case study
Grandi Manufacturing’s 13-tonne stainless steel sea water filter for Tronox Namakwa Sands
In 2024, Grandi Manufacturing completed one of South Africa’s largest stainless steel fabrications, a 13-tonne Sea Water Filter built for Tronox Namakwa Sands on South Africa’s West Coast. Designed to operate in one of the most corrosive coastal environments in Southern Africa, the project demonstrates local expertise in precision stainless-steel fabrication and corrosion-resistant engineering. Project overview
including large-diameter piping, complex joints, and a ten- metre stainless-steel beam, all built to tight tolerances and supported by full documentation and testing. Purpose and material selection The aim was to fabricate a durable, corrosion-resistant filter able to withstand abrasive mineral slurry and the saline coastal climate. Permanently exposed to saltwater and fine particulates, stainless steel offered the only material capable of delivering the required strength and longevity. Grade 316L stainless steel was chosen for its proven marine performance and low-carbon composition,
Located near Brand-se-Baai, the Tronox Namakwa Sands operation extracts and processes heavy mineral sands for global markets. A key part of this process is the Slurry Transfer Facilities (STFs) structures that dewater mineral slurry while recovering process water. The Sea Water Filter forms part of this system, enabling the controlled transfer and filtration of saline water. The project ran over several months, from design through fabrication, inspection, and delivery. All work took place at Grandi Manufacturing’s Cape Town facility under the supervision of International Welding Engineer Robert Lawrence . The structure comprised several sub-assemblies
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Issue 4 – 2025
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