The sixth SADC Annual Quality Awards presentation ceremony was held on the evening of the 16th March 2016 in Gaborone, Botswana. The aim of the SADC Annual Quality Award competition is to recognize and appreciate organizations and individuals who are contributing to quality advancement in all sectors of industry by having measurement and quality systems, procedures and processes that are in line with local, regional and international best practices.

The Award is divided into the following categories for Large Enterprises as well as Small and Medium Enterprises:

• Category 1:  Company of the year
• Category 2:  Product of the year
• Category 3:  Service of the year
• Category 4:  Exporter of the year
• Category 5:  Individual Award

The Southern African Development Community is a Regional Economic Community comprising 15 Member States; Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Established in 1992, SADC is committed to Regional Integration and poverty eradication within Southern Africa through economic development and ensuring peace and security.

Niël Wehmeyer, Marketing Director, HAZLETON PUMPS (middle) with the two trophies awarded for winning the two main SADC awards for Company of the Year and Product of the Year 2016.

Hazleton Pumps, a Small/Medium family owned enterprise located in Centurion, Gauteng (South Africa), won the Company of the year. The approach followed by this company is to build long-term committed sustainable customer relationships.  Specific, specialised pumps are designed, developed and manufactured in collaboration with customers in order to meet their individual and customized requirements.

The HIPPO Slurry Pump range is capable of handling liquids containing both abrasive as well as corrosive solids and the pumps are therefore manufactured from various materials such as 28% Hard Chrome for abrasive applications and Duplex Stainless Steel Alloys (CD4MCu) for acidic/and corrosive environments.

Marius Sunkel flanked by two HIPPO High Voltage Submersible
Slurry Pumps ready for Export to Canada

HAZLETON PUMPS also won the Product of the Year Award for the design and development of a slurry pump range that can operate under the harsh mining conditions in Southern Africa branded as the HIPPO Pump Slurry range. The technology has since been developed and adapted for mining and various other applications worldwide.

The world’s first Medium/High Voltage High Head Submersible Dewatering Pump Range – capable of being used in explosive environments and complying to IEC 60079-1.  This range consists of 5 models capable of pumping up to 350 l/s at a head of 200 meters with an installed power of 1200kW and can operate on both 50Hz and 60Hz power supply.

This HIPPO Medium/High Voltage; High Head Submersible Pump Range using a single stage design was designed, developed and manufactured for acid mine dewatering and is mainly used underground. The unique feature of this pump is the utilization of Medium and High Voltage Power whilst being manufactured from specific materials which enables the pumping of acidic liquids containing solids. HAZLETON PUMPS is currently marketing the HIPPO Submersible Slurry pump range internationally with more than 70% of all pumps being exported and Canada being the biggest user at present.