With an optimistic outlook for the Zambian mining market, pump manufacturer Goodwin Submersible Pumps Africa has made a significant investment into Zambia by opening a branch in Kitwe – one of the country’s most developed commercial and industrial areas.

The company has made some positive inroads into the copper mining market in Zambia over the past couple of years, notes marketing director Rui Gomes, who adds that as the company’s installed base started to grow, the need for in-country aftermarket support increased.

Pumps from Goodwin offer customers a “hardworking, reliable and sustainable solution” to their most difficult applications, he says, noting that this application must be matched with effective support.

This is the main rationale for Goodwin investing in a workshop, warehouse and sales office in Zambia, Gomes tells Mining Weekly.

“Locally-based staff add a culturally-acceptable dynamic to the team as customer service remains at the cornerstone of Goodwin’s business ethics,” he elaborates.

The Kitwe branch is fully capable of servicing Goodwin’s entire range of pumps, from the flagship 30 kW 100ANZE model, through to the larger 150 mm 90 kW, and 200 mm 112 kW, pumps.

The warehouse is also fully stocked with spares and boasts a newly commissioned test tank, which all improve the lead times for delivery and availability of repaired pumps, enthuses Gomes.

Any pumps serviced at the Kitwe facility are repaired by competent technicians appointed by the original-equipment manufacturer (OEM), which he says, offers customers peace of mind in the work undertaken at the new facility.

Designed Tough

Gomes notes the Goodwin range of submersible slurry pumps is designed to handle even the most arduous of slurry applications, capable of pumping high density slurries of up to 2.8 kg/ℓ, or 65% concentration by weight.

In addition, the pumps can pass large particles – 32 mm for the 100-mm-diameter pumps, and 76 mm for the 200-mm-diameter pumps.

The Goodwin pumps benefit from forced-cooling owing to the nature of the design of the discharge chambers, which pumps the fluid around the stator housing before leaving the pump, adding, through the oil filled stator housing, critical cooling properties to the pump. This enables the pump to run dry for an extended period, even in a semi-submerged application.

Further, the wet ends of the pumps are specifically designed to handle abrasive slurries, extending the wear life of front line components.

Further, the Goodwin inducer effectively sends out hydraulic shock waves that serve to resuspend any settled solids, enabling them to be pumped, explains Gomes.

“Our optimistic view on the future of the mining front holds that Goodwin will grow and expand, not only in Zambia, but [also in] neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),” he adds, highlighting that the company already has several customers based in the DRC that use the company’s products.

The next step, says Gomes, is to offer them the same level of service that Goodwin is currently able to effect in Zambia.

Challenges, Opportunities, Innovation

Challenges when starting up in Zambia included logistical challenges such as remote customer sites, border crossing challenges and deteriorating infrastructure.

These where systematically tackled, being addressed head-on and in conjunction with loyal customers and suppliers, he states.

Goodwin also managed to partner with reliable transport companies, liaise with customers to find the most effective solutions and developed strong forward planning capabilities for its stock holding.

“We are committed to achieving the quickest turnaround time in the market for pump repairs and maintaining a spares or pump delivery lead time that sets the standard for excellence,” says Gomes.

Meanwhile, Goodwin has designed and launched its hydraulically-powered submersible slurry pump – the Goodwin Slurry Champ, which is manufactured in India and imported.

This product is based on Goodwin’s 100ANZE slurry pump, which can be securely fixed to an overhead structure, or coupled to an excavator.

The pump features a heavy-duty 63 cm3 hydraulic motor that uses an excavator’s hydraulic power takeoff, thereby negating the need for an electrical outlet.

The pump weighs about 400 kg, making it lighter and more manageable than similar competitor products.

The Slurry Champ offers flow up to 230 m3/h at a speed of 1 500 rpm, and has a maximum discharge head of 51 m.