Motion Control & Drives


SEW-Eurodrive makes a splash in the Western Cape

April 2013 Motion Control & Drives

SEW-Eurodrive recently saw the installation of 10 of its leading modular compact (MC) industrial gear (IG) units. This installation was completed by Inenzo Water on the municipal water treatment plant in the Stellenbosch Winelands.

In water treatment plants one of the initial and most critical stages of the process is to aerate large volumes of water. Aeration is the process whereby water is enriched with oxygen through a continuous rotation and churning process. This enables the release of harmful gases and kills certain bacteria in the water. It also hastens the breakdown of organic matter.

Tailored solutions through products and expertise

Aeration is usually achieved by rotating a propeller through the water volume and thus mixing air into the water. This propeller is exposed to forces, both radial and axial, so should the drive gear be incorrectly installed or selected it can lead to failure or damage to both the propeller and the gearbox driving it.

With SEW-Eurodrive’s Compact range of IG units many additional assembly options are available and the extended bearing distance (EBD) configuration coupled to SEW-Eurodrive’s drywell bearing housing was ideally suited for the aeration process. The EBD configuration allows for higher radial and axial forces to be absorbed by the gearbox, while the bearing housing ensures no oil can leak into the sensitive water treatment process.

“In our industry we have to ensure that we are offering our clients the best solutions at competitive prices,” comments Chris Erasmus, project manager at Inenzo Water. “Over the years we have found that the pricing, quality and service offered by SEW played a decisive role in our procurement for this project.”

SEW-Eurodrive has extensive application knowledge with regards to gearboxes driving aeration equipment. By listening to the client’s requirement and understanding the unique problems faced on this project, the company was able to marry its own extensive product range and knowledge with client expectations.

“The Compact range of IG units are really becoming popular in South Africa,” says Byron Griffiths, manager of the SEW Cape Town branch. “These units have excellent configuration options, such as the EBD and drywell bearing housing we used on this project. These compact units are also relatively small for the torque that they can deliver, which makes them easier to install and commission and cuts down on start-up costs and time.”

An additional advantage is that the units are produced in Nelspruit. Local assembly cuts down on shipping costs resulting in savings for the client. Availability of spares and turnaround time on repairs can also be kept short to ensure high levels of availability.

For more information contact Rene Rose, SEW-Eurodrive, +27 (0)11 248 7131, [email protected], www.sew.co.za



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