MechChem Africa July 2017

⎪ Products and industry news ⎪

Canadian students visit Multotec

SMC rolls out two new compact cylinders SMC’s latest compact cylinders, the JMGP guide cylinder and the compact JCQ Series, have been designed with weight and space savings in mind. Both help to reducemachine sizes and costs, and deliver increased efficiency due to their light- weight nature, which could enhance cycle time. With the launchof its compact cylinders, SMC, a leadingworldwideexpert inpneumatics, is help- ing customers meet the demand for space saving components that drive down costs and drive up productivity. The JMGP is a guide cylinder, featuring a dual rod, which has been designed for a variety of ap- plications including pushing, clamping and lifting where there are space and weight restrictions, such as in transport lines or for robotic manipu- lation and handling. The compact JCQ is ideal for similar applications where a short cylinder is required, but without the lifting capability. With space being at a premium inmanymanu- facturingplants,theneedtoproducesmaller,more efficient machinery is growing. These two new models achieve just that, as they are both smaller than similar cylinders on themarket. Being lighter in weight, they also achieve improved cycle times and help to deliver higher output. The ability to directly mount auto switches reduces overall labour costs and, the fact they do not protrude beyond the body of either cylinder, helpsminimise the risk of interferencewithother machine parts. In addition, options for four piping directions and three mounting surfaces on the JMGP makes it extremely versatile. www.smcpneumatics.co.za

students can see this side of the industry they have studied. “Exposure to real world manufactur- ing environments is a valuable tool and not only assists in consolidating what has beenlearnedattertiaryeducationcentres, it also allows students to understand the types of employment opportunities that this sector can offer,” Combrink says. The group’s facilities, spread over several properties, are equipped with ‘state-of-the-art’ design technologies, including 3D prototyping, computational fluid dynamics, computer aided drawing and trajectory modelling, among others. Combrink says visiting the various sec- tions allowed students to get a real feel for the manufacturing sector. www.multotec.com

A group of Canadian students from the University of British Columbia’s Mining Engineering faculty recently visited the Multotec Group manufacturing facilities in Spartan, just outside Johannesburg in South Africa. The visit for the students, from the graduating class of 2017, pro- vided the ideal platform from which to interact with a leading South African manufacturer that supplies both capital equipment as well as consumables to the minerals processing sector. Training facilitator at Multotec, Brent Combrink, says that themodernmanufac- turing industry is often not understood by university graduates and students from tertiary institutions. For this reason, Multotec believes it is important to pro- vide opportunities such as facility visits so

Students from the University of British Columbia’s Mining Engineering faculty on a visit to the Multotec Group’s manufacturing facilities.

Slotted pipes for subsoil drainage

Fibertex supplies a wide range ofcomponentsforadvanced subsoil drainage systems,

environments,” says Darryn Meisel, national sales di- rector: geosynthetics, Fibertex SA. “These drainage

designed for use in vari- ous industries, includ- ing civil engineering, construction and ag- riculture. Included in this range are Drainex slotted drainage pipes, which are used in con- junction with Fibertex geo- textiles and composite drainage systems that encompass geonets, fin drains and wick drains. “Drainex pipes aremanufactured from high density polyethylene (HDPE), which is a chemically resistant polymer with resistance to acids or alkali attack. These durable drainage pipes also offer high impact resistance and are UV stabilised, ensuring extended service life in arduous

pipes are bedded and side filled with filter material and properly compacted surround- ing soil, to form a com- plete pipe-soil system. This robust structure can withstand loads in excess of 150 kN/m from soil pressure and other superimposed loads.” Drainex pipes have a double wall sandwich construction, with a corrugated externalwall anda smooth innerwall, with a low coefficient of friction. This design combines high ring stiffness (>450 kPa) with excellent flow characteristics, al- lowing for the optimum utilisation of

SMC’s latest compact cylinders, the JMGP guide cylinder and the compact JCQ Series, have been designed with weight and space savings in mind.

pipe diameter. Drainage perforations are created in the valley of the corrugations to protect the pipe from blockage from drainage aggregate. Drainex is available in diameters of 75 mm, 110 mm or 160 mm, in coils and 6.0 m lengths. Push fit couplings and pro- filed sealing rings ensure reliable joining and watertight sealing of Drainex pipe fittings. www.fibertex.co.za

July 2017 • MechChem Africa ¦ 37