While it still has some way to go in matching the diameters of flowmeters installed by its parent, Krohne South Africa achieved a milestone with the installation and calibration of massive 2,5 m diameter electromagnetic and ultrasonic flowmeters in the Lesotho Highlands Water scheme. These meters, one continuously checking the other, is what determines the payments South Africa makes for the supply of water from this landmark African engineering project.
Krohne had been represented in South Africa since 1967, so the decision for the mother company to invest here was a sound one based on the company's increasing involvement in mining and other major industries. Further commitment to the Krohne presence in South Africa came with the opening of the new headquarters building in Midrand in 1990, a time when many of its erstwhile competitors were making themselves less visible by creating locally-owned subsidiaries, most of which have now reverted back to the previous principals.
While some specialist manufacturing was initially carried out in South Africa, this activity was suspended in 1996. The benefits still remain in that the company retains the expertise to carry out a substantial amount of flowmeter refurbishment - and very important - instrument calibration. While Krohne operates autonomously, the parent has strong board representation.
The early days
Krohne was started almost by chance in 1921 after a friend commissioned the founder, Ludwig Krohne, to manufacture some simple measuring instruments for him. The first products of the company were variable area flowmeters for gas flow measurements, widely used in industrial furnaces of that era. The Krohne business (Ludwig Krohne & Sohn) survived the depression in the '30s, and the first company-owned production shop was constructed in 1936 in Duisburg. Sadly, World War II destroyed the factory and saw the death of father and son.
The company today
The production facilities of Krohne each specialise in different areas of expertise. Duisburg, as well as being the head office and centre for research and development, still manufactures variable-area (VA) flowmeters, non-contact radar level products and all electronics required for the company's other products. The 'Centre of Excellence' for electromagnetic and ultrasonic flowmeters is the Altometer facility in Dordrecht in the Netherlands. This centre is unique in Europe as it can build electromagnetic meters up to 3,2 m in diameter and has a number of calibration rigs traceable to the Nmi (Netherlands), one of which can calibrate flowmeters up to 3,2 m in diameter. More recently this unique 3,2 m capability has been duplicated at its joint venture company in Shanghai in China, from where Krohne will be supplying flowmeters into that country's massive dam and hydroelectric developments. The plant in the United Kingdom specialises in single straight-tube Coriolis massflow meters, while the USA plant specialises in the bent-tube variety. Krohne France manufactures all related level products including mechanical and the time domain reflectometry radar devices.
While the local company's prime focus is on the Krohne range of equipment, it has expanded its value to its customer base by representing some other leading companies who offer complementary measurement products. The principals represented by Krohne in South Africa are Zellweger, Michell, Mettler Toledo, Hycontrol, B.T.G., Ronan, P.T.L. Hermann and Trendview. These principals have been responsible for some major achievements whilst with Krohne, such as an NPL (UK) traceable standard humidity calibration system supplied to the National Metrology Laboratory in Pretoria; the detection and location of radioactive material in the transport of scrap metal; power station and bio product on-line analysis and multiscanning ultrasonic level measurement.
For more information contact Gordon Duff, Krohne, 011 315 2685, [email protected], www.krohne.co.za
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