After securing multiple mobile pump unit refurbishment contracts in February, Mechanical Rotating Solutions Is viewing the mobile pump industry as a key growth area for the company.

The last few months has been exciting for MRS as more mining companies started to recognise their unparalleled quality of work. Asking MRS Managing Director, Franscois Steenkamp, why there has been a sudden increase in orders he says the reason is simple.  “We just stick to our philosophy of quality, which is to deliver refurbished units back to the client that are better-than-new.”

Taking a holistic approach when receiving a mobile pump-set MRS looks at every single part that makes up the unit, evaluate 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 lead 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 consultation 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 offers 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 was 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.”

Looking towards the future Franscois Steenkamp says that for MRS to continue expanding its mobile pump set services requires careful planning, execution, and continuous evaluation of the product.

“There are some significant factors to consider when tackling the mobile pump market. Considerations such as size, type, and quality of the equipment, as well as the specific features, options, and accessories that are included which ultimately determines the direction of the design. Not only listening to your clients’ needs but working hand in hand from the first draft is crucial when expanding your business. We are now in a fortunate position where our quality of work has enhanced our reputation of unsurpassed quality which ultimately lead to an increase in orders”.