PUMPS AND PIPELINES
The Multiflo LF comes with heavy-duty wearresistant materials of construction that include cast steel and cast CD4MCu stainless steel for enhanced abrasion and corrosion resistance . Casting the pumps from steel creates a more robust pump and additionally promotes extended wear life with the possibility of weld repairing the casing should a problem develop , according to the company .
Ross concluded : “ Weir Minerals prioritises partnering with our customers . We ’ re right there on site from the beginning , from specification to delivery , installation , commissioning , training and maintenance . We know the Multiflo LF performs , and we take the time to make sure it ’ s performing to our customers ’ requirements .”
Peristaltic productivity
Viscous slurries , grit-filled sludge , corrosive acids and other challenging materials are all within the wheelhouse of Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group ’ s ( WMFTG ) new peristaltic design of Bredel hose pumps .
Unlike diaphragm , rotary lobe and PC pumps , the peristaltic design of Bredel hose pumps ensures no moving parts come into contact with the product , while no seals , ball-checks , diaphragms , glands , immersed rotors , stators or pistons are included that can lead to leaks , clogs , corrosion or replacement , according to WMFTG .
“ Bredel hose pumps also obviate the need for ancillary equipment such as dry-run protection , seal water flush systems and in-line check valves ,” it said . “ A simple hose change takes only minutes and can be performed in-situ without special tools or skilled personnel .”
The low maintenance peristaltic design offers a low total cost of ownership , WMFTG claims . At the same time , the fluid is safely contained within the hose or tube , meaning operation and maintenance personnel and the environment are protected from unwanted spillages or exposure to chemicals .
Bredel hose pumps are dry-running and selfpriming and allow no slippage for true positive displacement to provide accurate and repeatable metering . Only Bredel industrial hose pumps provide this level of engineering expertise for their drives , according to WMFTG .
Every Bredel hose is machined to ensure flow stability and pump performance in tough fluid handling applications , the company added . These industrial pumps achieve flow rates of up to 475 gallons per minute ( 1,798 litres / min ), transferring up to 80 % solids in suspension .
Designed for mining
Flowrox ’ s new CF-V centrifugal pump comes with a vertical cantilever design that , the company says , is suitable for mining , minerals processing and other industrial operations .
The new heavy-duty CF-V centrifugal pump runs continuously in heavy-duty conditions , delivering reliable performance in sumps and pits . With wear-resistant components fit for the most abrasive and corrosive slurries , the CF-V can handle flow rates through to 1,135 cu . m / h , according to the company .
A single Flowrox CF-V pump can reach heads of up to 50 m and a cantilevered depth of 3.6 m . Wet parts are either made of elastomer or hichrome and designed for ease of maintenance to minimise downtime , the company said .
The vertical CF-V pump is the second in a range of high-quality Flowrox centrifugal pumps , with the first heavy-duty CF-S horizontal centrifugal pump designed for continuous pumping of highly abrasive and dense slurries .
Flowrox says all its products can be enhanced with “ smart ” features , with its Flowrox Digital Services able to increase any pump ’ s productivity through optimisation and online predictability .
Pneumatic pumping
Australia-based Brain Industries is pushing into new markets within the Americas with an exclusive distribution agreement with Strata Worldwide USA for its “ unique ” air-operated pumps .
The firm ’ s first US distribution agreement will see Strata market and sell Brain ’ s Airloader and Mudskipper pneumatic pumps to markets such as mining , with Brain Managing Director , Gillian Summers , saying the huge American market has the potential to double the size of Brain ’ s pumps business .
Initially the pumps will be designed , manufactured and exported from Newcastle , Australia , but the company may later look at opening a pump manufacturing plant in the US , according to Summers .
“ There seems to be nothing like our pumps available for the US mining and tunnelling sectors ,” she said .
A relationship with Strata Worldwide was already established prior to this tie-up with Brain manufacturing Strata emergency refuge chambers for the Australian market .
Brain ’ s Airloader pumps handle just about any flowable material including sludge , slurries and even sand , according to the company . Unlike conventional vacuum displacement pumps , Brain ’ s compressed air pumps combine high velocity suction airflow with a powerful vacuum . The pumps come in a range of sizes as either gravity-discharge pumps or pressure-discharge pumps , with the Mudskipper pump being Brain ’ s smallest and most popular pump .
Summers said Brain ’ s pumps have no internal moving parts , making them reliable and long
lasting , and can be supplied in DNV GLcompliant frames .
“ Brain ’ s pumps are safe for pumping in hazardous areas and their low height makes them ideal for confined spaces ,” she said .
Automation to boost Sulzer ’ s Kotka offering
Sulzer , a specialist in pumping , agitation , mixing , separation and application technologies for fluids of all types , has launched a major investment project to digitalise and automate the assembly , test bed and painting processes at its factory in Kotka , Finland .
This move , which provides enhanced automation of production processes , will improve productivity and shorten lead times for customer orders .
The new setup will meet the most advanced standards in the industry , Sulzer said . It will involve the building of a new 5,300 sq . m logistics centre for materials and components handling , which will be put into operation close to the factory . This will help streamline material operation of the factory and contribute to shorter lead times .
Sulzer ’ s factory in Kotka is one of the key providers of configured process pumps , agitators and high-speed turbocompressors for the global market , according to the company . It also comprises industry-scale test beds and research facilities .
The project started in April and is to be completed during the first half of 2022 .
Veli-Pekka Tiittanen , Head of the Industry Business Unit at Sulzer , said : “ We expect this investment to have a very positive impact on the competitiveness of our process industry business globally . Our customers will benefit from our increased productivity and shorter lead times , and our employees will be provided with a modern work environment with the highest standards in health and safety .”
ABEL changes hands
Earlier this year , IDEX Corp acquired ABEL Pumps and certain of its affiliates from Hillenbrand Inc as it looked to gain further exposure to the positive displacement pump designer and manufacturer ’ s end markets – one of which is mining .
IDEX Chief Executive Officer and President , Eric Ashleman , said the company looked forward to ABEL ’ s expertise complementing the longstanding strength IDEX had in pump and valve manufacturing within its Fluid and Metering Technologies segment .
“ As part of our great team , together we will further expand our abilities to solve customers ’ toughest fluidics challenges ,” he said .
ABEL ’ s diaphragm and high-pressure piston
56 International Mining | JUNE 2021