Local pumps manufacturer Cemo Pumps last month delivered the first set of GE812 pumps to gold miner Gold One’s Modder East mine, on Johannesburg’s East Rand, says Cemo Pumps MD Gregory Cohen.

The GE812 is a modification of the GE088, designed to meet the miner’s specifications.

“The GE088 was the largest pump in the GE range, but the Modder East mine required higher pressures, so we . . . designed a pump that would extend the capacity of the existing GE088,” Cohen tells Mining Weekly.

He explains that the GE812 pump has been designed to pump slurry from underground to surface. “Therefore, instead of having a few stages of pumps on various levels of the mine, we have installed one pump that can carry the full load at a lower flow rate.”

Cohen adds that the company has designed only two GE812 pumps for Gold One thus far. They run parallel to each other to complement the flow rate required by the mine.

Meanwhile, he tells Mining Weekly that Cemo Pumps also installed its Crown 350 pump at a hydropower station in the Brakfontein mining area, in Limpopo.

“Mines are constantly looking for ways to decrease their carbon footprint . . . to become greener in their operations. The Crown 350 pump does this by reducing the amount of water and energy used to drive hydropower equipment,” Cohen explains.

Cemo’s solution for the Brakfontein hydropower station uses six Crown 350 pump sets that switch on sequentially, depending on the hydropower equipment being used, which is usually one or more hydropower rock drills.

“The pumps engage one at a time, depending on the number of drills in operation at any time,” details Cohen.

He adds that the Crown 350 pumpstation is an upgrade to the company’s previous designs. The initial design included four pumps controlled by a programmable logic controller, with direct on-line motor control.

Cemo Pumps is the manufacturing arm of Johannesburg-based manufacturer Crown Group. Under the Cemo Pumps brand name, most products are marketed across South Africa and exported to other African countries, Australia, the US and the UK.

The company currently supplies spares and pumps to Zimbabwe, Botswana, Ghana, Swaziland, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho and Zambia.

New MD

Cemo Pumps in June promoted Cohen, the previous chief engineer, to the position of MD. Crown Group chairperson Harold Crown stated that Cohen had worked through the ranks of the company over the years and was the best person to fill the position.

“We congratulate Gregory on his well-deserved appointment. “His dedication and strong work ethic, coupled with his outstanding technical knowledge, make him the ideal candidate to drive Cemo Pumps forward in the years ahead,” said Crown.

Cohen welcomed the promotion and said that he had plans for the growth of the company going forward. “I view Cemo Pumps as one the best industrial pumps businesses in Africa. “I have a lot of admiration for the business and every single person in the team.

“It is this passion that will help drive the business forward, developing a sustainable business for the next generation. “For me, this will entail developing the team internally, so that those who want to grow within the company feel pride both in their own development and for the company.”