5 minute read
Locally produced pneumatic actuator meets international standards
Over the years Aumanat has become synonymous with quality actuation products and complete valve automation solutions. More recently, the company is making headlines for another reason. It has designed and manufactured a Part-Turn pneumatic actuator, aptly named ‘Cam-Act’ (Cam actuator) due to its integral cam design, for the local and international markets. Pipes, Pumps and Valves spoke to Managing Member Peter Meyer to find out more.
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Considering that any process technology requires pipes and valves, and consequently actuators, the importance of this equipment cannot be overestimated. “Actuators today are very advanced and are designed for a multitude of applications in industries such as water, energy, oil & gas, general industry and environments ranging from snow to deserts,” explains Meyer who has for the past seven years been on a journey to deliver a product manufactured locally meeting the stringent international standards. It was local content and designation policy and legislation that spurred Meyer to become a manufacturer of actuators. “Aumanat was established when I was approached by AUMA, a world-leading brand in electric actuators, to represent them in KwaZulu-Natal. The support and backup we received and continue to receive from our parent company, AUMA SA, has been unsurpassed,” says Meyer. “This allowed us to establish our name locally building a reputation as a reputable company. Their large stock holding and technical support have played a vital role in our success. In addition to that, we have ensured that we remain competent through constant training, the provision of reliable products and services and lastly to conduct business with integrity. This is what we believe is what the client and product deserve.” The move to designing a small and compact pneumatic actuator was not without challenges, he says. “Financing was a problem and the prototype was machined from solid materials with very little capital outlay or investments. Since then, ongoing development and research have allowed us to deliver a product to the market that is lightweight and aesthetically pleasing but also of international standard and quality.”
Meeting local content requirements
Historically pneumatic actuators have always been imported and with most local manufacturers struggling to compete with import prices the need to produce locally was never really pursued. This changed when the Department of Trade and Industry and Competition (dtic) specified 70% local content for pneumatic actuators and put it on the designated products list. “We were not able to comply with the requirements and so we started toying with the idea of manufacturing our product rather than walking away from jobs where we could not tender because we were not compliant,” says Meyer. “We identified a gap in the market for a locally manufactured small compact rotary actuator and set about designing and making our own.” It is a decision that has paid off. Not only does the company hold the patent right to its product which has been very welcomed in the local market but plans are in place to start exporting.
“The benefits of the process, while difficult at times, have far outweighed the challenges. Our staff have become far more knowledgeable and skilled through this process while we have involved a range of local businesses in the process. From the raw materials to the casting at a small foundry, engineering, powder coating, the local seal and bearing suppliers are all local.” More so, says Meyer, it has also resulted in the growth of the company. “AUMA is constantly launching new products based on industry demands. The new TIGRON Explosion proof actuator and the PROFOX Part-turn actuators are two of their most recent launches. We now include our own locally designed and manufactured Cam-Act Partturn pneumatic actuator to that list. We are currently implementing ISO 9001-2015 to further enhance the quality service we provide.” With a large customer and install base, the business has come a long way since those very early days with only a handful of clients. “With 35 years experience in the valve actuator industry, we have a pretty good understanding of the industry’s needs and this is why we have incorporated many brands into our range which allows us to provide a complete valve automation solution,” says Meyer. The range includes electric, hydraulic, pneumatic and portable actuators as well as gearboxes. “Our strength is also in design. Many solutions were designed in-house e.g. Handwheels incorporating torque slip mechanism, manual drive stem nuts for sluice gates, anti-back drive devices for screens etc. All mounting brackets, drives, couplings and such required for fitting of actuators to valves or remote mounting, is done in-house, using SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD.”
Delivering the best
For Meyer and his team quality is at the heart of everything they do at Aumanat. “We are serious about quality as it remains the most important factor in our business. It contributes to the longevity of products but more so, to the performance and efficiency of a plant. For us, it is about the workmanship that we are proud of and that stands the test of time and can hold its own with the best in the world.” Of course, price is an important part of the equation. “Clients are looking for reliable and cost-effective solutions backed up by an efficient after-sales service. All of which we offer. We believe we have designed a product that meets not only the quality requirements but that is also cost-effective.”
