Darryl Macdougall, Managing Director, Verder Pumps South Africa
Peristaltic pumps offer several advantages in their use, as the technology is highly reliable and ideal for pumping “difficult to pump” liquids. Having said that, a critical component in the pump unit’s performance is the hose as this is the heart of the pump. Some users choose to fit non-OEM hoses in an attempt to reduce inventory and purchase costs and by this assume that OPEX costs are also being reduced. The theory looks great on paper but practically there are a number of considerations to be taken into account when making the decision to move away from the OEM hose to a non-standard hose.
Let’s forget about taking into account the importance of correct pulsation dampeners and other technicalities that affect hose life - just dimensional differences will have an influence on hose life which leads to costs associated with unplanned stoppages. The construction of the OEM hose plays an integral part in life span of the hose. One must consider that the OEM is here for the long haul and that their hoses have undergone extensive testing in their own equipment. This should raise the question as to what R&D has been done with the substitute hose when their philosophy is “one size fits all”?
Taking the view that “one size fits all” the user exposes themselves to further pain and costs, incorrect dimensioned hoses and inferior construction leads to more frequent hose failures, which as we know leads to unplanned stoppages, production losses and further maintenance costs. Further maintenance costs can be in the form of premature gearbox failures due to the ingress of the pumped media into the gearbox due to a hose burst.
In a recent case study, a Zambian copper producer chose to fit a non-OEM hose in a Verder peristaltic pump, with the decision to fit the hose made on a commercial basis. Production bore the brunt of a commercial decision, as the result was hose bursts on an average of three per week. Verder was asked to present a solution to the constant failures and the remedy was simple, fit an OEM hose. The result was increased up-time from 2 to 3 days to 3 months. This led us to ask the client if they knew how expensive their low-priced hose really was?
Every Verderflex hose is manufactured to tight specifications for consistent wall thickness, to ensure that the fibre reinforcing is embedded centrally when the hose is constructed. With the precision manufacturing process, the need to carry out machining of the hose outside diameter is eliminated. The Verder hose has a signature textured finish, which enhances lubricant adhesion to the hose, thereby reducing surface friction between hose and shoe. Lower surface friction leads to lower temperatures, which is another technical conversation for another time.
To be sure that you are fitting an OEM hose you will notice that all Verderflex hoses have a clear colour coded identification stripe and Verder branding along the length of the hose, indicating the material of construction. If the hose that you are fitting in your Verder peristaltic pump does not have these markings, you can be sure that you are fitting a “very expensive low-priced hose”.