FLEET EXPANSION The hire fleet has doubled its capacity in the past year
Air treatment equipment company Artic Driers International’s compressed-air drier hire fleet was expanded during May and June, with the addition of three units – each with a capacity of 56 m3/min – the company reports.
Artic CEO Allen Cockfield says the fleet has also doubled its capacity in the last year, with another two high-capacity driers awaiting refurbishment, after which they will be incorporated into Artic’s hire fleet by the end of this month.
The used driers will undergo internal and external cleaning, pressure testing, drier-frame upgrades and fitment of new control valves as well as the installation of new absorption media.
“We are in a unique position within the market, as we can store a large fleet at our new spacious factory in Apex, Benoni,” he says. The new factory – which Artic occupied as of May 2013 – features 900 m2 of floor space on a 1 600 m2 stand, which enables the company to extend its product offering and services.
Artic has a trained hire-fleet maintenance staff who provide a variety of hire units ranging from 0.3 m3/min to 80 m3/min at 7 bar. “The total fleet capacity currently exceeds 1 067 m3/min, which, to our knowledge is unmatched in South Africa,” states Cockfield.
The company can also refurbish any brand and model of drier.
Top Quality
Driers supplied by Artic undergo a full check on return and prior to despatch from the company’s factory, ensuring full reliability on site.
Two large adsorption dryers capable of minus dew point to ISO 8573 Class 2, and refrigeration units that are suitable for Class 4 air requirements complement the fleet.
“These units are hired for maintenance shutdowns and fast-track replacement when a fixed air dryer fails unexpectedly,” Cockfield says, adding that if an air system becomes contaminated with water, it could take up to 30 days to dry out again.
“This can cripple a client’s business and cost thousands of rands in damage to instrumentation and in air standards noncompliance issues for industries, such as the food and beverage and pharmaceutical plants.”
If a client buys a new dyer from Artic, a rebate system can apply against the cost of the hire unit, with certain terms and conditions being taken into account, he continues.
Hospital Backup Compressor
A complete mobile compressor unit, suitable for small applications at hospitals and clinics, is avai- lable for emergency hire from Artic.
“The mobile, skid-mounted unit features a compressor, cooler, filter and dryer components, providing emergency backup air,” says Cockfield, adding that the unit is fitted with a dew point meter for site verification of the unit’s air supply.
The unit can supply compressed air at 1.5 m3/min at 7 bar.
Filter and after-cooler sets accompany the hire unit when required and they can provide compressed air to ISO 8573 Class 1.2.1.
Dew point monitoring systems can be attached to a dryer set when requested.
Artic provides after-hours support, as well as compressor and auxiliary equipment start-up assistance.
“Safety files are provided for each site and the latest hose whip-check arrestors are fitted to every hose supplied by Artic,” he concludes.