Valve & Automation’s control valve, more than four metres tall, produced for Siemens Energy in Duisburg, has broken ARCA’s internal design height record.
In September 2021, Valve & Automation ran a special type of acceptance test at one of its factories in Tönisvorst, Germany. With the production of this ‘control giant’ with a design height of 4,20 metres, the company confirmed that it is a leader in control valve design and manufacture, and is a first contact partner in compressor construction.
This record was achieved by the pairing of a 60 cm valve with a special bonnet, which in addition to its conventional components, also included a bellows seal, which was specially designed to prevent any emission of the medium through the stuffing box. The enormous design height made it necessary to switch to alternative assembly steps in order to manufacture the valve according to customer requirements.
Together with this colossus, this project from Siemens Energy included a 50 cm valve and a 157 cm perforated disc. Siemens Energy required these valves for a plant owned by Formosa Petrochemical Group, which will be built in the eastern Chinese coastal city of Ningbo. The control valve was part of a delivery of a gear type turbo compressor train, which is to be used in a purified terephthalic acid plant (PTA) to manufacture plastic products. The compressor train consisted of a gear type compressor of the STC-GV (200-4) type and a cold gas expander STC-GT (160-2),driven by an electromotor.
Pushing technological boundaries with Festo Electric Automation solutions Festo South Africa
Editor's Choice
In the ever-evolving landscape of Industrial Automation, Festo Electric Automation solutions are at the forefront of a revolution, fundamentally reshaping production paradigms. As a global leader in automation, Festo focuses on intelligent connectivity to reduce costs, save time, and increase efficiency and convenience for customers.
Read more...Perfect balance for every race Horne Technologies
Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
It goes without saying that success in Formula 1 requires a top driver. However, their chance of achieving a place on the podium depends on the car, which in turn depends on three essential factors: engine, tyres and aerodynamics. To find the optimum balance, the racing teams test models of their bolides in the wind tunnel. At Sauber, the adjustable components are moved on the model and in the test chamber using FAULHABER motors.
Read more...MeerKAT radio telescope array
Editor's Choice News & events
Leading consulting engineering and infrastructure advisory practice, Zutari is continuing its involvement with the world-leading MeerKAT radio telescope array, where it has played a leading role since the project first broke ground.
Read more...Top 10 emerging technologies
Editor's Choice
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has identified ten technologies likely to make a significant positive impact in the next three to five years. These are detailed in the ‘Top 10 Emerging Technologies’ report, which explains each technology’s potential for addressing global challenges and the factors that will shape the future and revolutionise connectivity still further.
Read more...Electrifying the future Parker Hannifin - Sales Company South Africa
Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
A revolution is underway, transforming the way we power compact construction machines and heavy-duty mobile machinery. This is the electrification of equipment, a movement propelled by the need for environmental sustainability, lower emissions, reduced noise levels, and the pursuit of a cleaner, greener future.
Read more...How to clean compressed air effectively
Editor's Choice
SO-Reliability Partners has taken another step in bringing to market highly effective solutions to combat contamination in all its forms. The locally designed and patented Air Wizard inline water trap is proudly manufactured in South Africa. It has been SABS tested for the separation of water, oily fluids, rust and solid particulates from pneumatic compressed air or gas lines.
Read more...New Black Bruin hydraulic motors for heavy-duty applications Axiom Hydraulics
Editor's Choice Hydraulic systems & components
Axiom Hydraulics and Black Bruin have been working together since the late 1990s, serving southern Africa’s fluid power, mining, industrial, agriculture and marine industries. Now Black Bruin is extending its rotating shaft motor portfolio. With a patent pending design, the new X-series is engineered to enhance the performance of both new and existing machinery in terms of durability, serviceability and cost-effectiveness.
Read more...Quality gearboxes for agriculture SEW-EURODRIVE
Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Offering a complete gear solution for centre pivot irrigation systems, SEW-EURODRIVE brings its quality products and support as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) closer to South Africa’s farming sector.
Read more...Robotic solution for adhesive tape application with flexible control Beckhoff Automation
Editor's Choice Robotics & Mechatronics
In industry, even elaborate processes, such as the application of adhesive tape to parts with varying geometries are automated. Innovative Automation has developed a platform with Beckhoff control technology and a remote feeding module, which increases productivity and enables flexible customisation for different requirements.
Read more...The information explosion
Editor's Choice Other technologies
The world has a data storage problem. There’s an explosion in the volume of data being generated and stored, and it’s rising exponentially. Fortunately, organisations are beginning to test new storage technologies like DNA storage, glass storage, neuromorphic computing, and extreme parallelism in order to keep up.