Availability of the right equipment and expertise as well as sufficient stock levels are seen as crucial in responding to urgent dewatering needs in the mining sector, says Integrated Pump Technology MD Jordan Marsh.

The company notes that the mining regions in which it operates have some of the wettest mines in the world, where dewatering is essential for safe and efficient operations. With its range of Grindex submersible pumps and Godwin diesel-driven pumps, Integrated Pump Technology says it can provide optimal dewatering solutions for its customers.

“In one of our recent customer engagements in Zambia, we supplied suitable 90 kW pumps to a contractor who urgently needed to dewater a section of a mine,” explains Marsh. “Due to our deliberate policy of holding extensive stock in-country, we could quickly get the units on site so that the customer could achieve their goal even quicker than they had planned.”

Marsh highlights that the company’s localisation policy ensures local distributors are chosen for their knowledge of customer needs, their regulatory compliance and their technical resources.

“With our well-equipped technical facilities in South Africa, we apply our ‘local build’ approach to speed up the supply of the larger self-priming diesel pumps,” he says. “We know that mines can face lead times of 22 to 30 weeks when they order a fully assembled pump from abroad. We can do the same job in just two to three weeks, all in accordance with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specifications.”

By leveraging its local partnerships with diesel engine OEMs, Integrated Pump Technology says it can source its engines in countries like South Africa. This allows the company to bring in only the wet end of the system, to conduct the assembly locally – and closer to the customer.

“With our strong technical capability, we provide the option of trailer- or skid-mounted diesel-driven pumps,” he says. “The customer may also have a preference for a certain make of diesel engine, to suit their on-site skills set; we engage with a range of OEMs and can source various options for the customer.”

Integrated Pump Technology says its success in Southern and Central Africa is now opening doors for further expansion into West African countries, adding that the company will soon be making its complete offering of Grindex and Godwin solutions available to the mining and other sectors in this region.