Items filtered by date: Tuesday, 16 December 2025

Congratulations to WearCheck diagnostician Michelle Allis, who recently diagnosed her two millionth oil analysis sample!  Michelle joined the WearCheck team in 1997 as a diagnostician. She is based in the UK, but operates a remote diagnostic service for WearCheck South Africa via an online diagnostic facility.  Sample results from all of WearCheck’s laboratories are uploaded onto an intranet, Michelle accesses the data online, performs the diagnoses, and in turn uploads this information back onto the WearCheck system

Michelle has clocked up a record 2 000 000 samples in just under 20 years that she has been diagnosing for WearCheck.

We are super proud of you, Michelle! Exact international statistics are not officially monitored, however, we believe that your achievement aligns you with the top few diagnosticians in the world, with this incredible number of diagnoses to your credit.

WearCheck diagnostician Michelle Allis recently diagnosed her two millionth oil analysis sample, placing her alongside the top few diagnosticians in the world who have performed an equivalent number of sample diagnoses – among them, fellow WearCheck Diagnostician Rowan Maartens.

At WearCheck, we not only help our customers plan their maintenance procedures but also their rugby viewing times.

This season, the Super Rugby tournament has become a bit complicated with the addition of the new teams from Argentina and Japan and with various format changes. So we created a 2016 Super18 viewing schedule to help you keep track of your favourite Super Rugby team.

Check it out by clicking here
Go Sharks!

WearCheck processes approximately 500 diesel samples per month in our ISO 17025-accredited specialty laboratory in Johannesburg. These samples are tested against SANS 342:2014 specifications, which is the standard specification for diesel in South Africa.

Particle counting, as per ISO 4406 (fluid cleanliness), does not make up part of this specification which is why this test is not traditionally carried out on diesel samples. The IP440 (Institute of Petroleum) test method is the approved method for contamination measurement.

Although ISO 4406 is not sanctioned as a method for measuring fuel cleanliness by SANS, many customers and particularly OEMs have cleanliness limits based on this method.

Because particle counting is a well-known and established test method for lubricants and has increasing popularity with diesel testing, WearCheck has now introduced this test as a standard on all diesel samples. 

The ISO 4406 test will be carried out using the ASTM D7619 test method which covers sample preparation and will ensure consistency and validity when measuring a particle count on a diesel sample.

Varnish deposits can cause absolute havoc when they form in turbine oils, control valves and other machinery components, often leading to severe interruption to the smooth operation of the system.

Therefore, early detection of an oil’s varnish-forming potential is key to maintaining components operating at their optimum level. At WearCheck, we conduct a host of tests on turbine oil to measure its varnish-forming potential and also to determine the oil’s remaining useful life.

Once an oil is contaminated with varnish, the oil cannot simply be changed. The varnish must be removed properly, and the cause of the varnish formation identified, in order to prevent or minimise future varnish formation.

To learn more about measuring varnish-forming potential, effective ways to remove varnish, and how to identify the root cause of the varnish formation, please click here to view Technical Bulletin 62.

At WearCheck a hard-working team of voluntary internal auditors operates behind the scenes to ensure that our systems and processes continue to run smoothly. These dedicated workers are recognised for their contribution to the company, over and above their normal duties.

The recipients of the 20115 Internal Auditors of the Year were Salisha Dhanasar (supervisor of the Middelburg laboratory) and Lyn Gengan (customer services) in Pinetown.

Above: Lyn Gengan received the 2015 Internal Auditor award for Pinetown. Below:  Salisha Dhanasar was awarded the 2015 Internal Auditor award for Middelburg.

Thank you to all our customers who took the time to complete our recent customer satisfaction survey. Your feedback gives us an idea of what we are doing right and how we can improve, and helps us to address your product and services needs.

We particularly appreciate these words from some of the survey respondents:

• excellent service and an asset to the industry

• very helpful

• always get good feedback

• oil analysis is a good conditioning monitoring tool to use

• excellent service – very happy

• keep up the good work, WearCheck

• very impressive

Each year, as a mark of our gratitude for the time taken to give us your input, one survey respondent’s name is randomly selected to win a prize.

Our 2015 winner is…..  Keith Green of Ernest & Lowe who won a Samsung tablet valued at R6000.

Mining Indaba is the world’s largest mining investment conference taking place at the ICC in Cape Town from the 8^th – 11^th February 2016.

As WearCheck enters its 40^th year of business, we will once again be attending the conference and exhibiting at the show, so please be sure to visit our stand and gain some insight into the world of Condition Monitoring.

We will be showcasing the following products

• Oil Analysis

• Fuel Analysis

• Filter & Grease Analysis

• Coolant Analysis

• Vibration Monitoring

• Thermal Imaging

• Laser Alignment & Balancing

WearCheck Stand Number 304, Hall 2

For more information on the show visit www.miningindaba.com

Four decades, 40 years, 14 600 days…whichever way you view it, it’s a jolly long time…and that is how long our stalwart WearCheck lab supervisor, Vigie Manikum, has been with the company.

On reaching the big milestone in November 2015, Vigie received congratulations from colleagues and friends both locally and around the globe, in recognition of her dedication and outstanding service to the company.

Managing Director Neil Robinson summed it up in his note to all staff, ‘Vigie, it has been a pleasure working with you all these years. Your contribution to the ever-smooth running of the laboratory has been immeasurable and I know there are a significant number of current employees, including myself, whose careers started in the lab, who appreciate the support and guidance you offered during their time there.’

So how did it all start for WearCheck’s longest-serving employee?

“Well, says Vigie, ‘I finished matric at 16, and was one of eight siblings. At 17, I started helping my dad in the laboratory, where he worked at Natal Canvas. In 1975, my mom saw an ad in The Mercury one day. We called, I was interviewed by Gary Brown on the Thursday and by Friday, I had the job at WearCheck!’

Vigie’s career at WearCheck began as an office worker, back in the pre-computer days, where reports and test results were manually typed up on a typewriter. With only Vigie, Lesley Crawford and Gary Brown in the office, everyone had many tasks to do to keep the then McCraw Laboratories going.

1976 saw the company name change to WearCheck. Vigie has seen WearCheck grow from a one-room operation to the multi-national operation it has become today.

Rising through the ranks, Vigie became junior laboratory assistant (1978), a senior lab assistant (1982) then laboratory co-ordinator (1992) and finally laboratory supervisor (2000).

For the senior managers who mentored Vigie throughout her career, she has nothing but gratitude and respect. And this mentorship has filtered down to Vigie’s own subordinates, many of whom wrote notes of congratulations such as this particular one (who now works as a diagnostician at another company):

‘Congratulations on reaching this milestone, you have been the backbone of the lab over the years and for many more in the future.  You have inspired your staff and motivated them way beyond the working environment. You have been a marvellous mentor.’

Looking back over the decades, Vigie insists she has never once needed an alarm clock, as she is still excited to get to work. ‘Although not without its trials and tribulations, I have really and truly relished my career at WearCheck. My brain is on autopilot – when I wake up, it tells me “Go to WearCheck!”’ she laughs.

True to her generous spirit, Vigie organised commemorative chocolates to give to every staff member in celebration of reaching her 40 year milestone with the company recently.

As in years gone by, WearCheck is committed to providing service and support during the traditional shut down period at the end of the year.

This year the following South African offices and laboratories will remain open.

Johannesburg

• Our driver will continue to do deliveries and collections where applicable.
• Customer support, sales and a technical consultant will be available.
• Any samples collected or delivered to this office will be sent to Pinetown via overnight courier for analysis.
• The fuel and transformer analysis laboratory will be available for emergency samples only.

Middelburg 

• This laboratory will be closed, however there will be customer support available and any samples delivered before 10:30 will be sent to Pinetown the same day via overnight courier for analysis.

Durban 

• The main Pinetown laboratory will be open for processing of all samples.
• Diagnostics, IT support and data processing staff will be available.

Rustenburg 

• This office will remain open and operational as normal.

All other offices will be closed, therefore should you require any assistance please contact customer support at our Johannesburg offices. Samples can be sent to Pinetown via the usual Post Office Speed Services or via your own courier.

We would like to thank you for your support during the course of the year and wish you all the very best during the Festive Season.

Kind Regards,
The WearCheck Team.

WearCheck’s Cape Town office, which moved to new premises several months ago, has recently welcomed new customers and continues to serve organisations from the maritime, road transport, aircraft and electrical, construction and earthmoving sectors.

Now situated on the corner of Viking & Odin Drive, Thor Gardens, Thornton in Cape Town (Opposite the Epping Market), WearCheck Cape Town is highly accessible from the port as well as the surrounding industrial areas.

Cape Town branch co-ordinator Quintin Ras, who recently relocated to the Western Cape, has five years’ experience in oil, fuel and transformer oil analysis, including supervising WearCheck’s Steelpoort branch since 2011.

WearCheck Cape Town offers on-site sampling option in addition to the full spectrum of WearCheck oil analysis and reliability solutions services.  Greases, fuels, coolants, filters and transformer oils are also analysed, plus the provision of many alternative  monitoring options, such as vibration, thermography, balancing and alignment, create a one-stop condition monitoring service.

A number of major marine companies are serviced by WearCheck Cape Town, among them Safmarine, Irvin & Johnson, Portnet Marine Services, Sea Harvest, Unicorn Shipping, FFS Bunkers, Atlantic Fishing Enterprises, Smit Marine SA, Lusitania Trawling Service, Viking Fishing Company and De Beers Marine floating mine.

Customers from other industries include the Koeberg Nuclear Power station, the Western Cape Department of Transport and several municipal and provincial organisations.

Says Ras, ‘We are excited to be working with some big new clients from a range of industries, particularly in the maritime sector – with customers ranging from international shipping lines to local fishing fleets’

WearCheck Cape Town’s office telephone number remains the same:  tel: (021) 531-4540. Quintin Ras can be reached via email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or cell phone 082 381-3321.

Photo above:The WearCheck Cape Town team is on hand to welcome you to their offices opposite the Epping market. They are, from right to left, branch co-ordinator Quintin Ras, newly-appointed customer support assistant Jandelee De Beer and driver Hoosain Sydow.