in<br />
Durban on both the sales and the service side. They always have a<br />
positive attitude and work well together as their aim to achieve a<br />
common goal,” he adds.<br />
Recently, the Durban branch was pleased to be able to rent out<br />
one of the larger oil-free compressors in Rand-Air’s range to the<br />
same customer.<br />
“Ironically, even though it was for an oil refinery, the customer<br />
required Class 0 oil-free air to keep its systems operational during<br />
a maintenance shutdown!<br />
We have furthermore found that being able to supply Class 0<br />
oil-free air - which is absolutely free of contaminants - has created<br />
a very nice niche for us with the various refineries in the region.<br />
These refineries therefore regularly hire our oil-free compressors.<br />
In this particular instance, the refinery concerned rented the<br />
PTS 1600 for a period of two weeks. When the compressor was<br />
returned to us, the customer feedback we received was very<br />
positive,” de Vry remarks.<br />
Renting equipment to any refinery has to be done with<br />
considerable care, due to the nature of the business, and safety<br />
regulations are therefore stringent.<br />
“When it comes to refineries, safety is their number one concern,”<br />
emphasises de Vry.<br />
Rand-Air’s Durban team works closely with the refinery to meet<br />
their safety obligations. “Before our equipment is delivered to a<br />
refinery site, there are a number of procedures we need to carry<br />
out on the units to ensure that our standards are aligned with<br />
those of our customer. This involves close consultation with the<br />
refinery’s safety officials,” he explains.<br />
“If, for example, a refinery needs to have a compressor pressuretested,<br />
we fully understand why this is needed and what the<br />
legal implications are. Once the equipment is on site, Rand-Air<br />
technicians continue to monitor it to ensure it delivers faultless<br />
performance,” he comments.<br />
“Our refinery customers really do appreciate the effort we put into<br />
keeping them safe.”<br />
Of course, during a refinery shutdown, even though we might be<br />
very busy, we still continue with our normal day-to-day rentals,<br />
which are to a wide variety of industries.<br />
At present, we are looking forward to the rest of the year because<br />
there are some exciting opportunities coming our way. And,<br />
in spite of the tough economy, the Durban branch has been<br />
performing exceptionally well,” he concludes.<br />
About Rand-Air<br />
With several depots, branches and substantial representation<br />
across Southern Africa, Rand-Air continues to expand their<br />
footprint to service a diverse market. Since 1973, Rand-Air has<br />
been driven by an ethos to exceed customer expectation and<br />
satisfaction. This is complemented by a product offering that<br />
adheres to the highest quality standards in the industry. Rand-<br />
Air’s products portfolio includes oil-free compressors, industrial<br />
air compressors, diesel compressors, electric air compressors (all<br />
screw compressors), diesel generators and lighting towers.<br />
As the market leader in portable air compressors and generator<br />
rental, Rand-Air upholds its reputation through regular training<br />
and upskilling in business related and product-specific matters.<br />
Rand-Air is part of the Atlas Copco group and is a Level 3 B-BBEE<br />
contributor.<br />
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Proudly hosted by<br />
17 OCTOBER 2019<br />
EPC<br />
IPP & RENEWABLES<br />
ROADSHOW<br />
Venue: Swiss Country Club, Midrand<br />
The Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC)<br />
From 9:30 until 16:00<br />
EXHIBITORS:<br />
AND MORE..<br />
accounts@africanpetrochemicals.co.za 011 083 5125 / 084 894 9800<br />
www.africanpetrochemicals.co.za<br />
When: 14 November 2019<br />
Time: 9:30 until 16:00<br />
Amanzimtoti Civic Centre<br />
Hutchison Road, Amanzimtoti, 4126<br />
DURBAN<br />
PETROCHEMICALS, IPP & RENEWABLES ROADSHOW<br />
Current Exhibitors<br />
and more ...<br />
32