Vanguard has announced the completion of the electrical and mechanical installation, as well as the rigging of a new cold mill for Columbus Stainless. The new plant was constructed in Middelburg.

According to Vanguard Director, Andrew Nordengen, the scope of the job included the prefabrication of 100 tons of piping, including supports, ranging from a quarter inch to 18 inches in size. “This also encompassed pressure testing, pickling and passivating, as well as manufacture of pipe brackets. This was all conducted off-site to ensure a smoother, more time effective operation.”

The piping was purchased locally while other equipment was shipped to the country from suppliers in Japan, China and Korea, including three motors weighing 48 tons each. Vanguard also transported the mill housing, weighing 67,4 tons, from Durban Harbour to site, using its modular trailer in an eight axle configuration.

“We installed both the motors and the mill housing using our hydraulic gantry system,” says Nordengen. “Vanguard was also responsible for the manufacture of 100 tons of supplementary items, such as platforms, ducting, chimney stack, and control room, which was transported to site and installed, as well as 148,455 metres of cabling.”

At the height of the project, Vanguard had almost 120 people on-site, including office staff, rigging, electrical, mechanical, and management teams.