WearCheck Announces Acquisition Of Reliability Testing Company AFS
A view of one of WearCheck’s 16 laboratories. Many companies in the construction industry invest long-term in WearCheck’s condition monitoring programme, citing the many benefits of predictive maintenance through scientific oil analysis – such as completing jobs without delays caused by component failure, and finishing projects within budget by avoiding unplanned maintenance costs.
WearCheck’s new NDT capability further enhances its offering to the construction sector.
Durban-based condition monitoring specialists, WearCheck, has acquired Anglo Field Services (AFS), which adds three new established divisions to the company’s comprehensive reliability solutions portfolio, including non-destructive testing (NDT), technical compliance (TC) and rope condition assessment (RCA).
The fourth AFS division – asset maintenance management (AMM) – has been absorbed into WearCheck’s existing Reliability Solutions team, boosting the company’s man-power in this section as well as adding technical expertise and additional instrumentation.
Branching into Non-destructive Testing means that WearCheck now conducts a range of analysis techniques through which the properties and condition of a component or system are evaluated without causing any damage to it.
WearCheck MD Neil Robinson is positive that the addition of new testing techniques to the company’s reliability solutions services portfolio – including non-destructive testing, technical compliance and rope testing – will help customers reduce maintenance costs and enhance convenience
NDT methods are gaining popularity because they do not permanently alter the item undergoing inspection, making NDT a valuable tool that can save both money and time in condition monitoring and inspections – an approach which dovetails perfectly with WearCheck’s ethos.
WearCheck’s new NDT division offers a range of techniques, including eddy-current-, magnetic-particle-, liquid penetrant-, radiographic-, ultrasonic-, and visual testing.
The new rope testing division provides specialist cable strength assessment and is manned by seven of only 12 people in South Africa who are qualified to conduct these tests.
The technical compliance division provides expert guidance to assist companies to comply with regulatory requirements, and how to rectify violations or problems highlighted during audits.
Prior to merging with WearCheck, AFS operated as part of Anglo’s Technical Division under the Anglo Research section, where they provided specialist NDT and materials consultancy services to Anglo Group companies and other clients on a global basis.
WearCheck is now positioned to offer customers access to an augmented portfolio of reliability solutions in a comprehensive one-stop-shop, leading to cost savings and boosted convenience for customers.
WearCheck MD Neil Robinson believes that the addition of new services enhances the availability of assets operated by WearCheck customers by expanding the choice of condition monitoring options.
“For example,” says Robinson, “the development and implementation of NDT procedures will have a profound impact on keeping operational maintenance costs down for our customers, especially in the construction sector.
“The incorporation of AFS into WearCheck has been a seamless process so far, mainly because the two companies operate with a parallel devotion to data integrity and a shared dedication to customer service excellence,” said Robinson.
WearCheck conducts scientific analysis of used oil from construction vehicles and other equipment used in the building industry. The data is used to predict when / if a component needs remedial maintenance, thus avoiding on-the-job machine failure. Here, Des Rodel of WearCheck Cape Town prepares to process used oil samples.
“All 30 AFS staff members have been absorbed into WearCheck’s staff complement, adding their invaluable expertise and knowledge to the WearCheck team.
“From our side, WearCheck extends a heartfelt welcome to all current AFS customers, and we look forward to bringing new field services clients on board as well as giving our existing clients the benefit of our increased reliability optimisation service offering.”
Some of WearCheck’s customers in the construction sector include:
• Stefanutti Stocks
• Concor
• Scribante
• Diesel Power
• Sandton Plant Hire
• Raumix
• Seneca Civils
• Grinaker
• WK Construction
• Sandvik Mining & Construction
• Aveng Group
• Lafarge
• Fraser Alexander Construction
Coolants, fuels and oils used in industrial equipment are tested and analysed by condition monitoring specialists, WearCheck, in order to implement planned maintenance of components. Doing this helps avoid unscheduled machine failure, which can have a severely negative influence on production and on the bottom line. Here, senior lab technician Trevor Pillay conducts coolant testing at WearCheck’s Pinetown laboratory.
All these customers generally use the standard automotive oil testing kit, and WearCheck also tests coolants and fuels for some of them.
Also of importance to the construction sector is WearCheck’s Plant Asset Optimisation, where condition monitoring forms the basis of a well-established Condition Base Maintenance program, forming an integral part of plant asset optimisation. This not only increases profit, but plant availability too, by reducing unplanned downtime and catastrophic failure of rotating components on plant assets. It is therefore highly beneficial to know the health and the condition of both machine and plant, through effective measuring and monitoring. The condition monitoring team consists of experienced and well-trained personnel, trained in the various technologies and with the ability to perform special investigation on machines,
plant equipment and their structures using specialised techniques such as Operational Deflection Shape (ODS), transient analysis and resonances tests.
Founded 40 years ago, WearCheck is a leading condition monitoring specialist on the African continent, processing in excess of 600 000 samples per annum. The company has evolved into a one-stop-shop for a vast range of reliability solutions services across a number of industries, including the construction sector.
WearCheck is a proud member of the prestigious International WearCheck Group (IWG), an association of independent laboratories around the globe, dedicated to oil and wear particle analysis. WearCheck’s relationship with the IWG allows for the ongoing exchange of advanced technical information, and the ability to offer a worldwide service.