The South African food and beverage and pharmaceuticals sectors require measurement technology that offers precision and reliability while complying with local hygiene regulations. There is, hence, greater demand for accuracy in measurement instrumentation in these sectors, says Germany-based measurement and control instrumentation provider GHM Messtechnik GmbH (GHM) MD Jan Grobler.

He states that this demand for higher standards of accuracy has “necessitated ongoing research and development (R&D) by GHM”. The company has invested heavily in its R&D facilities to meet customer requirements and comply with ever-increasing industry-hygiene requirements.

With increased accuracy comes a high demand for instrumentation that is particularly suited to applications in the food and beverage and pharmaceuticals industries, he adds.

Grobler says the establishment of the company’s Alberton branch in 2016 “is a reflection of GHM’s optimism regarding the opportunities that exist in South Africa for the company’s measurement instrumentation in many industrial sectors”.

“South African food and beverage hygiene regulations are as stringent as any other international regulations. The overriding concern is manufacturing safety, which ultimately protects the industry and the consumer,” he points out.

Owing to this, the company believes that food hygiene processes can only be safeguarded by the producer when the measurement technology used in this industry comprises a hygienic design and conforms to all applicable laws, which GHM’s technology does.

“All GHM’s sensor parts that come into contact with processed media and are in close proximity to mechanical processes can withstand the cyclical cleaning and sterilisation temperatures as outlined by all the major standards associations,” Grobler explains.

Clean- and sterilisation-in-place are methods of cleaning and sterilising the interior surfaces of pipes, vessels, process equipment, filters and associated fittings without having to disassemble them, he explains. Grobler suggests these processes are faster, less labour intensive, more repeatable and reduce the risk of food being exposed to unwanted chemicals that are released as a result of cleaning processes.

Moreover, GHM’s technologies and products also have applications in general industry, mining, brewery industries, power generation, renewable energy, laboratories, oil flow measurement and hydraulic-related sectors.

The range of technologies and products offered by GHM is well regarded for its high-quality, performance, accuracy and reliability, Grobler states.

Owing to harsh environmental conditions, the South African market has, in the past, been used for product development by GHM. This has enabled the company to develop extremely robust products. Grobler adds that R&D is set to continue at the Alberton office.

The technical capability and skills of the GHM staff, coupled with their experience in the instrumentation market, gives the company a competitive edge that enables it to continue increasing its footprint in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, Grobler says.

He also points out that the company prides itself on innovative product solutions, versatility and flexibility in accommodating customer-specific requirements.

GHM instruments are manufactured and designed in Germany and comply with German precision and quality standards that are recognised globally. Although the company has had many years of success, it is still a ‘new kid on the block’ in the South African market, which is a challenge, says Grobler, as it will take perseverance and persistence to set itself apart from the competition.

With a strong international reputation and a growing foothold in the local market, GHM is set to leverage its global resource base to deliver German quality products that adhere to all the regulatory standards of the South African food and beverage sector.