Construction World October 2019

EQUIPMENT

A fter significant upgrades and expansions to its manufacturing facility at Potchefstroom, leading gypsum supplier OMV has boosted its supply capacity while improving its gypsum quality. OMV produces synthetic gypsum from the phosphate waste- product of the fertiliser industry, supplying the cement, agricultural and industrial sectors. According to OMV mechanical engineer Marinus van den Berg, the company has upgraded and automated its washing plant, while also adding a kiln drier and a calcining plant. “The redesign of the washing plant included changing to a continuous lime batching system,” van den Berg says. “This improves the controllability of the process and the product quality. Standard deviations of the pH levels – a primary control parameter – are now down to 0,2 pH points.” The washing plant upgrade meant full automation and higher availability. It also included a completely new

rotary drying kiln. This allows reliable supply to customers even during the rainy months. “The kiln reduces the moisture content in our gypsum by an extra 10%,” he says. “This has made our year-round supply more reliable, while the drier material also saves on road transport costs.” An important part of the technology employed in the kiln is optimised fuel economy for lower carbon emissions. Along with the kiln installation has come the construction of an undercover gypsum warehouse with 30 000 tonne capacity. Dedicated stockpiles within the warehouse further enhance the customer experience. “All these facilities operate within our total quality management system,” he says. “We continually optimise processes so we can pass the cost savings on to customers.” Most recently completed is the

calcining plant, which adds value to the gypsum product by producing a high quality Plaster of Paris. After extensive research into available technologies, OMV was able to construct and commission the plant

laboratory, now staffed with a chemical engineer and chemical technician to focus on quality control. He emphasises the peace of mind that comes with a product of consistent quality. For industrial customers in particular, a dependable standard means less need to adjust their process in response to variabilities in the gypsum feed. A key enhancement of the gypsum facility has been the addition of a

in less than a year. It has also enhanced certain automation elements in the calciner.

“Once again, our focus has been on low process variability,” says van den Berg. “Through strict controllability, we have achieved high-quality and consistent output to open new markets.” 

tax advantages for clients. The newly-bolstered rental fleet caters for the large demand for these units in a range of industries, from construction to extruders and even mining. “The applications are diverse, and the demand is therefore very high, with major growth potential and opportunities,” Vanessa Koszulinski comments, who heads up the portable rental division. The main benefits for rental customers are not only that they have access to some of the best brands in the compressor industry in Ozen (stationary) and Sullair (portable) units, but that any maintenance or wear-and-tear repair costs are built into the rental contract itself. This represents a significant cost-saving for customers. “Given the current state of the market, where margins are tight and customers are increasingly price-sensitive as a result, we find that the rental option is often the most flexible, particularly with regard to aftermarket support,” Koszulinski explains. An added benefit for rental customers is that the units are available wherever Goscor Group branches are located countrywide, including Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg. “Due to GCAS being part of the larger Goscor Group, we are able to provide back-up no matter where our customers are located. The major advantage is that we can offer a quick and effective turnaround at all times,” Koszulinski adds. It is anticipated that the rental fleet will also boost new sales, as it gives potential customers excellent exposure to the capabilities and features of the Ozen and Sullair brands. “We do find that rental customers are so impressed by our turnkey capability that they want to purchase the units outright. On the other hand, the rental offering also means we are able to offer replacement units wherever these are needed. It is a real win-win for us and our diverse customer base,” Koszulinski concludes. 

G oscor Compressed Air Systems (GCAS) aims to provide customers with continuous air with its newly-bolstered rental fleet, according to GM Warren Schultz. The newly-launched rental offering, which will supplement new sales and also support service and maintenance, focuses on portable diesel compressors and stationary electrical units from leading brands Sullair and Ozen. “Apart from the significant benefit of no upfront asset costs for our clients, they automatically also have access to a higher standard of equipment. The rental option is ideal for planned maintenance and outages, or seasonal peak demands and unexpected equipment failure,” Schultz elaborates. Equipment can be upgraded or replaced in terms of a flexible payment plan, with added accounting and

GCAS GM Warren Schultz and Vanessa Koszulinski, Head of the portable rental division.

40

CONSTRUCTION WORLD OCTOBER 2019