Rotork Controls has already installed close to ten thousand actuators in Brazil, many of them grouped in Pakscan, Fieldbus Foundation, Profibus and Modbus systems for remote control of motorized valves (STVM), whose number exceeds 100 systems of varying dimensions. At certain refineries or terminals, there are more than six systems installed.
Concerned with offering after-sales support in line with the amount of STVMs and actuators installed in refineries, terminals, pipelines and subsea platforms, in addition to important petrochemical plants, Fluxo maintains a services division with 12 specialist engineers trained at Rotork, divided -clearly among its five own offices in Brazil. In addition to the service team, Fluxo maintains partnerships with independent service companies located close to regions with a large number of installed actuators, in order to be able to perform turn-key services for customers quickly and efficiently. Another concern of Fluxo is the supply of spare parts. To meet the needs of this large installed base, Fluxo invested in an inventory, ensuring prompt delivery for most components.
The user defines which valves (existing or new) to automate. Fluxo sends its specialists to carry out the field survey, defines the appropriate actuator for each valve, manufactures the necessary accessory for fixing the actuator to the valve, assembles and connects the actuator to the supervisory system of the plant, assuming global responsibility. When the actuator or system is commissioned by Fluxo engineers, Rotork grants an extension to the warranty, from 12 to 24 months of operation, or 36 months from delivery (whichever comes first).
The next challenge for the partnership between Rotork and Fluxo will be the provision of services with contracts for the availability of actuators or systems. Through these contracts, Fluxo will assume responsibility for ensuring the availability of 95% for actuators installed and in operation.
Engineer Maximiliano Corrêa dos Santos, manager of the P-18 project, experienced Rotork's STVM projects in the installation of the UPGN in Urucu - AM and in the implementation of the New Cooling Tower at the Paulínia Refinery (REPLAN), and admits his satisfaction with the to Fluxo's after-sales technical assistance: “during these projects, we had the good service of a specialized team, which left the systems in perfect working order, including training our instrumentation technicians to perform basic maintenance and monitor the start ups of the units installed.” confirm.