AQS Beat Nov Dec 2015 (PDF)

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The AQS Beat

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Nov/Dec 2015 - 28th Edition

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Dear

Readers

the aqs beat
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Bumper Festive Edition
28th edition - Nov/Dec 2015
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The AQS Beat

see what’s inside
1

From the creative team
with festive love
Are we taking this crisis seriously enough?
an in-depth look at our water crisis
Keeping Christmas
from the MD’s desk
Celebrating our Winners & Die-Hard employees
awards season
Recycling like you’ve never seen before
our pumps in action

Nov/Dec 2015 - 28th Edition

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21
23
25
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The AQS Beat

What we’ve been up to
check out our busy month
Celebrating 2015
year-end functions
Looking back and planning ahead
support dept.
A New Year’s state of mind
new year’s resolutions
Their winning selections
competition time

The old people are without water
sales and marketing dept.
Be green like a pro, conserve H2O
be green like a pro

see what’s inside

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4
5
7
9
11
13
15
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Nov/Dec 2015 - 28th Edition

Work hard and Relax harder
commerical dept.
Movember
who will be our mo-king?

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The AQS Beat

with

Nov/Dec 2015 - 28th Edition

Nov/Dec 2015 - 28th Edition

are we taking this crisis

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lease excuse any smudges
you find in this edition - we
have been dancing in the rain!
Speak to any South African
and they will tell you that the heat
is unbearable this season. After
historically low rainfalls and a
record strong El Nino event (the
increase in surface temperature
of the Pacific Ocean), the country
is in the grips of a drought. The
reality of this is scary; read more
on pg 4, 9 and 11, and get tips on
responsible water usage on pg 13.
On a lighter note, this
festive edition of the Beat is packed
3

full of gifts for you; celebrate our
champions with us (pg 7), salute
the Mo Bro’s and Sista’s (pg17),
unwrap some Christmas functions
(pg 21) and tick off your naughty
list with our New Year’s resolutions
on pg 25.
We have a few Christmas
wishes we would like to bestow:
Gerhard, may you have a
memorable Christmas while the
grass grows greener.
Diana, we have sent our request to
Santa that you find your voice in
your Christmas stocking.
André, may you find a way to get

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e

t’s official; five of South
Africa’s nine provinces
have been declared drought
disaster areas for agriculture
and 2.7 million households are
being affected by the strain on
water supplies. If that is not
reason enough to take notice,
our Minister of Water Affairs
and Sanitation feels that R670
billion is urgently needed to
modernize the country’s water
and waste-water infrastructure
in order to cope with the crisis.
The impact of this
drought on the country, AQS
and our clients is undeniable.
“I’ve never seen the quantities
of pumps we are selling now,
as a result of the drought.”,
says André Nagel, an AQS
director who has been in the
pump industry for 25 years.
The Hazelmere dam
which supplies areas of
KwaZulu-Natal with water is
at a critical 26% (you have
to see it to believe it – watch
the video alongside). Due to
the subsequent severe water
restrictions (some regions
only getting two hours per
day), clients are desperate
to become self-sufficient as
soon as possible. Pumps are
purchased to boost water from
tanks into homes and some are
even using their pools in an
attempt to treat and store water
– “these guys are becoming
creative”.

rid of those heavy metals and keep
your mother happy in the process
(see page 9 for tips).
Peet, we hope all the labels on
your gifts will be in LARGE FONT
this Christmas.
Leon, may the Master of Relaxation
teach you his wise ways amidst
the chaos of the holidays.
And to you, our dear reader, we
wish you safe travels and happy
memories (and loads of gifts!)
over this festive season.

See you again
next year.


Mercifully, KwaDukuza
Municipality is aiding the
community by providing water
for collection (alongside). But
as the public facilities become
unusable and people wait in
endless queues for a day’s
supply of water, one cannot help
but wonder about the impact of
this crisis on local tourism as
thousands of holiday makers
are flooding to the coast.
And the drastic effects
are not exclusive to KwaZuluNatal. AQS Liquid Solutions’
clients in Phalaborwa are
having to drop their boreholes
as underground water levels
take strain too, some boreholes
collapsing completely from the
dry conditions. This dealer also
supplied 18 borehole sets in
one month to the Kruger Park
as they attempt to get water to
their camps, water holes and
other facilities.
As good as it is for
business, let us do what we
can to mitigate the devastating
effects of this drought.

a national crisis

creative team

Cr
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G
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seriously enough

from

the

The AQS Beat

CLICK OR SCAN
TO WATCH

Hazelmere dam:
Blue = ideal level
Photograph underneath = current level
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The AQS Beat

Nov/Dec 2015 - 28th Edition

Keeping

our
in action
frompumps
the md’s
desk

t

gerhard prinsloo - managing director

Adapted from Henry Van Dyke

“Whether or not you
celebrate Christmas,
it’s an inspiring reminder
to make that holiday spirit
an all-the-time thing.”

The AQS Beat

I

t is a good
thing
to
observe Christmas
day. The mere marking
of times and seasons, when
people agree to stop work and
make merry together, is a wise and
wholesome custom. It helps one to feel the
supremacy of the common life over the individual
life. It reminds a man to set his own little watch, now
and then, by the great clock of humanity which runs on
sun time. But there is a better thing than the observance of
Christmas day, and that is, keeping Christmas.


Are you willing to forget what you have done for other people, and to
remember what other people have done for you?
To ignore what the world owes you, and to think what you owe the world; to put your
rights in the background, and your duties in the middle distance, and your chances to do
a little more than your duty in the foreground; to see that your fellow people are just as real as
you are, and try to look behind their faces to their hearts, hungry for joy; to own that probably the
only good reason for your existence is not what you are going to get out of life, but what you are going to
give to life; to close your book of complaints against the management of the universe, and look around you
for a place where you can sow a few seeds of happiness – are you willing to do these things even for a day?

Then you can keep Christmas.

Are you willing to stoop down and consider the needs and the desires of little children; to remember the
weakness and loneliness of people who are growing old?
To stop asking how much your friends love you, and ask yourself whether you love them enough; to bear in
mind the things that other people have to bear on their hearts; to try to understand what those who live in the
same house with you really want, without waiting for them to tell you; to trim your lamp so that it will give
more light and less smoke, and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you; to make a grave
for your ugly thoughts, and a garden for kindly feelings, with the gate open – are you willing to do these things
even for a day?

Then you can keep Christmas.
Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world?
Stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death – and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem
two thousand years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love?

Then you can keep Christmas.
And if you keep it for a day, why not always? But you can never keep it alone.
With these words from Henry Van Dyke I would like to wish all our readers a merry Christmas and a very
prosperous new year.
Until next time, make a difference. God bless.

5

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our
pumps
in action
from
the md’s
desk

Christmas

Nov/Dec 2015 - 28th Edition

The AQS Beat

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Nov/Dec 2015 - 28th Edition

Nov/Dec 2015 - 28th Edition

rofitable
most pbranch

2015 was an immensely challenging year within a
declining economy and a country in the grips of a
national drought. And yet AQS achieved new records
monthly. These men and women of the AQS Family
made it all possible. Congratulations and thank you
for your dedicaion and hard work!

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long service

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awards

AQSLT Steelpoort

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These awards are
given to the AQS
Family members
who are dedicated
and truly stick it out
for the long run.

The following sales
representatives
have joined the
Millionaires’ Club
for the 2014/2015
financial year.

o

Hennie
Ackermann

Danie
Lombaard

Peet Els

q’

millionaires
q
certificates

years

o

The AQS Beat

Stephen
Bellingham

f
5

Annatjie
Koekemoer

Varsha
Mackerdhooj

Ruth
Maphumulo

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growth
in

and
utilisation

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of

otential

Lee Moodley
7

Brent Read

Chris du Toit

Fortuin
Warries

Michael
van Zyl

Rudy van der
Merwe [x2]

highest

turnover

turnover

Y

o

Shawn
van Eeden

highes

Clintin
Janse van
Rensburg

Quintus
Dippenaar [x2]

Clintin
Janse van Rensburg
8

awards season

Jim-Allen
van Deventer

o

awards season

years

The AQS Beat

et’s face it, we can no longer rely on good old
precipitation to provide for us (contrary to what
they teach us in biology class). As a growing
species we are demanding and wasteful, and this
planet’s natural resources are clearly not as prolific,
forgiving or responsive
to divine intervention
as we have been telling
ourselves. However, the
bright side to our continual industrial advancement is
that technologies have improved and been developed
to combat the issues caused by this very growth. Here
is a glimpse into such an endeavor and the people
behind it.
Waste water from mines is listed as one of
the major sources of water wastage (especially in
South Africa with an economy that is so driven by
the mining sector). The water that is disposed of after
mining operations, or that seeps out from disused
mines, is highly acidic and contains a large amount
of heavy metals. This “poisonous cocktail” pollutes
the surrounding environment, often irreparably.
According to the Environmental Forum of Africa
(IFAT) a range of solutions are being supplied by
international environmental technology companies
to treat mine water in South Africa. These methods,
such as ventilation, ion-exchange processes, reverseosmosis and nano filtration, generally aim to neutralize
the pH values and remove metals from the water, still
leaving behind the salts. There are only a few “flagship
projects” which are succeeding in making this water
truly potable, and thus playing a potentially vital part
in alleviating the country’s water shortage. Watercare
Mining, an AQS client, is one of these pioneers.
Watercare Mining runs a plant operations and
maintenance division that is geared towards recycling
mine’s waste water and then selling this water back
to the mines as a potable resource. AQS recently
supplied 13 pumps with their control systems (VSD’s)
for a plant which was commissioned at a mine in
Westonaria. This is the first such plant in the country to
use Crystalactor technology (the license of which was
acquired from a company in Holland, after several years
of negotiation). What makes this so impressive (apart
from the name)? The technology is superior in that
it performs selective removal of compounds through
crystalisation within the reactor of the fluidized-bed
(i.e. pellet reactor), all without a footprint. Yes, this is
a patented zero-waste water treatment technology.
As
the
fifth mine water
recycling
plant
to be developed,
commissioned and maintained by Watercare Mining,
and the first to use the new technology as well as AQS

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Nov/Dec 2015 - 28th Edition

The AQS Beat

pumps, the plant is operating at 100% and meeting
all expectations of efficiency. The mine is happily
benefiting from the cost saving of purchasing the
recycled water as opposed to the municipal supply, all
the while reducing its environmental discharge.


Peter Marks, project engineer,
explains that he chose
to switch from other
pump suppliers to
AQS foremostly for
cost-saving
purposes
and
also for
the level of
service. Our
vertical multistage
(DL’s) and end
suction pumps (DZA’s)
are used for a variety of
purposes on the plant;
from pumping the
decarbonated water into
the lime slurry maker,
to transferring the
water between stages
and then feeding it
back into the main
line at high
pressures.
A few plans had to be
made to accommodate stock
restrictions and deadlines,
but Peter did not hesitate in his
affirmative response to using AQS,
and Leon Fourie, for future projects;
“Absolutely. Every relationship gets
bumpy at times, but I am a loyal person and we
have a good thing going.”
Leon describes this project as; “A real
challenge. It was the first time we used our new model
of variable speed drives to monitor and control the
pump’s flow output, instead of the more conventional
monitoring of pressure. And we got it right!”.
This is where we applaud a job well done
and then rally
forces for the
next onslaught
against the war
on drought, because “caring” is no longer a luxury, it
is a prerequisite for our survival.

our pumps in action

our pumps in action

L

Nov/Dec 2015 - 28th Edition

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The AQS Beat

Nov/Dec 2015 - 28th Edition

20
200

20
100

S

T H E
O L D

PEOPLE

100 FT
30.5 M

70 FT
21.3 M

ARE WITHOUT

50 FT
15.2 M

20
30

W

R

30 FT
9.15 M

20
20

B Y

S N Y M A N

20 FT
6.1 M

T

P E E T

itting behind my desk in the sales office, someone from whom you have learned so much.
I read an email on my phone. “Why are
you holding that phone so far away from As we carefully, considering the old boys need to
the eyes?”, asks a voice behind me.
focus, walk down the stairs to the test bay area, he
explains that the residents are very dependent on
I look up and smile. “My arms are still long enough, the water supply. Water infrastructure is becoming
unlike you old guys”, I respond. “Good morning, unreliable and self-sustaining maintenance is
Uncle John”. I offer my hand as I get up to greet important nowadays. The retirement village is
an old friend. John, a longtime colleague from the about an hour’s drive out of the city and John
pump industry who is now happily retired, has complains about the fact that there is no longer
come to visit. He is a man with vast experience in anybody who can reliably supply the people in the
the game and in his younger days flew his plane area with pumps. The little community has limited
around the country to commission process plants. storage capacity and the tanks are empty at this
He introduces me to the other gentleman; fellow stage. Water is supplied to the residents in two
resident of the retirement village and an electrical sections at different times so that everybody has
man I am told. Pleasantries aside I ask what a fair share of water during the day. The sense of
brings them to town. “The old people are without urgency is understood. We have to make a decision
water” is the explanation from these two guys who so that they can get back and do the installation. I
are comfortably over seventy. “Our supply borehole know of much younger guys who would shudder at
pump has stopped working. We suspect motor the thought of pulling out and reinstalling their own
failure. Hope you can help? We have brought the borehole pump set.
complete pump set for you guys to look at.” It is
always flattering if one can offer assistance to The technical crew has already assembled the

11

200 FT
61 M

20
50

A

E

The AQS Beat

pump with a test motor. “Let’s drop this in the tank
and see if the wet-end is still functioning”. The name
plate is unreadable so we have to find another way
to determine the pump’s capacity. “How long does
it take to fill the tanks normally?”, I ask. “Around 6
hours”, is the response. Ok, that gives us 40l/min.
Now the head (pressure) capability. Counting the
stages of the pump gives us a starting point. The
guys in the shop run the pump while we get some
curves to check the performance against. The lack
of performance quickly becomes obvious as the
unit is put through its passes on the rig. The wetend seems to be worn and a teardown confirms the
diagnoses. Up-thrust damage is evident and with
curve in hand I ask how deep the hole is seeing
that the pump they have been supplied with can
do a 120m lift. The two old guys look at each other
and concur that the pump is hanging at a depth
of 140m. “Mmm…….and the water level?” “Oh no,
that is around 8m from ground level. I measured
that myself with some rope and a spanner”, John
answers. This doesn’t make sense and I suspect
that once again someone has selected a pump not

suited for the application.
A new pump combo is selected by the team and
assembled. Joining kit, motor cooling sleeve,
pressure gauge, the works. Smiles all round
as I meet up with them in the sales office. “My
goodness, we even got a healthy discount!” John
smiles, obviously glad about the decision to come
to us. “Pensioner Tuesday”, comments the Internal
Sales Crew Leader. “You guys get bus fares at half
price and free coffee on Wednesdays at the mall,
so dammed if we don’t also offer some added value
to old folks.” And everyone joins in the light-hearted
moment. After a few electrical connection drawings
and advice on phase balancing to the sparky, the
guys are off.
A later message from the village is that all is well
and the set is working smoothly…..it seems that
even a pump company like AQS can bring joy to
people over this festive season.

12

sALES & mARKETING dEPT.

sALES & mARKETING dEPT.

20
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Nov/Dec 2015 - 28th Edition

The AQS Beat

June 2015
Nov/Dec
2015
- 23rd
- 28th
Edition
Edition

Nov/Dec 2015 - 28th Edition

Our Top tips

3

3

B E GREE N

conserve

TO SAVE

WATER

1

T0

AVERAGE
OF

23

YOUR

SHOWER

3%

FOR HUMAN
CONSUMPTION

13

11TIMES
LESS

4500

FIXING
LEAKS IN A

LITRES A

TOILET

MONTH

4

WATER YOUR GARDEN
AT THE TIMES OF

LEAST
EVAPORATION

WATER

WASH ONLY FULL LOADS IN
YOUR DISHWASHER AND
WASHING MACHINE.

5

IN THE EARLY MORING
OR LATE EVENING.

INSTALL
A DUAL-FLUSH TOILET

OR

IF IT IS YELLOW

LET IT MELLOW

6

DON’T
LEAVE

WATER

RUNNING FOR

SHAVING

BRUSHIN
G

97%

Polar Ice Caps

Q
Of that 3%, 2/3 is
frozen in glaciers
and polar ice caps,
leaving approximately
1% ready for human
consumption.

7

INSTALL A COLLECTION TANK TO THE
GUTTERS OF YOUR HOME.

THE COLLECTED WATER
CAN BE USED FOR

TOILET WATER

& GARDENING

(

WASHING
ES
SH
DI

OF ALL
WATER
IS FIT

USES

COULD SAVE

THE SINK
LL
)
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ONLY

A DISHWASHER

R TE E T H

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3

LITRES A DAY

2

CHECK AND REPAIR LEAKS
FROM TOILET, TAPS AND PIPES

bE GREEEN LIKE
contents
A PRO

e
G L O B A L C RI SI S

10MIN.

U
YO

bE GREEEN LIKE A PRO

FROM

5 MINUTES

COULD
SAVE AN

REDUCING

After one of the driest rainfall seasons on record, South Africa is in the grip of a severe
drought. This has placed a strain on water supplies across the country, affecting 2.7
million households. The hardest hit are those living in rural areas, where residents have
to collect water in buckets once a day. With the drought persisting, South Africa has now
declared five of its nine provinces a drought disaster for agriculture. Thus, it has become
neccessary to conserve our limited water resources. Read about some of the easy ways
we can conserve water on a daily basis.

The AQS Beat

8
USE BUCKETS

FOR CLEANING
FLOORS, CARS

& WINDOWS
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The AQS Beat

Nov/Dec 2015 - 28th Edition

Work hard

Nov/Dec 2015 - 28th Edition

y

RELAX HARDER

T

he end of the year is drawing near and I am tired. Not from lack of sleep, but
from the outside “noise” which is getting harder to control. It is that time of
the year when you start to get nervous about how short your holiday will be
versus how much relaxation has to be done to restore the levels of sanity needed to
tackle the next onslaught.
I keep telling myself that this time I’m going to do it right. I’m going in prepared.
No last minute stuff and the obvious place to start searching for advice and ideas
is...the internet. Advice is plentiful and ranges from spending time with your pets
to taking dance lessons with your partner. Most of the advice I found involves a
partner, so I would recommend ignoring these types of sites. The bottom line is;
most people agree that the key to relaxation is to learn to do nothing, to embrace
controlled laziness. Complete relaxation is a skill that is difficult to acquire
and gets more difficult the older you get.
The best advice I came across was from a Zen site, which explained relaxation is
the result of succeeding in doing nothing. The steps towards achieving relaxation
include finding a place where you are completely isolated and practicing
“doing nothing” for 5 to 10 minutes. The better the place, the better the result. A
positive outcome of mastering the nothingness of relaxation is that you essentially
work smarter (when you do work). The site also mentioned that a
good reference is watching your dog or cat when napping.
They would normally get very comfy and then do nothing for a long period of time.
This process is repeated many times a day.

commercial dept.

Commercial dept.

lEON FOURIE - COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR

The AQS Beat

I’m fortunate enough to be spending my relaxation time at the coast this coming
holiday. I intend to find that place to be alone and attempt to try and do/think about
nothing and master the nothingness of relaxation. My hope is that our readers will
also find a nice, quiet place this holiday to help test out this
interesting theory with me.

“Half our life is spent trying
to find something to do with
the time we have rushed
through life trying to save.”
Will Rogers

15

I love quotes and came across this little gem:
“Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have
rushed through life trying to save.” - Will Rogers, Autobiography, 1949

16