High-quality corrosion instrumentation supplier British Allied Manufacturers Representatives (BAMR) CEO Graham Duk says the shutdown of oil refineries, including Engen oil refinery in Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, has had a negative impact on the demand for Elcometer instrumentation.

World leading manufacturers of inspection equipment Elcometer was established in 1947 and has been supplying instrumentation to the oil and gas industry since inception. Pipes, tanks, oil rigs and steel construction make use of the Elcometer range of products.

“BAMR is the sole distributor for Elcometer in Southern Africa and most of Africa, and BAMR was also Elcometer’s first export sale,” says Duk.

The shutdown of refineries means that maintenance and regular testing is not a requirement anymore which has negatively affected all stakeholders, says Duk.

“Protective coating plays a significant role in product quality, process control and cost control. In oil refineries, there are multiple tanks and pipelines that are used to manufacture and produce oil, and Elcometer instruments aid these processes by ensuring that coating is applied correctly,” states Duk.

Elcometer Instruments for Protective Coating

Material thickness

Before applying a coating or blasting a tank or pipe, the thickness of the steel needs to be checked for corrosion. This can be tested from one side of the material, says Duk.

Surface cleanliness

Surface cleanliness is critical to the integrity and life of the coating as well as the asset being protected. Duk states that Elcometer supplies instruments which test for the amount of salts on the surface that require removal before the application of the coating.

Surface profile

Surface profile allows a coating to “stick” to a surface and to achieve the correct profile. This would require measuring to determine if the blasting process has achieved the paint manufacturers profile specification.

Climate

Duk claims that it is imperative to ensure the suitability of the climate in order for the coating to be applied. Relative humidity, surface temperature and dew point need to be monitored to make sure an application will not fail, he adds.

Coating thickness

The wet and dry film thickness needs to be measured to make sure that there is enough coating to comply with the paint manufacturer's specifications and ensure that the steel substrate is adequately protected.

Scan probes and software which records readings mean that the Elcometer ensures time-saving and is cost effective. “The Elcometer 456 is the fastest gauge on the market,” says Duk.

Pinhole testing

Once the coating has been applied, pinholes and defects need to be detected using a pinhole detector. Duk states that after this process, the substrate must be checked for adequate protection.

Adhesion

To ensure accuracy of all processes, an adhesion test can be completed to ensure that the paint adheres with no flaws to the substrate according to the paint manufacturer’s specifications.

Further, Duk explains that asset owners, paint manufacturers, contractors and third parties all have a stake in making sure that the coating lasts for the warranty period and a tank or pipe does not fail with disastrous ramifications.

Capital alternatives

Duk states that as the shutdown has caused much deterioration for companies, it has also enabled companies to become more innovative, expand its diameters and become more efficient.

Duk says that this has encouraged BAMR to expand its product range, consequently enabling the company to remain in business during these trying times in South Africa.

“We stay abreast of the latest technology and research as part of educating the market,” says Duk, who cites the introduction of BAMR’s grit blaster – specifically for the abrasive blast industry. This is an example of the way in which the company tries to offer and add value to the global market.