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Maintenance News

Project completed using rope access

By: Theresa Bhowan 7th August 2020 Rope access specialist Skyriders completed the removal of a layer of cementitious fireproofing and insulating material from a spherical gas storage tank at a petrochemicals producer, in Mpumalanga, during the first quarter of 2020. →

Furnace company to capitalise on increased gold price

By: Cameron Mackay 7th August 2020 Despite unfavourable local market conditions, furnace-related services provider Custom Furnaces South Africa intends to capitalise on a gold price that has been increasing this year. Custom Furnaces project engineer Nicholas Lucas says the improved gold price has instigated a “rebirth” in the... →

GOLDEN TARGET The company is looking to improve its offering in the local gold sector, focusing on its carbon regeneration kilns and ancillary equipment

Noise, acoustic standards and testing can boost industry

By: Cameron Mackay 17th July 2020 With the acoustics industry experiencing little to no growth, owing to new project developments being halted, acoustic consulting engineering practice Mackenzie Hoy Consulting Acoustics Engineers (Machoy) principal engineer Terry Mackenzie-Hoy argues that stringent noise control regulations, sets... →

NOISE DEFENDERS Machoy places significant importance on the role of acoustics and acoustic engineers, advertises in journals and liaises with environmental practitioners throughout Africa

Centre’s expertise can improve asset testing

By: Cameron Mackay 17th July 2020 The Centre for Asset Integrity Management (C-AIM Consult), a business unit of research organisation Enterprises University of Pretoria (UP), can serve the local industry with key capabilities through its expertise in vibration-based condition monitoring and structural health monitoring. “These... →

SPECIALIST TESTING CAPABILITIES C-AIM provides engineering consulting services to assist industry in optimally managing the structural integrity of physical assets over their life cycles

German foam proportioner brought to local market

By: Cameron Mackay 10th July 2020 The latest Generation III foam agent proportioners of German fire-protection systems provider FireDos GmbH is in the final stages of certification and release to the global market. As exclusive suppliers of the product in Southern Africa, special risk fire-protection equipment supplier DoseTech... →

GERMAN SOLUTIONS IN SA 255 proportioner units with all model flow options have been delivered to South Africa to date

Partnership brings new drive systems

10th July 2020 Component and technical services provider BMG and German precision engineers Getriebebau Nord entered a partnership to assemble, distribute and support Nord Drive Systems throughout Southern Africa. BMG has made a substantial investment over the years to ensure assembly, stockholdings and... →

OPTIMUM DRIVE CONFIGURATIONS Nord IE5+ synchronous motors can be combined with all Nord gear units and drive electronics as a modular system to enhance LogiDrive systems

Welding range offers value for power tools wholesaler

By: Mamaili Mamaila 19th June 2020 Power tools and hardware wholesaler Matus South Africa’s MatWeld range continues to be a big part of the company’s business, says Matus welding category manager Warren Pedlar. →

DIY PERSONIFIED Matus South Africa’s high-quality welding and plasma-cutting industrial and do-it-yourself machines all carry a two-year warranty

Conveyor components ideal for use in boilers

5th June 2020 Industrial equipment supplier BMG’s extensive power transmission range encompasses HEKO conveyor components, including round link chains and components for submerged chain conveyors, which have been designed for dependable use in many harsh environments such as in the boiler industry. →

A SOLID LINK HEKO chain systems with attachments can be supplied pre-assembled with the chain as endless round strands eliminating the need for on-site assembly

Concrete batchers training in the works

By: Mamaili Mamaila 5th June 2020 The Concrete Institute’s (TCI’s) School of Concrete Technology is planning to offer a special one-day course for concrete batchers and batch plant staff in the second half of 2020. →

THE WHOLE BATCH Batching ensures high and uniform quality of readymix concrete for each batch produced by a batching plant

Boiler inspection easier with drones

By: Theresa Bhowan 5th June 2020 Using drones, in addition to rope access, can result in boiler inspections being done at a fraction of the cost and much quicker, notes rope access specialist Skyriders. →

TAKING FLIGHT The drones have been designed for indoor use

Association prepares for life after crisis

By: Cameron Mackay 5th June 2020 Despite the debilitating effects of Covid-19 on the local economy, the South African Paint Manufacturing Association (Sapma) is using this opportunity to redevelop and implement improved measures of communication with member companies, as well as ramping up training. “Since the spread of Covid-19... →

COATINGS TECHNOLOGY TRAINING Sapma is looking to consolidate its online learning materials into one platform. To make material easier to access and navigate for trainees

Condition monitoring solution mitigates risks

By: Darren Parker 22nd May 2020 Manufacturers are exposed to various operational risks relating to the performance of their critical production equipment, all of which can directly impact the bottom line. →

Valve maintenance key to mining fire protection

By: Mamaili Mamaila 15th May 2020 While an optimal fire-protection system is key to any mining operation, the inspection and maintenance of its various parts is of equal importance, says industrial solutions provider Mechanical Rotating Solutions (MRS). →

REFURBISHED VALVES In addressing the high cost of valve replacements, Mechanical Rotating Solutions offers cost-effective solutions such as the efficient refurbishment and repairs

Local procurement lags in public, private sectors

By: Mamaili Mamaila 15th May 2020 A prevailing issue facing the valves sector is the “poor attitude” to local procurement in the public and private sectors, says valves manufacturer RGR Technologies commercial director Ross Hunter. →

MAPPING THE WAY FORWARD RGR Technologies looks forward to slowly introducing three-dimensional printing into its processes to assist with the manufacture of valve parts

Company supports essential service providers amid lockdown

By: Mamaili Mamaila 15th May 2020 Industrial equipment supplier BMG encourages companies operating during South Africa’s Covid-19 lockdown and beyond not to neglect the condition monitoring of process valves. →

FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY The Desponia butterfly valves, manufactured in Spain, are available with different lining materials for reliability and extended service life in diverse sectors

Pandemic prompts supplier’s tech aspirations

By: Mamaili Mamaila 15th May 2020 Industrial valves supplier Process and Allied Contracting Equipment (Pace Valves) plans to embrace the technological developments that will be prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa to sustain its supply growth. →

IN TOUCH WITH THE TRENDS Pace Valves is no stranger to developments in valve automation

TNPA's ship repair facilities operating at 100% capacity

By: Simone Liedtke 13th May 2020 Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA’s) ship repair facilities are operating at 100% capacity following the easing of the lockdown restrictions to Level 4. Operations will be guided by the agents’ docking schedules in the respective ports, the ports authority said in a statement on May 12. →

Sapma appeals to government to allow paint contractors to resume business

By: Donna Slater 8th May 2020 The South African Paint Manufacturing Association (Sapma) urges the government to allow paint contractors to not only carry out emergency projects, but also other contracts for external surface renovations and coatings. In terms of Level 4 stipulations, paint producers and coatings raw material... →

Zimbabwe border fence completed

By: Donna Slater 4th May 2020 The 40 km borderline fence between South Africa and Zimbabwe at the Beitbridge border crossing was completed on April 20, after undergoing 29 days of repairs and the replacement of some sections. At a value of over R37-million, the project involved the repair and replacement of an existing... →

Company provides crane replacement, refurbishment solutions

By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 24th April 2020 The options of replacing or refurbishing an overhead crane both have advantages, and they should be considered very carefully, says crane manufacturer and refurbishment specialist Condra MD Marc Kleiner. “To help customers with this decision, we supply a range of solutions offering varying... →

BIG JOB Refurbished 20 m span Condra crane for Implats

Association improves technicians training

By: Cameron Mackay 24th April 2020 The Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Safety Association of South Africa has been investing in improving its LPG technicians’ installation training through collaboration with the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) as one of its mandates for the LPG sector. “This will enable us to ensure that... →

NIRVAN BRIJLAL The industry is well regulated, with many safety standards in place

Interior tank cleaning made easier through rope access

By: Darren Parker 10th April 2020 Work at height company Skyriders is cleaning the interiors of large storage tanks for a major petrochemicals producer, in Mpumalanga, using rope access. Having completed its first cleaning scope of the year in February, it started its second cleaning in late March. →

ROPING IN THE PROS In many cases, a client’s maintenance and inspection budgets can be stretched further by using rope access

juwi awarded Touwsrivier solar O&M contract

By: Donna Slater 2nd April 2020 Renewable energy company juwi Renewable Energies has been awarded the contract for the operations and maintenance (O&M) of the Touwsrivier concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) solar project in the Western Cape, effective April 1. The contract was awarded to juwi’s’ subsidiary, juwi Solar ZA O&M 1. →

Eskom to temporarily shut Koeberg Unit 2

By: Donna Slater 2nd April 2020 From midnight on April 3, power utility Eskom will take Unit 2 of the Koeberg nuclear power station, in the Western Cape, offline. The unit is scheduled to return to service by April 30, if not required before then. From midnight on April 3, power utility Eskom will take Unit 2 of the Koeberg... →

Carrier suspends operations days after issuing safety assurances

By: Rebecca Campbell 27th March 2020 State-owned regional airline SA Express, which is currently in business rescue, suspended its operations on Wednesday March 18. This was because of “adverse recent developments including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.” →

Drones used for maintenance, inspection

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 20th March 2020 Industrial rope access company Skyriders’ use of drones for on-site inspection has enabled it to gain access into confined spaces that might be too dangerous for its clients’ technicians. A drone can be used to conduct a visual inspection in a specific area. It will send live feedback, which is... →

NO TIME WASTED A visual inspection using a drone takes an hour and only requires the operator and their assistant

Pump failures at mine addressed

20th March 2020 Last month, mechanical seal and pump supplier Mechanical Rotating Solutions (MRS) was asked to address the multiple failures experienced by a coal mine in Mpumalanga as a result of coupling misalignment between the pump shaft and the motor shaft. MRS MD Franscois Steenkamp suggests that after... →

SHAFTED A misalignment between the pump and motor shafts had been causing failures at a coal mine

Company reaches new heights with award

By: Cameron Mackay 13th March 2020 Height management solutions providers Skyriders received an award from a major petrochemicals producer in December last year for achieving significant reductions in its maintenance costs and boosting health and safety at one of the producer’s refineries, in Mpumalanga. The award was for a... →

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS Skyriders created a methodology and risk assessments for this maintenance project, including a trial run finished last October, and the actual maintenance undertaking in November

Supplier offers complete solution to university

By: Cameron Mackay 13th March 2020 Local cleaning chemicals supplier Industroclean’s ability to provide holistic cleaning solutions enables it to offer the University of Cape Town (UCT) a one-stop-shop cleaning chemicals solution. Industroclean MD Emma Corder confirms that the company began supplying its solutions to UCT... →

CLEANING VARIATION While above the floor cleaning tasks remain similar, variations in floor types require different products and methodologies for maintenance or restoration

Digitalisation beneficial for steel producers

By: Mamaili Mamaila 28th February 2020 Digitalisation will become an increasingly important strategy for steel producers to achieve a competitive advantage in the market, says metallurgical industry plant and integrated systems provider SMS group MD Pieter Bezuidenhout. →

Defence contract signed with German armed forces

21st February 2020 Germany’s unified armed forces and civil administration and procurement authority The Bundeswehr, has joined with defence contractor Rheinmetall to carry out new measures for extending the service life of its Marder infantry fighting vehicles. In order to maintain the operational readiness of... →

The upgrades to the Marder tanks will expand the life of the tanks which have been in service since 1971

Denel upgraded by Fitch Ratings as it closes aerostructures business

By: Rebecca Campbell 21st February 2020 South Africa’s State-owned defence industrial group has Denel welcomed the recent decision by Fitch Ratings to affirm its long- and short-term ratings for the group, and to upgrade its outlook. Fitch affirmed Denel’s national short-term rating at “B(zaf)” and its national long-term rating also at... →

Skills shortage plagues natural refrigerant sector

By: Darren Parker 14th February 2020 One of the most pertinent issues facing the local heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC-R) industry is the lack of specialised skills needed for the systematic adoption of natural refrigerants in place of traditional synthetic refrigerants. Heightened pressure on... →

SNEAKY LEAKS Refrigeration systems charged with odourless CO2 need to be monitored with sensors to ensure leaks do not compromise air quality in enclosed spaces

Renewed call to ban disposable cylinders

By: Darren Parker 14th February 2020 Despite various heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC-R) industry participants contesting the banning of disposable gas cylinders in South Africa for years, there is no indication of a decision on the matter being reached. South African Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning... →

TIME TO SCRAP THIS PRACTICE Disposed cylinders create about 3 150 m3 scrap metal and can explode if not thoroughly evacuated

Refrigerant recovery service set for expansion

By: Darren Parker 14th February 2020 Speciality chemicals supplier A-Gas South Africa is planning to expand its rapid recovery refrigerant service nationally this year. This follows the appointment of A-Gas business development manager Grant McGill in September last year. →

IT’S A GAS The Rapid Recovery service is up to ten times faster than traditional refrigerant recovery methods

Investigation under way following fatal rail accident in Johannesburg

By: Simone Liedtke 13th February 2020 An investigation is under way to determine the cause of the accident between a Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) Premier Classe passenger train and a stationary Transnet train between the Roodepoort and Horizon Stations, in Johannesburg, on Wednesday evening. The investigation is... →

Contamination mainly down to improper maintenance

By: Tracy Hancock 7th February 2020 Incorrect air filter maintenance accounts for 99% of the concern that engine manufacturer Cummins has regarding engine oil contamination in Africa, says Cummins Filtration Africa and the Middle East engineering and technical sales support leader Raymond Liversage. Instead of replacing air... →

MAINTENANCE CRITICAL Operating engines with contaminated oil will accelerate engine wear and significantly reduce the expected engine life

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