ON THE COVER
Mixtec: SA’s agitation and suspension expert
MechChem Africa visits Mixtec SA at its Meadowdale premises and talks to the company’s sales and projects manager, Rudi Swanepoel, about the global success of the company’s innovative EDICT agitation systems. Read more...
PETER’S COMMENT
An inhospitable earth or urgent green spending?
With COP24 underway in Poland, Peter Middleton looks several climate change reports with dire warnings and argues that all of us need to take urgent action if we wish to avoid bringing shame on our entire generation. Read more...
SAIChE IChemE NEWS:
Field-tested techniques for distillation processes and equipment: From 29-31 July 2019, the KwaZulu-Natal SAIChE IChemE branch will be hosting a course on practical distillation technology by world-renowned distillation expert Henry Kister. Click to read in the online magazine...
PUMP SYSTEMS, PIPES, VALVES AND SEALS
Using pumps to generate electricity: A forward-thinking municipal technical team serving the requirements of the Drakenstein Municipality (Wellington) in the Western Cape has designed one of the country’s largest pump and turbine stations, which will be used for pumping water to the nearby town of Paarl during dry periods and to generate electricity for the city during the remainder of the year. Read more...
New levels of hydraulic efficiency in slurry applications: The Krebs slurryMAXTM range of slurry pumps from global minerals process specialist FLSmidth has brought new levels of hydraulic efficiency to Africa’s slurry operations. Click to read in the online magazine...
Mill circuit pumps reduce operating costs: Engineered for use at the most aggressive duties, Warman® Mill Circuit pumps are designed for severe slurry applications such as ball and SAG mill discharge, cyclone feed as well as water-flush crushing in minerals processing plants. Click to read in the online magazine...
LOCAL MANUFACTURING AND FOOD PROCESSING
Mega train manufacturing ramps up in Dunnottar: On Thursday, 25 October 2018, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa officially opened Gibela’s train manufacturing plant in Dunnottar, east of Gauteng. MechChem Africa talks to systems integrator, David Blackwood of DESign about the modern systems installed to ensure high integrity fabrication. Read more...
Steel processor extends stretcher leveller capacity: Allied Steelrode has installed a second stretcher leveller at its Midvaal facility. Executive director, Warne Rippon tells us why. Click to read in the online magazine...
MAP, poultry and the cold food chain: Hans Strydom of Afrox tells about modified atmospheric packaging (MAP) for the poultry industry. Click to read in the online magazine...
POWER GENERATION, SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT
Integrated solutions key to growing Africa’s power generation: As African countries work to develop their power generation capacity in the most cost effective ways, the key will be to find integrated solutions that attract investment throughout the value chain, argues Alastair Gerrard, Integrated Solutions executive at Zest WEG Group. Read more...
Key to a sustainable future: advanced water electrolysis: Philipp Nellessen, CEO of thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions South Africa and Sami Pelkonen CEO of the company’s Electrolysis & Polymers Technologies business unit, talk about electrolysis and its role in the renewable energy sector. Click to read in the online magazine...
Renewable energy projects on home ground: Charles Deacon, operations director for renewable energy at Raubex Infra, talks about the company’s capability and highlights successes already achieved on renewable energy projects in South Africa. Click to read in the online magazine...
CHEMICAL, PETROCHEMICAL, OIL AND GAS
Endurance test for vortex breakers: Extensive tests performed at the National Engineering Laboratory’s (NEL) flow test facility in Glasgow, UK, have confirmed that thermowells with a ScrutonWell® design have no tendency to vibrate. Kai Grabenauer, presents the findings. Read more...
The uprising – a natural gas movement: Access to natural gas in South Africa is rapidly expanding due to a gas distribution network being implemented by Virtual Gas Network (VGN), a division of CNG Holdings. Click to read in the online magazine...
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND CLEANING TECHNOLOGIES
Collective accountability to clean up SA: Kate Stubbs, director of business development and marketing at Interwaste, summarises the current status quo with respect to waste management and urges all stakeholders to play a more proactive role. Click to read in the online magazine...
INNOVATIVE ENGINEERING
GE announces industrial scale additive manufacturing system: GE Additive has announced its first Concept Laser M-Line Factory systems for industrial scale additive manufacturing. Read more...
REGULARS
Product and industry news Click to read in the online magazine...
Back page: Robot welder unveiled at SAIW: Terry Rosenberg of Yaskawa Southern Africa (YSA) and Sean Blake of SAIW share their vision for modernising welder training. Read more...
