Mining companies are placing greater demands on pump systems than ever before as process plants increase throughput, operations become more complex and tailings storage facilities are located further from processing plants.
According to Nico Erasmus, FLS’s Vice President and Head of Pumps, Cyclones and Valves (PCV) in Africa, these changing operating conditions are driving continuous innovation in pump design, materials technology and application engineering, while also reinforcing the importance of strong local technical support.
“We continue to invest in research and development based on customer projects and the way mining is evolving,” Erasmus says. “Mines are becoming larger, more remote and increasingly complex, so our focus is on increasing throughput, improving reliability and ensuring we have the flexibility to provide the right solution for every application.”
FLS has expanded its KREBS® pump portfolio to offer application-specific solutions that help mines improve operational efficiency and sustainability while reducing total cost of ownership.
“Our broad product range allows us to match the right pump to each application, whether the priority is maximum wear life, higher hydraulic efficiency or lower operating costs,” he explains.
One of the most significant trends influencing pump development is the rapid expansion of large scale tailings operations. As mines seek to maximise water recovery, they are transporting increasingly dense slurries over much longer pipeline distances.
“We are seeing growing demand for longer tailings pipelines and larger storage facilities combined with higher slurry densities that require pumping systems capable of delivering much higher pressures,” Erasmus says.
Meeting these challenges requires continual advances in both hydraulic design and materials engineering.
“Pump performance depends on achieving the optimum balance between hydraulic efficiency, pump geometry and material selection,” he explains. “We continue to develop new material options while optimising our hydraulic designs so the complete solution delivers superior performance, reliability and wear life.”
FLS supports this ongoing innovation through its own foundry capabilities, enabling continuous research into high-chrome alloys, specialised wear materials and advanced manufacturing techniques that extend component life while reducing lifecycle costs.
Erasmus emphasises, however, that technology alone is not sufficient. As mining activity expands across Africa, access to skilled local engineering expertise is becoming increasingly important to ensure equipment performs as intended throughout its operating life.
“We continue to strengthen our local technical capabilities in the countries where we operate,” he says. “Our West African operation, for example, is staffed entirely by local professionals because we believe the best customer support combines world-class technology with local knowledge, rapid response and long-term partnerships.”
