Expansion in Western Australia to support the oil and gas industry

Providing maintenance and customised service-solutions for critical rotating equipment by optimising operational efficiency and building long-term customer relationships, Sulzer work typically with large motors.  Power generation equipment and the investment in new equipment take a transparent and collaborative approach, working as a partner to provide services as well as delivering a rapid turnaround to minimize business interruption.

Tony Beardsley, Service Centre Manager, commented: “This investment into state-of-the-art equipment will certainly enable us to deliver a very efficient repair service. 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.”

Beardsley added: “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 enquiry, through the repair and overhaul process, electrical testing, to final dispatch of the product back to the customer, every aspect is scrutinised for efficiency.”

In addition to the workflow design, there is also a requirement to improve the environmental impact and sustainability of such facilities. 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.

Sulzer’s customers increasingly ask for reliable and energy-efficient products. They expect sustainable, advanced components to run processes at optimised cost levels. Since costs and environmental impacts occur at different stages throughout the lifetime of a product, Sulzer considers the entire life cycle of its products and solutions.

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 11kV and full load testing to 1.2MW.

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.

Tony Beardsley concluded: “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.

“With 24/7/365 guaranteed support, Sulzer provides cutting-edge maintenance and customised service solutions for rotating equipment by optimising operational efficiency, building long-term customer relationships, offering a transparent and collaborative advantage with partner services as well as delivering rapid-service turnaround to minimise business interruption.”