Comprehensive solutions offering reduces costs and prevents downtime
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Seal Saver protective cylinder covers are distributed locally through wear control specialist Filter Focus and are resistant to heat, oil, chemicals and water. Seal Saver is a simple solution to a variety of hydraulic and air cylinder rod maintenance issues.
Rand Refinery mechanical foreman Jeffrey Mthithala notes that the refinery uses the cylinders to tilt the furnace when removing melted material from the furnace barrel, and protection from heat is essential. “Seal Saver covers protect the cylinders from heat entering the seals, and also prevent contamination.”
He indicates that a damaged cylinder results in costly downtime. “The furnace needs to be shut down for the cylinder to be replaced, and this results in unscheduled downtime and interrupted production, which can prove to be exceptionally expensive. Seal Saver has shown to be highly valuable and in this specific incidence, the product saved us up to three weeks of lost production, due to its ability to protect the cylinders from contact with molten gold.”
Filter Focus sales executive Riaan Coetsee emphasises that Seal Saver protective covers take only 20 minutes to fit to the cylinders, thereby guaranteeing minimal downtime. “The Velcro closure and wrap-around design makes installation quick and easy, with no disassembly of the cylinder required. It is a quicker and cheaper alternative to replacing the whole cylinder,” he states.
Once installed, the Seal Saver opens and closes like an accordion as the cylinder works. A major benefit of Seal Saver is that it prevents silt-sized particles from entering the hydraulic system via the rod seals. Once in the system, these tiny particles can act as a lapping compound, causing wear to valves, servos and pumps, and eventually damaging the entire hydraulic system.
“Seal Saver helps to prevent the influx of contaminants, ensuring that the hydraulic system remains clean and operational, while in the process saving equipment owners time and money in repairs and unscheduled downtime,” Coetsee continues.
Rand Refinery refines at least 80% of Africa’s gold. Its customers include mints, jewellery designers, and major gold producers. Filter Focus has been providing Seal Savers to the refinery for three years. What’s more, the company also helped Rand Refinery achieve significant cost savings on its oil consumption, by applying specialised lubricants to the gearboxes and cylinders inside the smelter.
Rand Refinery initially spent about R1,2-million-per-year on oil. Since Filter Focus was appointed, it has only spent between R20 000 and R30 0000, as the oil can be regenerated. “There are a number of filtration systems on the refinery’s hydraulic system and the hydraulic power plants. We have set up a recycling bay for onsite oil regeneration and clean it by draining the oil from the gearboxes and placing it into our filtration plant. Once clean and in specification, the oil is put it back into storage containers,” says Coetsee.
According to Mthithala, the working environment at the refinery is extremely dusty, due to the unrefined gold bags. “Our gearboxes used to fail quite often due to the harsh conditions and our bucket elevator experienced corrosion, which meant that we had to replace bearings every month. Since we started using the Filter Focus supplied lubricants, we only need to change them once a quarter.”
Mthithala adds that the gearboxes used to be replaced at least two to three times a year. “We are yet to replace them since switching to Filter Focus supplied lubricants, which can last for up to 20 years in operation, provided they are correctly managed, thereby ensuring significant long-term cost savings,” he concludes.
Industry is slowly learning of the considerable cost saving advantages of the Filter Focus effect.
Ends
Notes to the Editor
To download hi-res images for this release, please visit http://media.ngage.co.za and click the Filter Focus link to view the company’s press office.
About Filter Focus
Filter Focus SA (Pty) Ltd was formed in January 2002 with the aim of establishing the concept of combination filtration and eliminating contamination related wear and failures in heavy industrial equipment.
Filter Focus Contact
Craig FitzGerald
Chief Operations Officer
Phone: (011) 315 9939
Email: cfitz [at] filterfocus [dot] co [dot] za
Media Contact
Jana Klut
NGAGE Public Relations
Phone: (011) 867-7763
Cell: 074 111 4900
Email: jana [at] ngage [dot] co [dot] za
Web: www.ngage.co.za
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