In the lead-up to its fiftieth anniversary in 2025, having been established in 1975, full-service slurry pump manufacturer Schurco Slurry reflects on its commitment to providing “engineering excellence, efficient global inventory management, attentive customer service and cost effectiveness”.

For example, the company introduced its interactive augmented reality (AR) pump model at The Mining Show in Dubai – held in 2022 from November 21 to 22 – providing those in attendance with an “immersive and insightful experience”, says Schurco Slurry CEO Emile Fourie.

The AR Pump Model will enable end-users to gain a deeper understanding of the features and capabilities provided by Schurco.

“You can view and interact with the pump in your operational environment or the luxury of your own home. “The model provides a representation of individual parts and how they fit into the pump,” comments Fourie.

This “cutting-edge technology” showcased Schurco Slurry’s dedication to staying at the forefront of the industry, he notes, adding that, having started as a small family-owned business, the company has undergone “exponential growth over the years”.

Schurco –offering a “streamlined, bottom-line-conscious engineering approach” – distinguishes itself in a field dominated by large corporations. It has a clear vision to manufacture and deliver a trusted slurry pump with unparalleled customer service.

The engineering approach is to “design and supply the best-quality materials and products”, in line with international best practice to ensure the customer and/or end-users receive quality service with “a personal touch”.

“Our focus is not just to make the sale, but rather to work with the customer to design a cost- effective, efficient and reliable solution that suits their specific requirements,” adds Fourie.

The company is also dedicated to addressing the challenges posed by variable minerals processing, emphasises Schurco pump applications and projects manager Marc Young.

He notes that Schurco’s slurry pumps are customised for every mine and application, ensuring optimal performance and longevity.

Further, the company specialises in the use of polyurethane (PU), a material known for its “exceptional resistance to corrosion and abrasion”.

The wet-end spares are manufactured from Schurco Slurry’s proprietary PU compound, boasting a wear life that is about 66% longer than alternative linings available on the market.

Schurco has taken a significant step in enhancing the durability and performance of its products by replacing all its brass components with stainless steel.

This strategic shift is rooted in the numerous advantages that stainless steel offers, and the shift from brass to stainless steel for certain “strategically identified” parts is twofold, adds Young.

“The first is based on improving the performance and wear life of the parts after analysing the specific application requirements, where stainless steel will give the end-user longer-lasting, affordable parts with improved performance.”

The second reason is the reduced risk of brass parts being misplaced or used in applications where the material is not ideally suited to certain operating conditions.

By opting for stainless steel, Schurco not only reinforces the quality of its offerings but also highlights the company’s commitment to the delivery of durable and efficient solutions.

Managing, Reducing Wear

Young explains that “the very nature of pumping solids means that destructive wear on internal parts is an inevitable part of the life cycle of slurry pumps. Managing and reducing that wear is what Schurco Slurry does for . . . customers”.

The company works on a three-tiered support system that will ensure that end-users’ operations are “up and running” when needed.

The first tier is the qualified field service teams at Schurco that are available to visit the site and assist where required.

The second tier is based on the comprehensive stockholding of parts to ensure the refurbishment/repair of pumps at its facilities guarantees the shortest possible turnaround time, using the “latest technology and equipment” available in the market.

The third tier is the service exchange programme provided by Schurco, which provides customers with the option to “team up” with Schurco in a long-term agreement that enables end users to return the units from a site to a Schurco facility for refurbishment and repair.

“With the service exchange cycle, we aim to ensure minimum to no downtime on site,” Young notes.

He adds that all parts have been rigorously reverse-engineered using the most robust technology with two- and three-dimensional modelling, followed by a first-article inspection, involving comparison to original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts, followed by fit testing.

All impellers have been performance-tested to certify them against OEM performance, he states.

Schurco Slurry also manufactures replacement parts for OEMs – promoting technical expertise, quality, fair pricing and product availability for all end-users.