Mechanical Technology April 2015

9 / 44

Mechanical Technology — April 2015 7
⎪ Industry forum ⎪
critical spares
and skilled ser-
vice engineers for
breakdowns or
upgrades upon
request. In or-
der to add the
greatest value to
our client base,
ever y order is
solution-specific
to ensure optimal
productivity.
“Voith prides itself on reliability, ad-
vanced engineering, and longevity of its
products. As a result, we are currently in
the process of signing reputable agents
and distributors to fully access the entire
region,” he observes.
The Africa POG division also has
unlimited access to Voith’s pool of global
resources and expertise. “Should a com-
plex challenge arise that the local team
is unable to deal with, we will endeavour
to send an international expert onsite to
resolve this.”
While Voith Africa POG division focus-
es on the entire Africa region, Pillay notes
that Angola, Algeria, Kenya and Nigeria
have been identified as key markets for
measurable growth. “We are currently
supplying a large amount of equipment
to an offshore floating production, stor-
age and offloading (FPSO) oil facility
in Angola, in addition to power plants
and oil pumping facilities in Kenya,” he
concludes.
In brief
Blower and compressor supply specialist Airgas
has announced the appointment of Johan-Ernst
Linström as sales manager. As of January 2015,
Linström officially assumed sales all responsibili-
ties for the sub-Saharan subsidiary of German-
based Aerzen – specialists in the design and
manufacture of roots blowers, turbo blowers,
screw compressors, rotary lobe compressors
and gas meters.
Atlas Plant Hire (APH) has placed an order with
Atlas Copco Construction Technique for two QAS
500 kVA Prime 400 Volts 50 Hertz diesel-driven
generators to provide critical standby power for
various mining applications. Atlas Copco’s QAS
on-site generators are intelligent ‘multi-taskers’
that efficiently deliver power to operate a wide
range of electrical equipment in a variety of
applications.
Criterion Equipment, suppliers of TCM fork-
lifts, container handlers, electric three- and
four-wheeled forklifts and electric reach trucks,
has appointed Graham Clare, branch manager,
KwaZulu-Natal.
EBH Namibia has embarked on a number of
initiatives in order to analyse and review its
potential impact on the natural environment;
and also to address concerns regarding its op-
erations and potential environmental risks. “As
a responsible, internationally ISO-accredited
business, EBH Namibia’s environmental ethos
has always been focused on pollution prevention
and we adhere very strictly to all governing port
regulations,” says CEO, Hannes Uys.
The Hot Dip Galvanizers Association SA are
inviting submissions for award winning projects
ahead of its awards evening in August this year.
Submissions should include: a motivation as to
why the project should be chosen as a winner;
its impact on the hot dip galvanizing industry;
technical information; and a minimum of five full
colour photographs. Entry forms are available at
.
Hytec Services Africa (HSA) has officially
appointed Zimbabwe-based Hilmax Private
Limited as a distributor in that country. With
effect from February 2015, the family-owned
Hilmax, which has hydraulic hoses and fittings
as its core business, now distributes the entire
range of the Hytec Group products.
To test a new method of financial and non-finan-
cial reporting, Kumba Iron Ore has submitted
its first climate change report to London-based
Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) using a digital
reporting software developed by Arkk Solutions
and the carbon and climate change advisory firm
Promethium Carbon.
The recently established Voith Africa
Power, Oil and Gas (POG) Division covers
the full scope of maintenance, servicing,
upgrades and repairs across Africa. The
company has filled a gap in the local
market by providing a comprehensive and
dedicated aftermarket services offering.
Voith is globally-recognised as a lead-
ing OEM for high-speed rotating equip-
ment, including; high-speed gearboxes,
fluid couplings, geared fluid couplings,
variable speed drives, turbine controls
and torque converters. Voith Africa POG
vice president Derain Pillay states that
the division boasts global technology
and expertise that is customised for local
operating conditions.
“With our dedicated African presence,
qualified experts assist local clients in
configuring, operating and maintaining
their equipment for each particular ap-
plication in the most efficient and cost-
effective manner,” he says.
Pillay adds that the Voith Africa POG
division also provides maintenance
contracts in order to increase the avail-
ability of the equipment, while reducing
downtime and unnecessary costs. “A high
percentage of our business is aftermarket,
thereby providing clients with the peace-
of-mind that we are the market-leading
experts in equipment inspection, repairs,
upgrades and overhauls,” he continues.
Due to the unique African climate and
terrain, operating conditions are challeng-
ing. To proactively address this issue,
the Voith Africa POG division supplies
Tega Industries South Africa has com-
pletely overhauled its manufactur-
ing plant to TÜV Rheinland-certified
ISO 9001 standards in order to supply
its rubber and engineered products to
markets in Africa and across the globe.
The company has invested more
than R1.0-million into its new plant in
Vulcania, Brakpan. The investment, as
well as the company’s trained techni-
cal and production staff, enable Tega to
supply locally manufactured good to any
one of the company’s operations in more
than 72 countries worldwide.
According to Tega Industries SA qual-
ity manager, Siya Rala, all the necessary
processes, procedures, equipment and
staff have been put in place and audited
by the TÜV Rheinland team. “Obtaining
ISO 9001 accreditation establishes our
African oil and gas aftermarket service launched
Voith Turbo’s vice
president of the Power,
Oil & Gas (POG) divi-
sion, Derain Pillay.
credentials and allows our global opera-
tions to pick and place orders from our
facility with confidence.
“Likewise our customers in Africa and
further abroad also have the assurance
that they are dealing with a company
that is able to meet the world’s highest
quality requirements in terms of design,
manufacture, supply and service of
products in mineral processing and other
sectors,” says Siya.
“The new factory has been fitted with
new equipment and laid out according to
the most efficient and productive work-
flow methods possible. We also have a
newly built lab with world-class facili-
ties to enable us to undertake our own
product testing, as well as in process and
finished product testing,” he concludes.
Competing on a global stage