Page 6 - Energize October 2021

COVER STORY

Making agility count in the power sector:
Making agility count in the power sector:

Rand-Air’s rental equipment solutions

ensure optimal productivity

and-Air, a recognised leader in the provision of portable air and cables, joiner boxes and transformers, if necessary.
power to the local market, has been supplying rental equipment to We also provide useful change-over contactor (COC) kits, which are
Rthe South African power sector for over 20 years. This includes the supplied when a customer needs a generator to be on standby to start
supply of compressors, generators, lighting towers and more, to utilities supplying electricity automatically should mains AC power fail. For use
and the renewable energy sector. Rand-Air is part of the Atlas Copco with these COC kits, our generators have an Automatic Mains Failure
Specialty Rental division and an established provider of air, nitrogen, (AMF) feature. We can also advise customers on the capacity of the
power, flow (pumps), steam boiler and lighting solutions. generator they need.”
According to Byrone Thorne, the sales and marketing manager at Generators are mounted on trailers (except for the TwinPower,
Rand-Air, the company initially supplied technically oil-free compressors which is containerised) and this means that they can be delivered right
to the power sector. However, as technology changed and improved, to the point where the power is required.
and due to Rand-Air’s extensive customer education on the benefits Notably, due to the recent prevalence of load shedding, many
thereof, industry demand has grown exponentially for Class 0 oil-free industrial manufacturing companies are installing standby generators in
compressors which provide high-quality, clean, oil-free and totally dry order to remain operational.
compressed air. “We have seen an increase in long-term rental enquiries for
“In addition, we have supplied generators and lighting towers for standby generators from 100 kVA up to 2 MW,” Thorne advises.
use in specific renewable energy projects. Our key driver is to assist the
power sector with rental equipment for their standby and prime power ‘In a class of their own’: Class 0 Oil-free compressors
requirements, in order to ensure optimal productivity and agility.” Oil-free compressed air is used throughout industry – including in the
energy sector – where the purest quality of compressed air is critical to
Long-term rental and support the end-product and to the power production processes involved.
Thorne explains that the company’s Industrial Plant Rental (IPR) model Rand-Air sources its oil-free compressors from Atlas Copco, which
enables a company to focus on its core business, while Rand-Air supports was the first manufacturer in the world to receive the prestigious Class
its air, power and lighting requirements. 0 Certification for its oil-free compressors.
“In this way, we can positively impact their productivity and Thorne explains: “When referring to air compressors, we need to
profitability, while providing them with long-term certainty in terms of distinguish between ‘technically oil-free’ and ‘Class 0’. The former term
their ongoing rental expenditure, without needing to make expensive means that oil is injected into the compressed air and then removed
capital investments themselves. Our rental equipment is available via IPR afterwards using a filtration process. However, failures can potentially
contracts extending from three to five years. We are committed to our occur during the filtration process. There are also other considerations,
ethos of ‘making agility count’ for our customers, and also to consistently such as ensuring that filters are regularly changed, as well as the
exceed their expectations in terms of our service and support.” treatment of the condensate and higher energy costs. Compressed air
As part of its IPR model, Rand-Air therefore covers the cost of from oil-injected compressors can contain or produce small oil residues
machinery, delivery, installation, 24/7 standby service, scheduled or oil vapour – as well as other contaminants – such as water vapour or
inspections, substitute equipment when necessary, maintenance, parts, condensate and dust particles.
labour and other related costs. On the other hand, Class 0 oil-free compressors are bound by
a more stringent industry standard, where the total oil content is
‘Agility rules’: Generating power where it is required measured by the internationally recognised TUV organisation.”
“Our generators are supplied with all accessories needed for immediate He adds that the use of oil-free compressors is very important
operation,” explains Thorne, “and this includes distribution boards, in the power sector: “Oil-free compressors and dryers are used for

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