Water technology provider Xylem Water Solutions South Africa, which has a dedicated pump rental business, believes it makes sense to rent auxiliary equipment for short-term projects.

The company, which offers pumping and fluid handling solutions, states that renting equipment offers best-in-class solutions and emergency breakdown assistance without capital expenditure (capex). Buying equipment also adds associated costs for maintenance, storage and administration.

Xylem states that its renting service helps to minimise disruptions to operations by supplying customers with fast access to a broad range of well-maintained, world-class products.

By only paying for the time the equipment is used, customers also gain cost control. "Customers can either choose to pay according to a specified rental period or a fixed price for the entire solution until the job is completed.

Renting further allows customers to secure availability by getting the exact equipment and services they need, when they need it. “Renting equipment and using Xylem’s on-site services increases flexibility by drastically cutting lead times. Customers are also able to easily upgrade and/or downgrade when, or if, duty parameters change,” the company states.

Xylem’s capex and labour cost-saving case study supports the benefits of renting equipment. Challenges faced at one of the UK’s largest power stations included facilitating the maintenance and cleaning of sluice valves in a return pit. After a site assessment, Xylem decided on a temporary installation of four 150 mm quiet enclosure pumps to handle a total flow of 1200 m³/h. These pumps operated around the clock until the job was done, which ended up saving the power station capex and labour costs.

Xylem’s dedicated pump rental fleet includes a wide range of pumps as well as accessories, in order to assist each customer’s unique situation. The products in the fleet include Flygt submersible drainage and dewatering pumps, the Godwin diesel and electric dri-prime pumps, Flygt submersible mixers, as well as pump flotation systems and several other pump accessories.

Some of Xylem’s typical applications include sewage diversions and over-pumping, solids-handling, slurry handling, water transfer, sludge mixing and bespoke pumping systems, as well as site drainage and dewatering.

Xylem Water Solutions South Africa offers a total dewatering solution, including full technical, design and aftermarket support to its clients on the African continent. With an arsenal of global pump-brands in its stable, the company focuses on tailor-made, industry-specific solutions.

Xylem Water Solutions South Africa is responsible for territories across the continent including South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Gabon, Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Through its regional distribution network, Xylem also carries an extensive stock of complete pump units and spare parts, servicing clients throughout Southern, West and sub-Saharan Africa.

In South Africa, Xylem Water Solutions has a strong regional footprint, including its head office in Gauteng, with supporting offices in Mpumalanga, the Western Cape and North West.

The Xylem brand has become synonymous with effective, durable and custom-made pumping and fluid handling solutions. This is owing to the wealth of global brands that are carried under the company’s banner. Globally renowned pump-brands such as Flygt, Vogel, Sanitaire, Lowara, Godwin and Leopold make up the offering from Xylem Water Solutions South Africa.