Proactive maintenance is important to ensure the productivity and sustainability of petrochemicals companies, with leaders in the field opting to supplement their maintenance resources with outsourced expertise and equipment, which allows them to concentrate on their core business, says welding- and construction-related equipment supplier Renttech South Africa (SA).

The key to any successful rental operation is the provision of a comprehensive solutions package, which includes maintenance, says Renttech SA MD Gerrit van Zyl, who suggests that petro- chemicals companies appoint an experienced and knowledgeable company to take complete responsibility for the technical and safety aspects of equipment rentals.

“In addition to the positive effects, a well-maintained refinery has the ability to comply with escalating environmental regula- tions. Renttech SA has accumulated a vast database of specification requirements over the past 20 years in the industry, which allows us to customise suitable procedures and plans for the maintenance contract of each individual petrochemicals facility,” he explains.

As a complete resource company, Renttech SA provides its clients with the on-site management of consumables and a products stockholding includ- ing suppliers like designer, developer and manufacturer of arc welding products, robotic welding systems, plasma and oxy- fuel cutting equipment Lincoln, welding company SA Welding, lifting services provider Kelmeg and metalworking products company Harris.

The company also provides clients with a range of personal protective equipment to ensure the strictest adherence to the stringent on-site occupational health and safety requirements of the petrochemicals industry, says Renttech SA rental projects manager Mornay Nortje.
Renttech SA has been involved in routine and yearly shutdown projects at all South Africa’s petrochemicals facilities and says the varying requirements in terms of project specifications are challenges it faces, besides others.

“Quality and safety remain overriding factors and we deal with these challenges through the deployment of employees who are able to leverage their vast experience in the rental and petrochemicals industries,” adds Nortje.

Renttech SA allocates project managers who are experienced in the petrochemicals environment to manage petrochemicals projects.

“A senior project manager should be appointed to oversee the entire operation from the planning stage to the finalisation of the project. Renttech SA permanently installs an industry-specific project manager on site for the duration of the contract. By having a single point of contact for the entire project, petrochemicals companies are assured of a complete audit trail. In addition, the maintenance process is considerably more streamlined, as the responsibilites of each subcontractor are dovetailed,” Van Zyl adds.