App streamlines filling, exchanging cylinders, vessels

South Africa’s only approved 9 kg pressure vessel manufacturer Cylinders4Africa has developed a tech-forward application (app) for various contemporary industries and sectors that rely on portable gas pressure vessels, or cylinders, for business operations.

The significance of this app for businesses is that end-users of gas pressure vessels or cylinders can notify the gas supplier of customers requiring a refill or a replacement.

The end-user simply scans the quick response code on the cylinder, which will immediately inform the gas supplier of a customer. These smart gas pressure vessels or cylinders are compatible with the Internet of Things, which allows for data analysis and real-time tracing.

“Our revolutionary gas cylinder technology is designed with the primary goal of enhancing safety, efficiency and convenience. For decades, gas cylinders have played a vital role in various industries, from manufacturing and healthcare to transportation and hospitality.

“However, traditional cylinders have often posed safety-related challenges, alongside transportation difficulties and a lack of real-time monitoring. With this new technology, all these concerns become a thing of the past,” says Cylinders4Africa executive director Nicolas Bereng.

He adds that the target market for its new gas distribution app includes independent gas retailers such as Afrox, Alva, Cadac, Oryx and Totalgaz. However, the technologically advanced, portable gas vessels on offer from Cylinders4Africa can also accommodate industry players operating in the healthcare, hospitality and manufacturing sectors.

Cylinders4Africa was

established in 2015 to bridge the pressure vessel supply gap that plagued the market at the time.

Bereng, however, joined the company in 2021 to help eradicate compliance contraventions imposed on the company.

Since then, the company has obtained operational approval from various regulators, including the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy; the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition; the Department of Employment and Labour; and the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association of South Africa.

“Our 9 kg cylinders, together with our gas distribution and cylinder management app, will integrate hardware and technology to provide a better lived experience for users in South Africa. We have plans to roll out supply to the rest of Africa,” he enthuses.