WearCheck opens laboratory in Ghana

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The laboratory is situated near the gold fields several hundred kilometres inland and west of the capital Accra, which will enable WearCheck Ghana to service the local mining industry, including Ghana's largest gold mine at Tarkwa.

Many other industries in Ghana are also set to benefit from using oil analysis as a key proactive maintenance tool, including construction, automotive, shipping, aviation, industrial, electrical and petrochemical.

Neil Robinson, managing director of WearCheck, views the expansion into West Africa as the next step in WearCheck's ongoing strategic expansion. "The stable economy and political environment were important factors in our decision to select Ghana as our starting point in West Africa. We plan to introduce oil analysis gradually to the local economy, initially to a few key customers, and - as demand increases - our capacity for processing samples will be developed."

Demand for services

The WearCheck network currently spans nine countries and includes eight laboratories, all located in areas best positioned to serve particular industries or industry clusters. Demand for WearCheck's services has played an influential role in determining new locations for laboratories.

An on-site sampling service and a 24-hour sample turnaround time are offered. Oil samples are processed in the world-class laboratory, which has the full complement of laboratory equipment on a par with all WearCheck's laboratories. All laboratory work is overseen by laboratory supervisor Daniel Boakye, a Ghanaian national who has undergone extensive training at WearCheck's facilities in South Africa and Zambia.

Robinson is confident that businesses in Ghana will reduce operating costs by using oil analysis as a key proactive maintenance tool. "The ultimate goal of oil analysis is to reduce operating costs and to save customers money. By reducing unscheduled downtime, oil analysis increases the availability of machinery, improving productivity and boosting the bottom line," he said.

Recognition as experts

WearCheck's credentials are a source of pride for Robinson. "Our team of highly-qualified, experienced staff, backed by the latest scientific laboratory equipment across an international network of laboratories and offices, and endorsement by several international quality organisations, have given WearCheck recognition as genuine oil analysis experts.

"Our diagnosticians have extensive product knowledge across all makes and models. In addition, a network of duplicate instrumentation across multiple laboratories serves as back-up where necessary. Giving customers easy access to reports is important at WearCheck, and you can opt to receive your data in several ways, including online, via SMS, fax, email or by post. An on-site sampling service gives customers freedom from the responsibility of correct sample-taking," Robinson says.