Gas products and services company Africa Oxygen (Afrox) has concluded a R41-million Lindoflamm and bulk gases deal with Secunda-based welding, fabrication and maintenance company Hydra-Arc.
The deal follows successful intensive preheating trials that incorporated Lindoflamm heating burners into Hydra-Arc’s Ashlock refurbishing and pressure-vessel fabrication processes last year.
Lindoflamm offers manufacturers and fabricators innovative preheating, flame straightening and heat-treatment solutions.
The product provides optimal heat transfer for the workpiece, reducing gas consumption, improving productivity and quality and reducing total cost. It also enhances safety on the factory floor.
The introduction of Lindoflamm torches and burners has been one of the most innovative developments in the South African welding and cutting industry for some time, says Afrox business manager of the Manufacturing Industries division Johan Pieterse.
The trials at Hydra-Arc achieved significant cost savings, compared with the existing liquefied petroleum gas heating application. The trials indicated that production could increase, owing to reduced heating time.
The pressure-vessel preheating temperature was 70 ºC and heating time was seven hours. With Lindoflamm burners, heating time was reduced to one hour with a preheating temperature of 250 ºC.
Preheating is a requirement in the fabrication industry. It plays an important role in the integrity of the weld because it pre- vents failures such as hydrogen-induced cracking.
The deal includes the supply of bulk oxygen, hand-cutting, heating, plasma and lasercutting applications, as well as dissolved acetylene, argon and nitrogen to support TIG welding.