TOUGH operating conditions are the norm in the mining sector, and even more so when it comes to slurry pumping applications. If incorrect pump choices are made in these demanding applications, it can lead to high maintenance and repair costs and even catastrophic failures.
That’s according to Colin Adams, Managing Director of Integrated Pump Technology, who said the company often receives enquiries from African-based mining operations who have already made the mistake of not specifying high quality OEM products.
“Slurry pumps need to be up to the task of handling high volumes of abrasive material, and when this is not the case these failures lead to costly production downtime with the obvious knock-on effects,” he said.
“For a number of years, we have been cautioning the market and urging mine operators to carefully consider the overall total cost of operating slurry pumps when making decisions on which units to install.”
Integrated Pump Technology is the authorised distributor for Grindex submersible pumps and included in its product lineup is the well-respected Grindex Bravo range. Adams said these robust, durable and high performance pumps offer a good return on investment as the units are engineered to achieve lower operating and maintenance costs.
Commenting on why a submersible slurry pump is a better option for slurry pumping, Adams said they offer several benefits over dry-mounted pumps. They do not require any support structure, need less space for operation and are very easy to install.
“The Grindex Bravo range is produced to operate over the complete pump curve, not just one specific duty point. This means that the pump can be used in numerous applications within its range and it is not a case of “one pump – one application,” he said.
They are fitted with a cooling jacket and an agitator for effective slurry pumping. Pumps in the range can handle slurry and fluids with a high content of highly abrasive solids in sizes up to 50 mm at maximum heads from 17 to 45 metres. Wear is reduced by using NiHard 4 for all hydraulic components, and these pumps can handle liquids with pH values from 4 up to 10.
Adams pointed to the high level of support that is available to customers across Africa through Integrated Pump Technology’s extensive distributor network which is underpinned by the company’s experienced technically competent African team. “Ready access to parts also forms part of the support system, ensuring optimum uptime for customers.”