Tectra Automation has provided all the pneumatic and vacuum equipment required for the installation and commissioning of PG Bison’s sixth melamine-faced board (MFB) press. The press, which came online towards the end of 2019, will increase production capacity at the company’s Mpumalanga-based plant.
The melamine press machine is used to laminate melamine-impregnated décor paper onto both faces of either medium density fibreboard (MDF) or particleboard to produce decorative panels for the manufacture of furniture and fixtures. Tectra Automation used Aventics pneumatic components to drive the press, while the press’ vacuum capability is ensured with Schmalz vacuum equipment. In total, approximately 4000 components were used.
Brand Engelbrecht, PG Bison manufacturing executive, says that the additional capacity will bring even more flexibility to PG Bison’s product offering and ensure that service levels are maintained in peak trading periods.
In addition to press installation and commissioning, the scope of work included specification of the required equipment and determining and acquiring the pneumatic and vacuum components required. Building the control panels and retrofitting new pneumatic and vacuum equipment also formed part of the project.
Tectra Automation carried out the retrofitting at PG Bison’s Boksburg facility, while installation and commissioning were done at its Piet Retief plant in Mpumalanga.
“The PG Bison engineering team completed the project earlier than planned,” says Cobus Snyman, Tectra Automation’s senior sales representative. “Tectra Automation contributed to this achievement by providing a fast manufacturing turnaround time of the control panels and new cylinders.”
There is a 12-month warranty on all non-wearing parts and as PG Bison conducts its own press maintenance, Tectra Automation’s aftersales service will be the supply of replacement components only. Press commissioning took a fortnight and included Tectra Automation millwrights and project manager, while PG Bison’s engineers, millwrights and plant manager assisted.
This is the second PG Bison MFB press where Tectra Automation assisted with turnkey pneumatic component replacement and installation. The first took place in 2012 at PG Bison’s Boksburg plant.
Tectra Automation, a Bosch Rexroth South Africa Group company, is the sole supplier of Aventics pneumatic components and Schmalz vacuum technology in sub-Saharan Africa.
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