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Drilling company receives compressor on long-term basis

8th November 2013

By: David Oliveira

Creamer Media Staff Writer

  

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Leading compressor hire com- pany Rand-Air recently supplied a XAHS186DD Atlas Copco compressor, which can be used in a range of applications, including sand-blasting, to drilling company Round One Drilling Solutions on a long-term basis.

Round One Drilling Solutions operations manager Jason Greeff says the service that Rand-Air provides is vital to the industry, noting that one of the challenges at Round One Drilling Solutions is “the remoteness of the locations where its geotechnical drilling operations take place. When Round One Drilling Solutions undertook power-line foundation drilling contracts for State-owned Eskom, the company encountered difficult mountainous terrain. It became difficult for the company’s teams to transport the large, high-pressure compressors that it required into these areas. A significant amount of time was spent trying to get equipment on site at the expense of drilling time. After some research and discussion, Rand-Air offered Round One Drilling Solutions the plant rental option that it needed”, he says.

While significant pressure is placed on companies which undertake and execute major products in the manufacturing and mining sectors, their success is heavily dependent on the capacity and reliability of their suppliers.

Projects of this nature are often lengthy, requiring long-term equipment rental. The provision of a programme, which focuses specifically on long-term rentals, therefore, meets many industrial customers’ requirements.

This project saw Rand-Air importing a specialised low-volume, high-pressure compressor from Belgium for Round One Drilling Solutions. Greeff points out that the company received a far more compact compressor, weighing 1.8 t; as opposed to the six-ton-plus machine which the company had used previously.

Rand-Air GM Louwrens Erasmus notes that the long-term rental option is tailored to the relevant customer and industry, adding that the package consists of a fixed monthly rental fee, which allowed Round One Drilling Solutions to project a budget in advance. The option also entails a full maintenance programme, provided by Rand-Air.

Another feature of the project was that Round One Drilling Solutions was able to reduce production costs despite using a smaller machine.

“When Round One Drilling Solutions used the new compressor, an immediate result was the noticeable ease of moving such a light compressor, which could still deliver the high-pressure performance that the company needed for its drilling requirements. The Round One Drilling Solutions’ team now spends far less time moving equipment and more time drilling, which has increased production by between 25% and 30%.

“In addition, the fact that the compressor has a smaller motor means that diesel consumption is also more efficient. The net overall effect was an increase of 30% production, and 50% less diesel use,” comments Greeff.

These substantial operational improvements demonstrate the importance of the relationship between the client and supplier, and what can be achieved when both have a clear understanding of the goals and objectives of the project.

Erasmus adds that from Rand-Air’s perspective, while there is a real requirement for long-term rental programmes in industry, Rand-Air looks forward to providing the market with the peace of mind and added value that industrial plant rental (IPR) customers such as Round One Drilling have experienced.

Meanwhile, Rand-Air notes that the recession has had a negative effect on many companies, irrespective of size. The ability to concentrate on core business functions and eliminate unnecessary overheads is a leading factor in future sustainability. Rand-Air’s IPR programme offers an alternative to tying up business funds in capital equipment.

“IPR was introduced by Rand-Air nine years ago with nine compressors. The concept has proven so popular that today we have over 150 machines out on permanent, long-term rental,” says Rand-Air marketing manager Byrone Thorne.

Rand-Air sales manager Kim Coetzee, who was jointly responsible for establishing IPR in the company, says the benefits of using IPR are evident in the amount of repeat business that Rand-Air is awarded. “Rand-Air has a number of customers in various sectors, but the bulk of our footprint resides in the mining sector.”

IPR is a customised product and service offering that allows companies to outsource the responsibility for the supply of air and power. “Rand-Air provides negotiated contracts that cover the cost of machine delivery and installation, standby service, scheduled inspections, the use of standby machines when necessary, operators when needed, and all maintenance, parts and labour, including travelling costs,” Coetzee explains.

Coetzee and Thorne have a sales team dedicated to this specialised service. “With our joint efforts we are currently making inroads into the food and beverage, chemicals and petrochemicals industries. “We believe in supplying at the point of need. A good example of this is the use of our nitrogen application, which is suitable for preservation purposes in the wine- making industry. “In addition, we are seeing a higher demand for underground mining applications,” notes Thorne.

“Rand-Air has already procured a long-term contract for a well-known underground mining operation. “The company’s ability to flexibly adjust its offerings to this particular client resulted in Rand-Air’s supporting local branch being awarded a supplier recognition achievement award late last year,” says Coetzee.

Thorne adds that all diversified industrial tooling and equipment manufacturer Atlas Copco machines that Rand-Air supplies to the mine have been adapted to handle the harsh working conditions experienced in the underground mining scenario.

He explains that finding the right match between a customer’s application and the Atlas Copco equipment available from Rand-Air is determined by using a sophisticated formulaic procedure. “Rand-Air’s machine- selection decision-making process is based on a number of calculations, including the cost of the machine and the maintenance rate applied to the number of hours the machine will be working. “Technical expertise and knowledge is important in ensuring that the machine is capable of performing the required tasks,” says Thorne.

Coetzee adds that an awareness of energy efficiency and fuel consumption plays a large role in the decision-making process and is linked to cost effectiveness. “Rand-Air has always promoted the use of variable speed drives as an energy-saving option on mines. “This is underpinned by the company’s emphasis on adhering to safety requirements. Rand-Air complies with all ISO and occupational health and safety standards as required by our clients.

“By introducing IPR to all of Rand-Air’s branches, we provide a greater level of sustainability for each region. “While there will always be a need for short-term hire of com- pressors and generators, IPR affords the company a guaranteed revenue even when times are tough,” says Thorne.

“In addition to the financial benefits we reap from IPR, we are further rewarded with the opportunity to acquire an intimate knowledge of our customers’ operations. “In this way, we are able to provide them with the best possible solutions for a sustainable, long-term relationship,” Coetzee concludes.

Edited by Megan van Wyngaardt
Creamer Media Contributing Editor Online

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