MechChem Africa November-December 2021

⎪ Pump systems, pipes, valves and seals ⎪

in-house specialists who might be incapaci- tated due to a pandemic. Communication with the clients and decisions affecting plant operations can be made remotely and as quickly as they can under normal conditions. COVID has also led to the need for much more multitasking to cover for incapacitat- ed staff. The skills and experience levels of plant operators andmaintenance personnel, although extremely high, cannot cover the entire plant. Digital and remote assistance tools, however, such as those embedded in Hubgrade, can fill the gap, mitigating most of the risks. Our Hubgrade platform consists of dif- ferent service modules designed to suit different requirements. These range from basic data collection to a 24-hour support service from Veolia engineers. These op- tions are embraced using the modules: • CONNECT: which creates a continu- ous link between Veolia and clients, providing quick access to information and expertise. • SUPPORT: which offers customised service support and advise to meet each customer’s operational and stra- tegic needs. • IMPROVE: which strives to continu- ously improve the operational and en- vironmental performance of a client’s equipment and infrastructure. For the success of any Hubgrade implemen- tation, therefore, it imperative that clients discuss their exact requirements pertaining to the monitoring and operation of their plants so we can deploy the correct package for the application, says Braybrooke. Customised profile based training Once installed, any new plant fitted with Hubgrade and operational outputs, the plat- form is set up with the required elements as specified by the client. Different training is then given to personnel who have access to the platform, depending on the profile of the person in the organisation. Braybrooke explains: Sometimes busi- ness managers want to see only perfor- mance data and critical alarms, whi lst operational managers need to see reports on all aspects of a system’s performance. So we tailor-make the training depending on what the profiles of the people are and their requirements for feedback from the platform. In total, eleven training courses are stored on the Hubgrade platform. Overcoming SA’s infrastructure challenges South Africa’s municipal waste and potable water production plants are mostly run down and dilapidated. Upgrades to such facilities are urgently required, as are ca-

For industrial process water, Hubgrade can alert plant managers to serious issues such as compliance and license to operate.

The industrial wastewater treatment plant at ArcelorMittal in South Africa.

pacity expansions. In addition, industrial water plants are all dependent on proper maintenance and upgrades as technology advances. Our older plants require retro- fitment of equipment or new facilities need to be designed and constructed. Technology has improved, though, and most new Veolia plants have a footprint up to 75% smaller than older conventional plants. This in- cludes membrane technology plants such as ultrafiltration for wastewater plants – our ACTIFLO clarification technologies can operate at rise rates of 100m/h compared to conventional plants that operate at only 3.0 m/h. The Veolia Group has built up best prac- tice data over a period of more than 160 years. It is fair to say, we have a wealth of experience in terms of operating and main- taining any type of water treatment plant. This empowers us to partner with a client in both the municipal and industrial sectors to ensure plant availability and performance excellence. By using the best-practice method- ologies of operation and optimising plant production, we remove the headache as- sociated with budgeting, plant breakdowns and compliance failures for clients.

With the addition of Hubgrade, Veolia cli- ents are able to concentrate on their core business and rely on Veolia’s team of glob- ally experienced professionals to operate and maintain their plants, ensuring that all of the performance KPIs, quality outcomes and complianceneeds arecontinuouslybeingmet, notes Braybrooke. For Veolia, although we have access to more than 350 different technologies, we are strongly committed to sustainable envi- ronmental practices and concrete action to assist our clients and shareholders to achieve their sustainabledevelopment commitments. When designing a plant, sustainabilitymust bethefirstconsideration:processoptimisation, energy reduction, waste valorisation, lowering the cost of production and affordability. The resulting plant will then be able to meet all of ourphysical,financialandenvironmentalneeds, long into the future. We at Veolia know that digital is key. That’s why it is essential to capitalise on Hubgrade, which offers unique solutions across all our business segments, ensuring improved visibil- ity of operations and offering opportunities to improvetheperformancefromthissingledigital platform, Braybrook concludes. www.veolia.co.za

November-December 2021 • MechChem Africa ¦ 7