Company Announcement - “We are a local manufacturer & a member of the Hydra Arc specialist welding Group, leading South African pressure vessel &piping fabricator. Our capacity, state of the art equipment, design capability and skills enable us to fabricate the largest pressure vessels and a limitless range of piping which meet the most stringent local and international specifications.” “Sky Hill-leading the way in quality and innovation.” Development on the c workshop complex commenced in October 2009. By March 2010 Sky Hill had secured its first order, the fabrication of a major portion of the steam ducting for Medupi power station.

This, explains Sky Hill CEO Jose Maciel: “Demonstrates the need for this type of workshop capacity, not only in South Africa, but globally.
The Sky Hill fabrication facility is a state of the art pressure vessel, piping, heat exchanger and structural steel fabrication facility. The primary fabrication facility consists of 4 workshops representing approximately 55 000m2 under roof. Current expansion would result in a total of 75 000m2, inclusive of a 10 000m2 pipe shop, a 5 000m2 laser and plasma cutting shop. Outdoor fabrication platforms range up to 50 000m2.

The primary facilities are supported by a 10 000m2 primary store for equipment, tools and consumables, approximately 8 hectares of lay-down area and material stores, an electrical shop, diesel and petrol mechanical shops, a fully equipped machine shop, a carpentry shop, a management and support staff complex and canteen and ablution facilities. The new machine shop will soon have several impressive additions to expand Sky Hill’s machining capabilities, some of the specifications as listed below:

Double Column Horizontal Boring Mill
Single head capacity in the X axis with 33m range
Y axis for both columns with 5m range
1.2m range in Z axis
0.8m in W axis
2 turntables, with 40 and 60 ton capacity respectively
5 axis capable
Fully automated head changes
Fully automated tool changes
75kW spindle motor

Vertical Machining Center
9m turning diameter
300ton table load
5m daylight between chuck and ram
Ram stroke of 2.5m
Live tooling with a 37kW motor
Turn table equipped with 2 X 140kW motors

Bridge Type Machine Centre
Table size 5mX3m
Table load 30 tons.
Fully automated attachment changer with indexable angle head
Fully automated tooling system
Ram stroke of 1.8 m
37kw spindle motor

The equipment utilized in the workshop represents the very latest in technologic advancement and includes a PWHT oven (possible the largest in the world) of 70m long by 10m wide with a temperature range  up to 750℃, a second PWHT oven, 15m long by 6 wide, temperature range up to 950℃. The newest addition “Bay 4” features an overhead crane lifting capacity of 1500 tons and 22m under hook. A backup generator “power station” capable of indefinitely powering the site in the event of a power failure. There are 5 plate rollers with varying rolling capacities from 6mm to 150mm, a 1250 ton bend press which can accommodate plate widths of up to 6.5m, specialized welding booms and rollers, designed and manufactured by Sky Hill, for the fabrication of large pressure vessels.

The Sky Hill facility is a green building design and the primary workshop, for example, only utilizes natural light for day time production. “The capacity coupled with our access to the very best artisan skills in the country will enable us to effectively compete globally, to retain work which previously left the country and to attract work from overseas. This will make a significant contribution to local and economic growth and job creation” says Maciel.