Earlier this year, Africa-focused pump supplier Tri-Pump signed an exclusive distributor agreement with US-based industrial equipment and dredging solutions manufacturer Ellicott Dredge Technologies (EDT) to address the unique challenges faced by the mining sector in Africa through the implementation of innovative dredging technology.

The distributor agreement between EDT and Tri-Pump is purposed to cover key African regions, including the Zambian mining sector as well as Ghana, Tanzania, Mauritius, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

EDT reports that it sees value in partnering with Tri-Pump, acknowledging their strong presence and reputation in the African mining sector, saying Tri-Pump's acute understanding of local cultures and the inherent challenges in mining operations makes them an ideal distributor for EDT's products.

Under this partnership, Tri-Pump will offer a range of EDT products, including the Mud Cat E-Series electric remote-controlled dredges and Mud Cat D-Series diesel dredges with optional remote capabilities.

These solutions are designed to optimise efficiency and productivity in mining operations, particularly in the management of tailings dams and lagoons.

To ensure the highest standards of service delivery, EDT adheres to rigorous processes and holds ISO 9001:2015 certification through global certifications company Bureau Veritas.

Additionally, EDT sales and field service teams collaborate closely with Tri-Pump, providing comprehensive training and on-site support to guarantee seamless operations and reduced downtime.

EDT has a history in Africa with deliveries of products to Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, the DRC, Guinea, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia over the past 15 years alone.

In terms of specific developments within EDT's offerings that might resonate with Tri-Pump's clients, EDT technical sales manager Michael Young highlights that EDT’s Mud Cat electric dredges possess transformative capabilities, offering various levels of automation for the dredging process, going as far as seamlessly sharing key metrics with the supervisory control and data acquisition systems of mines or industrial plants.

Further, the automation technology not only helps reduce labour costs, but also mitigates the safety risks associated with having personnel on the water.

He also points out that in the context of reprocessing tailings or process material, the automation features can even aid in quantifying the profitability of dredging operations.

Future Plans

Looking ahead, both Tri-Pump and EDT express openness to expanding distributorship to other countries and regions where mutual opportunities arise.

“Partnering with EDT brings us immense excitement . . . the prospect of offering dredging solutions to the mining sector is particularly thrilling for us,” says Tri-Pump group marketing director Jannie Rossouw.

Rossouw adds that addressing the long-standing challenge of slurry buildup in process water ponds for end-users is something Tri-Pump anticipates resolving through the collaboration with EDT.

He notes that Tri-Pump is a prominent pump solution company that has been catering to the African mining and construction sectors since 1996 by supplying global pump brands and customised solutions, and extends technical support, training and servicing to clients.