International high-pressure hydraulic tools manufacturer Hi-Force has added new products and accessories to its existing product range for use in the mining, power generation, petrochemicals and refining, shipbuilding and repair, steel and aluminium plants, aerospace, defence, heavy engineering, paper mills and construction industries.

The UK-headquartered manufacturer continued with its ambitious expansion plans throughout 2011 and into 2012 and has recently doubled the size of its Australian facility, as well as relocated its Dubai operations to new premises treble the size of the old operation. It plans to continue expanding.

On his recent visit to South Africa, group MD Kevin Brown congratulated the local South African operation on another year of being the fastest-growing unit in the group.

Hi-Force GM Vincent Govender says that owing to the company’s specific focus on high-pressure hydraulic tools, it is able to offer in-house knowledge and expertise in its provision of hydraulic tool solutions for almost any application. It also works to continuously improve existing products and develop innovative products.

One such group of products is the ToughLift hydraulic jacking system and accessories for the heavy-duty mining and industrial tyre-service industry.

The units range from 50 t to 200 t capacity and are suitable for lifting large trucks.

The ToughLift jacking system features a hardened steel lifting saddle, a patented snap latch handle assembly for easy positioning and transportation and a patented jacking system designed for increased safety. This also enables the system to be positioned easily in the smallest of spaces and to ensure that it is placed in the correct and exact lifting and jacking position.

The system is fitted with large-diameter wheels and standard heavy-duty tyres and a range of optional extra products such as holding blocks, swivel load caps, locking and nonlocking load block extensions, slip lock extensions and accessory storage baskets are available.

The ToughLift hydraulic system also forms part of Hi-Force’s total hydraulic package for the heavy industrial tyre industry.

The product group also includes tyre bead breakers, which are used for breaking beads on earthmover tyres. The bead breakers come in giant and combi ranges and both include a 700 bar hydraulic cylinder.

Hi-Force director Roy Pursey says the bead breakers range will soon be expanded to cater for upgraded designs that will improve the product’s operation and make it more user friendly. The ToughLift range is now being developed for the new heavy-duty trucks that will be introduced onto the local market by international truck manufacturers.

The company exhibited the ToughLift hydraulic jacking system at Electra Mining 2010 and sold two 200 t systems off the floor at the event to a South African heavy mining and construction company. This is in addition to the numerous units sold into the South African market over a short period.

The company also offers a range of manual, hydraulic and pneumatic torque wrenches that range from 1 700 Nm to 48 000 Nm. Hi-Force supplies bolt tensioners in various configurations and both metric and imperial are available for specific applications.

A comprehensive range of accessories is readily available for the torque and tension units.

“Our bolting solutions package is sup- ported by our very own Boltright software program, which is designed to assist our clients in accurately calculating the required torque for their applications. The program allows the user to input key joint data related to the flange and class. Based on information entered, the Boltright program will analyse all the data and produce a comprehensive calculation sheet along with the required torque or tension figures to ensure an accurate and correctly bolted joint is achieved,” says Govender.

These products are used mainly in the pipeline, oil and gas and the process equipment supplier industries.

High-pressure hydraulic cylinders with a lifting capacity of 5 t to 1 000 t are supplied, along with a range of hand pumps and air-operated, electrically driven, or petrol pumps and accessories.

After-sales service is also provided by Hi-Force and the company’s skilled technicians offer their expertise and certified repairs to customers.

A new range of lightweight hydraulic cylinders and hand pumps has recently been introduced onto the market along with specialised synchronised lifting systems that are available with 2 to 12 lifting ports. These are used in the construction, rigging and power generation industries.

Hydraulic pipe benders, designed to bend various sizes and thicknesses of Japanese Industrial Standards-approved conduit pipes and gas pipes, are part of Hi-Force’s latest product offering and the range is suitable for half-an-inch- to three-inch-diameter pipes.
The pipe benders are manufactured from aluminium and are lightweight, enabling easy movement on and off site. The pipe bender can be operated by any manual or powered Hi-Force pump up to 700 bar.

Hi-Force will be exhibiting its new and existing ranges at Electra Mining 2012. In addition to the standard product line-up, a range of hammer blow cutters, wire rope cutters, cable cutters, hole punchers and hydraulic tools, including hydraulic cable crimpers and battery-operated units for field and site work, will be showcased.

As a value-added service, Hi-Force South Africa offers free product and safety training courses to distributors and end-users alike.

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