In MechChem Africa’s combined May/June issue, industry supplier BMG breaks down its available services under the COVID-19 restrictions.

In our Corrosion  Control and Coatings feature, president of EonCoat, Merrick Alpert, explains some approaches to better manage corrosion and its accompanying costs, while Clive Govender, responsible for strategy development and implementation for Aquamarine Water Solutions, talks about a new approach to servicing water needs in Africa.

MechChem Africa also features articles from, Flexicon, Weir Minerals, Aurecon Carbotect, and Bosch Rexroth SA. For the Innovative Engineering feature, we look at the emergence of synthetic biology as an alternative to traditional petrochemical synthesis for applications in agrifood; beauty and personal care; chemicals; and consumer products.

On the cover: Maintenance, refurbishment and essential services for SA industry: Darryn Wright, talks to MechChem Africa about the essential breakdown, maintenance and refurbishment services that remain available from BMG during the COVID-19 lockdown. Read more…

Peter’s comment: Immortal genes, viruses and the ever-evolving new normal:

As parts of the world remain under COVID-19 lockdown, Peter Middleton briefly unpacks the gene centred evolution theory. He observes, how viruses have played a huge part in the evolution of mankind, and though viruses themselves attack immune cells, we cannot deny their role in improving immune response against future diseases. Read more…

MAINTENANCE AND ASSET MANAGEMENT

Bosch Rexroth SA steadily implements Africa Strategy: MechChem Africa talks to Tillmann Olsen – regional president for Africa and CEO of the Bosch Rexroth SA Group – about the company’s Africa Strategy and the initiatives being put in place to increase the Group’s footprint on the continent. Read more…

Innovative enterprise asset management in 2020: In a digital world it is critical that industries move beyond traditional asset management, and in 2020, it’s time to embrace predictive analytics to strategise capital investments more effectively. Click to read in the online magazine… 

Rolling element bearings and how they fail: In this issue’s Failure column, Tim Carter talks about how bearings fail and discusses some common maintenance practices that must be stopped if reduced bearing life is to be avoided. Click to read in the online magazine… 

Crankshaft for Cummins QSK 78 diesel engine gets a turn: Metric Automotive Engineering is currently remanufacturing a crankshaft belonging to an 18-cylinder Cummins QSK 78 diesel engine. The large engine is working under arduous operating conditions, powering a rigid frame dump truck in an open cast mining operation. Click to read in the online magazine…  

MATERIALS HANDLING/MINERALS PROCESSING

Laboratory experts take sampling to new heights: With the general decline in ore grades in mining, FLSmidth’s market-leading expertise in mineral sampling and laboratory automation holds increasing value to mines. Read more…

Ultra-high capacity bulk bag filling system: A new sanitary bulk bag filling system from Flexicon features dual SWING-DOWN™ fillers fed by high capacity weigh hoppers, achieving fill rates of up to 40 bulk bags per hour. Click to read in the online magazine…   

Chain hoist with balancer function for intuitive load control: With the DCBS chain hoist, Demag presents a compact hoist which, with its smart control system, makes assembly and joining processes simpler and safer Click to read in the online magazine… 

One stop shop for custom-designed solutions services: BLT WORLD – which represents exclusive supply, service and distribution agreements of leading bulk handling equipment OEMs for Africa, discusses its product offering for materials handling. Click to read in the online magazine… 

Australasia agency adds to chute expert’s global reach: Weba Chute Systems has concluded an agency agreement with Melbourne-based Mincore. The move marks another significant step in the South African OEM’s strategy. Click to read in the online magazine…   

CORROSION CONTROL AND COATINGS

Approaches to managing corrosion under insulation: President of EonCoat, Merrick Alpert, explains some approaches to better manage corrosion and its accompanying costs. Read more…

PUMP SYSTEMS, PIPES VALVES AND SEALS

Accumin™ lubricators optimise Warman pump performance: The Accumin™ automatic lubrication system by Weir Minerals helps customers get the most out of their critical assets by preventing bearing failures and reducing Total Ownership Costs. Read more…

Pumping expert keeps mines afloat during lockdown: Integrated Pump Rental is assisting coal mines and power producers during the national lockdown. The pump rental company explains how well it is positioned to assist mines as they start gearing up their operations. Click to read in the online magazine…    

Finding wastewater solutions for Africa: Engineers and representatives from KSB Group companies throughout sub-Saharan Africa have committed themselves to finding workable solutions for Southern Africa’s growing wastewater crisis. Click to read in the online magazine…   

Rockwell Automation supplies modern control solutions for Intermerc Ghana: Rockwell Automation discusses the work it has been doing with Intermerc Ghana to supply medium voltage motor control and automation technologies to some of its recent pump upgrade and rehabilitation projects for Ghana Water Company. Click to read in the online magazine…   

HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING

Aurecon ensures office development an iconic ‘green’ initiative: Aurecon is playing a key role in creating environmentally sustainable design services for the iconic 144 Oxford Road office development in Rosebank, Johannesburg. Read more…

WATER AND WASTEWATER

Towards better water management: MechChem Africa talks to Xylem Water Solutions’ Chetan Mistry, about South Africa’s urgent need for better water management and the fast-evolving set of solutions becoming available. Read more…

ECA water treatment, the Carbotect test: MechChem Africa talks to Robin Kirkpatrick, managing director of Carbotect, about novel Clean in Place (CIP) approaches and the increasingly important role his Carbotect water test can play as a more proactive strategy for reducing contamination risks. Click to read in the online magazine…    

Aquamarine Water Solutions extends services and reach: Clive Govender, executive responsible for strategy development and implementation for Aquamarine Water Solutions, a Murray & Roberts Group company, talks about a new approach to servicing water needs in Africa. Read more…

MANUFACTURING

Specially-tailored solutions for sugar sector: Bosch Projects integrates engineering technology and project management for power utilities and materials handling, commercial and industrial projects. For the global sugar sector, the company has tailored the Bosch Projects vertically-orientated reheater, which has produced some significant results. Click to read in the online magazine…    

Companies join together to produce protective masks: As an experienced technology provider for mask production equipment, Weber Ultrasonics AG now manufactures respiratory and surgical masks in Germany, with the help of surrounding companies. Read more…

Training as a strategy for good business: As part of its evolution as an agile manufacturer, Packsolve has placed more focus on the skills of its employees and their training opportunities. Even in the early stages, the company says the benefits are already very obvious. Click to read in the online magazine…   

Promising start for Schuler automatic blanking press: An automotive supplier in northern Germany has successfully produced complex sheet metal parts on a Schuler MC 400 machine since the beginning of the year. Click to read in the online magazine…   

INNOVATIVE ENGINEERING

Strategies for synbio success: Synthetic biology (synbio) has emerged as an alternative to traditional petrochemical synthesis for applications in agrifood; beauty and personal care; chemicals; and consumer products. Read more…

REGULARS

Product and industry news  Click to read in the online magazine…       

Click to download and read this issue in PDF format.