Manufacturer and supplier of fire- detection and extinguishing equipment Alien Systems & Technologies (AST) last week opened a production filling plant in Walkerville, Gauteng, which will fill compressed-gas fire-suppression cylinders of up to 100 ℓ capacity.

The R4-million plant will allow AST to fill its Pyroshield fire-extinguishing cylinders at high pressures and can pressurise cylinders up to 400 bar using a fully automated process.

“It’s the only 400-bar-pressure gas-filling facility on the African continent, as far as I am aware. We can increase efficiency and turn- around times for refilling argon and nitrogen gases and, with this plant, we have the capacity to fill seven hundred 80 ℓ cylinders a day,” says AST CEO Paul Wright.

He adds that the new filling plant will enable AST to market its 300 bar system.

Previously, the company did not have the capacity to fill its cylinders and relied on gas-filling companies. However, these companies did not have the capacity to fill AST’s 300 bar system.

The plant consists of a storage area for the liquefied gases, pumps and programmable logic controllers (PLCs).

The system cools down the piping and pumps and when they reach the required temperature, the pumps start filling the cylinders.

The PLCs monitor the pumps for cavitations in the liquid line and seal leakage. Once a leak is detected by the PLCs, the plant is shut down.

AST will also commission a hydrostatic testing facility before the end of the year to pressurise the cylinders and test them, in accordance with legislative requirements.

The company also acquired the assets of a European company at the beginning of this month to manufacture seamless steel cylinders. This also includes 1 000 bar burst-testing facilities and automated helium leak-detection apparatuses.

“We hope to capture a certain amount of refilling business locally and will also be able to conduct the testing of these products,” Wright says, adding that the company also hopes to develop better-quality and more cost-effective products locally.

The company invested heavily in civil infrastructure for the plant in terms of engineered access roadways and loading and offloading facilities that can handle 40-foot containers and a brand-new fully enclosed filling line.

“Our new operations and business expansion will ensure a one-stop fire-engineering shop for our loyal clients. We’re also aiding in creating jobs in a tough economic climate and ensuring that South Africa leads from the front with regard to innovation and business development,” he concludes.