Stella Engineering manufactures penstock valves for sewage, water and waste water treatment plants, we specialise in stainless steel fabrication. We also manufacture high pressure touchless wash system for all types of vehicles including passenger vehicles, trucks, mining equipment and trains.

Over and above the manufacture of stainless steel penstock valves our sister company, Tri-Dak Trade and Investments CC, is an agent for the VAG range of pipe fittings including resilient seal gate valves, double flanged and wafer pattern butterfly valves, wafer pattern double door non return valves, double flanged swing type non return valves, ball type non return valves, double air valves and knife gate valves.

Tri-dak manufactures gate hangers, threaded rod, foundation bolts and eye bolts in various sizes. Either mild steel or stainless steel. For prices contact keith@tridak.co.za.


Introduction

Penstock Valves
Our penstock valves are fabricated from various grades of stainless steel such as 304, 316 and 3CR12. By using standard structural angle, plate and bar custom sizes can be fabricated while keeping prices competitive. Our handstops and stoplogs are fabricated from aluminium. Our range of sluice gates meet or exceed the leak rates as laid down in AWWA specification C501.

Touchless wash systems
Traditionally vehicle wash machines have been designed in either bristle or cloth options. Vehicle manufacturers moved away from lead based paint a few years ago, with the result that the paint now being used is softer and is prone to show scratches and damage caused by brushes and cloths.

The move is away from bristle and cloth machines to touchless systems. Mines and transport companies typically do not use bristle or cloth option. The friction and force involved in washing vehicles with these machines either damages the vehicle's paint, or the vehicles damage the machine, causing costly repairs to the machine. Bristle machines cannot clean vehicles with sharp edges, expanded metal or mesh side panels as they rip the brushes to pieces.

Touchless washing does not rely on friction to scrape dirt off but rather a combination of:

  • Pressure, volume and velocity of water in carefully calculated ratios.
  • Impact at optimum angles.
  • Chemical action at correct dwell times, temperatures and concentrations.
  • Machine designed for the particular vehicle to be washed.

    • The beauty of a touchless system is that one size fits all, a light delivery vehicle (bakkie) can be washed followed by an 8 ton truck followed by a link and trailer. All in one machine.