Richard Simon's almost legendary reputation for reliability and service has been illustrated admirably by two quite different applications in countries not exactly high on the list of favourite places to visit. Back in 1997, Richard Simon supplied six bagging lines worth over £600K to the Yemen for Grain Service International. Due to the political situation, the equipment was never commissioned and it has sat in storage waiting for the 'climate' to improve.
Finally, five years on, the situation eased sufficiently for seasoned Richard Simon engineer, Jim Johnston, to gain an visa enabling him to go in and commission the equipment.
Given the length of time the equipment had sat idle, Jim quite expected to have to carry out some remedial work.
However, as it turned out, after a cursory clean up and dusting off, the equipment was commissioned and calibrated without any problems.
The lines are now bagging grain for distribution throughout the Yemen.
Meanwhile, another experienced Simon engineer, John Simon, (no relation), has just returned from Algeria where he has supervised the running of two Richard Simon Containerpak mobile bagging units at the port of Bejaha.
This ritual takes place about twice a year when Said Hayounna, of Sarl Stimex, brings in his ship loads of lentils for redistribution within Algeria.
Bulk redistribution of such vital foodstuffs is very difficult, given the infrastructure within the country and therefore bagging product directly from the ship is the most efficient way of handling the product.
This can then be redistributed by road to the areas where it is needed.
Fast turn around is essential for the ships with dockside tariffs running typically at $30,000 a day.
Before they purchased the Containerpaks, the company had been at the mercy of contract bagging services but Said Hayounna calculated that he could do the bagging more cost effectively with his own equipment.
The Containerpak mobile bagging system uses two 6 metre (20') ISO containers built specially to house the critical components of a bagging line.
The containers, which have Lloyds Register Shipping Approval, can be secured and transported as any normal container by road, rail or sea to wherever they are needed.
The Containerpak system offers full flexibility in terms of operation and can utilise local power or be totally self-contained using an integral generator - especially useful where power supplies are, at best, unpredictable!.
Typically a complete system can be set up and made operational within 24 hours of arrival on site.
Product is off loaded directly into the top of the containers which can be placed alongside the ship directly on the quayside.
Each unit is capable of filling 26 bags a minute containing 100 lb of lentils.
This means that the 14000 tonnes in the ship are off loaded and bagged in just 10 days.
John's role is to prepare the machines prior to off loading and cast a watchful eye over the proceedings.
Although the Containerpaks are designed to work under the harshest of conditions, with the minimum of maintenance, if there are any minor problems John can remedy the matter almost immediately with minimum disruption to the off loading.