Big pipeline project for producing alcohol from sugarcane arrives in Swaziland from SA

Since January a team of 10 specialists had been working tirelessly to complete a very special column, which is known in the industry as a potable rectifier distillation colum, Krugersdorp News reports.

According to Keith Clarke, Responsible Welding Coordinator from Vessel Fab specialising in stainless steel fabrication, this column is not your ordinary water pipe as it is three metres in diameter, 36 metres in length, weighs 24 500 kilograms when empty and 219 500 kilograms when filled with water.

The material used is stainless steel type 304L, with radiography performed on all welds. The column, which was filled with water and pressure-tested, was transported all the way to Swaziland where it will be part of a chemical plant. It will play a vital role in producing alcohol from sugarcane.

After two days of travelling at 40 kilometres per hour, the column finally reached its destination on Friday, 31 August. What made this transaction so significant is the fact that only about 162 manufacturers in South Africa are qualified to produce items such as this column.

Even though Vessel Fab has completed similar projects in the past, it is proud to add this column to its list of successes.