innovation in these and other areas is the key to winning new work.” This is underscored by BLOC’s first entry into the mining sector following the securing of a subcontract order on a South African colliery. BLOC’s scope entails the installation of lateral support for a 20 m deep box cut in preparation for the construction of a new incline shaft. To meet the project timeline, BLOC’s teams are working 24-hours a day, six days a week. BLOC Concrete Solutions Within the business mix, concrete products – like shotcrete employed for lateral support – is a mainstay of geotechnical engineering. However, BLOC’s expertise in this area goes a lot further via its specialist division, BLOC Concrete Solutions, which focuses on a range of services such as concrete rehabilitation, cutting, coring and joint sealing. Historically, this includes concrete road construction for SANRAL on N2 and N3 sections within KwaZulu-Natal, as well as other projects. “Concrete pavements are highly technical structures – particularly in terms of joint sealing – with contractor guarantees typically required for around 12 years, so getting the job done right is crucial,” explains Field. BLOC Composite Structures Allied to these activities – when it comes to construction or infrastructure upgrades – is the BLOC Composite Structures division, which designs, fabricates, supplies, and installs fibreglass reinforced plastic (FRP) products. These include gratings, hand railing, ladders, structural profiles, channels, I-beams, walkways, and stairways, mainly for marine, mining, industrial and acid environments where corrosion is a factor. The latter include water and wastewater treatment works. A recent project in Eswatini entailed the manufacture and supply of structural profiles for two 56 m diameter tanks for a biogas plant, which will generate electricity from agricultural byproducts. These are believed to be the largest composite tanks in Africa to date. The sides and roofs of the tanks are composed of HDPE sheeting, which are attached and supported by the structural profiles supplied by BLOC, such as I-beams, channels and tubing. The key advantage of BLOC’s fibreglass solutions is their design flexibility and adaptability. A prime example is the rooftop solar panel market where BLOC is carving out a niche for lightweight service walkways. These include installations for warehouses and factories with steel sheet roofs that are not designed for the weight of direct foot traffic. In response, installing fibreglass walkways safely spreads the load and allows maintenance teams to access the solar panels when required. Building the team “The securing of largescale projects within the geotechnical field, as well as within our sister divisions, has had the added benefit of enabling us to upscale the company as a whole. We’ve strengthened our middle management and site operations teams by recruiting the best talent from industry. Backed by succession planning at all levels to support our growth, we see exciting times ahead,” Field concludes. www.bloc.co.za | www.compositestructures.co.za | www.concrete-solutions.co.za GEOTECHNICAL & STRUCTURAL 8 m deep pipe jacking through mud IMIESA April 2024 49 BLOC Concrete Solutions provides a wide range of new construction, repair and refurbishment services Fibreglass reinforced plastic lattice tower and roof structural profiles forming part of the works for a 56 m diameter biogas digester tank
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATES IMESA AFFILIATE MEMBERS WWW.ULTRAVALVES .CO .ZA TOTAL P IPEL INE VALVE SOLUT IONS T E L : + 2 7 ( 0 ) 1 1 4 5 2 6 5 1 4 IMESA
IMIESA April 2024 51 The Oil Spill Eater II (OSE II) was developed in 1989 in the USA and has been used to clean up more than 44 000 spills. Approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (and featured on the National Contingency Plan List), and the UK Marine Management Organisation, it is an environmentally safe and cost-effective bioremediation process for mitigating hazardous waste, spills and contamination. Gavin Ford, national marketing manager for Lubrication Engineers (LE) South Africa, explains that OSE II uses a biological enzyme to convert spill waste into a natural food source for bacteria found in aquatic environments. The product has nutrients in it that appeal to indigenous bacteria, which then rapidly multiply and break down the oil. He says it is an excellent solution for managing oil spills because it doesn’t introduce any alien bacteria and the final byproducts from the process are just carbon dioxide and water. The application of the product is relatively simple. It is mixed using a ratio of one part OSE II with 50 parts non-chlorinated water and is then applied using a surface sprayer. (Nonchlorinated water will contain bacteria, which is important to activate the process for cleaning up an oil spill.) A higher concentration of OSE II can be used for older or heavier spills. In addition to oil spills on oceans and lakes, OSE II can be used to help clean underground spills, airport tarmacs, ship decks, asphalt and concrete spills, fuel tanks, ballast water tanks, bilge tanks, and clean-ups of all kinds of oil leakages. An enzyme that can help oil spills disappear ENVIRONMENT AECOM [email protected] AFI Consult [email protected] ARRB Systems [email protected] Asla Construction (Pty) Ltd [email protected] BMK Group [email protected] Bosch Projects (Pty) Ltd [email protected] BVI Consulting Engineers [email protected] CCG [email protected] / [email protected] Corrosion Institute of Southern Africa [email protected] Dlamindlovu Consulting Engineers & Project Managers [email protected] EFG Engineers [email protected] Elster Kent Metering [email protected] EMS Solutions [email protected] ENsync Engineers [email protected] ERWAT [email protected] Gabion Baskets [email protected] GIBB [email protected] GIGSA [email protected] GLS Consulting [email protected] Gorman Rupp [email protected] Gudunkomo Investments & Consulting [email protected] Hatch Africa (Pty) Ltd [email protected] HB Glass Filter Media [email protected] Herrenknecht [email protected] Huber Technology [email protected] Hydro-comp Enterprises [email protected] Infrachamps Consulting [email protected] INFRATEC [email protected] Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa [email protected] IQHINA Consulting Engineers & Project Managers [email protected] iX engineers (Pty) Ltd [email protected] Izinga Holdings [email protected] JBFE Consulting (Pty) Ltd [email protected] JG Afrika [email protected] KABE Consulting Engineers [email protected] Kago Consulting Engineers [email protected] Kantey & Templer (K&T) Consulting Engineers [email protected] Kitso Botlhale Consulting Engineers [email protected] KSB Pumps and Valves (Pty) Ltd [email protected] KUREMA Engineering (Pty) Ltd [email protected] Lektratek Water [email protected] Loshini Projects [email protected] Makhaotse Narasimulu & Associates [email protected] Mariswe (Pty) Ltd [email protected] Martin & East [email protected] M & C Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd [email protected] Mhiduve [email protected] MPAMOT (PTY) LTD [email protected] Mvubu Consulting & Project Managers [email protected] Nyeleti Consulting [email protected] Odour Engineering Systems [email protected] Prociv Consulting & Projects Management [email protected] Rainbow Reservoirs [email protected] Re-Solve Consulting (Pty) Ltd [email protected] Ribicon Consulting Group (Pty) Ltd [email protected] Royal HaskoningDHV [email protected] SABITA [email protected] SAFRIPOL [email protected] SAGI [email protected] SALGA [email protected] SAPPMA [email protected] / [email protected] SARF [email protected] SBS Water Systems [email protected] Silulumanzi [email protected] Siroccon International (Pty) Ltd [email protected] SiVEST SA [email protected] Sizabantu Piping Systems (Pty) Ltd [email protected] Siza Water (RF) Pty Ltd [email protected] Sky High Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd [email protected] SKYV Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd [email protected] Smartlock [email protected] SMEC [email protected] SOUTH AFRICAN VALUE EDUCATION [email protected] Southern African Society for Trenchless Technology [email protected] SRK Consulting [email protected] Star Of Life Emergency Trading CC [email protected] Structa Group [email protected] TPA Consulting [email protected] Ultra Control Valves [email protected] V3 Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd [email protected] VIP Consulting Engineers [email protected] VNA [email protected] Water Institute of Southern Africa [email protected] Wam Technology CC [email protected] Wilo South Africa [email protected] WRCON [email protected] Zutari [email protected]
AfriSam 20 Ammann Kenzam IBC APE Pumps & Mather+Platt OFC, 6 Astec Industries 27 Bell Equipment 17 BLOC Contractors OBC IMESA 4, 38, 50 Rainbow Reservoirs 32 INDEX TO ADVERTISERS The 37,5 t compactor, with a Cummins engine, is designed for countries such as those in Africa and South America and offers better compaction of waste. New smart features such as a hydraulically operated engine hood and high air intake make work easier and more efficient. The machine will spend two months at EnviroServ’s Chloorkop general waste management facility, followed by two months at the Holfontein hazardous waste management facility, to ensure it is trialled under a variety of conditions. The basis for a landfill’s success is the optimal compaction of various waste A newly imported demo waste compactor model, designed especially for developing countries by German equipment manufacturer BOMAG is being trialled in South African conditions by EnviroServ Waste Management. materials. BOMAG Area Manager for Southern Africa, Randhir Haripersad, describes the new blade version RB and shovel version RS as “a true multitool among compactors, enabling allin-one compaction, loading and transporting, saving time and costs.” “The decision to ask EnviroServ to test the new model is because it can be tested across general and hazardous waste conditions, and we know the machine will really be put to test, working eight to 20 hours a day in high temperatures,” says Haripersad. Trained for the trial Comments EnviroServ’s Senior General Manager of Operations, Rhyno Gouws: “We WASTE MANAGEMENT Rand Water 9, 28 Sizabantu Piping Systems IFC SprayPave 12 Zutari 41 are ecstatic to have been selected by BOMAG for this trial as it shows that we are recognised as an African leader in waste management. Being associated with a premium brand like BOMAG means quality and reliability, and we have supported the company for many years,” “Our operators have been trained on the new waste compactors; the functions are the same, just modernised with touch button functioning. There is improved durability, operator comfort and dashboard information, all designed to suit the harsh African operating environment found on landfills,” Gouws explains. If it passes the trial, it will be available for purchase in South Africa through BOMAG’s local supplier, Kanu Equipment, who supply mining earthmoving and mining equipment. Adds Twan Bell, MD of Kanu Equipment South Africa: “This is an ‘Africa tough’ machine and Kanu will support its servicing and maintenance requirements.” The refuse compactor has unique polygonal disc wheels for optimum crushing and BOMAG’s proven compaction concept with scrapers and toothed wheels for versatility and efficiency 52 IMIESA April 2024 ENVIROSERV TRIALS “AFRICA TOUGH” WASTE COMPACTOR
UNLOCKING EXCELLENCE IN ASPHALT TECHNOLOGY • Asphalt Plants: Explore our range of high-performance asphalt plants tailored to meet your production needs efficiently and sustainably. • Bitumen Equipment: Access top-quality bitumen-related equipment designed for durability and optimal performance. • Retrofit Services: Enhance your existing asphalt plant with our expert retrofit solutions, integrating the latest innovations seamlessly. • Comprehensive Services: From pipework installations to complete plant de-establishment and re-establishment, our skilled team delivers turnkey solutions.. Ammann Kenzam South Africa (Pty) Ltd 234 Fifth Road | Witpoort Estate | Brakpan | 1540| South Africa | Phone +27 11 7421073 For additional product information and services please visit: www.ammann.com Materials and specification data are subject to change without notice. PMP-3193-00-EN | © Ammann Group WHAT CAN AMMANN KENZAM OFFER YOU? WHY CHOOSE AMMANN KENZAM? • Industry Expertise: With years of experience, we understand the intricacies of asphalt production and offer solutions that drive results. • Global Reach: As import-export specialists, we source and deliver cutting-edge equipment from leading manufacturers worldwide. • Service Excellence: Our commitment doesn’t end with equipment sales – we provide comprehensive support and maintenance to keep your operations running smoothly. Travis Freel | Regional Sales Manager Mobile: +27 820 52 1921 Rocco Lehman | Managing Director SA Mobile: +27 784 88 2945 CONTACT US TODAY TO DISCUSS YOUR NEEDS Looking to elevate your asphalt production capabilities? Discover Ammann Kenzam – your premier partner in the import, export, and servicing of asphalt plants and bitumen-related equipment.
2002 Offering skilled and reliable solutions SINCE YOUR TRUSTED GEOTECHNICAL PARTNER Pipejacking Lateral Support Sheet Piling Shoring Anchors Grouting Directional Drilling www.bloc.co.za +27 (0)31 833 5330 [email protected] @bloccontractors bloc-geotechnical-contractors