Tubular’s expertise, resources and in-house self-sustainable facilities make the company the preferred choice for major capital projects requiring structural steelwork, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, platework and piping (SMEIPP) solutions.
Tubular are specialists in the supply of complete SMEIPP solutions and have been heavily involved in capital projects throughout the construction, mining, power and engineering sectors for many decades.
Tubular Chief Executive Officer, Tony Trindade said “We believe we are definitely the first choice in the supply of SMEIPP services due to our experience and quality end-product. Our expertise and reputation is well documented both within the mining sector and other industries. We have never let a client down on our quality, service or our attention to detail. We supply on-time and to budget”.
Major projects that Tubular has worked on include Kalagadi Manganese Project (Hotazel), Exxaro Coal (Grootegeluk Medupi Expansion Project), Eskom Kusile: Water Waste Treatment Plant, Air Cooled Condensers and Turbine Hall Project.
“Our seamless servicing expertise which our specialist workshops and factories supply and operating our own plant fleet enables us to offer a superior pricing structure as we eliminate costs normally incurred by outsourced activities and leasing options” said Trindade.
Major Projects
Exxaro Coal
A major project that Tubular contributed to is Exxaro Coal’s Medupi Coal Expansion Project. Offering a complete construction solution, Tubular fabricated and installed light, medium and heavy structuralsteelwork amounting to more than 8,400
tons coupled with the handling and erection of hundreds of free issued mechanical items. “Also fabricated and erected was platework that incorporated painted mild steel, 3CR12 as well as 304L stainless steel which amounted to approximately 1,540 tons. Tasked with cladding all of the buildings meant we supplied and installed over 51,000 m2 of sheeting on this project valued at R1.2 billion” commented Trindade Jorge Bonifacio, Tubular Director, added that 24.2 km of plant and over-land piping was also supplied, painted and installed at Exxaro Coal.
Eskom Kusile
The Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) at Kusile enabled Tubular to show its versatility and experience on a project that is experimental and one of its kind in the country. This innovative waste water project is designed to optimise, purify and ultimately reuse the cooling water which is circulated within the various cooling systems in the power station.
Trindade said “Our scope of work included the large scale erection of free-issued structural steelwork, mechanical items and platework including all ducting of various steel grades. On-site erection consisted of between 900-950 tons and installation of more than 150 mechanical items. Approximately 500 tons of pipe supporting gantries were also fabricated, supplied and installed by Tubular”.
“The highly corrosive properties of the water circuiting within the various piping systems was an important factor on this project, and was procured, supplied, fabricated, tested, delivered and installed by Tubular meeting stringent design requirements and specifications of General Electric” commented Bonifacio.
Various grades of steel pipes including stainless steel, alloy20, alloy625, AL6XN and various plastic and FRP piping has been supplied. In total, Tubular fabricated, installed, tested and is currently commissioning approximately 8,5km of
small bore piping.
Kalagadi Resources
Tubular completed work on the Kalagadi Manganese Mine Project, valued at R567 million, in the Northern Cape in 2016.The project incorporated approximately 1,344 ton of heavy structural steel work for all buildings, housing various processes and operations. Medium steel supplied and erected on site for various stockpiles and run of mines, amounted to approximately 1,024 ton, while light steelwork for all conveyors and materials handling came to almost 1,254 tons.
In addition to the mechanical equipment free issued by the client that was installed, platework supply and installation on site of more than 325 tons was conducted as well as the supply and installation of approximately 23km of piping.
Electrical and instrumentation installation teams from Tubular ensured a perfectly completed SMEIPP service.
Kusile
“The air cooled condensor contract at Kusile in Mpumalanga placed Tubular in a league of its own. For years our workshops were pushed to capacity and our vast pool of mechanical equipment incorporating mobile cranes, trucks, tractors, mobile lifts, etc, was stretched to meet the demands of the project. A feat we are extremely proud of having successfully accomplished” commented Trindade.
Trindade continued: “We believe only a hand-full of companies in SA could manage such a project, but none have the equipment in-house, as we do at Tubular, to meet these contractual requirements. Tubular were required to do a large percentage of the erection works above the 65 meter level. It is worth mentioning that major crane lifts of over 140tons, amount to 3220”.
“Even more impressive is the total amount of 75,600 tons erected to date, made up of approx. 18,000 tons of structural steel installation, 11,400 tons of steel ducting installation and approximately 46,200 tons of free issued mechanical equipment. The installation of approximately 18km of plant piping together with 76,200m² of cladding also presented its challenges. This equates to over 6,000 truckloads delivered to site” he said.
At R3,45billion, this is one the biggest projects that Tubular has been associated with, and has created over 800 jobs. Safety statistics show 7.8 million safe-hours have been achieved. All major lifts on site have been completed, and the construction on site is anticipated to be finalised by the end of 2018.
“Our experience highlights our expertise” said Trindade, “If you want successful SMEIPP servicing, there is only one choice, Tubular”.