Mechanical Technology March 2015

⎪ Products and services ⎪

The very real danger with replacement parts is that companies produce ‘copy- cat’ parts by duplicating the look of the original part. In contrast, IPD parts are engineered replacement parts produced under stringent quality control mea- sures to ensure integrity and optimum Championing the use of engineered replacement parts performance. “Therefore, they not only resemble parts from the original equip- ment manufacturer (OEM), but their performance under working conditions is identical to that of the OEM part,” says Andrew Yorke, operations director, Metric Automotive Engineering.

tributor in South Africa in 2008, we have been servicing an increasing number of customers who have recognised and experienced the significant cost savings associated with world-class quality re- placement parts,” Yorke says. “The focus of both Metric Automotive Engineering and IPD has been on helping equipment owners to save money without risk to reliability. Essentially IPD products are Caterpillar replacement parts but, unlike parts being sourced from the East, IPD parts are manufactured in a Lloyds accredited ISO 9001:2000 quality con- trolled environment.” “The major advantage for our cus- tomers is that they are able to source engine parts from an engineering com- pany – the very parts that we use in the re-manufacture of our own engines,” Yorke assures. www.metricauto.co.za

As a local distributor of IPD engine parts, Metric Automotive Engineering has access to new part numbers released on a monthly basis to cover the popular Caterpillar ® C Series engines. IPD is an international manufacturer of engine parts for Caterpillar engines. “We are proud to be first to market af- termarket parts of this quality,” York says. Metric Automotive Engineering is one of South Africa’s most comprehensively equipped diesel engine and component re-manufacturers. “Since being appointed as IPD’s dis-

IPD is an international manufacturer of engine parts for Caterpillar ® engines and Metric Automotive Engineering has distributed IPD parts locally since 2008.

With a dwindling supply of natural resources, it is incumbent upon all busi- nesses to adopt more energy efficient ways of operating. Decreasing reliance on air conditioning and other energy-hungry forms of controlling temperature is a good starting point. Wim Dessing, managing director of Apex Strip Curtains & Doors, points out that the use of general purpose strip curtains provides a cost-effective alterna- tive to traditional environmental control Strip curtains and doors contribute to energy efficiency methods.” Not only does the installation of Apex general purpose strip curtains result in decreased energy demand, but it also contributes to a cleaner working environment, with a reduced quantity of dust, insects and airborne contaminants. In addition to being quick and easy to install, the strip curtains are also easy to clean and allow unimpeded access by both people and vehicles,” says Dessing. Apex Strip Curtains & Doors has

Apex general-purpose strip curtains contrib- ute towards energy efficiency and a cleaner working environment.

devised a specially formulated PVC material, which is rustproof, durable, heat- and chemical-resistant. It also pro- vides a powerful sound barrier, blocking the diffusion of noise from one place to another. The very low thermal conduc- tivity of PVC strips makes them a key component in locking cold or warm air in a room, compartment, or enclosed area. “Our patented Balledge ® design pro- vides an effective thermal seal that parts easily under pressure to allow people and goods to move through unhindered. The design has a reinforced edge on the border of each strip that prevents snag- ging or scratching of goods or people and provides extended strip life, irrespective of the application.

VicFlex brackets for cold storage applications

Victaulic, the leading global producer of mechanical pipe join- ing and fire protection systems, has introduced the new Vic- Flex™ Style AB6 bracket for cold storage applications, which reduces hands-on installation time by as much as 75 %. The new bracket is part of the VicFlex range of innovative flexible drops and patented fitting brackets designed to be installed more easily than traditional rigid piping systems, whilst delivering more durable performance. VicFlex offers a convenient and safe solution, requires fewer man-hours to install, is cost effective for maintenance and retrofit applica- tions, and lowers shipping costs due to its more compact form. “The new VicFlex Style AB6 bracket for cold storage ap- plications is going to revolutionise the way cold storage units are protected, installing up to four times faster than rigid pipe,” says Barry van Jaarsveld, Victaulic regional manager Africa. “With this new technology you will no longer have to wrestle with rubber boots or messy foam sprays, or wait for glue to dry – and there is no need to cut and measure hard pipe, saving contractors precious time,” he says. www.victaulic.com/vicflex 

“Being able to control the environ- mental conditions in terms of heat and humidity plays a large role in ensuring that employees are comfortable and thus, more productive. All these benefits will add substantially to the bottom line of businesses,” he concludes. www.apexstrip.co.za

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Mechanical Technology — March 2015