In our August edition, we feature industrial agitator and mixer specialist Mixtec, as they celebrate 35 years in the industry with more than 35 000 mixing technology installations. Rudi Swanepoel tells MechChem Africa what 35 years means for the growing Gauteng based company.
We explore nanomaterials research and initiatives with SAIChE ICHemE president, David Lokhat, while Martec highlights some important considerations for improving asset value. For our Innovative feature, MechChem Africa takes a look at a robotics solution for medical laboratories and hospitals that shows us how advanced collaborative robotics systems are at the forefront of advancing life sciences and could take non-surgical procedures to new heights.
Industry articles come from WEG Automation, FLSmidth, Weir Minerals, Schneider Electric and Veolia.
ON THE COVER
PETER’S COMMENT
Reliability, skills and long-term thinking: Peter Middleton highlights the importance of a skilled labour force as an investment for the South African economy citing SAIW President and Eskom’s chief welding engineer, Morris Maroga who says short term thinking doesn’t help anyone and yields short term gains. Middleton urges industry not only to “Keep Calm and Carry On” but to make permanent and long-term adaptions to plant maintenance and production, so that the hard-economic times to not remain normal. Read more…
SAIChE IChemE
Renewing and upscaling SA’s nanomaterials initiatives: There remains a need for technologies to be developed and employed for large scale local manufacture of nanomaterials. SAIChE IChemE President, David Lokhat compiles a technology overview. Read more…
ASSET, MAINTENANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT
Turbine drive train and generator overhauls showcase local capacity: Marthinusen & Coutts, a division of ACTOM, has successfully completed overhauls on a 70 MVA generator set for South32’s Metalloys – within six weeks – and a major repair at Eskom’s Ingula pumped storage hydro-electric plant. Read more…
Nuts of the threaded variety: In his August column, Tim Carter talks about nuts, together with their respective bolts. Click to read in the online magazine...
Improving asset value maturity with reliability engineering: One of Martec’s Asset Reliability Specialists, Arveen Gobind, talks about the difference between reliability engineering and maintenance engineering. Read more…
Wheel slogging and slogging hammers locally upgraded: BMG’s Slogging Hammer and Wheel Slogger, which form part of the company’s extensive range of tools and equipment, have recently been upgraded by local inventors. Click to read in the online magazine...
RFI earns Bosch Service Centre of the Year: Reef Fuel Injection Services has earned the coveted Bosch Service Centre of the Year award. The workshop grading for the award, conducted every two years, recognises service centres for their quality workmanship, service delivery and fair pricing. Click to read in the online magazine...
Preventative maintenance: the key to sustainability: Eugene Brown, Services Manager at Smith Power Equipment talks about the significance of preventative maintenance in the capital equipment equation. Click to read in the online magazine...
MATERIALS HANDLING
Fast track solution to DRDGOLD tailings recovery project: Tyrone Willemse of WEG Automation Africa and Stuart Brown of WEG Transformers talk about the commissioning of a containerised substation and control room for DRDGOLD’s Far West Gold Recoveries Project. Read more…
Improved chairlift safety and ergonomic comfort: Chairlift systems from Becker Mining South Africa are an ideal solution whenever large numbers of personnel have to be moved safely and efficiently in steep inclines and declines in underground sites. Click to read in the online magazine...
FLSmidth’s FerroCer panels bring longer wear life to Africa: Trials of FLSmidth’s FerroCerR modular impact wear panels will soon begin in Africa, following successful trials in countries such as Australia, Peru and India. Click to read in the online magazine...
Mines convert to Warman froth pumps: The value of Weir Minerals’ Warman AHF pump range has been successfully proven at two mines in South Africa’s Limpopo province – one in platinum and the other in phosphates – pumping frothy, high density and viscous slurries. Read more...
Market benefits from stronger Weba – Brelko link: Two proudly South African companies are showing the power of collaboration by delivering an innovative fit for-purpose materials handling solution for a beverage plant. Click to read in the online magazine...
CORROSION AND COATINGS
World class lab at CHRYSO providing solutions: Upgrading its Jet Park laboratory has given CHRYSO Southern Africa the capacity to expand its solutions to customers in fields including aggregates, concrete aesthetics and cement. Read more…
Effective bridge preservation with MCI surface protection: Cortec’s MCI 2020 surface applied corrosion inhibitor was selected to treat salt damage on Krk Bridge in Croatia before the bridge’s repair process. Click to read in the online magazine...
HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING
York technology powers Omnia innovation: Johnson Controls’ Sabroe compressors are powering the custom-build ammonia chiller plant at Omnia’s new nitro-phosphate (NP) plant in Sasolburg. Read more…
Data centres can be efficient and green: Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management and automation, makes efficiency a top priority in data centre design owing to environmental and cost concerns. Click to read in the online magazine...
WATER AND WASTEWATER PROCESSING
UJ Mobile lab to combat disease outbreaks: UJ’s Health Science faculty has come up with mobile solution for on-site testing of potentially contaminated water sources in remote and difficult to reach areas. Read more...
What the sewage sludge treatment plant of the future looks like: Today, the technology exists to build sewage treatment plants that are 100% water and energy autonomous. This is demonstrated at the Veolia-built and operated T PARK sludge treatment facility in Hong Kong. Read more…
Water resilience expertise for drought-plagued SA: Integrated infrastructure delivery company AECOM is a global leader in providing water solutions and innovations to assist communities, businesses and clients to improve their resilience to water shortages. Click to read in the online magazine...
GraviFilter chooses MOVIDRIVE: An industrial water filtration specialist that has used gearmotors from SEWEURODRIVE for many years has adopted its MOVIDRIVER inverters with CMP servo motors and customisable iPOS software for its latest self-cleaning GraviFilter screen filters. Click to read in the online magazine...
INNOVATIVE ENGINEERING
Robotic solutions for the hospital of the future: ABB is to install advanced collaborative robotics systems for the new non-surgical medical facility at Texas Medical Center’s innovation campus. Read more…
REGULARS
Product and industry news Click to read in the online magazine...
Back page: Carbon fibre from algae. Click to read in the online magazine...