Scientific equipment sup- plier Wirsam Scientific and Precision Equipment has registered a decline in the number of projects that the company and its competitors are being contracted for, owing to the global economic downturn and local uncertainties.

Wirsam Scientific product manager Marius de Jager tells Mining Weekly that, while the economy has been recovering since 2008, labour disputes and uncertain political and economic policies in South Africa have caused investors to turn to other African countries, such as Botswana.

De Jager says many industry stakeholders, including cement producers, steelmakers and South Africa-based mining laboratories, have been waiting for the outcome of the national elections before any decisions are made on capital expenditure.

Product Overview
Wirsam Scientific is working with Chinese laboratory equipment manufacturer Changsha Kaiyuan Instruments Company (CKIC) to import laboratory equipment for the African market.

De Jager says the partnership started about a year ago and CKIC is customising some of its products – including the 5E-MF6100 Muffle furnace, the 5E-MIN6150 mini moisture oven and the 5E Series drying oven – to suit Wirsam Scientific’s specification for the South African and African market.

5E-MF6100 Muffle Furnace
The 5E-MF6100 is used to determine ash and volatile matter in coal, coking coal and other org- anic material. Its features include a ceramic fibre, which ensures high thermal insulation.

The 5E-MF6100’s temperature can rise to 920 °C within 15 minutes, which means that several tests can be carried out in a short period. The furnace features an automatic temperature-control feature, which enables the end-user to adjust the temperature to specifications.

5E-MIN6150 Mini Moisture Oven
The 5E-MIN6150 is used to determine the moisture in coal, heavy oil, coke and biomass. It can be applied in several industrial sectors, including those of thermal power, coal, metallurgy, petrochemicals, cement and environmental protection. The mini moisture oven can also be useful for research institutes and inspection companies.

The compact oven boasts several user-friendly features, including an automatic work timer function, a stainless steel heating tube, a stainless steel chamber and an automatic ventilation port.

The 5E-MIN6150 also features significant cost-saving capabilities, with a small chamber that can save nitrogen gas, while keeping the temperature at a balanced rate. It is also equipped with an intelligent control system, electric leakage protection and an oven temperature protection device.

5E Series Drying Oven
This product is used for drying, baking and sterilising samples in mining laboratories. These drying ovens are suitable for use in sev- eral industrial sectors, as well as by colleges, research institutes, inspection companies, hospital laboratories and coal mines.

The drying oven’s features include vertical-type stainless steel chambers. The oven is also equipped with a toughened glass observation window and an O-ring between the chamber and the oven door to ensure that the product remains airproof and insulates heat.

Further, the product is equipped with a low-noise motor and an electric heater, which ensures that heat inside the oven is uniform and keeps the temperature constant in all zones of the chamber.

It also features a smart temperature controller, enabling the oven to achieve rapid response times and improved precision. Moreover, the 5E Series has up to three programmable heating and temperature modes.