Air Products has established ongoing supply relationships with a number of mining operations in Southern Africa. These operations include gold, platinum, uranium, iron ore and coal mines. In some cases, such as platinum processing, Air Separation Plants are established on site, due to the large volumes of oxygen required.

However, when it comes to the supply of bulk gas to a gold mine, for instance, the liquefied oxygen is transported to the mine in one of Air Products‟ cryogenic tankers, before going through an on-site vaporising process.

Sachin Kulkarni, Air Products‟ National Sales Manager for Bulk Gases, explains that leaching is the main application for oxygen in minerals beneficiation. “Oxygen plays a hugely important role in the leaching of gold, platinum and uranium,” he says.

“In gold processing, the injection of oxygen into the leaching tanks increases yield and reduces the processing time. So obviously there is a huge incentive for gold processing operations to include oxygen in the equation,” he says.
In one of the uranium leaching processes, oxygen is used in autoclaves, where acid leaching takes place under extreme pressure and temperatures. This demands a reliable supply of large volumes of oxygen at high pressure.
Air Products is involved with yet another application of bulk gas in the mining industry – again with positive results for the environment. The company has had a great deal of success with the use of ozone in the destruction of cyanide in gold tailings slurry.

By adding ozone, the cyanide in the slurry is effectively broken down, allowing the tailings to be safely re-introduced underground to be used as backfill. This has significant benefits to the mine in terms of reducing the quantity of tailings sent to surface dumps and allowing water draining from the talings to be recycled back into the mine‟s system. The overall benefit is the minimising of the release of heavy metals and cyanide compounds into the environment. Kulkarni explains that when it comes to dealing with cyanide tailings, Air Products offers a complete solution for its customers. While the process is operated by the customer, the system is owned and maintained by Air Products.

“This is a tailored, value-add to our customers: we look after the system and maintain it, making it easy for the customer and giving him complete peace of mind,” he adds.
Apart from oxygen, which forms the main part of Air Products‟ bulk gas supply to the mines, nitrogen also plays an important role – in the blanketing of fuel in storage tanks, tyre filing and in the extinguishing of underground fires.
Part of Air Products‟ success in the supply of its bulk gases to the mining industry rests in its security of supply strategy.

In mining, as indeed in any industry reliant on gas for its processes, it is critical that interruptions in supply are avoided. Air Products has a sophisticated and multi-pronged process in place to ensure continuous supply. A key component in the strategy is an on-line programme, ‟Telalert„, which assesses a customer‟s requirements in real-time. Nalen Alwar, Supply Chain Manager explains: “The system constantly keeps us updated about the quantities of gas remaining in our customer‟s tanks. It alerts us well before the critical stage, so we can plan our supply options timeously.” He goes on to explain that the on-line Telalert system provides information to both supplier and customer, so that both parties have a good understanding of the customer‟s gas inventory.”

Nalen continues: “Air Products‟ underlying strategy is to make sure that our product is available all the time. Telalert is just one side of the coin: we also have to make sure that we have proper delivery and storage plans in place, so we can forestall of any kind of supply problem. We strive to avoid any emergencies, and so we always ensure there is effective and sufficient storage capacity at our plants, as well as at our customers‟ facilities.”

Air Products‟ Bulk Gas division aims to provide complete peace of mind for its mining customers. “We ensure that our customers can depend on us at all times, not only for the best quality bulk gas, but also for optimum service and security of supply,” concludes Kulkarni.

Air Products has established ongoing supply relationships with a number of mining operations in Southern Africa. These operations include gold, platinum, uranium, iron ore and coal mines. In some cases, such as platinum processing, Air Separation Plants are established on site, due to the large volumes of oxygen required.

However, when it comes to the supply of bulk gas to a gold mine, for instance, the liquefied oxygen is transported to the mine in one of Air Products’ cryogenic tankers, before going through an on-site vaporising process.

Sachin Kulkarni, Air Products’ National Sales Manager for Bulk Gases, explains that leaching is the main application for oxygen in minerals beneficiation. “Oxygen plays a hugely important role in the leaching of gold, platinum and uranium,” he says.

“In gold processing, the injection of oxygen into the leaching tanks increases yield and reduces the processing time. So obviously there is a huge incentive for gold processing operations to include oxygen in the equation,” he says.

In one of the uranium leaching processes, oxygen is used in autoclaves, where acid leaching takes place under extreme pressure and temperatures. This demands a reliable supply of large volumes of oxygen at high pressure.

Air Products is involved with yet another application of bulk gas in the mining industry – again with positive results for the environment. The company has had a great deal of success with the use of ozone in the destruction of cyanide in gold tailings slurry.

By adding ozone, the cyanide in the slurry is effectively broken down, allowing the tailings to be safely re-introduced underground to be used as backfill. This has significant benefits to the mine in terms of reducing the quantity of tailings sent to surface dumps and allowing water draining from the talings to be recycled back into the mine’s system. The overall benefit is the minimising of the release of heavy metals and cyanide compounds into the environment. Kulkarni explains that when it comes to dealing with cyanide tailings, Air Products offers a complete solution for its customers. While the process is operated by the customer, the system is owned and maintained by Air Products.

“This is a tailored, value-add to our customers: we look after the system and maintain it, making it easy for the customer and giving him complete peace of mind,” he adds.

Apart from oxygen, which forms the main part of Air Products’ bulk gas supply to the mines, nitrogen also plays an important role – in the blanketing of fuel in storage tanks, tyre filing and in the extinguishing of underground fires.
Part of Air Products’ success in the supply of its bulk gases to the mining industry rests in its security of supply strategy.

In mining, as indeed in any industry reliant on gas for its processes, it is critical that interruptions in supply are avoided. Air Products has a sophisticated and multi-pronged process in place to ensure continuous supply. A key component in the strategy is an on-line programme, ’Telalert‘, which assesses a customer’s requirements in real-time. Nalen Alwar, Supply Chain Manager explains: “The system constantly keeps us updated about the quantities of gas remaining in our customer’s tanks. It alerts us well before the critical stage, so we can plan our supply options timeously.” He goes on to explain that the on-line Telalert system provides information to both supplier and customer, so that both parties have a good understanding of the customer’s gas inventory.”

Nalen continues: “Air Products’ underlying strategy is to make sure that our product is available all the time. Telalert is just one side of the coin: we also have to make sure that we have proper delivery and storage plans in place, so we can forestall of any kind of supply problem. We strive to avoid any emergencies, and so we always ensure there is effective and sufficient storage capacity at our plants, as well as at our customers’ facilities.”

Air Products’ Bulk Gas division aims to provide complete peace of mind for its mining customers. “We ensure that our customers can depend on us at all times, not only for the best quality bulk gas, but also for optimum service and security of supply,” concludes Kulkarni.

Over the years, the Packaged Gas business has grown and now is available in all the major urban centres in South Africa. Josua joined Air Products on November 1, 1997 as a Speciality Gas Sales Engineer. Since then, he has worked in various areas of Air Products, and was appointed GM of Packaged Gas in January 2005.

At that stage, Packaged Gas was making a relatively minor contribution to Air Products overall revenue. However, under his leadership, the business now accounts for a significant amount of revenue and profit.

“In the past decade, the turnover of Packaged Gas has increased significantly, he explains.

The question is what are the factors that have prompted this strong growth?

In February 2002, Air Products in the US completed its divesture of its Packaged Gas Business in the Northern United States of America. This was a significant occurrence which could have affected South Africa as well.

However, it didnt, explains Josua. At the time, some ten years ago, the then GM of Packaged Gas, Mike Hellyar, re-focused the Packaged Gas business, and developed a number of sound strategic initiatives. Building on these, in the past three years, the business has experienced double-digit growth year-on-year.

The drivers for this growth are underpinned by having a clear vision and focus, explains Josua.

You have to know where you want to be and how you are going to get there, he explains.

While Air Products is not the largest player in South Africas gas industry, the company wants to be the leader in certain selected markets. This has given the company a niche approach in, for example, the welding sector and the food and beverage market. Technologies such as Air Products exceptionally efficient Small Liquid Delivery (SLD) system and its ability to provide extra safety and convenience in the form of Minitanks and Maxitanks have attracted a growing number of customers.

A further part of Packaged Gas success is in its uncompromising approach to safety, an aspect which provides customers confidence when dealing with Air Products. Reinforcing this drive, the combination of an unflagging commitment to quality, and a dedication to customers and their best interests, has seen Packaged Gas going to successively higher levels of success.

There is also an understanding in Air Products that what served an industry well in the past, may not be an adequate solution today.

Our personalised service is underpinned with a constant search for innovation to assist our customers, explains Josua.

This means that Air Products is constantly in touch with the markets it serves. The company is close enough to its market to understand its requirements. At the same time, this allows the business to build close relationships with its customers.

Our success is built on the long-lasting relationships that our sales people have developed, and continue to develop, with their customers, he continues.

To add impetus to this thinking, the company has added additional resources into its Customer Service area. This is a combination of people and technology. The people are focused on the Packaged Gas Distributors, as well as direct customers. Known as Customer Service Specialists, they are mandated to assist customers in the most appropriate way possible.

Air Products has also optimized its ordering systems so that the process of procuring gas is a smooth and error-free process. Daily supply chain meetings evaluate the product and customers priorities and this information is then in turn shared in open feedback to customers.

Air Products Packaged Gas business is committed to ensuring the right products is available at the right time. This has taken considerable internal planning and the use of the companys understanding of the market coupled with its strategy to ensure that the products are available through out the supply chain.

Our business is specialised, from production, to cylinders and even the trucks that are used in making deliveries, these are not off-the-shelf solutions, adds Josua.

In addition, Packaged Gas has launched a number of new products, such as its Freshline range of Modified Atmospheric Packaging (MAP) gases. Within the food and beverage industry, items such as the Beverage Dispensing Systems (BDS) have shown exceptional growth

The key industry sectors where Packaged Gas has seen good growth, are in its industrial part of the business. The market for cutting and welding is one of the sectors that have grown rapidly. The drive for automation in markets such as the laser cutting industry has been served by Air Products innovations such as its TelAlert on-site monitoring systems.

Air Products does much more than simply deliver gas. The company is very knowledgeable about the application of its gases. Whether it is welding, laser cutting or the preservation of foodstuffs, the Packaged Gas has individuals who are experts in their fields and are delighted to share this expertise to solve customer problems. If the solution is not available in South Africa, the local operation can call on the expertise of Air Products worldwide.

A contributing factor to the success of Packaged Gas is its Distributor network. These strategically-placed outlets are carefully selected by Air Products and have to adhere to a strict code of safety and quality standards as well as business ethics.

Our distributors are the final link in the chain that brings our premium product to our customers, says Josua.

It is the quality in each link of this chain that enables Packaged Gas to provide a product that adds real value to our customers businesses, he concludes.

Air Products has a long track record as a reliable supplier of cost-competitive choline chloride to South Africa’s major animal feed producers. Choline chloride is classified as a vitamin, and was formerly known as Vitamin B4.

Vernon Ndimande, Air Products’ Manager: Chemicals Business Unit explains that while choline chloride occurs naturally in many types of food, most animals do not get all their choline requirements from the natural choline content in their food. In fact, the nutrition requirements may be as much as one hundred times greater.

“In addition, research has shown that not all naturally occurring choline is bio-available,” Vernon adds. In animal feeds, extra choline is added as a chloride salt. Choline chloride has been used with success in the rearing of poultry, pigs, fish and in the feeding of domestic cats and dogs.

The chemical helps move the fats around the body, which, in turn, helps with cell construction. It also plays a role in the synthesis of acetylcholine, a substance that assists in muscle control. In fact, it is essential for numerous biological processes, generally making animals healthier. The amount of choline that needs to be administered varies between species, and is influenced by age, make- up of feed and environmental stress,

Taminco N.V. in Gent, Belgium makes the choline chloride available to Air Products South Africa from Belgium. It is supplied as a 75% aqueous solution and is transported from Belgium in 1120kg IBC containers. Transportation is by means of a secure logistical system, which eliminates any chance of contamination.

The quality of choline chloride from sources other than Air Products varies significantly, as it is possible to adulterate choline chloride with other chlorides such as household salt.
There have also been reports in 2007 of pet food being contaminated with a toxic substance called melamine. This melamine-containing ingredient has been reported to have been imported from China.

Importantly, Air Products South Africa follows a number of strict rules to guarantee the consistent high quality of its choline chloride supply. Taminco is ISO 9001 accredited and possesses a GMP certificate applicable to its liquid choline chloride. The product conforms to the specifications, which are contained in the legislation applicable to these substances in Europe. The products are free of genetically modified organisms and the level of heavy metal impurities is among the lowest. Air Products certifies that there are no bacteria, viruses, yeast or fungi present in the product. In addition, Air Products South Africa, as part of a respected global company, can offer its customers security of supply.

“When it comes to chemicals such as choline chloride, Air Products has always taken pride in providing its customers with solutions of unsurpassed excellence,” says Ndimande. “As our company is dedicated to continuous improvement, we would welcome any commercial or technical enquiries from choline chloride users,” he concludes.

For more information, contact:
Vernon Ndimande Chemicals Manager
Air Products South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Tel: +27 11 570 5060
Email: ndimandev@apsap.co.za

During Propak Africa 2008, which will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from the 14-16 October, Air Products, a leading producer of industrial gases and industrial solutions, will be updating delegates from the food, beverage and packaging industry on the latest developments in the world of Freshline and MAP.

The Freshline range of gas products has been specifically formulated for use in the food and beverage industry. The only gas approved and accredited by Coca Cola South Africa, the application of Freshline and MAP has been making a major impact on the food and beverage industry.

Air Products strives to add value to its customers businesses. At Propak 2008, it will be bringing to Cape Town, speakers who are expert in food technology, presentation, and protection.

Anyone who is involved in food and beverage preparation or retailing, or in its packaging is encouraged to attend Air Products Freshline Congress which will be held during Propak. The reason for encouraging attendance is that the application of Air Products Freshline MAP technology can be applied in a number of industry sectors. Freshline MAP gases can be applied to all types of meat, poultry and fish. Also, MAP uses a blend of gases to prevent deterioration of fresh foods such as salads, vegetables, snacks, confectionary and other foodstuffs. Freshline gases also improve the quality and appearance of carbonated drinks and beverages such as beer.

While Freshline is relatively new to South Africa, it is, however, well established in Europe, where MAP is widely used.

Product outline and specification:

Red Meat

The colour of red meat comes from a pigment called myoglobin, which on exposure to oxygen turns bright red (oxymyoglobin). To the consumer, the brightness of the colour indicates freshness and quality. If the meat is starved of oxygen, the pigment turns brown (metamyoglobin), making it unattractive to the consumer and less likely to sell. The colour can be protected by packing meat in high concentrations of oxygen with a balance of carbon dioxide to inhibit microbial spoilage. In this way, shelf life extensions of 6-8 days can be achieved. Packaging in a high oxygen environment is particularly important for very red meats such as venison and beef due to the colour intensity.

Other meats, which benefit from Freshline oxygen-rich modified atmospheres, include lamb, rabbit, veal, goat, hare, horse and also offal (e.g. liver, kidneys and heart).

Raw Fish Seafood

Fish is the most perishable of foodstuffs and one in which consumers are most sensitive to potential spoilage. When MAP is used in conjunction with careful temperature control, shelf life can be extended almost threefold. In a marketplace in which the consumer values chilled over frozen fish, MAP produces significant benefits to both the retailer and the customer resulting in a product which looks good, smells good and tastes good far longer.

Vegetables Salads

Vegetables and Salads begin to show signs of deterioration long before most other foods and are thus prime candidates for the use of MAP gases. These food types present a unique challenge to MAP, since it continues to respire after packing, resulting in a shelf life that is inversely proportional to the respiration rate. Principle spoilage mechanisms result from microbial growth, enzymic browning and moisture loss.

It is recommended that high quality fruit and vegetables are used and washed in advance with chilled, chlorinated water. It then has to be rinsed and de-watered. In conjunction with MAP, the shelf life of some fresh produce can be extended.

Snack Foods Dried Produce

To succeed in todays competitive and quality conscious marketplace, many snack food and dried food producers are also turning to MAP. Freshline Nitrogen is ideal for packaging snack foods and coffee and offers cost saving by:

• Extending the shelf life by up to two years
• Reduced retail wastage and product returns
• Retention of product quality, flavour, aroma, colour and texture
• Inhibition of rancid flavour development and reduced risk of oxidation
• Increased product protection during distribution and handling
• Increased distribution area

Cheese

For the past 6000 years, cheeses have formed a staple part of our diet. The application of MAP technology has lead to a dramatic increase in the shelf life of many cheeses from soft gouda to grated cheddar, providing benefits that are real and cost effective.

Freshline Solutions

Air Products supplies hand-holding expertise and guidance, to assist with ensuring the exact combinations of mixed gases for every MAP application. Combine that with traceability, safety and assured quality, Freshline
is sure to supply the perfect mixture for the perfect product every time.

For more information, please join us at Propak. Otherwise, feel free to contact Air Products South Africa on +27 (11) 977 6400.

November 10 this year was the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Speciality Gas section in the building it occupies today. Though there was no formal celebration, it being close to Christmas, the staff in this yellow-brick building might raise a toast to two successful decades.

Speciality gases are one of two things. They are either a gas of high purity over and above the normal standard gas that Air Products supplies. The second type of speciality gas is where a customer specified a type of gas blend he requires. Normally Air Products supplies gases to a fixed specification, and this is supplied as an off the shelf product, however in the second instance, speciality gas is made to order.

When a speciality gas is produced, it is analysed and certified as being fit for the specific customers use. When testing gases, Air Products imports certain standard gases or blends of gas, which they will use as controls when checking the local product.

Ironically, often customers buy a gas, not for what it contains, but rather for what it doesn’t. For example, when the customer does an analysis of an environmental gas, this person will want a gas that contains impurities at very specific levels. This gives the customer the knowledge during the analysis procedure that any impurities that are detected are not emanating from the Air Products gas.

The typical users of speciality gases come from a wide spectrum of industry. Some of these are medical, various types of laboratories, universities, laser cutting customers, environmental monitoring agencies, mines to name a few.

For example, in fiery mines, the methanometers need to be calibrated. Air Products supplies the gas to do this. In lasers, Air Products supplies the gases of the generation of the laser.

It is a highly critical business and one where if an error should be made in production, the consequences could be dire.

Consistency is also a key attribute of Air Products speciality gases. For example, a laboratory may need to compare a sample it took five years ago to one it took yesterday. If the speciality gas used is not consistent, then the results of the tests will not be valid.

When cylinders arrive at the Speciality Gas section, these are checked, then prepared and analysed. Once the cylinder is deemed suitable, it is filled with the gas. The cylinder then has to pass certification. Every cylinder is sent out with a Certificate of Analysis (COA) and with some of the pure products a Certificate of Conformance.

The quality of our gases is absolutely critical to certain processes and these certificates are our guarantee that the product is 100% to specification.

When the Speciality gas section first started, it had to staff of two people. Now, 20 years later, this has grown to 30 people, a remarkable growth, which speaks volumes for the reputation that this section has built up over the years.

The gases embrace the complete range, including toxic and corrosive gases, depending on what the customer wants.

Most of the people working in Speciality Gas section have a strong chemistry background and most are very experienced. Often these people need to make decisions on whether a specific gas can be produced or not. A mistake here could be fatal. The section employs currently two B.Sc Chemists to spearhead the sections knowledge base.

Over the years, some names of now senior people such as Mike Hellyer and Josua le Roux have spent time in this section.

Apart from its services to external customers, Speciality Gas products are needed to calibrate the output of every other department in Air Products. The Speciality Gas section touches many lives in a quiet and unobtrusive manner, and few people realise the critical role this section plays.

In spite of the smallish volumes it produces, the section is a substantial revenue generator for Air Products.

Air Products produces an excellent general-purpose shielding gas called Coogar. However, with these more specialised gas blends, a welder can get significantly higher welding speeds, explains Air Products Manager: Welding and Cutting Gases, Colin West.

Astec gases are formulated to meet stringent requirements mainly in stainless steel and aluminium welding. With Astec, better heat input control improves the mechanical properties of stainless steel, giving superior penetration and sidewall fusion in the joint.

Other gases in the Astec range are Astec 15, 25 and 30. Astec gases are a blend of argon and helium, the blend being intended for the welding of aluminium, copper and stainless steel. Astec 15, for example, gives better droplet formation on thin stainless steels, while Astec S3 is a metal active (MAG) welding gas for austenitic stainless steels.

On the other hand, the argon-hydrogen mix used in Hytec 5 makes for a shielding gas capable of increasing welding speeds by 37%, in comparison to a pure argon blend.

These gases, although more costly, give improved welding qualities to both ferrous and non-ferrous metals, says West.

These gases are not limited to welding only, as some can also be used for purging stainless steel tubing. For example, where a pipe is undergoing welding, the pipe is filled with the inert purging gas. This ensures that the weld surface exposed on the pipe interior is protected against atmospheric contamination. Protec backing gases, which are a blend of nitrogen and hydrogen, have been specifically designed for purging. In food or pharmaceutical processing, this quality of welding is essential.

However, some professional welding customers, who are concerned about containing costs, may not always see the long-term advantages of a specialised gas. Air Products has technical experts on hand, who are happy to answer any customer queries.

The advances in welding technology have seen an ever-increasing demand for all types of welding gases. Air Products adds value to its customers businesses through innovative delivery solutions.

For example, one of these is Air Products highly cost effective small liquid-delivery (SLD) technology. This uses large-volume Maxitanks, which can be replenished from a specially designed Air Products delivery truck. This system eliminates the need for keeping a multitude of cylinders on site. The use of Maxitanks allows for less handling, with improved safety and housekeeping. Maxitanks give their users superb flexibility, as they can draw off exactly the correct blend of gases from various cylinders by means of a mixing panel.

Air Products most popular brand name for welding is Coogar. These range of welding gases have been in existence since the early 1970s and are the leading brand for MIG/MAG applications.

The downside is that overwhelming popularity of Coogar has seen customers tending to demand it for all MIG/MAG welding applications, not realizing that there are specialised welding gases which could offer more cost effective welding, explains West.

To help customers choose exactly the right welding gas, Air Products has developed a database called Gas Selector. Gas Selector makes choosing the right gas as simple as clicking through to a website. Then, completing four straightforward questions brings the name of the recommended gas on screen. The data is formatted to the cylinder identification chart, making selection simple.

Gas Selector ensures that our customers have access to the best products for their particular welding needs, concludes West.

For more information, contact:
Colin West Manager: Welding and Cutting Gases
Air Products South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Tel: +27 11 977 6415
Email: westcw@apsap.co.za

A lot has been said recently about the impetus of lifestyle change, to the range of fresh and prepared foods offered in South African supermarkets. A new generation of consumers are demanding nutritious meals consisting of either fresh or prepared foods, that can very easily be served at home and require minimal preparation time. These discerning shoppers are prepared to pay a premium to enjoy quality meals and we have seen new packaging technology like Modified Atmosphere Packaging applied to many new products. Air Products’ Freshline^TM gases are now widely used in by growing number of different food processors to produce these attractive high-tech packages.

If we look one step back in the food chain’, we find that food technologists face increasing challenges to ensure that the components of ready meals are presented and packaged attractively and that factors like texture, colour and moisture content are not compromised. This immediately raises questions around the technology best suited to cool, chill or freeze fresh prepared foods and meals, in order to avoid degrading their quality in the process.

Production of these ‘lifestyle’ food products often requires hot liquids like gravies and soups, to be cooled very rapidly in order to retain their full flavour, or for a coating of herbs or sauce to be applied without the food pieces sticking together. Without this capability proportion-able ready-prepared mixed meals are impossible to produce. Again Air Products have developed technology that not only enables this but enhances productivity too.

The term Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) is widely used (and misused), to describe the process required for foods like prawns or raspberries that can be very difficult to freeze satisfactorily, to be frozen singly, while preserving their individual form, texture and taste. Employing the high power of refrigerant liquid nitrogen (LIN) has over many years been proven to be the preferred technology for IQF food production. First introduced in the USA in 1965, Air Products’ CRYO-QUICK^tm tunnel freezers were used during the 1980s in SA to freeze foods including burger patties, ice-cream, potato chips and baked foods. At that time low capital cost, quick installation time and the favourable ratio of throughput capacity to required space, made this technology particularly attractive.

The seasonal fluctuations of supply and demand are factors that play havoc in the commercial markets for fresh produce everywhere and in many different markets (CRYO-QUICK^tm LIN freezing tunnels) are the automatic choice for adding capacity to freeze meat cuts, burgers, fish fillets, poultry products, seafood, bakery products, ice-cream, appetizers, ethnic foods and ready meals. Liquid Nitrogen freezers are now available from Air Products in several new configurations that have been specifically developed to process a variety of other food products that have properties unsuited to chilling or freezing on the conventional mesh belt, like tomato paste pellets, liquid egg, cream and fruit puree. LIN freezing can be easily integrated into existing production systems whether continuous or batch operated

Freezing with LIN differs from mechanical refrigeration in another way that has recently gained additional significance in SA because the liquid refrigerant is not recycled but instead is delivered cold in cryogenic tankers at a typical temperature of around -195 degrees Celsius. Mechanical refrigeration regardless of the refrigerant used depends on gas compressors that are usually electrically driven, to recycle the refrigerant through the system. Mechanical freezing also consumes significant time in cooling (mainly in houses) compared with LIN Freezing which takes minutes. Not only does this add to the energy demand of any given food production plant, but also raises its’ dependency on a reliable supply of electric power. The luxury of low-cost reliable electric power enjoyed in SA during the past 25 years is gone and not likely to be available here in the foreseeable future.

Liquid Nitrogen Freezing Systems from Air Products, used alone or in conjunction with mechanical systems, provide significant opportunities to the food processor. A PC based evaluation tool has been developed to help analyse some of those benefits. This program provides an indication of the best freezing solution for your needs.

If your current or planned future product range includes any of those mentioned above, why not call Sachin at Air Products (011 977-6430) for a no-obligation evaluation of the benefits that LIN freezing might offer? Additional information and illustrations can be seen by clicking the link below:  http://www.airproducts.co.za/food/freezing.htm#

Vernon Ndimande, General Manager of Chemicals at Air Products South Africa, and David Mitchely, Product Manager, described the range of products as follows; Air Products South Africas Epoxy curing additives are used in a wide variety if applications such as industrial coatings, civil engineering and construction, adhesives and in composites. Our additives provide a cross linking function to the Epoxy thermosetting resins.

In 2008, Air Products and Chemicals (APCI) in the US introduced two new water borne Epoxy curing agents for the flooring and the concrete coating markets. These products offer excellent performances and provide environmental benefits in a cost effective way. These products enable a formulator to use less binder and more filler and water as a dilute. Since these products are water borne, they perform as well or better than conventional solid resin dispersions that struggle to meet volatile organic content (VOC) regulations globally. They also exhibit very low odor.

The polyurethane additives are used as catalysts in the manufacture of foam, ranging from flexible slab stock foam to rigid foams.

Types of catalysts supplied by APSAP are1) amine based, 2) tin based as well as 3) silicone surfactants. These versatile products find use in all types of polyurethane foams and their applications are dependant on the type and levels of TDI and/or MDI as well as the Polyol used. Temperature conditions also affect the choice of suitable additives.

We also have the surfynol range of additives which are a chemically unique class of surface active agents based on acetylenic-diol chemistry i.e. the Gemini molecule which is patented in the US. These additives can be used in applications such as paints, coatings, inks and in concrete admixtures. They provide benefits such as surface tension reduction, surface wetting, foam control and pigment dispersion.

Surfynol additives are also environmentally friendly products in the sense that they reduce or eliminate the use of volatile organic solvents with water by formulators thus lowering VOCs. Surfynols provides environmentally preferable alternatives to phenol based Alkyl Phenol Ethoxylates – (EPA) surfactants, in coatings as well as adhesives applications.

The specialty amines range of additives applications are many and diverse and include production of agriculture chemicals, water treatment chemicals, production of surfactants as well as the manufacture of herbicides.

Of particular importance to APSAP is Choline Chloride which is an essential nutrient and finds its main applications as a feed additive. While the company has about 20% of the local polyurethane market, market share for epoxies is about 30 % to 40 %. Ndimande says that epoxies are some of the most popular chemicals supplied, and they account for a major part of the chemicals division turnover.

Ndimande says that Air Products South Africas sales are very small in comparison to Air Products sales worldwide, rendering insufficient justification for building a chemicals manufacturing plant in South Africa. Air Products South Africa imports all products from the US and the UK. The company also repackages and breaks bulk products for clients at its warehousing and a distribution facility in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, which is third-party owned, and is also used as a distribution point for chemicals to local clients.

Technical support to manufacturers in South Africa in new product development is provided by Air Products South Africa. Air Products makes use of customers in-house laboratory facilities for customised sample tests, and can also refer to its overseas research departments for assistance.

In the past eight months, the local branch has begun to manage supply orders for exports of chemical products to Southern Africa, previously done by its offices in Europe. About 50 tons per year have been exported so far and we expect this part of the business to grow. In 2007, Air Products worldwide purchased Tomah3 to extend its product offering in its surfactant product portfolio.

Robert Richardson, Projects and Proposals manager for Air Products explains: Oxygen is a vital reagent in the leaching of base metals, as well as in the extraction of certain precious metals, as it assists in the dissolution of metals in acid solutions. Its also used extensively in Pyrometalurgical processes to raise furnace temperatures, and thereby assist in the smelting of metal concentrates.

Modern hyrometalurgical processes typically incorporate leach autoclaves, which, in turn, use oxygen under high temperature and pressure to extract metals. Air Products has several sites where it supplies tonnage oxygen to mining companies, where the metals being extracted range from base metals to platinum group metals.

Air Products has a particularly strong presence on the Zambian Copperbelt. Here the company has supplied five on-site plants over the last few years. Two of the plants are used for the leaching of copper and cobalt, at different sites. Others are linked to pyrometallurgical applications such as the roasting of cobalt, or the flash smelting of Copper concentrates . One such plant is currently under construction at the massive Konkola Deep Copper Project in Chingola.

Air Products, through being proactive and efficient, has become the dominant industrial gas supplier to the Copperbelt Mines. To strengthen its hand, the company offers the support of a strong operations and maintenance base in the area.

In South Africa, growth has mainly been in the service to the platinum group metals industry, and the associated by-products stemming from this. Air Products has constructed tonnage plants for Impala Platinum at its refinery in Springs and, some years ago, for Anglo Platinum in Rustenburg.

In the tonnage gas arena, another significant market is the supply of nitrogen and hydrogen to controlled atmosphere applications. These include Nickel producers who operate briquetting furnaces, and various metals producers and finishers who operate annealing or heat treatment furnaces. Nickel powder, for example, needs to be briquetted to make it acceptable for charging into arc furnaces. However, to stop the nickel oxidising under high briquetting temperatures, inert conditions are needed. Nitrogen provides an economical inert atmosphere, while relatively small additions of Hydrogen act as a very effective oxygen scavenger in the furnace environment.

Importantly, designers of metallurgical processes, which are going to be tonnage gas users, are encouraged to speak to Air Products Commercial Technology group. This team can partner with metallurgical consulting engineers to match the gas delivery system to the clients processes.

Air Products would typically look at issues such as furnace design, burner technology, flow control systems, safety systems, etc. The company has various proprietary technologies, which can be incorporated into a clients new or existing plant.

The Bulk and Packaged Gas divisions are also responsible for significant gas supplies to minerals processing facilities. Air Products recently won the contract for the supply of bulk Liquid Oxygen to a major new Southern Africa’s uranium producer. Bulk Liquid Gas is often a very effective means of supply during start-up and ramp-up of a new metallurgical process. Bulk Liquid supply provides the flexibility to accommodate large variations in gas off-take, and it allows the end user to properly quantify his gas demands before committing to an on-site plant.

Packaged gases are supplied to the mines, and to their contractors and suppliers for the purpose of construction, manufacturing and maintenance. Air Products supplies the full range of cutting, welding and fabrication gases, as well as specialized gases for instrumentation and analytical applications.

Deep level mines would not be able to operate without chilled air ventilation. Here Air Products is able to supply the appropriate refrigerants.

What has set Air Products apart in the minerals processing industry is its unquestionable ability to design, construct and commission an industrial gas plant that is going to work well, and which will be reliable and safe to operate, explains Richardson.

We have a highly credible project execution capacity, which is important when the client is building a new $1-billion metallurgical complex. These clients cannot afford to have problems due to ancillary services that are either not ready on time, or are unreliable, he concludes.

For more information contact:
Charles Dos Santos
Air Products South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Title: Sales Manager On-Sites
Tel: +27 11 570 5000
Email: dossantc@apsap.co.za