We use cookies to give you the best online experience. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with our cookie policy. Read our policy.

Stay at the forefront of the industrial gas industry with a gasworld subscription and get access to:

Stay at the forefront of the industrial gas industry with a gasworld subscription and get access to:

Gasworld US Edition, Vol 60, No 08 (August) - Helium

By Anthony Wright 2022-08-01T12:23:00+01:00

South Africa-based industrial gases company Air Products revealed that it recently came to the assistance of its biggest argon customer, Columbus Stainless (Columbus), when the steel manufacturer encountered a major interruption in oxygen supply via its pipeline.

Having received an urgent request on Friday 23rd June by Columbus to assist with a possible solution, Air Products visited the site after-hours to discuss possible routes, viable options, and equipment requirements. 

With the options discussed and review by Air Products on the Saturday morning, the technical team decided to modify and utilise the existing argon storage and vaporisation system to provide oxygen to the plant. 

Considered the ‘safest and simplest’ solution, the modification required a temporary pipeline to be manufactured. This allowed the argon installation to connect to the plant oxygen supply pipeline. 

After the project had been green lit, team members from a range of departments were assembled to undertake an intensive four-day process to modify the installation controls, convert the crude argon tank installation to oxygen service and install the temporary pipeline. 

Bulk Engineering Columbus Project Team

This pipeline involved the connection of approximately 24 metres of three-inch stainless-steel pipe as a temporary gas supply solution. 

Stating that the project required swift action, Nana Phuti, Senior Project Engineer, Air Products, added that the familiarity of the company with the product characteristics was also needed. 

“Furthermore, the project team had to ensure that key role players are familiar with their responsibilities according to the project plan and that they execute their tasks within the project timeframe. 

“It is equally important to update the customer and manage their expectations in terms of the completion of the project,” she said. 

Having worked on a shift basis around the clock to complete the pipeline, Columbus was able to resume its processes and reduce downtime costs. 

“Fortunately, with the commitment from Air Products, we were able to resolve the problem within a few days,” commented Alec Russell, Engineering Manager, Columbus Stainless.

Forbes Magazine has recognised Air Products as one of America’s Best Employers for Diversity for 2022.

Atlas Copco is expanding its North American footprint, having today (29th July) acquired the operating assets of Compressed Air Products.

Welding gas and products supplier Weldamax has appointed a new CEO following the acquisition of the company by South African industrial gases company Air Products.

Month on month, the gasworld website is the market-leading news portal for the global industrial gas sector, growing at an unprecedented rate and keeping its readers at the forefront of breaking news, insightful analysis and must-see features across the industry. Launched in 2003 and continually evolving, it is the only independent online news, views and intelligence portal for the global industrial gas community and the larger end-user markets – and home to the ever-increasing range of gasworld platforms.

To find out more about gasworld's advertising opportunities click here.

Whether it's web-based or the printed product, gasworld subscriptions have the value-added solutions for you.

Find out more... gasworld Magazine gasworld (US edition) Subscribe today

Site powered by Webvision Cloud