PROVEN PRODUCT Pump and Abrasion Technologies’ aims to prove that BattleMax range of slurry pumps is not a mere mid-line or short-term product
South Africa-based slurry pump specialist Pump & Abrasion Technologies (PAT) aims to establish its presence in the African market more securely this year, specifically in the copper and gold markets in Zambia and Ghana, while servicing its existing contracts and expanding its contract base on the continent.
PAT will also target Zimbabwe and Mozambique, as well as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with a view to undertaking large-scale rollouts of its products in the DRC.
“We aim to become heavily involved in several projects for high-profile mines this year, since launching our Battlemax range of slurry pumps on to the Zambian market in November,” says PAT marketing director James Pienaar.
One of PAT’s biggest prospects for the year entails the pilot testing of its Battlemax slurry pumps at a major coal producer in Mpumalanga next month.
The testing will involve a Battlemax Quick Release slurry pump running against the existing installed pump at the mine for a year. The pump will be measured on efficiency, the cost of buying and installing a new unit, operating costs, wear life, overall replacement part reduction and the availability of spares.
Meanwhile, PAT will also focus on the sales of pumps and spares at a copper mine in Zambia, subsequent to having undertaken a full site audit, which assisted in solving major operational issues at the mine.
“We believe that our role in the project proved that PAT is technically capable of assisting mines and processing plants,” says Pienaar.
Additional major projects that PAT will undertake this year include the commissioning of its products, which have been installed at Tanzania-based gold producer African Barrick Gold’s Bulyanhulu mine expansion project, in the Kahama district of the Shinyanga region.
PAT was involved in the Bulyanhulu mine expansion project from the design phase of the slurry pumps to the supply and delivery phase. The pumps, which comprise 56 units, were supplied to site within eight weeks. The operational and commissioning spares have been delivered to site, notes Pienaar.
This project marks the first big Tanzanian project for which the Battlemax range of pumps has been used.
The company has also been contracted to supply its products to Jindal Africa, the African subsidiary of India-based steelmaker Jindal Steel & Power. Products will be supplied to Jindal Africa’s Chirodzi coal mine, in the Tete province of Mozambique, through environmental and process technology firm Enprotec.
The turnkey solution that will be provided to Chirodzi coal mine entails using an Enprotec duel cell flotation plant and an Enprotec high pressure filter press, which incorporates the Battlemax products.
PAT will also supply products to Southern Africa-focused coal developer Universal Coal’s Kangala Colliery, in Delmas, next month.
The company’s goals for the year are to expand its reach in the African market and prove that Battlemax is not a mere mid-line or short-term product.
“We will prove our commitment through the long-term business relationships that we build with our clients. We will focus extensively on strengthening the Battlemax identity and on making it a known brand in the mining industry,” Pienaar explains.
“With all the projects that we worked on – recently and currently – we have proven that the technical background of the company is sound and that we are willing to help our clients save costs on the technical and supply side of the company.”
PAT will embark on a massive sales and marketing drive in South Africa and Africa to increase its client base and to ensure that it gains the majority share of the market this year.
“We want to increase our focus on product quality, while continuing to provide our services for clients,” says Pienaar.