Rubber-lined pump cuts costs

By Amy Heydenrych

The mining industry’s consistent drive towards cost savings, propelled by the rising price of steel, has opened a niche in the market for a rubber-lined hard iron pump.

The VacSeal centrifugal pump, a product by South African company APE Pumps, is finding its way into mines locally and in African mining hubs, such as Zambia. Marketing and engineering director Alan Sternsdorf explains that the rubber-lined product functions well in liquid slurries as it is cheaper than, and does not have the abrasive properties of, stainless steel. The company has had the actual pump design for a number of years, but made the decision to customise and sell the range once it saw a niche in the market and had a strong enough personnel base to market it to its full potential.

Sternsdorf adds that the eight-inch range consists of horizontal, vertical, hard-lined and rubber pumps. This range has constituted tough competition in a market ordinarily dominated by stainless-steel pumps. MD Eric Bruggeman notes, “We recently received our first order for a VacSeal grit pump from a customer in Ireland. The customer was an ex-employee of the original manufacturers of the pump and will be using it to dredge sand in Sri Lanka.” Given its reputation as a robust choice and a proven record with power stations, APE is confident it is entering a tightly niched, successful market. The company has also received enquiries about the product from mines in Zambia. In addition to this pump, APE is also marketing another innovation to the mining industry, in the form of the VDK vertical sump pump. This product special- ises in the pumping of clean or slightly contaminated media, neutralised degreasing and phosphate solutions, rinsing water with detergents, water-based paints and so on. Liquids with abrasive particles can be pumped, with the particle size depending on pump frame and impellar design. Bruggeman adds that this low-cost sump pump is an innovation from the company’s Ritz range of pumps. Keeping the hydraulics, redesigning the bearing bracket and turning the product on its head rendered the pump suitable for mining and paint applications. He notes that, with other pumps functioning in this capacity, there is a risk of theft or of the cable breaking. APE’s more permanent installation minimises this threat as well as requiring less maintenance. “Its a handier pump for the right application,” he says. To date, the product has had a positive reception, with many being sold to Mauritius.

As with the VacSeal pump, the VDK offers a more economical, viable alternative with its rubber, bonded liner on volutes and casings. Given the rising price of bronze and stainless steel, this contributes significantly to the lowering of the cost price. With over 50 years experience in the pump industry, APE’s team of engineers, business people and sales people regard themselves as fit to meet shifting market demands. The company has the inter- nationally recognised ISO 9000 accreditation, which includes a complete calibration and various test facilities to cover all aspects of its manufacturing processes. APE pumps and spares are supplied to a number of institutions and industries.

These include municipalities, mining, pulp-and-paper, minerals beneficiation, ports and harbours, water authorities, consulting firms, power generation and petrochemicals industries. “By offering service levels that are unprecedented in the marketplace, we have made a total commitment to remaining a top company in all areas of our operation,” Bruggeman concludes.