South African mixing equipment and peristaltic pumps manufacturer Afromix has established a sales and aftermarket service division in Vancouver, Canada, that trades as AFX Mixing & Pumping Technologies to better service the North American markets.

MD Eugene Els tells Engineering News that the company’s Canadian operation, established in February, has been well received, recording positive figures during the first half of this year. He expects this trend to continue into 2015.

“Prior to the opening of the facility, we did have a presence in the market through distributors; however, having our own facility in Canada makes a significant difference to the company.”

Els adds that Afromix also plans to establish a manufacturing facility either in the US or Canada in the next two to three years.

“Afromix has a high-quality product offering which is performing well in Africa. We hope to emulate this success in the North American market in the next three to five years,” Els asserts.

Moreover, he says establishing a permanent presence in North America has also better positioned Afromix to service its clients in the South American market.

Product Development

Els adds that, locally, the company is introducing its AFX series peristaltic pumps range in stages, with the small and medium-sized iterations of the AFX series pumps already launched in March.

He explains that peristaltic pumps are used for specialised applications such as the pumping of materials that are highly abrasive, highly acidic and high in viscosity, as well as food products and chemicals.

The AFX series is well suited to the mining sector, as its robust design enables it to operate in harsh mining conditions.

Afromix will officially launch the complete AFX pumps range at the Electra Mining 2014 trade show, which will take place at the Nasrec Expo Centre, in Johannesburg, from September 15 to 19.

Advantages

The AFX series works on a lubricated roller system, which ensures that it is significantly more energy efficient than nonroller-type pumps, which require more electricity to deliver the same flows as roller-type pumps.

Els says this is an important feature, as companies want a product that will assist them in reducing electricity use amid rising electricity costs.

The AFX series can be built using carbon and stainless steel, as well as exotic steels such as titanium, depending on what clients require, he adds.

Moreover, Els points out that, as Afromix is manufacturing its range of pumps from a variety of materials, the life span of the range is extended, particularly in acidic and highly-abrasive applications.

“On most peristaltic pumps available in the industry, there is a gearbox attached to the system. If the pump’s hose bursts, all the pump’s product pushes into the gearbox mechanisms, leading to significant damage.”

However, he notes that, in case of hose failure, all that is required is the replacement of the hose, as the product in the AFX pump is redirected away from the gearbox through an built-in protection system.

Africa Focus

Africa is an increasingly important market for the company, with Afromix selling many pumps to several African countries, including Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, in the past five years.

“We have recorded exponential growth in sales, particularly in the copper industry,” Els enthuses.

He adds that Afromix also sells its pumps to South African project houses that undertake work in Africa.

He notes that the company has agreements with several dealerships to supply its products to African projects.

“We provide technical and logistical support for our distribution agents in Africa, who not only sell our products but are also responsible for aftermarket servicing of clients, including maintenance and stocking spare parts,” says Els.

Looking Locally

Els highlights that Afromix has been undertaking a “substantial” amount of work locally for the last two years.

He notes that the company has provided aftermarket services and a significant number of products to sectors such as gold and platinum, which many of the company’s competitors have disregarded.

Els says many mining and engineering companies have expressed their disappointment at having been neglected by local equipment and services supply companies that are focusing on expanding their operations into Africa instead.

As Afromix is engaging with its existing local client base and other prospective local operations, sales figures have increased significantly in the 2013/14 financial year, he adds.