Flo-Tel™+ now meets international standards for use in explosive atmospheres

Leading rupture disc manufacturer Elfab has been awarded IECEx approval for its advanced burst detection system, Flo-Tel™+.

Flo-Tel™+ is the only non-invasive, fail-safe detection system on the market. Offering a wide range of benefits to customers in safety-critical environments, Flo-Tel™+ can be either hardwired or used in conjunction with Elfab’s fail-safe wireless detection system, Radio-Tel™.

Modern industrial automation has increased the need for electrical equipment in hazardous areas, where flammable liquids, vapours, gases or combustible dusts could present a fire or explosion hazard. The use of equipment, especially electrical, in these areas is highly regulated. IECEx approval ensures that equipment and systems are manufactured and operated according to the highest international safety standards.

At a time when stringent safety standards are of utmost importance, Flo-Tel™+ offers unprecedented advantages, from triggering alarms to shutting down a process. IECEx approval certifies the Flo-Tel™+ system for use internationally in the most hazardous of processes and environments.

Elfab offers a wide range of products and services to safety-critical industry sectors across the globe, and is constantly developing its product range to meet customer demands and strengthen its pressure intelligence brand. For more information about Elfab’s products and services, please contact Elfab sales on +44 (0)191 293 1234.

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ElfabTech offers product selectors, sizing calculators and order tracking

Pressure relief specialist Elfab has added a section to its website where users, members and customers can access technical and other useful information. ElfabTech offers product selectors, disc-sizing calculators, NACE tables, order tracking, customer dossier files, installation videos and presentations.

The new site can be accessed on three separate levels. Disc and panel selectors, public media, news and updates are available to Users. Members enjoy the same functionality, but also have access to disc-sizing calculators, and have their details entered automatically when requesting a quote. Finally, in addition to accessing all of the above, Customers can monitor Elfab product orders internally, track TNT references and download customer-sensitive information via Elfab SecureFile.

ElfabTech’s Media section hosts installation videos for Elfab’s Opti-Gard™, Arma-Gard and Safe-Gard rupture discs, as well as presentations examining the various types of rupture disc available and their applications.

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Pressure relief specialist Elfab will be showing its range of process rupture discs and detection systems at Offshore Arabia 2012.

Opti-Gard™ is a reverse-acting rupture disc, featuring a 95 per cent operating to burst pressure ratio and a performance tolerance of three per cent. Elfab offers Opti-Gard™ as a single-disc solution across a wide range of sizes and burst pressures.

Elfab is based in the north-east of England and exports 70 per cent of its production worldwide. Its customers are mainly found in the chemical, pharmaceutical, oil and gas, and food processing industries. The company’s technology is used in a wide range of OEM applications, from launch systems in space rockets to air bags in cars, and cryogenic systems in body scanners.

Any companies interested in representing Elfab in the Middle East should approach Marco Cislaghi, Elfab’s sales representative for the Middle East, who will be manning the stand.

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TV-inspired collection system saves hundreds of pounds a month

As part of its ISO 14001 environmental improvement drive, pressure relief specialist Elfab has recently installed a rainwater collection system to provide water across the company’s manufacturing and office facilities.

The system has been designed to be expandable, as it is intended to provide up to 75 per cent of the company’s water needs. A UV filtering system allows collected water to be used in all parts of the business, except for human consumption.

Elfab’s operations director, John Fulton, and maintenance manager, Dave Mellody, were inspired to come up with the scheme after watching a housing design programme on television. The programme revealed the amount of water typically consumed by domestic toilets and plumbing systems, from which the Elfab employees were able to extrapolate an estimated figure for the company’s usage. The scale of this figure prompted them to design a system to conserve water, saving Elfab hundreds of pounds a month.

“Elfab is always looking for innovative and cost-effective ways to reduce our impact on the environment,” said John Fulton. “Once fully understood, this suggestion was quickly adopted by the company.”

The system collects rainwater from the building’s roof and diverts it into two 10,000-litre storage drums. Elfab carried out all preparatory and internal pipe work to reduce the installation cost.

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- New Warsaw facility supports whole of Eastern Europe -

Pressure relief specialist Elfab has opened an office in Warsaw to satisfy increasing demand from the Eastern European market.

The new facility offers customer site visits, technical consultations and general after-sales care. It can also provide technical training programmes tailored to individual project requirements.

The Warsaw office has been established to support customers in Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Anna Tytula, Elfab’s business development executive for the region, commented: “Opening an office in Eastern Europe seemed an obvious way to manage the growing number of multinational projects in which Elfab is involved. These projects call for a complete solution to be discussed in person rather than ‘virtually’. Elfab values close and professional relationships with its business partners around the world and will be searching for new collaborations in Eastern Europe.”

Elfab’s Warsaw office can be contacted at:

Elfab Ltd
Dago Centrum Atrium International Business Centre
Al Jana Pawla II 23 / 196
00-854 Warsaw
Poland
Email: polandsales@elfab.com

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- Company searching for two more apprentices following departure of initial graduate -

North Shields-based manufacturer Elfab recently said goodbye to Grant Husthwaite, the first graduate from its three-year apprenticeship scheme, as it seeks to extend the initiative by adding two new recruits.

Grant enrolled at the Rolls-Royce North East Training Centre in Newcastle upon Tyne in September 2007 to undertake the first year of a four-year engineering apprenticeship.  He then joined pressure relief specialist Elfab in August 2008, having been selected from a group of 12 apprentices.

While working at Elfab, Grant attended Newcastle College on day release, obtaining a BTEC National Certificate in Engineering. He continued studying towards a Foundation Degree in Engineering and completed his 17th Edition Wiring Regulations qualification. Grant was mentored by Elfab’s manufacturing engineer and maintenance technician during the three years of his apprenticeship, gaining electrical, mechanical and maintenance engineering skills.

Following the success of the initial scheme, Elfab is now looking to take on two new apprentices, one in manufacturing and the other in sales.  Candidates would normally be around 18-years-old and have completed their first year at college, with Elfab then becoming their supporting company for their time in industry. Depending on the discipline concerned, apprentices would take on a number or roles, gain experience with different functions and take part in various short-term projects.

Elfab produces rupture discs, explosion vents and associated detection devices to protect people, plant, processes and the environment around the world. Although Elfab’s customers are predominantly found in the chemical, pharmaceutical, oil and gas, and food processing industries, the company’s technology is also used in a wide range of OEM applications, from launch systems in space rockets and air bags in cars to cryogenic systems in body scanners.

Anyone interested in joining Elfab’s apprenticeship scheme should phone Carol Cessford on 0191 293 1234 or email carol.cessford@elfab.com

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Elfab, Europe’s leading pressure relief specialist, has been granted a new manufacturer’s licence for China. The British firm has received a Manufacturing Licence of Special Equipment for the People’s Republic of China, issued by AQSIQ (the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine).

This accreditation reinforces Elfab’s existing list of major approvals, which includes all applicable European Directives (PED and ATEX), ASME VIII, and GOST (for the Russian Federation).

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Elfab has won a £250k contract to meet the pressure relief requirements of a leading British gas and energy group’s largest ever investment, a liquified natural gas (LNG) development in north-east Australia.

The project is the first in the world to liquify and ship gas produced from coal deposits. The first LNG exports are planned to commence from 2014, underpinned by agreements in Chile, China, Japan and Singapore for the purchase of up to 9.5 million tonnes per annum of LNG.

The contract specifies Elfab’s patented Opti-Gard™ rupture disc, with its unique three per cent tolerance. In addition, Elfab had to satisfy complex logistical requirements, with sub-contract manufacturing taking place in China before final on-site assembly in Australia.

Elfab worked closely with the customer’s subcontractors and drew on 50 years’ experience in pressure management design to make product improvements that delivered a cost- effective but technically advanced solution.

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- Flo-Tel™ + now suitable for use on FPSO units -

Leading rupture disc manufacturer Elfab has been awarded an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of 66 for its ATEX-approved burst detection system, Flo-Tel™+.

Flo-Tel™+ is the only non-invasive, fail-safe detection system on the market. Offering a wide range of benefits to customers in safety-critical environments, Flo-Tel™+ can be either hardwired or used in conjunction with Elfab’s ATEX-approved wireless detection system, Radio-Tel™.

An IP66 rating makes Flo-Tel™+ suitable for use in highly dusty environments and areas where short-term flooding may occur. This has expanded the range of customers to whom the product is relevant, which now includes FPSO units within the oil and gas industry. At a time when zero emissions and more stringent quality standards are becoming increasingly important, Flo-Tel™+ can offer unprecedented advantages, from triggering alarms to shutting down a process.

Elfab offers a wide range of products and services to safety-critical industry sectors across the globe, and is constantly developing its product range to meet customer demands and strengthen its pressure intelligence brand. For more information about Elfab’s products and services, please contact Elfab sales on +44 (0)191 293 1234.

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British pressure relief specialist Elfab has been awarded a US patent for its reverse-acting rupture disc Opti-Gard™ SoLo. Opti-Gard™ SoLo is now both a registered trademark, and has been granted patents, in the UK, EU and US.

The latest addition to Elfab’s industry-leading Opti-Gard™ range, Opti-Gard™ SoLo was developed specifically for low-pressure applications from two psig. Featuring a 95 per cent operating-to-burst-pressure ratio and a performance tolerance of just three per cent, Opti-Gard™ SoLo offers the highest performance characteristics available for liquid, gas or vapour applications.

Tested to over 100,000 cycles, SoLo provides excellent cycle life and leak tightness.  The addition of SoLo to Elfab’s existing Opti-Gard™ range gives customers the opportunity of rationalising stock holdings by a typical 65 per cent.

Opti-Gard™ SoLo comes pre-fitted with Integral Flo-Tel™, Elfab’s unique and completely reliable, non-invasive, magnetic burst-detection system. Unlike traditional membrane-type detectors, Flo-Tel™ is fail-safe and operates only when a disc has ruptured, eliminating both false alarms and downtime in the event of a disc functioning.

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