4 minute read
Drop tight for decades – delivering quality valves for Africa
Over the past four decades valve manufacturer Stelkon has built a reputation of delivering products suited to Africa’s unique conditions. The company recently changed hands and newly established Stelkon North is motivated to carry the baton going forward.
In Africa the only industrial certainty is often uncertainty. It is an environment that requires equipment to be engineered to operate under extremely harsh operating conditions that can deal with the unexpected, while doing the expected. Rienzi Duvenage, the developer and original owner of Stelkon’s diaphragm non-return valve patents and four generations of patent improvements, knows this only too well. “Africa is a robust environment that requires solutions that are efficient, dependable and reliable,” he tells Pipes, Pumps and Valves. Next to him is Basie Heckroodt, the Managing Director of the newly established company, Stelkon North that is situated in Modder River near Kimberley and that bought the manufacturing and commercial rights for the diaphragm non-return valves from Stelkon last year. “The decision to purchase these rights was easy. We found a product that we thought not possible,” he says. “It also allows us the ability to diversify our current operations and to expand our footprint into Africa. We have also wanted to expand technologically and this is the ideal platform for our business as a whole.”
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According to Heckroodt, a new factory has been established in Modder River and is partly completed. “We have started production even though we are still constructing and the first orders out of the newly built facility were delivered in March and April this year.”
Fit-for-purpose
Non-return valves, also sometimes referred to as check valves are intended to close when a pump stops and to prevent any fluid flowing back. These one-way valves have one major requirement – no leakage. Duvenage made it his life’s work to deliver just that. “For non-return valves water tightness is the single most important element. This is a fourth-generation valve which has been developed and improved over the years. Hydrodynamics has resulted in a valve that is not only
Basie Heckroodt, the Managing Director of the newly established company, Stelkon North and Rienzi Duvenage, the developer and original owner of Stelkon’s diaphragm non-return valve patents.
more efficient and better, but also weighs less,” he says. “Once installed it is drop-tight for decades. It does not leak.” The operating core of the valve consists of a centre plate and a rubber diaphragm. This rubber, originating from Malaysia, is super soft and can stretch 830%. It is also super resistant against abrasion and tearing. Duvenage says these natural rubber diaphragms are highly favoured by water utilities in Africa. “We have taken the time to develop and deliver a highly efficient product with zero maintenance requirements. As far as we know this is the only valve with only one moving and wearing part that has an exceptionally long operational life,” he says. Considering that maintenance of non-return valves and foot valves remains one of the biggest challenges in Africa, Duvenage says this is not the case with the Stelkon valve, as it does not need to be serviced for decades. Furthermore, should the one moving part ever require replacement, it is simple enough that the user can do so themselves - on site - with minimum production downtime. “These valves were designed and developed for African countries, where the maintenance culture and infrastructures are not well developed yet. Ultimately, especially for foot valves there is no priming time loss and it comes with major operating costs saved,” he explains. “Furthermore, it removes pressure spikes, reduces water hammer, operates completely silently, and of course, stays drop-tight, even after wear.” Whilst the product does not necessarily have the lowest price tag it does have one of the lowest life cycle costs. The target market, says Duvenage, are users who want to make a once in a lifetime purchase with no periodic functional checks or maintenance costs. “Our valves are bespoke and made to the customer’s requirement and need.”
Taking it forward
According to Heckroodt, a new policy has been adopted for the marketing of the diaphragm non-return valves. “Since the marketing focus of the principal over the last decade, was mainly on exports to African countries South of the Equator, approximately 90% of production was exported. The quest of Stelkon North is to achieve intensive distribution of the valves in all geographic areas of South Africa and the rest of Africa.”
He has also retained Duvenage’s experience as he has been contracted to provide technical and marketing support for the manufacture, sale and distribution of the Stelkon diaphragm non-return valves. “Intensive distribution is going to be achieved by extending the existing network of locally situated sales representatives to commercially serve the industry in Africa.”
At present, companies and financially independent individuals with a successful track record of valve sales are being sought to join the network for supplying this range of exceptional non-return valves and foot valves which provide decades of drop tight operational life to first maintenance. Both Heckroodt and Duvenage are excited about the developments of recent months. “The product is also manufactured wholly in the Northern Cape boding well for technology development in the province and provides much-needed economic stimulus.”
