WATER MANAGEMENT & TREATMENT
revolving monthly basis, with this contract, which
began in January, providing it with business for at
least a year. Kroell, said: “This new purchase
order is another great success for De.mem as it
underlines our well established customer base in
the mining and resources sector and our strong,
recurring operations and maintenance business.”
Rio’s investment in Amrun is aimed at replacing
production from the depleting East Weipa mine
and increasing annual bauxite exports by
around 10 Mt. Amrun, which shipped its first
bauxite late last year, is expected to reach a full
production rate of 22.8 Mt/y during 2019.
Pump manufacturer ABEL says it recently landed a
major order for three HMQ membrane piston
pumps to be fitted at one of the largest silver
mines in Latin America
Dewatering pump news
Pump manufacturer ABEL says it recently landed a
major order for three HMQ membrane piston
pumps to be fitted at one of the largest silver
mines in Latin America. On site, these HMQ pumps
(Hydraulic Membrane Quadruplex pumps) are
used to transport mine water pumped from a shaft
at a depth of 700 m at around 80 bar to the
surface into a reservoir.
The HMQs are quadruplex-acting piston
diaphragm pumps and manage high flow rates up
to 450 m³/h, according to ABEL. They are primarily
made for applications like transfer of tailings,
mine dewatering and backfilling in mines. In
addition to mining, ABEL’s HMQs are also
frequently used in the wastewater industry to
transport sludge or feed filter presses.
In 2012, Sulzer introduced the XJ series of
submersible dewatering pumps with outstanding
hydraulic performance, increased wear resistance
and high-efficiency motors. The new XJ 900 is a
performance range extension of the XJ series
pumps. “Like all Sulzer submersible drainage
pumps, the new XJ 900 offers an economical and
reliable option for dewatering applications.
Whether working in mining, tunnelling or
construction, the Sulzer pumps are a valuable
asset against water-related downtime.”
The new pump is equipped with a high-
efficiency electric motor rated 90 kW for 50 Hz
markets and 108 kW (145 hp) for 60 Hz markets.
The high-efficiency IE3 motor and new hydraulics
combined with low-friction bearings reduce power
losses. “As a result, the total energy costs are low,
and the carbon footprint is reduced. The unique
hydraulic design allows for easy conversion
between high-head and high-flow configurations.
This makes it possible to stock fewer pumps and
still have the right hydraulic performance for the
job.”
FITT Resources has announced that it has
signed a new agreement to continue in its role as
the exclusive distributor of Grindex submersible
pumps across Australia, New Zealand and South
Pacific Islands. “This is well deserved recognition
of the way in which, over the last five years, FITT
Resources has successfully been able to meet the
34 International Mining | MARCH 2020
needs of growing numbers of operators for
Grindex drainage pumps, sludge pumps, slurry
pumps and stainless steel pumps in a range of
industries across Australia.”
Chris Molloy, Dewatering Business Manager at
FITT Resources, said: “Our continued growth and
success with Grindex submersible pumps has
enabled us to secure this new agreement, and we
are delighted that we will be continuing to support
our customer base with this premium pumps range.”
The new agreement with Xylem, the parent
company of Grindex, follows on from a similar deal
signed in 2014 and helps to further consolidate
FITT Resources’ position as one of Australia’s
leading pump suppliers.
“We see it as a vote of confidence not only in
our ability to supply a wide range of Grindex
pumps, but also our support and pump servicing
capabilities,” said FITT Resources Director, Greg
Fowler. “Xylem is known globally for the quality of
its pumps, and the fact that it wants us to
continue as its sole distributor for Grindex
drainage, sludge and slurry pumps demonstrates
our growing stature in the pump industry across
Australia.”
DXB Pump & Power, the youngest UK-based
pumpset manufacturer, has launched its new 12 in
or 300 mm Stage V emission compliant portable
pumpset for use by organisations such as quarries
and mining companies for high volume pumping
jobs, especially in times of wet weather and rising
water levels. The pumpset was designed
completely in house by DXB Pump & Power and
includes the world class Cornell high flow pump
and a Scania 13 litre, 300 kW engine to develop
over 1,700 m 3 /h flow rates whilst still passing
solids up to almost 4 in often seen in open lagoon
conditions.
Packaged in a sound attenuated canopy with
integrated four point lifting and optional hook lift
skid, the pumpset is the highest performing 12 in
pumpset on the UK and European markets now, it
says making it ideal for organisations that require
pumps large scale dewatering and flood control as
seen in some UK sand and gravel quarries near
waterways.
The pumpset contains some unique features to
DXB Pump & Power including its own in-house
telemetry systems that allows quarries, hire
companies and DXB Pump itself to monitor the
performance and health of the engine and pump
24 hours a day anywhere in the world including
the ability to send urgent communications to all
parties concerned.
Containing over 1,000 hours of research and
development, Simon Ruffles, Managing Director
of DXB Pump & Power believes that the DXB team
have developed a market changing piece of
equipment that lays the foundation for large,
environmentally friendly pumpsets in the UK,
assisting industries such as quarries and mines to
achieve lower carbon emissions in 2020 especially
those that currently have older equipment.
He said: “The implementation and use of Stage
V engines is a massive leap forward for the pump
industry in the UK in terms of reducing
environmental pollution such as noise and
exhaust gases. We spent many long days and
nights developing this pumpset which will be the
foundation of our large pumpset offering in 2020
with a 450 mm pumpset using the same engine
also being launched in February 2020.”
The pumpset operates only at a maximum
speed of 1,700 rpm, which is one of the lowest
points on the fuel burn curve enabling the
pumpset to offer the highest tonnes of water
pumped versus litres of fuel consumed and has an
output equivalent to around six smaller 150 mm
pumpsets used today in the UK.
“Like any large plant, the user and owners will
see large savings in operational costs and fuel
consumption by moving swiftly to Stage V that far
outweighs the minor inconvenience of adding
‘Adblue’ at the same time as diesel when the
tanks need topping up, just like haul trucks and
front end loaders on site.”
With new tanks available from manufacturers
with combined Adblue/Diesel tanks in units that
weight less than 2000kg, these pumpsets used in
conjunction with these modern tanks, mean that
companies can pump high volumes of water over
extended periods resulting in some cases,
pumping 72,000 t or more of water in a weekend
between tank fills — “this is unheard of in the UK
and really uplifts productivity and reduces costs
substantially for hire companies and users alike.”
ANDRITZ helps dewater old gold
mines in SA
ANDRITZ last year released details of a project it
has been working on to de-water old mines in
Johannesburg, South Africa. South Africa has been
dealing with an acid water problem in recent
years. Underneath the old gold mining city of
Johannesburg is a lake containing heavily
contaminated water, which spreads horizontally
and vertically into the abandoned pits of the