Mechanical Technology July 2015

⎪ July 2015 contents ⎪

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ON THE COVER

Features Special report 8 Mercedes-Benz: from one to one million

MBSA’s East London plant has now produced its millionth car, a fourth generation W205 C-Class Mercedes Benz. MechTech visits the multi-award winning manufacturing plant. Power transmission, bearings, bushes and seals 12 SA drives company gears up for Africa Hansen Transmissions South Africa’s market responsibilities have been extended beyond the southern African region to also incorporate west, east and central Africa. In preparation, the company has installed a “game-changing” modern regenerative load test bay for testing industrial gearboxes of up to 300 kNm.

15 New bearing rating life model launched 16 Mill gear unit powers chrome mine output 17 Europe’s largest motors and drives power steel roughing mill 19 Split roller bearings enhance proactive maintenance Computer-aided engineering 20 Pre-CAD solutions for advanced topology optimisation

MechTech visits the solidThinking stand at Indutec and talks to Gronum Smith, the Stellen- bosch-based country manager for Altair South Africa, about solidThinking Inspire ® software. 22 Automating plant and piping design processes 24 Analytics: A vital tool for competiveness 25 Smart data validation tool released Hydraulic and pneumatic systems 26 Compressor investments, long-term efficiency and cost savings Aerzen Airgas marketing co-ordinator Andreas Stubel talks about how rising electricity costs and unreliable supply from the national grid are prompting industrial operations to seek more energy-efficient blowers and compressors. 28 Cylinder castings quality improved Structural engineering materials, metals and non-metals 32 Hygiene and safety with stainless steel handrailing Andrew Mentis’ marketing manager, Elaine van Rooyen, describes how two troublesome issues, hygiene and safety, can be addressed by using stainless steel handrailing. 33 New generation steel roller introduced 35 Materials engineering in practice: Corrosion is everywhere Innovative engineering 36 The consumerisation of manufacturing IT “Smart devices are a consumer success story. Their portability and power are also helping to ‘smartify’ the manufacturing industry – and this is just the start,” says Christoffer Malm, head of the Connectivity Room at SKF. Regulars 1 Comment 4 On the cover: Compressor Technique embraces new technology 6 Industry forum 38 Products and services 40 Nota bene 29 Super flexible high-pressure spiral hose 31 Successful pressure testing at Koeberg

Compressor Technique embraces new technology Following Atlas Copco’s global acquisition of vacuum products specialist, Edwards, Atlas Copco Compressor Technique in South Africa has access to a comprehen- sive vacuum products range. In addition, the company is introducing its patent pending UD+ cartridge filter solution, along with a re-engineered range of GA compressors. MechTech talks to Pieter van Wyk and Dean Adriaanse. For more information contact: Dean Adriaanse, product manager, In- dustrial Air +27 11 821 9310 +27 83 625 3757 dean.adriaanse@za.atlascopco.com www.atlascopco.co.za

Mechanical Technology — July 2015

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