Swedish industrial tools and equipment manufacturer Atlas Copco introduced its new range of portable diesel-engine-driven pumps, PAS, to the South African market in March this year.

The PAS range, which includes 4 inch, 6 inch and 8 inch pumps, was officially launched in Belgium in June last year, with production having started in August in the same country. The product was developed in Spain at Atlas Copco’s generated competency centre, which packages the diesel pumps.

Following the Belgium launch, a demonstration of a PAS 6 inch pump was held in South Africa for end-customers and construction rental companies.

Altas Copco explains that the PAS range delivers fast watering solutions to sites where a power source is not available, with its dry prime units offering high performance and efficiency to ensure predictable and timely job completion with minimal operating expenses.

This range of pumps can be used in a variety of applications, the company notes. It is, however, best suited for transporting or lifting water with abrasive solids in suspension. This includes applications such as construction and mine-site dewatering, floodwater and stream diversions or sewage in industries and municipalities.

With a dedicated control cubicle compartment, the PAS range can be safely operated even while the pump is working. This range also reduces vibration and temperature impact on more sensitive control components, while the dust and waterproof features of the pump engine door prevent damage to the control components.

“Atlas Copco is an industrial supplier aligned with the needs of the mining sector. We design and develop our products specifically with mining customers in mind,” says Atlas Copco business line manager David Stanford.

For this reason, Atlas Copco has packaged its pumps to enable easy storage, handling and transportation.

Another benefit of the PAS range is that it is a basic control unit. The pump’s canopy is compact and its design is similar to that of other Atlas Copco products, enabling easy access to the pump, which assists with pump maintenance.

Stanford also points out that, owing to the considerable number of years that have been dedicated to the canopy design, the pump is unique, compared with traditional pumps, as easy access is granted to the pump side, which allows for easy maintenance, while offering a premium sound attenuation and cooling benefit .

Each pump is also equipped with an extended fuel tank for longer operating hours on site without refuelling.

“Further, all the products that we provide do not require fixed installation,” Stanford explains, noting that the company also provides on-site training or workshops on the operation of its products when needed.

Atlas Copco plans to expand the PAS 4 inch, 6 inch and 8 inch to enable the range to handle higher capacities of water, while also adding high-head bearings to the pumps.

The company further hopes to complete this expansion, as well as the addition of 10 inch and 12 inch pumps to the range, in 2016.