MechChem Africa May-June 2020

Maintenance, refurbishment and essential services for SA industry

DarrynWright, marketing executive for ESG, part of Invicta Holdings and the division that manages and supports BMG, talks to MechChem Africa about the essential breakdown, maintenance and refurbishment services that remain available from BMG during the COVID-19 lockdown. “Not only is it critical to keep our essential industrial services up and running during the lockdown, we also need to ensure that we are ready to assist in turning the economy back on as soon as it becomes safe to do so,” he says.

“ A s a customer-driven business, the BMG team remains com- mitted to making sure that industry is able to continue operating as efficiently and as safely as pos - sible during this difficult time.We are pleased to have been given permission fromtheCom- panies and Intellectual PropertyCommission (CIPC) to provide crucial engineering com- ponents and support, ensuring continuous operationof services throughout the country, albeit from selected BMG branches,” says Wright. “We are determined to keep the wheels of essential industry turning and to help the people of our country pull through this crisis as painlessly as possible,” he adds. Among the industries that cannot be shut downduringtheCOVID-19crisisarefoodand beverageplants;waterandwastewatertreat- ment facilities; coalmines andpower stations; petrochemical plants and refineries; the sugar mills; ports and shipping industries and, of course, farms and agricultural industries – to all of which we provide product and services. BMG, through its ‘Boer Slim’/Smart Farming initiative, has been developing in-

novative ways of supporting South African farmers for several years, through sustain- ability solutions that focus on effective food production, the correct use of suitable equipment for specific tasks and the efficient application of advanced technologies. “This hasneverbeenmoreimportant.Peoplelocked inside their houses depend more than ever on fresh food being made available to them, and recent panic buying illustrates just how nervous people are. Farmers alsoneedhelp to efficientlyandeffectivelycontinuetoproduce through these difficult times,”Wright argues. BMG’s high-quality replacement agricul- tural components are engineered to improve productivity in the farming sector, to operate efficiently for extended periodswithminimal maintenance requirements, and to reduce costs in the long term. BMG’s electronic, fluid technology, tools and power transmission components have been carefully selected to deliver smarter solutions on farms that enhance productivity and energy efficiency. New to BMG’s range of agricultural com- ponents are slogging hammers and wheel sloggers, used to loosen and tighten bolts

and nuts quickly and easily; BTC gearboxes, specifically designed for packhouses and Motoline solar inverters for photovoltaic (PV) water pumps. Dual direction multi-purpose gearboxes, PTO clutches and specially de- signed heavy-duty coulter bearings are also new to the range. Fromawater perspective, BMGspecialists with technical knowledgeandextensiveexpe- rience inwater engineering play an important role in upgrading ageing water and waste- water facilities and designing new drive sys- tems to ensure a dependable infrastructure. Critical is the selection of robust equipment, whichcanendurecontinuousoperationunder severeconditions. “Peoplecannot be locked in for longwithout freshwater, so it is absolutely vital for our water specialists to be available to deal with unexpected breakdowns quickly and effectively,” Wright continues. BMGalsoworks closelywith the food and beverage sectors to raise hygiene standards throughout the food and logistics chain – from farmers, processors, manufacturers and packagers, to distributors, retailers and consumers. “Our solution services help the local food and beverage sector deliver on food safety and environmental and energy- efficient initiatives by supplying and support - ing components for light materials handling, belting products, gearboxes, motors and vari- able speed drives (VSDs), seals and bearings, power transmissioncomponents, valves, tools and equipment, as well as fasteners, food- grade lubricants andmaintenance chemicals,” notes Wright. Essential services As well as the supply of the components, accessories and spare parts necessary to maintain critical equipment, BMG is able to offer both delivery and field services to cus - tomers inneedof urgent assistance. “Our field

BMG engineering support offering to essential service providers includes bearing and gearbox inspection and refurbishment and large size bearing repair, assembly, alignment and balancing.

4 ¦ MechChem Africa • May-June 2020