Filter Focus wins SASTA Gold Exhibitor Award
PRESS RELEASE
Filter Focus wins SASTA Gold Exhibitor Award
27 September, 2013: Wear control specialist Filter Focus has been presented with a Gold Exhibitor Award from the South African Sugar Technologists’ Association (SASTA), just weeks after the company's first-ever display of its Vacuum Dehydrator and oil purification system at the 86th annual SASTA Conference in August 2013.
As a first time SASTA exhibitor, Filter Focus COO Craig FitzGerald points out that he is exceptionally proud of the company for receiving the prestigious award. "This is a considerable achievement, especially considering the fact that we are only just entering into the sugar industry."
During the three-day event hosted in Durban, Filter Focus demonstrated a working model of its locally developed Vacuum Dehydrator and oil purification system, which is designed for combating the effects of emulsified, free and dissolved water in oil - by lowering the water levels down to as low as 20 parts per million (ppm), regardless of contamination level.
FitzGerald adds: "The value of this product to sugar production plants is tremendous, as it will greatly extend useful oil life, while protecting lubricated components in turbines, gearboxes and hydraulic systems. The Vacuum Dehydrator has been proven to perform well beyond any other competitor product, and is particularly well suited for online transformer purification."
According to FitzGerald, Filter Focus is increasing its focus on assisting sugar production plants in achieving significant cost savings through plant improvements and machine performance. "By combining the sciences of filtration, lubrication and tribology into one practical application, Filter Focus is able to ensure vastly extended lifecycles of lubricated and rotating equipment through the Vacuum Dehydrator and oil purification system. An additional benefit is dramatic reductions in oil consumption and the associated disposal costs thereof."
Water contamination in systems promotes oxidation, and can lead to failures in components such as bearings and shaft journals, as well as the jamming of mechanisms such as pilot valves, trip cylinders and hydraulic pistons. FitzGerald notes that additives are contained in oil to improve lubricating properties. "These additives can, however, be washed out or removed by water contamination, chemically altering and leaving the oil underperforming,” he adds.
In numerous tests run by Filter Focus on the Vacuum Dehydrator and oil purification system, results have been impressive to date. FitzGerald points out that during an in-house test whereby a standalone tank of lubricating gear oil was purposely contaminated with water, independent oil analysis showed that the initial state of the oil had 4,7 percent (47 000 ppm) water content.
A second sample was taken after eight hours of vacuum dehydration and showed an improvement in water contamination to only 124 ppm. After placing a Filter Focus proprietary filtration system to the outlet of the Vacuum Dehydrator, results showed an improvement with a further reduction to 39 ppm water content, which is regarded as negligible, as this is drier than unused bulk oil supplies.
Looking to the future, FitzGerald is confident that Filter Focus will continue to gain market share in the sugar industry. "Filter Focus has assisted clients in numerous industries in achieving higher levels of lubrication excellence, machine availability and reliability. After receiving the SASTA Gold Exhibitor Award following our first official product display, I am confident that we can achieve similar results in the sugar industry too," he concludes.
Ends
Notes to the Editor
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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) 466 1268
Email: cfitz [at] filterfocus [dot] co [dot] za
Web: www.filterfocus.co.za
Media Contact
Kelly Farthing
NGAGE Public Relations
Phone: (011) 867-7763
Cell: 079 367 7889
Email: kelly [at] ngage [dot] co [dot] za
Web: www.ngage.co.za
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