Marthinusen & Coutts manages special logistics for PPC mill motor

June 2014 News

When PPC contacted Marthinusen & Coutts to investigate the cause of smoke emitting from a Hitachi mill motor at its Hercules cement factory in Pretoria, a site visit confirmed that the motor needed to be removed for a full evaluation. PPC agreed and asked Marthinusen & Coutts to supervise the removal, loading and transport of the unit.

“The motor was exceptionally large and difficult to manoeuvre, however we were ready to assist with this special request from our customer to remove the motor,” says Craig Megannon, Marthinusen & Coutts general manager. “The removal exercise involved hiring a 140 ton crane and an 80 ton low bed truck, to accommodate this massive motor, complete with a traffic escort from Pretoria to Cleveland.”

Once at the Cleveland facility, the Marthinusen & Coutts team found that the motor’s rotor had rubbed against the stator core, damaging the insulation of the windings and the interlamination insulation.

“Our assessment of the unit involved high-level testing of the cores and windings,” says Megannon. “These extensive tests found that, although the windings were still good electrically, both cores had been badly damaged. After we completed the re-insulating and restacking, we sent a team to site to assist with installation and commissioning.”

The project was managed on behalf of PPC by Albert Fivaz, PPC Hercules engineering manager, and his team with assistance from Kobus Odendal, PPC group senior electrical engineer.

For more information contact Richard Botton, Marthinusen & Coutts, +27 (0)11 607 1700, [email protected], www.mandc.co.za

Further reading:

Reinstatement opportunity for ECSA registration
News
In 2023 the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) announced a special opportunity for engineers in South Africa to reinstate their registration status if it had been cancelled. This exclusive offer is available until the end of August 2024.

Read more...

---

Two weeks to go: AATF 2025 welcomes Africa’s industrial future
News
With less than two weeks to go, the countdown to Africa Automation Technology Fair 2025 is on - and there’s never been a better time to register.

Read more...

---

Groundbreaking renewable energy skills platform
News
South Africa’s renewable energy sector has taken a significant leap forward with the launch of PowerUp. A South African first, this online platform is designed to equip the country’s workforce with the skills required to meet industry demands.

Read more...

---

Innomotics wins Platinum TITAN Brand Award for Best Corporate Rebranding
News
Innomotics has been awarded with the Platinum TITAN Brand Award for Best Corporate Rebranding. The international jury honoured Innomotics’ efforts to develop a powerful and recognisable brand after the carve-out of Innomotics from the Siemens Group in 2023.

Read more...

---

Unlocking Africa’s hydrogen potential
News
Africa is positioning itself as a frontrunner in the global green energy revolution, with hydrogen emerging as a critical commodity of strategic and national importance across the continent. Namibia is putting ambition into action by having already reached a number of key milestones towards final investment decision on up to five projects.

Read more...

---

Fuchs doubles sales volume
News
An aggressive growth strategy in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa over the last decade has resulted in Fuchs Lubricants South Africa achieving a CAGR of 6% in volume sold since 2015. The result of this is that sales volume has nearly doubled in this time.

Read more...

---

High-quality sensing and automation equipment
News
The Turck Banner Demo Van is showcasing the company’s latest products and solutions.Turck Banner sells directly to end users and OEMs in a broad range of industries and applications.

Read more...

---

SA company uses AI to break the language barrier
News
Helm has a unique approach to AI that allows it to automate customer communication in any of South Africa’s 11 official spoken languages.

Read more...

---

From ground to compound: the journey of crude oil
Wearcheck News
You’re in for a ‘crude awakening’ when you download WearCheck’s latest Technical Bulletin. You will be treated to an in-depth explanation of the processes of producing oil, fuel and other petrochemical wonders that power our modern lifestyle.

Read more...

---

2025 – a year for growth, amid industry challenges
News
Automation is rapidly emerging as a catalyst for industrial transformation, enabling businesses to meet sustainability targets, enhance productivity and drive economic efficiency.

Read more...

---