Machining manufacturer John Thompson, which is a division of electro-mechanical equipment manufacturer Actom, is well positioned to assist industry in reducing emissions to comply with the country’s air quality standards legislation, says John Thompson technical salesman Hilton Knight.

With a product range that includes pulse jet filters, reverse air bag filters, dust suppression, and wet scrubbers, John Thompson’s Air Pollution Control (APC) business unit has been providing air pollution control equipment, dust control equipment, gas cleaning equipment and product recovery equipment, as well as spares and after-sales services, for more than 50 years with the aim of assisting in reducing the health challenges faced by the population due to the country’s bad air quality.

One of APC’s most recent product advancements was the introduction of its containerized bag filter in 2018 – which company GM Gerard Pretorius describes as a plug-and-play solution with lower transport costs and quicker installation time.

“It was born out of the need to transport filters, which are essentially big boxes filled with air, across the South African borders – which is a very expensive process. This is why we decided to build these bag filters within containers.  We are able to supply these bag filters within South Africa as well,” he adds.

The containerised bag filter is not a new technological advancement and operates in the same way as any other bag filter. However, Knight reveals that as it is a modular piece of equipment, APC can customise it to suit client requirements.

“This filter will not replace the big traditional engineered systems for larger industries, as it is designed more for the smaller industries. We are continually optimising the design as we manufacture. It has only recently been introduced, but we have already received two international orders, says Knight.

Pretorius states that bag filter technology is one of the most effective ways of reducing particulate matter and is often found to produce lower emissions than the law requires.

“The new developments have been applied on the structural side and not from a process point as yet. We have optimised more on the weight and ease of installation.”

Moreover, Knight says that in terms of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), APC is gearing up to be well positioned as soon as local industries start a more rigorous uptake of the 4IR.

“The 4IR is going to have a huge impact on our business, as it is going to become the new norm. It is important for us to be proactive in this regard because we want to be forerunners in the industry. We are developing and researching a lot of products and ideas to be ready when the bulk of the industry gets on board so that we are able to service them,” Pretorius asserts.

The company is involved in several projects, including projects in the cement, mining and ferroalloy industries.

Although much of its business activities are taking place in Africa and the Middle East, John Thompson’s APC business unit has also set its sights on Australia where there are some promising opportunities.