Pump supplier Watson-Marlow Bredel (W-MB) is aiming to achieve double-digit real-term growth in 2009, says W-MB GM Nico van Schalkwyk.

Despite the global economic downturn, Van Schalkwyk confirms that the recession has not affected business, although he admits W-MB will have to work harder and smarter. Pump sales totalled R6-million in 2008, an increase of 44% on 2007’s figures, which Van Schalkwyk attributes to the broad spectrum of industries ordering W-MB’s pump products.

The South African branch of W-MB achieved the highest real-term growth in the entire group in 2008.

The company specifically services a large mining client base. Forty per cent of its mining clients are platinum producers. This trend continues despite the pressure that mines are under globally, with noted project shutdowns or delays at the end of 2008.

Van Schalkwyk confirms that W-MB procured a large order of its 720 Series peristaltic pumps for diversified miner Anglo Platinum’s Amandelbult mine, in Limpopo province. The 720 Series is a newer version of the older 700 Series pump. This 720 Series range has Profibus installed in the case drive pumps. In addition, W-MB’s SPX pumps are widely used in the sector.

W-MB reports that a R3,5-
million pump order is being shipped to a number of gold 
and copper mines in Africa. 
Mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauriti-ana, Tanzania and Ghana have all ordered W-MB’s pump products.

The company’s stated goal for the foreseeable future is to capture markets that primarily would consider a peristaltic pump over any other type of pump available to the mining industry. Van Schalkwyk confirms that centrifugal-progressive and double-diaphragm pumps in mine process plants are being slowly replaced by peristaltic pump products.

“In the mining industry, water is money and the less you use, the better,” states Van Schalkwyk. With W-MB peristaltic pumps, there are no seals to flush and the pumps can handle thickened slurries up to concentrates of 80% 
solids.

There is, hence, less water consumption, lower energy use, over 80% solids capability and little flow reduction. Consequently, there is less maintenance and fewer spare parts are required.

“This amounts to staggering savings over centrifugal slurry 
pumps and the peristaltic products are ideal for harmful 
fluids, whether they are acidic,
caustic, abrasive, viscous, shear-sensitive, gaseous or corrosive,” says Van Schalkwyk.

He believes that the peristaltic pump market is the fastest-
growing pump market in South Africa and, indeed, globally. Van Schalkwyk confirms this by referencing a survey conducted by global growth consultants Frost & Sullivan, who acknowledged W-MB as Europe’s top positive displacement pump brand.

Growth can only be augmented owing to the invest-
ment in research and development. “We have invested 
extensive capital in research and development with the aim of improving products,” says Van Schalkwyk.

He adds: “The peristaltic 
principle enables sensitive, abrasive or corrosive fluids to be pumped safely and
without contamination, from biotechnology to ceramics, food processing, and waste treatment.”

The bearings in the direct-coupled peristaltic pump are fitted in the rotor. W-MB states that it does not rely on the gearbox manufacturer’s bearings and seals. W-MB supplies a direct-coupled peristaltic 
pump where the bearings are located in the rotor of the pump.

The SPX direct-coupled gearbox plugs directly into the pump head. A buffer zone has been created between the pump head bearings and the gearbox bearing. This protects both bearings, providing early warning if a lubricant seal failure occurs.

“Other manufacturers 
cannot compete with this 
approach,” says Van Schalk-wyk.

The nonmining sectors make up 40% of W-MB’s pump 
orders. The water and beverage industries make prolific use of W-MB’s peristaltic pumps. 
For example, the company 
reports selling a large number of pumps to beverage producer 
SABMiller and State-owned water utility Rand Water.

In addition, Van Schalkwyk says that the company is breaking new ground in the waste-
water industry. “A few big pump units have been installed with great success, such as the units at Potsdam, in Cape Town,” he adds.

W-MB’s general business strategy is proving to be successful. The key staff of the business are continuously sent on training programmes. The company does not take for granted that sales are going well. “Sales people must always be up to date with new pump developments and provide 
coherent information to customers,” says Van Schalkwyk.

W-MB’s distributors are subject to training too and, of late, end-users have received training on how to use the pump products correctly. Although 52% of the business lies with the pump distributors, users are also deemed important when it comes to training. “The end-users are the ones who have to understand the concept of maintenance and that is the main reason why we do regular maintenance training with maintenance staff,” adds Van Schalkwyk.

W-MB’s burgeoning success has resulted in the com-
pany buying more factory space. “We have increased our warehouse facilities. Because W-MB repairs a lot of pumps, the refurbishing space is going to be increased too,” states Van Schalkwyk.

Moreover, W-MB aims to employ more staff, especially 
in the sales and customer care departments. A dedicated sales engineer will be appointed to focus on selling pumps to the environment industry. In this regard, the salesperson will focus on water and waste-
water pump sales. The total staff complement will be 23.

Van Schalkwyk attests to being in the process of improving W-MB’s equity scorecard. He aims to have this completed in the first quarter of this year.

Under wraps, however, is a new pumping system that W-MB International has been testing at its facility in Holland for 18 months. 
The newest pumping concept is expected to be unveiled in mid-2009.

To subscribe to Mining Weekly's print magazine email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or buy now.