Impressive growth in South Africa for peristaltic pump market

Peristaltic pump specialist, Watson-Marlow Pumps Group (UK) is reporting significant growth in the South African water industry, as demand increases for the precise dosing capabilities of its peristaltic technology.

The peristaltic pump market’s growth in South Africa is heartening news. Despite the challenging market conditions, continued economic growth is being observed in this region. The South African uptake of peristaltic pumps, from major water companies like Rand Water, reflects a global trend towards technology that allows for precise and reliable dosing. To date, Rand Water has purchased 32 pumps from Watson-Marlow, with potential for at least another 50 pumps to be ordered in the next two years. In addition, the company is also expecting its first order for sixteen 620Bp Profibus enabled pumps. Once commissioned, the pumps will be used for poly electrolyte dosing duties.

Nico van Schalkwyk for Watson-Marlow Bredel SA, comments: “Companies that might, in the past, have installed progressive cavity, centrifugal and double diaphragm pumps are instead opting for peristaltic technology. The South African market is increasingly recognising that peristaltic pumps deliver unrivalled levels of accuracy, reliability and control, even when dosing corrosive chemicals like ferric chloride.”

Watson-Marlow began supplying Rand Water with peristaltic pumps in 2006. Rand Water is the bulk water supplier to South Africa’s Gauteng region, the country’s largest industrial hub, which includes Johannesburg. The company delivers 3,400 million litres a day of high quality potable water to local authorities, large industries and mines over an area of 30,000 km². The company’s Zuikerbosch plant is one of the largest purification plants in the Southern Hemisphere, drawing its water from the Vaal Dam.

Following an initial order to Watson-Marlow for two SPX32 pumps for silica dosing, Rand Water has since installed three SPX 50s for lime slurry and an SPX65 for silica. A R1 million tender for 17 SPX pumps – ranging in capacity from SPX50 to SPX100 – was awarded in January 2007.

Furthermore, a 520 pump was placed on trial for ferric chloride dosing at the plant. Its success ousted other opposition pumps in April 2007, with a further promise that tenders for the replacement of the existing 70 ferric dosing pumps will be issued as and when needed. In fact, Rand Water is set to standardise use of Watson-Marlow pumps in its operations – even to the extent of specifying them on tender documents.

‘Bossie’ Bosman, Executive Manager at Rand Water Zuikerbosch, comments: “When it comes to reliability and accuracy, Watson-Marlow’s SPX hose pumps are the most efficient we have ever had for lime dosing applications. They require very little maintenance, but if we do need service, we get total commitment from the Watson-Marlow Bredel SA team.”