WORCESTERSHIRE, UK (Sept. 22, 2017) – Sulzer’s commitment to the oil and gas industry on the west coast of Australia has been boosted by significant investment in state-of-the-art equipment featuring progressive service capabilities in Australia.
Designed to provide overhaul and repair services for all electrical rotating equipment, the reiterated commitment to local market complements Sulzer’s existing Perth Service Center in northern Wangara that continues to provide comprehensive pump and steam turbine repairs and overhauls.
Image 1. The new facility also handles large scale mechanical repairs. (Images courtesy of Sulzer)Sulzer provides maintenance and customized service-solutions for critical rotating equipment by optimizing operational efficiency and building long-term customer relationships. Working typically with large motors and power generation equipment, the investment in new equipment takes a transparent and collaborative approach, working as a partner to provide services as well as delivering a rapid turnaround to minimize business interruption.
“This investment into state-of-the-art equipment will certainly enable us to deliver a very efficient repair service," said Tony Beardsley, service center manager. "Based on Sulzer’s Lean Principles, designing the most efficient workflow process combined with comprehensive testing and quality control procedures will ensure our clients receive the most timely and cost-effective solution–all done with minimal impact on production. ... The application of these principles is at the very core of our philosophy and we have reinvented the way service work is performed. From the initial inquiry, through the repair and overhaul process, electrical testing, to final dispatch of the product back to the customer, every aspect is scrutinized for efficiency.”
In addition to the workflow design, there is also a requirement to improve the environmental impact and sustainability of such facilities and this has been achieved through a number of initiatives. Not only in the day-to-day business strategy, but also as part of the long-term development of environmentally friendly solutions that enable Sulzer to strike the balance between economic success and sound social responsibility.
The repair and test equipment is designed to offer improved capacity and efficiency of repair. For example, the new test bay uses the latest Siemens drive and control technology that allows variable frequency/voltage to 11 kV and full load testing to 1.2 MW. The test bay can accommodate motors and generators up to 40 tonnes on a free-floating bedplate that allows simultaneous vibration readings during the testing phase. Investment in equipment such as this is a key element of Sulzer’s philosophy of operational excellence that drives the continuous improvement of the quality system.
Sulzer’s global capability enables the handling of specialist equipment, such as IECEx and ATEX Ex-rated plant. Commonly used in the oil and gas industry, rotating equipment that is designed for operation in potentially explosive atmospheres can be repaired by certified personnel either in the workshop or in situ.
“Routine maintenance is always the best policy when it comes to large rotating equipment, but breakdowns happen and we are extremely well prepared for managing those repairs that are required on an emergency basis. Typically, we could have field technicians on any offshore worksite anywhere in the Asia Pacific region within 24 hours," Beardsley said.
Image 2. All electrical repairs are comprehensively tested prior to dispatch.
Image 3. The state-of-the-art test bay allows simultaneous vibration and electrical testing to be completed.