To help customers overcome current engineering challenges, fluid engineering and chemical processing applications company Sulzer, with 100 years of expertise in the industry, is expanding its local support for electromechanical equipment and renewable-energy projects.

Sulzer South Africa MD Henry Craukamp says the company’s customer-centric approach means it has continually evolved its services to meet the needs of regional customers right up to the present day.

The company has advanced manufacturing facilities, workshops, assembly areas and testing capabilities, servicing own-brand pumps or units from other manufacturers.

“We always want processes to work better, whether that is by providing new equipment, improving the performance of existing assets or delivering innovations,” he says.

Craukamp adds that Sulzer South Africa has nine testing facilities for pumps, including a 4 MW performance test bed that he says is one of the largest in the southern hemisphere.

“We are also flexible, and recently constructed a bespoke test can for an 18 m pump and motor assembly.

“We are not just about producing reliable and efficient pumps in volume, we adapt to what the customer needs,” says Craukamp.

This adaptability has been illustrated in the maintenance support that Sulzer offers to public utilities. Maintenance contracts have grown to encompass more pumps from varying brands that may require maintenance, repair and overall refurbishment.

He also stresses that as the pumping infrastructure in South Africa ages, Sulzer must be ready to meet the needs of legacy equipment.

Craukamp points out that digital services are Sulzer’s latest pump innovation, and that BLUE BOX is an advanced pump analytics platform for asset enhancement and real-time predictive maintenance.

“It combines the Internet of Things and Sulzer’s advanced analytics engine to provide continuous condition monitoring for pump assets and delivers predictive maintenance actions that will minimise downtime while maximising both performance and reliability.”

The technology also aids Sulzer in designing new advanced pumps that offer increased efficiency, he adds.

Further, Sulzer is supplying and installing variable frequency drives (VFDs) on existing pump drivetrains locally to assist customers in reducing power consumption based on process requirements.

Sulzer has also invested heavily in its field service teams in South Africa. From mines to power plants, Sulzer field service teams are present on site providing dedicated maintenance services.