28 November, 2014:DCD Wind Towers continues to be a driving force behind the promotion of local manufacturing in the Eastern Cape, through its R300-million facility in the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ), which is meeting production targets by working closely with trusted suppliers such asAfrox, the leading Sub-Saharan African gases and welding company.
DCD Wind Towers completed its first in-house manufactured wind tower in September 2014, which was transported to the Grassridge Wind Energy Facility in Nelson Mandela Bay. Following this historic feat, the company plans to step up production volumes in the near future. DCD Wind Towers general manager Gerrit Viviers notes that Afrox has played a measurable role in this early success.
“Afrox is a well-established brand within the welding and gases business, with an excellent track record in providing solutions that are fit for purpose, and outstanding SHEQ standards that exceed requirements. Afrox has a proficient infrastructure in the Eastern Cape and, if required, specialists from Johannesburg are flown in immediately to assist with any complex challenges. The company’s reliability and integrity is one of its most valuable strengths,” he explains.
Viviers states that this trusted working relationship is set to improve considerably, following the commissioning of Afrox’s new R300-million state-of-the-art air separation unit (ASU), also located in the Coega IDZ. The ASU is expected to produce 150-tons-per-day of oxygen, nitrogen and argon in early 2015, thereby ensuring regional security in the supply of these critical process components. “Afrox has positioned itself strategically in Coega to supply the Eastern Cape with its full demand of ASU gases. The close proximity of the source means security of supply which benefits our company.”
Afrox already supplies the full range of welding gases and consumables to DCD Wind Towers, including, acetylene, bulk liquid oxygen and all associated gas equipment that complies with the legal South African National Standards (SANS) requirements. These gases are used in the manufacturing process, primarily for profile cutting, hand cutting and pre-heating applications.
“For the supply of acetylene, Afrox has installed a 2X10 multiple cylinder pallet (MCP) manifold and pipeline reticulation system at our operating points, in order to accommodate our flow and pressure requirements. Afrox also installed a bulk liquid oxygen vessel with pipeline reticulation to the point of operation, in order to accommodate our required flow rates and pressures,” he adds.
Viviers indicates that Afrox supplies quality products, with technical expertise tailored to specific needs. “The company offers superior technical support across the full range of products, in addition to ensuring compatibility with onsite equipment. Afrox has continued to support DCD Wind Towers with superior service and support, and this relationship looks set to strengthen in the future. This partnership with Afrox is key to long-term economic growth within the Eastern Cape,” he concludes.
About DCD Wind Towers
The facility was specifically established in the Coega IDZ to support the localisation of wind tower manufacturing in South Africa, which essentially ensures the long-term and sustainable creation of an estimated 150 to 200 operational positions and 628 construction jobs.
Direct operational jobs include; boilermakers, shot-blasting operators, cutting operators, chamfering operators, roller operators, coded welders and fitters. What's more, a number of unskilled and semi-skilled individuals have been employed for sand blasting, painting and oxy-fuel cutting.
DCD Wind Towers is also contributing positively to sustainable and renewable power generation, as set out by the Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). DCD Wind Towers has already signed co-operation agreements with the turbine manufacturers that have been successful in Round 2 of the REIPPPP.
The DCD Wind Towers factory is expected to manufacture between 120 and 150 towers per year for the successful bidders in the REIPPPP programme. These towers will be manufactured to the highest international standards of quality and to exact OEM specifications, while remaining uniquely local.
Ends
Notes to the editor
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About DCD Group
DCD Group (Pty) Ltd is an international manufacturing and engineering company providing products and solutions to the rail, mining and energy, defence and marine sectors. As a group DCD is able to offer comprehensive, integrated heavy engineering solutions in addition to bespoke individual solutions. DCD has been an integral participant in South Africa’s infrastructure development for decades and is now playing an active role as a partner of choice to government in the current infrastructure expansion drive.
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Henk Schoeman
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