Local power transmission company Bibby Turboflex South Africa’s holding group, mechanical power transmission products manufacturer Altra Industrial Motion, was named one of American business magazine Forbes’ Top 100 Most Trustworthy Companies in America, in March.

Altra achieved an accounting governance and risk (AGR) score of 97 out of a
possible 100, which was tied for both the second highest overall score and the highest score within the small cap category on the 2014 list.

“Integrity is the number one principle of our core values – that guides our overall corporate mission,” says Altra’s president and CEO Carl Christenson.

He enthuses that Altra’s inclusion in Forbes 100 Most Trustworthy Companies is a notable acknowledgment of the company’s directors, officers and employees, as “they uphold Altra’s high corporate standards for honesty, fairness and trust”

The Forbes 100 Most Trust-worthy Companies in America were selected by research, data and analytics on environmental, social, governance and accounting- related risks provider GMI Ratings, after review of more than 8 000 North American public companies.

The companies with the highest AGR scores for all four quarters of 2013 made the list.

Companies were ranked based on various factors, such as revenue and expense recognition methods, bankruptcy risk, US Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement actions and high-risk events.

Shaft Coupling Spotlighted

Meanwhile, Bibby Turboflex says its composite-lightweight carbon fibre Turboflex shaft couplings are able to operate over lengths of up to 10 m without central bearings.

“The Turboflex couplings are also highly stable and lightweight units which, owing to their low mass, suffer from minimal vibration even at lengths of 30 m, where metal couplings would require support bearings. “This makes it easier and quicker to install, without the need to lubricate bearings.

Additionally, the company notes that the Turboflex coupling range possesses significant misalignment capacity and does not require routine maintenance.

“The couplings are ideally suited on several types of equipment, including cooling tower fans, large vertical pumps and marine drives, where a long drive shaft is required and maintenance and repair work is costly,” notes Bibby Turboflex.

Moreover, the company notes that the Turboflex range uses the latest material technology to provide high strength couplings with a low overall mass.

“The tubes are filament wound on accurate mandrels, using computer controlled machinery, and are cured while on the mandrel. “This results in highly accurate tube dimensions, roundness and straightness; all of which contribute to a coupling, which can offer high levels of operational reliability, even in hard wearing applications,” explains Bibby Turboflex.

The company adds that its specifically designed software enables it to offer the Turboflex couplings with fibre windings at adjusted angles to give the optimum performance for specific lateral critical, torque and torsional stiffness requirements.

Further, Bibby Turboflex states that it offers the option to wind tubes using several types of fibres, including carbon, glass, a carbon and glass mix, as well as high modulus fibre.

“The Turboflex coupling range is ideal for use in applications where traditional couplings have been inappropriate owing to vibration – such as high-speed engine test beds or ship propulsion systems – or where access is extremely limited – such as cooling tower fans or water and sewage pump- ing stations, which employ deep- well pumps,” states Bibby Turboflex.