PUMPS & PIPELINES
consistent flow path without crevices where material can easily accumulate. Second, the continuous compression and relaxation of the hose during operation creates a self-cleaning effect, making it difficult for deposits to adhere to the inner surface.
Material selection is equally critical. By choosing hose compounds tailored to the chemical and abrasive properties of the medium, operators can significantly extend service life while maintaining stable performance. This combination of flexible mechanics and appropriate materials allows peristaltic pumps to operate reliably in conditions that are challenging for more rigid pump architecture.
Savolainen:“ From an operational perspective, the benefits of this approach are reflected in reduced downtime and simplified maintenance. Because the pumped medium is fully contained within the hose, routine maintenance is largely limited to hose replacement, which can be performed on site without specialised tools or extensive disassembly. Extended cleaning intervals and more predictable maintenance schedules contribute to higher process availability and improved overall equipment effectiveness. At the same time, minimising manual intervention reduces operator exposure to aggressive or hazardous media, supporting safer maintenance practices and a more controlled operating environment.” In long-term operation, these factors translate into lower total cost of ownership. Rather than addressing the symptoms of scaling through repeated repairs, Valmet says operators can stabilise performance by selecting equipment that is inherently suited to the behaviour of the process medium.
Scaling challenges are rarely solved through minor adjustments alone. In applications where abrasion, chemical attack and deposit formation are persistent concerns, pump selection should be based as much on media behaviour as on flow and pressure requirements.
By combining flexible pumping mechanics with carefully selected materials, hose pumps offer a robust and lowmaintenance alternative for demanding process environments. For operators facing recurring scaling issues, re-evaluating the fundamentals of pumping technology can unlock meaningful improvements in reliability, safety, and operational efficiency.
Sulzer expands EMW heavy-duty slurry pump range
The trusted Sulzer EMW series of heavyduty slurry pumps has been expanded with the introduction of two new, bigger sizes, significantly increasing the performance range of the product family.
Traditionally slurry pumps are needed in mining, minerals and metals processing,
54 fertiliser production, and chemical process industries. Additionally, new field of applications for the equipment arise from decarbonisation and CO 2 capture processes.“ Our aim with the expansion is to answer to the broad and evolving customer needs,” says Patrice Charlet, Product Manager of EMW and slurry pumps at Sulzer.
With decades of experience in slurry pumping, Sulzer says its EMW series is engineered to deliver superior reliability and low total cost of ownership. The new sizes continue the range’ s tradition of extended pump service life and optimised hydraulics at reduced energy use. Spare parts’ consumption is kept at minimum and standardised components result in lower spare part costs.
With the expansion, the EMW series it says“ offers a robust alternative for a slurry pump when performance, durability, and serviceability are non-negotiable.” To complement the pump range, Sulzer offers lifecycle services on site and at global service centres from installation and repairs to maintenance kits with high-quality original spare parts.
The EMW-M 50 Hz offers capacities up to 6,500 m ³/ h, heads up to 95 m and pressure up to 16 bar with maximum speed of rotation. The EMW-M 60 Hz offers capacities up to 28,600 USgpm, heads up to 312 ft and pressure up to 232 psi.
Sulzer’ s EMW pumps it says offer high reliability and durability. The heavy-duty design combined with high performance make the pumps more reliable while significantly reducing the total cost of ownership. High durability is provided by a wide range of high-quality materials( metallic as well as rubber) it says ensureing exceptional endurance against wear in all pumping applications for abrasive and / or corrosive liquids.
They also offer high durability due to great thickness of casing and impeller extends the lifetime of the pump bringing savings in spare parts consumption and total cost of ownership. Optimised hydraulics ensure high efficiency and minimised wear in the largest operating range.
Internal clearance adjustments are easily and quickly realisable, which allows users to obtain the best efficiency throughout the lifetime of the pump Low NPSH over the entire operating range avoids cavitation of pumps while heavy-duty bearings offer LB10 bearing life of more than 50,000 hours. There is only one bearing bracket per pump type, impermeable to water flushing. The range has low energy consumption due to high efficiency plus Sulzer says low operational cost due to high reliability. Finally, the pumps it says have easy and quick installation and maintenance with low spare parts cost due to high standardisation
The trusted Sulzer EMW series of heavy-duty slurry pumps has been expanded with the introduction of two new, bigger sizes
between the EMW-M and EMW-R The EMW-MR combines rubber lining with a metallic impeller for optimal durability and performance and allows greater solids handling capability than standard rubber impeller configurations. It also maintains superior wear protection from rubber liners while enabling larger solids handling; and offers the same material options as EMW-M and EMW-R for flexibility in demanding environments – while providing a costeffective alternative to full-metal construction without compromising reliability.
Optimising paste backfill operations with ABEL AI-powered PD pumps
ABEL, a global specialist in heavy-duty positive displacement pumps, says it has been advancing mining pumps through the integration of intensive remote monitoring and artificial intelligence( AI) into its piston diaphragm pump technology to overcome frequent preventive maintenance and extended downtimes.
It comments:“ The benefits of our AIbased pump monitoring apply to all ABEL pumps used in the mining industry, including pumps for tailings transport, filter press feed, and paste backfill. In underground mining paste backfill plays a critical role in regards of ground support, safety, and production continuity. At the heart of every paste fill plant lies the pumping system – a system that directly influences availability, maintenance effort, and the paste backfill cycle itself.”
Using a sophisticated set of transmitters, the system effectively provides unprecedented visibility into pump behaviour. Data is transmitted to the cloud every three minutes and can be accessed globally by operators and maintenance teams. Building on this foundation, AIpowered algorithms analyse the incoming data in real time to diagnose failures and recommend actions through a mobile app.
The system distinguishes between eventbased failures, such as valve blockages and wear-based failures that develop gradually
International Mining | JUNE 2026