Wear control specialist celebrates a milestone year
Filter Focus Chief Operating Officer Craig FitzGerald says that the restructuring of Filter Focus into plant and asset protection company Wear Control Group, innovative new product developments, and hard-line sales and marketing of the company’s existing filtration solutions has resulted in Filter Focus growing by more than 40%.
“Although South African business confidence has fallen to its lowest in three years, we have still managed to meet and exceed all of our targets for 2012. New product development and additional filtration capabilities within Filter Focus has been a large driver behind this success,” explains FitzGerald.
One such example is the development of a new range of magnetic filters by Filter Focus’ team of engineers. FitzGerald says that new magnetic range of filters, which has been developed for the quench and lubricating oil industries, aims to extend the life of pumps and components. The magnetic range of filters was not only developed to improve our levels of filtration but also to further extend the life of our filter elements, which essentially reduces the total cost of ownership that a client will experience.
“Ordinarily, any iron fillings or ferrous magnetic contaminants would have to pass through the pump, after which they are then caught in a filter. In the case of Filter Focus’ new range of magnetic filters, which are placed on the suction side of the pump, any ferrous magnetic contaminants are pulled onto the magnetic filter prior to going through the pump. This ultimately extends the life of the pump and the filter elements,” explains FitzGerald.
Speaking on results experienced with one of the newly-developed Filter Focus magnetic filters, FitzGerald says that ordinary magnetic filters would pull roughly a teaspoon of contamination, while Filter Focus’ unit would pull roughly 50 kg of contamination. More importantly, Filter Focus has achieved Particle Quantifier (PQs) values of zero using the new unit. The PQ value is a physical count of magnetic contaminants present within a sample.
“At Filter Focus we have managed to achieve PQs of one and two, but never zero. After months of research and development we found that the only effective way to achieve PQ levels of zero was through the use of Neodymium, rare earth magnets, which weighing only a few grams, has the ability to lift an object a thousand times its own weight. The new range of magnetic filters has recently been installed at a leading manufacturer of vehicle suspension springs, Supreme Springs’ plant in Nigel, Gauteng,” explains FitzGerald.
Looking to other new developments within the company during 2012, Filter Focus has developed a self-contained 24V micro fine bypass filter, which consists of a US-manufactured Exa-pump and a Filter Focus manufactured frame. The unit, which is manufactured to US Military and Aviation standards, allows for the onboard filtration of hydraulics, wheel drives and final drives on mobile equipment. FitzGerald points out that the self-contained 24Vmicro fine bypass filter would effectively be able to provide 60 000 hours of useful life for hydraulic oil as opposed the industry standard of 5 000 hours.
Having traditionally served the filtration and lubrication needs of the mining and manufacturing industries, Filter Focus has begun servicing the food and beverage industry through the distribution of a range of high-performance food grade lubricating oil from US-based lubrication specialist company Lubrication Engineers.
FitzGerald points out that food processing equipment requires tough, durable lubricants that must withstand conditions such as wash downs, high oven temperatures and areas susceptible to high contamination. Lubrication Engineers’ National Sanitary Foundation (NSF) H1-certified and H2-certified lubricants include solutions for heat, cold, moisture, rust and oxidation, wear, foaming, staining, odour and frequent visual inspections. He adds that the lubricating oil range even goes as far as being Kosher.
In conclusion, FitzGerald points out that he would like to see a 25% increase in growth within Filter Focus over the next financial year. “We hope to achieve this by building on the momentum gained during 2012 and by placing a strong emphasis on penetrating the African mining markets – specifically in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia and Ghana. We also aim to educate the market on reliability engineering, whereby certain technologies and processes available through Filter Focus can improve efficiencies within every industrial business.
Ends.
Notes to the Editor
There are numerous photographs specific to this press release. Please visit http://media.ngage.co.za and click on the Filter Focus link.
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 Operating Officer
Phone: (011) 315 9939
Email: cfitz [at] filterfocus [dot] co [dot] 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
Browse the Ngage Media Zone for more client press releases and photographs at http://media.ngage.co.za