Electricity + Control October 2015

LIGHT + CURRENT

Mini-lab provides maxi service

Ten world-class full-service laboratories make up a comprehensive network operated by condition monitoring specialists WearCheck , with the head office in Pinetown, Durban. Here, next to the full- service primary laboratory, is a highly specialised mini-laboratory, which provides niche analysis services. While one of the core functions of the Pinetown mini-lab is to do preparation for aircraft filter analysis, it also provides several other monitoring services and speciality tests on samples that are not generally processed in the main laboratory. This laboratory processes samples from around the country, where speciality analysis is required. Some of the specialty tests conducted in the mini-lab include the analysis of grease, coolant, Karl Fischer moisture,VPR (varnish potential rating), aircraft and refrigeration. The three highly-specialised technical staff members who oper- ate the mini-lab also conduct field visits to customers in a variety of industries, such as Illovo,Tongaat Hulett, Gud filters, and more. They take samples from gearboxes, turbines, compressors and any other component that needs monitoring. These samples are then processed and analysed in the mini-lab, and the results sent to the customer, with recommendations on what corrective maintenance action should be taken, if any is needed. The on-site sampling is a service that is highly sought-after by mini-lab customers.

The ten full-serviceWearCheck laboratories operate across the Af- rican continent and beyond, and are situated in Gauteng, KwaZulu- Natal, Mpumalanga Province, with international laboratories in India, Dubai, Ghana, Mozambique and Zambia - at Lumwana mine and Kitwe. WearCheck also has a presence in CapeTown, Rusten- burg, Steelpoort, Port Elizabeth, Zimbabwe and Namibia. An eleventh full-service laboratory is scheduled to open soon in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). One of the mini-lab technicians, Shane Goslin, will relocate to the DRC to supervise the initial phase of the new laboratory, which will be on-site at the new Kibali Gold Mine, potentially the largest gold mine in Africa. Media queries: Sharon 082 8230539 or sharon@sharonfaypr.co.za

Field and lab technician Shane Goslin prepares a tray of engine coolant samples for testing.

WearCheck’s Trevor Pillay (left, at microscope) is the senior mini-lab technician, and field and lab technician, Shashay Rampersad.

‘Good. Better. Vast’

Erlangen, Germany. Students from the Marie-Therese-Gymnasium high school in Erlangen bagged the ‘German Champion’ title in the 2015 ‘Formula 1 in Schools’ contest.The winning model racing car was designed by the students using Solid Edge PLM Software from Siemens . Two additional participating teams from Augsburg and Munster also performed well using Siemens technology. ‘Good. Better. Vast’. This was the war cry to be heard emanat- ing from the Erlangen-based team ‘Vast Velocity’ at this year’s ‘Formula 1 in Schools’ contest. Siemens was backing the team in the role of Premium Sponsor, and made available a range of equipment to the young scientists and to every other of the over 200 German teams including the CAD software Solid Edge. This

professional program enabled the students to design the perfectly formed racing vehicle. ‘Vast Velocity’ and some other teams were also particularly supported by Siemens.The model car secured the team from Erlangen first place in the German Championship, and qualified them to go on to contest the world championship title in Singapore in September. The ‘Chasing Shadows’ team from the Jakob-Fugger-GymnasiumHigh School inAugsburg, also supported by Siemens, took 6 th place in the German Junior Championship. The model racing car of the Team from Muenster was developed with the CAD-CAM process chain with subsequent production on a CNC machine as the competition required. Enquiries: Keshin Govender. Email Keshin.govender@siemens.com

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