MechChem Africa October 2018

⎪ Products and industry news ⎪

Drones and abseilers used to inspect smokestack

Contactless proximity switches for more reliable detection Countapulse Controls has announced that German sensor specialist, Leuze Electronic, is expanding its portfolio of optoelectronic and inductive switches with capacitive proximity switches. This move will make it possible for us- ers to procure complete solutions for detection requirements from a single source. Countapulse Controls has been the official distributor for Leuze electronic for more than 45 years and offers a full technical advisory service. This, Gerry Bryant, managing director of CountapulseControls, says “enables us toprovide fit-for-purpose sensing solutions to industries across southern Africa.” The introduction by Leuze of contactless, wear-free switches that are resistant to elec- tromagnetic influences, interference and con- taminants in the air, such as dust, will have major advantages for endusers. The capacitive switches are available in a cylindrical or cubic design, as well as embedded or non-embedded versions for a wide range of mounting options. Due to their semiconductor technology, the Leuze sensors have a long life expectancy, regard- less of the detection and switching frequency. The new variants facilitate contactless detec- tion of numerous different objects and media, regardless of the shape. These sensors are partic- ularly suitable for detecting objects in harsh and dirtyenvironments due to the IP67 ratedhousing. These Leuze sensors can “see through” certain materials, which provides optimum accuracy in difficult sensing applications such as those found in food and beverage and printing and packaging operations. The devices can detect products in outer packaging and behind container walls as well as check fill levels. www.countapulse.co.za

Instead of traditional scaffolding, which is both costly and time-consuming to erect, Skyriders Access Specialists combined the use of a hi-tech drone with a special- ist abseiling team to provide a unique inspection and maintenance service for Dundee PreciousMetals Tsumeb (DPMT) of Namibia. “The remote location, about 430 km north of the capital Windhoek, combined with the height of the structure, meant that traditional scaffolding posed a logis- tical challenge,” says Skyriders marketing manager, Mike Zinn. InJanuary, SkyridersAccess Specialists teamed up with Nyeleti Consulting to inspect the smokestack. The solution was a combination of a drone to inspect the smokestack internally, and rope access to perform all external inspection, as well as core sampling. Based on these collated findings, DPMT put the cleaning project out to tender, which was subsequently awarded to Skyriders. The Canadian-owned DMPT copper refinery requires periodic inspection of the structural integrity of its smokestack and related areas. “Between our expert technicians and Nyeleti’s engineering experience, we were able to determine precisely what would be needed during the upcomingmaintenance period, before drafting a detailed report for the client,” Zinn explains. The initial inspection revealed ash build-up fromfree gases inside the smoke- stack, which can restrict the airflow necessary to vent the internal gases. This build-up therefore had to be cleared. The team of six, comprising two Level 3 supervisors and four Level 2 technicians, accessed the topof the smokestackbefore that is relaxing to the individual. “I found the presentation most ben- eficial as it taught me a great deal about dealing with stress not only at the of- fice but at home,” comments Herculine Niekerk, HR administrator for Atlas Copco Holdings.

drilling and placing anchor points into the structure, fromwhich rigging ropes could be deployed to abseil to the areas that required cleaning. Now cleaned and with no impeded airflow, the smokestack is ready for a few more years of uninterrupted service life. “Skyriders has a highly satisfied cli- ent in DPMT, which was most pleased with the proactive approach adopted to its specific inspection and maintenance requirements,” Zinn concludes. www.ropeaccess.co.za Rope access was used to carry out all external inspection of the smokestack at the DMPT copper refinery. “Stress will never go away, but we can learn to take control of our lives and make more time for ourselves. I plan to focusmore on the things I love doing and spend more time with my family rather than trying to do everything all at once.” www.atlascopcogroup.com

Leuze’s range of optoelectronic, inductive and capacitive proximity switches.

October 2018 • MechChem Africa ¦ 45