The cylinder repair work was executed during South Africa’s national Covid-19 lockdown to minimise downtime at the plant.
Hytec Secunda was tasked with overseeing the urgent repair of two hydraulic cylinders for a large regional customer during South Africa’s Level 5 Covid-19 lockdown.
Working with fellow Bosch Rexroth South Africa Group company Hytec Engineering, the cylinders were refurbished, delivered and installed in just 10 days, despite the logistical challenges of lockdown, ensuring downtime on these essential plant functions was kept to a minimum.
Hytec Secunda was responsible for all onsite work, as well as transport of the cylinders between the plant and Hytec Engineering’s cylinder manufactory in Johannesburg.
There, a 250/115 x 1060 FF filter press cylinder – which solidifies gunk, and separates the liquid from the solids for further processing – was overhauled. This included complete stripping and inspection, refurbishment and honing prior to final testing and recertification.
Hytec Engineering also manufactured a new flopper gate cylinder. An older cylinder is was also repaired, which will be used as the backup cylinder for this equipment.
“Repairing a hydraulic cylinder can be far more cost-effective than purchasing a new one,” explains Andre Lindeque, Hytec Engineering’s General Manager. “The challenge was to rapidly coordinate the service of this equipment in line with the lockdown restrictions to minimise downtime of these essential plant processes.”
Hytec Engineering provides end-to-end hydraulic cylinder services for mines and industries across sub-Saharan Africa.
