A deep understanding of Africa’s diverse pumping requirements and challenges, along with extensive aftersales support in remote or harsh environments, provides peace of mind to customers increasingly seeking limited downtime, improved energy efficiency and long equipment lifecycles.

With pumping being an integral component of the mining value chain, from dewatering openpits and underground operations to transporting slurry and process water, reliability, efficiency, high levels of support and ease of maintenance of the pumping equipment are top of mind for clients.

Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) Weir, with the largest installed base of pumping equipment across Africa’s mining sector, has a proven performance in some of the continent’s most demanding applications.

This extensive presence, across a diverse range of commodities including gold, copper, diamonds, coal and platinum, translates into a deeper understanding of the region’s diverse pumping challenges, says Weir original equipment GM Marnus Koorts.

“It is beneficial to have an understanding of the various commodities and what materials will work best with each, as there are commodity-specific requirements and preferences for each of our clients.”

From transparent full cost of ownership, premium products, vast aftersales support, expansive geographic footprint and an understanding of regional-specific constraints to a logistics set up that enables rapid service, Weir has a great track record and a culture of continuous improvement, Koorts continues.

Through correct pump selection, application engineering and comprehensive service support, Weir helps customers achieve the required continuous operation, improved energy efficiency and long lifecycle of their pumps.

The diversity of Weir’s product portfolio is a core strength and plays a significant role in ensuring consistent performance and reliability of its equipment across vastly different operating conditions, from abrasive slurries to high-head dewatering applications, he explains.

Koorts highlights the “workhorse” WARMAN AH pump range, which recently celebrated 60 years of being “the industry’s number-one heavy-duty pump”.

Weir also manufactures tailor-made products for specific categories such as robust mill circuit pumps, froth pumps designed to remove air entrapment and transfer slurry more effectively, and fit-for-purpose light-duty pumps.

“For dewatering, the company has a significant suite of products, including the WARMAN DWU dirty water pump, which is arguably, apart from the AH, the most sold pump in Africa. It is very well adopted,” he comments.

What further differentiates Weir, alongside its range of fit-for-purpose pumps in each of the processes required, is the company’s ability to customise pump materials to clients’ needs.

“We have quite a diverse portfolio of materials of construction, enabling us to tailor-make our pumps with metal and rubber materials – or a combination – to suit our client needs and cater for site-specific conditions.”

Another key area for clients’ peace of mind is aftersales support in remote or harsh mining environments.

“This is where we really have a great track record.”

In addition to a dedicated, integrated solutions team that proactively seeks out any potential problems on a client’s site, Weir has process engineers at each of its branches – an extensive network that is bigger than any of its competitors by a factor of ten, Koorts points out.

Weir has an in-depth local understanding of what happens in the various regions through employees on site and close to the ground with significant local knowledge and experience.

This also enables the company to prepare for any potential challenges such as border closures or unrest.