WearCheck Water wins accreditation for microbiological testing
June 2025Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
WearCheck Water’s Johannesburg laboratory was recently awarded ISO/IEC17025 accreditation for Total Coliforms and Escherichia coli (E.coli) Testing after a rigorous audit process, adding to the company’s extensive list of certifications, and reinforcing the laboratory’s adherence to national and international work quality standards.
WearCheck Water laboratory assistant, Khensani Mbuli with the company’s latest accreditation certificate for microbiological testing.
WearCheck Water operates under the umbrella of specialist condition monitoring company, WearCheck, which is the only oil analysis company in Africa with ISO 9001 quality certification and ISO 14001 certification for its environmental management programme, including ISO 17025 accreditation for its laboratory-centric quality management programme. WearCheck Water recently earned SANAS accreditation for AdBlue/ DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) testing.
General manager of WearCheck Water, Thelma Horsfield, is proud of her team’s achievements. “It is no easy task to set up the method and gain accreditation. We work for many months to fine-tune methods that we can present confidently to SANAS for approval. Our ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation is for the membrane filtration method used in detecting total coliforms and E. coli in water samples. This accreditation underscores the lab’s commitment to delivering precise and reliable water-quality testing services,” she says. “By securing ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for this method, WearCheck Water’s Johannesburg laboratory demonstrates our technical expertise and commitment to safeguarding public health through accurate and dependable water quality testing.”
Horsfield elaborates, ‘”This accreditation not only reflects a high level of technical competence, but also entrusts the individual with substantial responsibility. A Technical Signatory (TS) holds the authority to validate and approve test results, ensuring they meet international standards of accuracy and reliability.
“The journey to becoming a TS is rigorous and demands extensive knowledge, experience and dedication. The process involves comprehensive training in quality management systems, proficiency in specific testing methods, and a thorough understanding of ISO/IEC 17025 requirements. Candidates must demonstrate their technical competency through assessments, internal audit, and continuous professional development. This role carries immense responsibility, as the TS is accountable for the integrity and validity of laboratory results. TS decisions directly impact public health, environmental safety and regulatory compliance. Upholding these standards requires unwavering commitment, attention to detail, and adherence to best practices.”
WearCheck Water provides professional water analysis services to multiple industries across southern Africa, including mining, agriculture, fleet management and manufacturing.
Electrostatic spark discharge – when static strikes back Wearcheck
Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
WearCheck technical manager, Steven Lumley explains how static electricity accumulates in modern low-conductivity lubricants, why compact system designs and fine filtration make ESD more likely, and how to recognise the degradation it leaves behind.
Read more...How SCE approaches sensor selection for critical environments Specialised Climate Engineering
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
Specifying the right sensor for a critical climate involves far more than matching a datasheet accuracy figure. As an authorised Vaisala HVAC partner, SCE explains how understanding the environment, the measurement purpose and sensor placement determines effective climate control.
Read more...When maintenance-system compliance starts replacing plant reliability Wearcheck
Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
WearCheck ARC division manager, Annemie Willer argues that the greatest threat to effective maintenance is no longer a lack of technology, but the gradual replacement of technical judgement by CMMS compliance, leaving no one owning the machine.
Read more...Changing gas quality calls for smarter combustion control
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
As South Africa prepares for a transition from declining Mozambican natural gas to a proposed methane-rich bridge, LNG, industrial users can no longer assume a constant Wobbe Index and calorific value. The compact RMG RGQ 5 provides fast, plant-level gas-quality data to support approved burner and engine settings.
Read more...Nitration: the acid you didn’t see coming Wearcheck
Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
Nitration is as destructive as oxidation in many engines but far less understood. WearCheck technical manager, Steven Lumley explains how nitrogen oxide gases degrade lubricants, why the process is difficult to detect, and what oil analysis can reveal before damage occurs.
Read more...Getting the chemistry right
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
Grace’s European production site has relied on analogue compression load cells from Minebea Intec for decades, with the long-proven measurement concept now serving as the reference for new silo projects as the company expands its capacity.
Read more...Why measurement matters in smelting Endress+Hauser South Africa
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
South African smelters returning to operation after energy constraints face new demands for tighter control, better visibility and environmental compliance. Endress+Hauser explains how modern measurement technology supports safer, more efficient furnace operation and local beneficiation.
Read more...Sun tracking with pinpoint precision Senseca
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
Senseca has introduced the SEMS-2000 solar energy measurement system, a 2-axis solar tracker with pinpoint sun-pointing accuracy that automatically monitors direct, global and diffuse irradiance for unattended outdoor solar installations.
Read more...When oil can’t take the heat Wearcheck
Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
Unlike the slow ageing of oxidation, thermal breakdown is the sudden chemical collapse of a lubricant under excessive heat. Steven Lumley of WearCheck explains how it happens, where it strikes, and how oil analysis detects it.
Read more...When oil gets old Wearcheck
Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
WearCheck explains how oxidation breaks down lubricating oils over time, and how routine oil analysis can catch the warning signs before equipment failure.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.