AFTER securing multiple mobile pump unit refurbishment contracts in February, Mechanical Rotating Solutions (MRS) is viewing the mobile pump industry as a key growth area.
The last few months have been exciting for MRS as more mining companies started to recognise their quality of work. MRS managing director, Franscois Steenkamp, explains why there has been a sudden increase in orders: “We just stick to our philosophy of quality, which is to deliver refurbished units that are better-than-new back to the client.”
Taking a holistic approach when receiving a mobile pump set, MRS looks at every single part that makes up the unit, evaluates its functionality and fit-for-purpose design.
The company then adds improvements to it whilst still staying true to the client’s refurbishment needs.
“Having built our own mobile pump sets from the ground up we are able to incorporate best practice designs with our own build philosophy. This approach ultimately leads to industry confidence in MRS securing multiple refurbishment contracts from mining companies looking to not only refurbish their existing mobile pump sets, but also improving them to the MRS standard.”
A fully refurbished and upgraded mobile pump unit
Whilst mobile units sent for refurbishment often only require refurbishment of the incorporated pump, it is the MRS philosophy to make sure the diesel engines are also serviced and, if necessary, overhauled after consulting with the client. Mine dewatering, or groundwater control, as the name suggests is a tough job executed in harsh environments.
Often excavations may flood because of groundwater inflows from water-bearing layers of soil or rocks and with so much at stake our clients cannot afford to have profits washed away. If a company’s pumps offer no resistance to abrasion or corrosion, it will ultimately result in a high turnover of equipment and spare parts, and consequently high operating costs. With this in mind, MRS also often tackles other issues not related to the pump such as high wear on the suction manifold.
“Some of the units we receive for refurbishment were designed using a stainless steel suction manifold. We noticed that the wear on the stainless steel part was very high and offered the client an improved solution whereby we replaced the stainless steel manifold with a mild steel manifold capable of withstanding suction hose weight stress and vibration stress. The new mild steel manifold is then coated with Belzona 1341, which is a 2-part epoxy coating designed to improve efficiency of pumps, pipes, valves and other fluid handling equipment. This high performance product has proven to reduce energy consumption, provide excellent chemical resistance and lower maintenance costs due to its unique erosion and corrosion protection formulation.”
