Australian pneumatic systems for world’s largest fish oil manufacturer

Calair Pipe Systems Pty Ltd
Wednesday, 08 July, 2009


An Australian-manufactured, tough, light and recyclable pneumatic reticulation system has been selected for use in a 100% plant expansion for the largest fish oil manufacturer in the world.

About 1.5 km of the Calair polymer pipe system has been installed in the expanded Nova Scotia molecular distillation plant of Ocean Nutrition Canada Ltd, where ambient temperatures frequently fall to lower than -25 °C.

The installation, undertaken by Atlantic Compressed Air of New Brunswick, is among the latest installations in Canada for Calair’s clean and non-corrosive system, which has also been adopted by Atlantic Compressed Air in automotive mechanical installations.

The Calair piping is eight times lighter than equivalent steel product and 30% lighter still than PVC, making it very easy to install in the expansion of Ocean Nutrition’s MEG-3 fish processing plant.

The plant is being expanded to accommodate rapid growth in the world market for omega-3 supplements and food products. US demand for such products exceeded US$2 billion last year and demand is expected to treble over the next two years.

“Our installation crew love to work with the product. It’s light, clean, easy to cut, and it looks really professional after installation,” said Atlantic Compressed Air Operations Manager Tom Bourgeois.

Calair Pipe System Managing Director John McNab visited Bourgeois during a visit to Canada as part of his worldwide promotion of his product range, which has been used in more than 10,000 applications worldwide, including Europe, Asia and America. The Calair system has won selection to the Australian Technology Showcase, an Australian government initiative which identifies leading examples of Australian technology with potential to penetrate global markets and promotes them to potential customers, and has also been recognised by the Australian government with an Export Achievement Award.

Calair’s low-friction polymer pipe systems are designed for high-performance handling of compressed air, gases, chemicals, oil and water. Each type of piping is permanently colour-coded for content to provide optimum safety for installation, operational and maintenance staff. The piping systems will not rust internally and are far easier and faster to erect and reconfigure than metal systems of copper, stainless steel and galvanised iron. No expensive skilled labour is needed, or specialised trades such as welding.

“The Calair product was brought to our attention by [Production Engineer] Eric Chaytor of Ocean Nutrition. After seeing John McNab’s presentation during his visit to Ocean Nutrition, we decided this product would be a very good fit with the compressor and dryer lines we sell,” said Bourgeois.

“We have completed eight other air installations since taking on the product and it’s working out very well in service.”

Polymer won’t rust and drop flakes into production process pipes, or clog them so air or fluids have to fight to get through. Also, because polymer insulates better than metal piping, it isn’t as prone to condensation as hot air meets cold pipes.

The reticulation system — available in sizes from 12.5 to 100 mm — is a complete system, with a comprehensive range of joints, cross-pieces, elbows, fasteners and fittings.

McNab said that even though there were quite formidable local standards and conditions to meet in the Canadian markets, they have had great support from Atlantic Compressed Air CEO Richard Esanto and Tom Bourgeois. They saw the potential of the product and have backed it all the way.

“The staff at the Ocean Nutrition plant were very impressed with the system’s versatility and the personal backing given by Calair Pipe Systems. The driving force for us there was Production Engineer Eric Chaytor, who originally saw it on a website and whom we visited to demonstrate the product,” said McNab.

“He specified the product in five sizes for use throughout his plant, in applications as varied as the pneumatic ring main right down to the pipeline drops feeding individual items of machinery.”

Manufactured by a family owned private company, the Calair pressure piping systems industrial and commercial pipe systems are designed to be totally recyclable — virtually an entire installation can be picked up from one plant and moved to the next. Unlike metal welded systems — which frequently have to be junked when production facilities change location — Calair has founded its business on systems that can be dismantled, cleanly packed away and reconverted to a new use.

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