When it comes to magnetic level sensors there is no doubt that the world's 'Rolls Royce' is the products from Heinrich Kübler AG (Kübler) in Switzerland and they provide the standard against which all similar products are measured.
Kübler was formed in 1976 and produced its first level sensors five years later in 1981. The company has been represented in South Africa for more than 20 years through a series of agents, but these unfortunately changed on a regular basis preventing the parent from providing not only continuity but also the specialist knowledge required for proper implementation of its sensor range. Today Kübler offers a vast range of magnet-operated float switches, level sensors and bypass level indicators all designed to customer specification and application criteria.
The uncertainty regarding representation changed in December 1997 when Kübler Africa was created as a joint venture company between Kübler (Switzerland) and its three South African Directors, Johan Steyn (Managing), Marius Wessels and Paulo da Silva. Despite the investment made by Kübler the company is locally controlled by these three partners. What they brought to the deal was specialist magnetics knowledge in a big way with a combined 20 years' experience in magnetic level sensor technology, most of this acquired through their association with Kübler. The investment made by Kübler in South Africa was not only an indication of their confidence in the growth of our economy (they operate globally) but is part of a worldwide trend to establish directly affiliated distributors as opposed to 'broad-line' agents. The name chosen for the local company is significant as they have distribution rights for the whole of the African continent and may shortly be extending their reach into the oil-rich Middle East.
The early days of the new local company were somewhat stressed as a result of an action by the previous agent who felt he had been unjustly treated by Kübler, which was allegedly in breach of contract. This case has now been resolved in the High Court with the plaintiff eventually losing and having to pay costs and outstanding monies due to the Swiss company. Unfortunately while the case dragged on unfounded negative rumours arose in the market about the company and its products. In the end the quality of the sensors and the solutions provided by Kübler Africa overcame these dubious perceptions and the local company is now growing its turnover at more than 30% compound per annum. During the 2000 financial year the purchases made from the Swiss manufacturer increased 50% compared to the previous year, a sure indicator that the Kübler brand is almost back where it belongs. In fact Steyn says that they still have some way to go in achieving their goal of having 50% of the total local market for magnetic sensors, but attaining and exceeding that target is now reality, not just a dream!
As far as Kübler is concerned there is no such thing as a 'standard' magnetic level sensor, as a result of the varying requirements in length, size of flanges, positions and diameter of bypasses and so forth. Each sensor is custom-made to provide the exact requirement required by the customer, and is made from only the highest quality stainless steel (Monel 400 bypass indicators were introduced in 1998) unlike many of Kübler's so-called imitators. The solution provided by Kübler Africa is tailored to the customer needs and is not an 'out of the box' approach. This is why the local company is comprised of specialists (not agents) who will go out of their way to go on-site to solve the problem. Despite this individual (custom) approach the delivery of the final product from Switzerland will take only between four and five weeks, even shorter in the case of an emergency where (for a small cost premium) delivery of previously designed systems can be effected within a week. These devices, branded as 'KSR', are manufactured in the company's ISO 9001 facility in Baar. Product approval certification to international standards (eg CE, ATEX 100) has been obtained from a number of leading organisations including TüV, Gemanischer Lloyd and our own SABS. The entire KSR range use the standard 4 to 20 mA output and offer the HART protocol as an option.
As for the company's customers, these include any industry that has a requirement to measure the level of liquids and major markets include the petrochemical industry, wastewater and effluent treatment, precious metal refineries, power generation, the sugar and mining industries. In the petrochemical industry alone the clients of Kübler Africa include all the Sasol operations, Engen, Mossgas, Caltex and Sapref. The high quality and reliability of these sensors makes them particularly attractive for these especially demanding operations.
Kübler Africa thrives on unique challenges and Steyn points out that magnetic technology can often solve unique problems. Unfortunately these sensors often have an undeservedly poor reputation in the industry as a result of other (often local) manufacturers supplying poor quality product that performs inadequately. Kübler believes that through its in-house R&D, its ISO 9001 certification and its unequalled warranty it will provide a reliable magnetic sensor solution to any liquid container problem. As an example of the unseen advantages provided by magnetics Eskom's Kriel Power Station recently asked the company for advice. They had a level measurement problem on their condensers that has existed for many years. Kübler Africa installed a test unit on their Unit 5 two months ago and within two weeks the Eskom engineers realised that their problem was solved. They have now decided to install these magnetic level sensors on all the operating units.
The biggest bane in the life of Kübler Africa is that old South African syndrome where we always think we can make something better ourselves. Many other small local companies have mistakenly looked on magnetic level sensors as being simple and have reverse engineered these products to produce a low-cost device that often provides disastrous results for the customer. These dubious companies have done much to destroy the credibility of magnetic level sensors in local industry and here Kübler Africa is still trying to restore the image of the KSR line as not only being highly accurate and reliable, but also often being able to provide level measurement solutions where other technologies, including radar and acoustics will just not work. In fact the local team encourages the end-user to come to them with their most difficult and insoluble liquid level measurement problems. Be wise like Eskom and test out the magnetic solution.
Kübler Africa remains a small and customer-friendly company with just a few administrative staff assisting the three specialist directors. While Wessels holds the fort at their modern premises in Honeydew, Steyn and da Silva are usually out on the road visiting customers and providing new solutions. While the company may expand in the future into complementary product lines, for the time being the focus is on where their factory and on-the-job expertise lies, namely magnetic level sensing. That is why they proudly refer to themselves as South Africa's magnetic level specialists.
Kübler Africa
(011) 675 0616
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