South Africa-based oil analysis specialists WearCheck recently acquired the Condition Monitoring division of ABB, making WearCheck the only company in Africa - and one of only a handful globally - that can provide a highly sophisticated, complete condition monitoring service to all industry and mining.
The acquisition of the ABB division fits into WearCheck’s strategy to offer a complete industrial condition monitoring solution – which also includes the analysis of heat transfer, turbine and transformer oils.
The former ABB division was responsible for most of the condition monitoring carried out by ABB in the fields of vibration analysis, infrared, laser alignment, shaft balancing and oil analysis, which WearCheck had been doing on behalf of ABB for a number of years. This business unit has been incorporated into WearCheck’s recently-formed Reliability Solutions division, adding significantly to their capability in this field, and transforming WearCheck into a ‘one-stop shop’ for condition monitoring.
All current ABB condition monitoring contracts and staff are in the process of being transferred and welcomed into WearCheck.
Neil Robinson, WearCheck’s managing director, is quick to assure all ABB condition monitoring customers that the transition to WearCheck will be a seamless one.
‘We are committed to honouring all existing ABB contracts, and aim to exceed our new customers’ expectations. In addition, the ABB customers will now have access to WearCheck’s vast range of alternative predictive maintenance products and services.
‘Our customer services team is on standby to handle any queries, and we look forward to welcoming all new customers to WearCheck.’
Robinson is optimistic about the integration of the new division into the WearCheck business model, which is characterised by advanced analytical technology, custom-designed systems and processes, coupled with a strong service ethic and decades of experience. ‘We welcome all the new staff members, and hope they will enjoy long and successful careers with WearCheck. Most of the new staff will stay where they are currently based and some will join our Isando and Middelburg offices.’
Gavin Howard, Minerals and Mining Services Manager of ABB, would like to thank their existing condition monitoring clients for their support over the years and will be grateful if they would afford WearCheck the same loyalty and support.
‘We are confident that the new enterprise will service the industry well,’ says Howard.
WearCheck is currently one of the largest oil analysis companies in the world, operating seven laboratories, employing 161 people, and with a presence in eight countries (South Africa, Zambia, India, Dubai, Madagascar, Mauritius, Zimbabwe and Namibia).
Future expansion plans include laboratories in several key African countries in early 2013 – with the aim to support our customers as they too build their businesses in Africa.
WearCheck’s oil and speciality laboratories serve a cross-section of industry sectors, including mining, earthmoving, aviation, marine, transport and electrical organisations and major industrial plants such as paper mills and refineries.
WearCheck’s reliability solutions manager, Philip Schutte, has integrated the highly-skilled ABB team into WearCheck’s reliability solutions division, which has boosted the range of thermography and vibration maintenance solutions on offer.