Projects
FIT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Edited by Ntsako Khosa
To ensure longevity of its solar panels, a supermarket in the south of
Johannesburg sought a fitting that did just that, and saved time during installation.
C
Cleaning the machine before it is fitted.
Fitting the MaxiPro.
The end product.
54
RACA Journal I April 2020
onex Banninger >B< MaxiPro fittings, used in conjunction
with the Rothenberger Romax TT pressing tool saved
time, money and the environment at the retail outlet. The
installation process eliminates welding, which in turns
eliminates green house gases, while saving time.
The combination of the fittings and the tool also results
in the reduction of welding and pressure testing errors. “In
windy conditions flames during welding cannot be avoided.
When human error is taken into account, the accuracy of
the installation is compromised when welding in windy
conditions,” Mark Hudson, the installer and technical director
from Cold Control: Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning explains.
First installed at the outlet, the client – who is all for
being environmentally friendly – found the installation to
be a no-brainer for their complex. According to Dean Lotter,
distributor of the fittings, “This is the first fitting in the world
able to deal with pressures found in the HVAC industry, in
terms of pressings.”
Manufactured in Spain, the fittings are made using copper.
The full range included bends, couplers, tees, and end caps.
The fitting provides a secure, permanent leak-proof joint
suitable for air conditioning and refrigeration applications. The
MaxiPro press fittings, used with the customised Rothenberger
Romax Compact TT press, the battery-operated tool has been
designed “to do one press in three seconds, saving up to 70%
in time,” Lotter adds.
Hudson states that with the machine designed to do
one press – reducing chances of leakages to zero compared
to soldering and brazing. “Since installation, the site has
experienced no leaks at 1 000kPa,” says Hudson.
“Everything we do resolves around reducing carbon
footprint and being more reliable. Which is what the
company stands for,” Hudson shares. He further adds that
the panels will save the client approximately 40% on their
electricity bill, as they are also being used to power the
instore refrigeration system.
“The tool has been designed to give 40 000 pressers
before being serviced. Once recalibrated, a certificate is
issued to confirm this. The press fittings require 32 – 34Nm
to produce the perfect press,” says Hudson. The project
required only 200 pressers. The team is confident that
contractors won’t have to revisit sites to sort out errors
when using the fitting and presser. RACA
www.hvacronline.co.za