Local pumps manufacturer KSB Pumps and Valves is intensifying its focus on aftermarket services that add value to customer operations far beyond the supply and maintenance of its own products, under the umbrella of the SupremeServ division.

SupremeServ division manager Grant Glennistor says, in the future, the company will also extend its services and engineering expertise to include maintenance of its entire systems, reverse engineering of rotating equipment and system optimisations. This includes maintenance of third-party peripheral equipment to ensure its client’s systems perform optimally at all times.

“Our aftermarket engineering teams can also remanufacture or reverse engineer equipment that is no longer available but necessary to meet client’s requirements,” he notes.

Glennistor continues to note that all aftermarket services globally will fall under the new KSB SupremeServ banner, which encompasses existing and new maintenance, logistics and engineering infrastructure and is entirely focused on elevating customer assistance to new heights in the pumps industry.

“SupremeServ is a safety net that ensures KSB’s extensive South African, as well as global, infrastructure and expertise is available to support customers’ fluid transfer projects, including equipment and related infrastructure to ensure its long-term success.”

It includes a faster supply chain with a move towards fully automated logistics functions for faster spare parts turnarounds, upgraded high-tech service centres at all KSB branches, specialised repair services on all makes of pumps and related equipment, specialised welding, as well as installations, commissioning, performance testing on site, decommissioning and other advanced field service and engineering services.

Additionally, Glennistor adds that local pump users are in good hands when they deal with the company which has a history spanning more than 60 years in South Africa. “The local operation also ranks as one of the top service centres in the ‘KSB World’ of 16 000 employees in more than 60 countries.”

Its resident engineers are regarded as among the best, undertaking all kinds of projects in the remediation and repair of equipment in projects as diverse as power generation plants, petrochemicals, bulk water supply projects, as well as being equally eager to assist small-scale industrial and agriculture projects. This ensures KSB SupremeServ services are available for its range of clients whether for basic large-scale or complex services.

Simultaneously, the company has ongoing programmes to continuously improve services through constant upskilling and development of its staff in line with market requirements, which led to the company receiving its elevated broad-based black economic-empowerment (BBBEE) status.

As previously reported by Engineering News in September last year, KSB is Level 1 BBBEE compliant. This makes them the first pump and valve original-equipment manufacturer to achieve this status, according to KSB MD Dr Sven Baumgarten.

Meanwhile, Glennistor concludes that KSB SupremeServ centres are situated at all local branches with spares and standard parts available within 24 hrs to service all 22 000 variants of its own pump. “The centres also have dedicated walk-in-centres for on-the-go services.”