Pumps supplier Goodwin Submersible Pumps Africa is optimistic about the company’s future business prospects in the mining sector of South Africa, as well as about the company’s growth potential in the wider Africa region.

The company has “geared up locally” to support an existing network of pumps in South Africa by increasing its stockholding and bolstering its workshop capacity, states Goodwin sales and marketing director Rui Gomes.

“We’ve noted significant order book growth in South Africa last year, particularly in the coal, platinum and chrome sectors. We are also expecting the gold and mineral sands sectors to show similar activity in the upcoming months.

“In Africa, we have made inroads into copper operations, and see this as a focus point for our recently expanded Zambian operations,” he explains.

Gomes emphasises that customer service and reliability is a key factor for Goodwin in terms of servicing the African mining industry.

Goodwin has “worked hard” in reaching adequate stock levels to be able to offer its pumps, spares and services without the impact of lead times usually associated with having to restock unavailable items, he adds.

This has, however, been a challenging endeavour, given the logistics of importing from the company’s design and manufacturing centres in the UK and India, highlights Gomes.

“We have managed to effectively circumvent any major price increases in the past year despite the very apparent increase in shipping costs and the volatility of the rand. This has been done through efficient processing and some internal absorption,” he elaborates.

This year, Goodwin has designed and launched its hydraulically-powered submersible slurry pump – the Goodwin Slurry Champ.

This product is based on Goodwin’s 100ANZE slurry pump, which can be securely fixed to an overhead structure, or conveniently coupled to an excavator.

“The pump features a heavy-duty 63 cc hydraulic motor that uses the excavator’s hydraulic power and does not require an electrical outlet. The pump weighs in the region of 400 kg, making it lighter and more manageable than other available similar products.”

Further, Gomes adds that the Slurry Champ offers flow up to 230 m3/h at a speed of 1 500 rpm, and has a maximum discharge head of 51 m.

As the product is based on the ANZE pump, it is capable of pumping heavy-duty slurries.

Project Supply

Gomes points out that over the past couple of years Goodwin has supplied a number of new pumps to a major copper mine in Zambia.

This is one of the main reasons for Goodwin opening an office, warehouse and repair centre in Kitwe.

“We have also invested in stock at the branch to service other customers in both Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)”.