More Than Maintenance

MORE THAN MAINTENANCE

A planned maintenance program as a contribution to operational efficiency and productivity is one of the services CRAM provides. It’s when accidents interrupt and potentially shutdown production that the additional resources the company can provide become an investment rather than an expense.

Along with planned and emergency response maintenance programs the CRAM service package includes system design, bespoke manufacturing, installation and commissioning. These specialist areas have a seamless interaction to provide the most efficient, productive and profitable hydraulic power solution for a demanding industrial client base. It’s an interaction that is regularly called on as was the case when an accident exposed structural problems in some of the old fittings on active air and dewatering lines in a power generation facility. The incident initiated multi-site review of aging infrastructure and with the input of product specialists a determination to improve site safety and operational procedures. CRAM Site Services was selected to work with site engineers to develop a replacement and upgrade program. Given the number of fittings in the lines – and in answer to the generator’s desire to improve the connection joints of those fittings – Site Services set up a demonstration of an EO2-FORM positive connection joint, a product the company has been supplying to the mining industry on a regular basis. A feature of the EO2-FORM joint is that it doesn’t require any sort of compressive force to maintain a seal as seen with compression fittings; it uses an O-ring to form a seal between the fitting and profile formed on the end of the tube.

Based on the results of the demonstration and interest by site engineering staff, CRAM Site Services was awarded a contract for the rectification of the damage resulting from the incident. They have now started upgrading the critical pneumatic systems at a number of the generator’s sites.

The project has involved three of CRAM’s specialist divisions - maintenance, site services and design - and highlights the resources the company can bring to a project. Initial investigations and assessments, and ultimately installation, has been the responsibility of the CRAM maintenance team. All pipe fabrication, including the unique EO2-FORM connections, has been done in-house.