Integrated Pump Technology has become a household name in dewatering solutions for both surface and underground mining in the Southern African region. Now, the company has set its sights on expanding its African footprint, particularly in Central Africa. GERARD PETER finds out more from MD, JORDAN MARSH.

Integrated Pump Technology is the authorised distributor of Grindex electric submersible pumps and Godwin diesel-driven self-priming pumps. Both are well-known global brands and have gained a reputation for exceptional performance in the harshest and wettest mining operations. Recently, the company opened its Steelpoort service centre in South Africa to service mines in the surrounding regions. This is in keeping with Integrated Pump Technology’s business model of being close to its customers.

It is the same approach that the company has taken to increase its footprint in Central Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia, which Marsh says is teeming with potential to expand its operations. Marsh states: “With the current global demand for copper, we are seeing a lot of expansion and new mines opening in the DRC and Zambia. Over the past year, there has been a lot of investment in copper mines in the region. These are some of the wettest mines in the world and the deeper they go, the more water they encounter and the more pumps they require. In these countries, the demand for reliable dewatering solutions is far higher.”

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Integrated Pump Technology’s success in the region is a result of being able to supply pumps, repair and aftersales service in a quick turnaround time. To achieve this, the company has appointed local distributors in both the DRC and Zambia. In the DRC, the company is represented by Congo Pump Solutions while in Zambia it has partnered with Integrated Engineering Services (IES). “Our local distributors keep their ears to the ground of these operations so they know what they require. We also keep a good stock holding and can provide new pumps and spares timeously. We already have our foot in the door and our customers now know that they can rely on us for their dewatering needs. This is helping to grow our business in the region,” Marsh adds. Furthermore, he points out that it is imperative that the company’s local distributors are well-versed in the products and solutions that Integrated Pump Technology offers. To that end, all distributors undergo extensive training – both locally and at its offices in Jet Park, Johannesburg. “The first step is to inspect these potential distributors to make sure that they have the facilities and staff to be a local distributor. In addition to providing sales training at our head offices, we also train their technical staff for up to two weeks. We then assign a key account manager to them who along with their technical staff will visit mines regularly to ensure that our customers have the necessary support they need.”

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Bespoke dewatering solutions

Integrated Pump Technology supplies a wide range of pumps that are well-suited for wet mining conditions in Central Africa such as the Grindex submersible pumps. “The Grindex range offers a solution for every type of underground and surface mining operation. Built for high-volume demands, these pumps are manufactured from premium materials like hard iron, aluminium, stainless steel, and high-chrome cast iron. Pumps in the Bravo range feature cooling jackets for added durability. This means that the pump, although submersible, can operate semi-submerged when required. It has agitators that can agitate the slurry and is known for its reliability and longevity,” Marsh adds. The Grindex range also includes sludge pumps for intermittent areas with vortex impellers. The range is also available in stainless steel which is suitable for mines with high acidity and low PH levels. These range from 0.75 KW to 90 KW and cover a range of applications from high flows to low heads to high heads and low flows. “We also have double impeller pumps as well as select models in the dewatering range made from stainless steel 316 which is well suited for highly corrosive mining environments in Central Africa,” says Marsh.

The company also offers an extensive range of Godwin diesel or electric-driven pumps. These are available in stainless steel 316 or duplex stainless steel. Included in this range is the HL 270 which can pump up to 300 m of slurry. “With these two well-known brands, Integrated Pump Technology offers a complete package of dewatering solutions for both underground and surface operations,” Marsh states. Marsh and his team understand that there is no one-size-fits-all all solution. Hence, the company goes to great lengths to understand its customers’ needs. Often, it takes ingenuity to come up with the right solution. “For example, we may have to provide pump flotation devices so that submersibles can operate. Also, a customer may not have electricity so we have to build a raft for a diesel unit to be placed on a dam. There are different challenges in each mining operation but thanks to our product range and technical expertise, we can overcome them.”

Another key aspect is aftersales service – something that Marsh says is most important. “We are not just selling a pump in a box. We are selling a solution. That means offering our customers a quality product backed by expert aftersales service. We also visit our customers’ mines to ensure that our equipment is functioning optimally and offer technical training so that they can carry out maintenance. It is this approach that has created opportunities for both repeat and new business so that we can grow our footprint in Central Africa,” Marsh concludes.