Nikkiso Announces Expansion of Sales, Service and Engineering Facility in South Africa

Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases Group is expanding their sales, service, and engineering capabilities for the African market by constructing a new facility. From it, the company will be providing support for all of their product offerings. The group is part of Nikkiso Company, located in Japan, which operates under Cryogenic Industries, based in the United States.

Located in Waterfall, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, the facility was at first constructed to expand the operating range of the business in the continent of Africa and support South Africa’s engineering and economic hubs in the region. By recruiting local engineers and field service support from local markets, Nikkiso will bring specific knowledge from the local and regional markets. This enables the fabrication of more customized solutions from the site.

Aside from the aforementioned technical sales support for the Group’s products, contained within is a specialized air separation unit commissioning team. This enhances customer support which can be offered to the air separation market segment. From this facility, the additional engineering support is expected to generate process and design optimization solutions for operators in the region. The facility will also create LNG equipment to be used in the large natural gas expansion off the coast of Mozambique, and in the possible formation of virtual pipelines for LNG fuel to deter current electric grid reliability concerns.

“This expansion positions us to be able to respond rapidly to the growing energy needs of Africa, and to provide greater service and support to our customers with our local presence,” according to Peter Wagner, CEO of Cryogenic Industries and President of the Group.

In terms of operational structure, Bruce van Dongen is being placed as the site’s Managing Director. A service facility in support of pumps and turboexpander equipment is planned for some time in the future. By Nikkiso increasing their commercial stake in the region, the African market may see increased interest from other companies to establish footholds, enhancing interest and growth.

Members of the Cryogenic Industries group of companies specialize in manufacturing and servicing engineered cryogenic gas processing equipment, such as pumps, turboexpanders, heat exchangers, and others. They also produce process plants for Industrial Gases, and Natural Gas Liquefaction (LNG), Hydrogen Liquefaction (LH2) and Organic Rankine Cycle for Waste Heat Recovery.