At the request of the Australian mining industry, international manufacturing company Akron Brass has developed a severe-duty water cannon, which is now also available in South Africa.

As it is effectively used at washing and cleaning stations, the time the haulage fleet spends out of action is reduced, translating into cost savings.

The Akron severe-duty water cannon is designed for extended use in applications in mining and heavy industries. The purpose-built water cannon requires little maintenance and is ideal for mounting on equipment which is subject to vibration, or stationary in a washing bay. It comprises a remote control capability or it can be manually controlled.

Firefighting hardware provider DoseTech MD Mike Feldon says Akron Brass’s product quality is in keeping with the high standards expected by the users of its fire protection products.

“We are pleased to be able to bring this high-quality product range to the South African mining industry, having already established a sound reputation in the fire protection field in the country. “The Australians have proved the benefits of the severe-duty water cannon in the field and Akron is willing to provide testimonials of successful application and payback,” he says.

Technically, the severe-duty water cannon will pump water up to 80 m, provided there is no wind, at a temperature of 38°. The cannon is easy to retrofit and has fully sealed rotating bearings to protect it from dust and grit, requiring no greasing. The water cannon is fully constructed from stainless steel. Multiple cannons can be operated from a single control point to a specific preprogrammed pattern, ideal for fast turnaround wash bay cleaning areas.

It can operate at 320° rotation on remote control and 360° on manual control, while being able to reach elevations of up to 155°. It has a maximum working pressure of 17 bar and is suitable for use with poor-quality water. The water cannon boosts a flow rate of 2 900 ℓ/min on the electric unit and 4 800 ℓ/min on the manual unit, which is ideal for recirculated or recycled water.

“The inclusion of a foam inductor turns the severe-duty water cannon into a highly effective foam water cannon for fire protection. “We recommend a 1% aqueous film-forming foam concentrate, as this offers an effective fire attack, as well as providing an extended time capability.

“For example, on 3% concentrate at 2 900 ℓ/min, with 1 000 ℓ storage of foam concentrate, the client can achieve about 11 minutes of attack time, whereas, with 1% concentrate, this is extended to almost 34 minutes,” says DoseTech product manager Corné White.

DoseTech, in partnership with Akron Brass and other partnered manufacturers, offer a package of water cannons, fire protection equipment, as well as a selection of mobile trailer options including backup-powered booster pumps, foam dosing systems and water monitors.

“We provide high-quality products backed by quality service,” concludes Feldon.