A local pump expert, Southern Pumping, has joined forces with an international manufacturer to bring the latest technology to Australian shores.
Water plays an important role in quarrying, being used in both the extraction and processing phases. However, when there is too much water, it can cause all sorts of headaches for quarry operators.
Southern Pumping director Michael Wallace told Quarry that water is always a challenge, and that quarries have unique requirements when it comes to managing it.
“The desire of any quarry manager would be to not need a pump at all, but that’s impossible,” he said. “Water is used in a lot of processes, like grading or washing.”
“In heavy industries like quarrying, you’re often dealing with slurries and heavy mediums that are abrasive.
“Quarries are looking for more efficient ways to move more water with less energy and space requirements.”
This is why Southern Pumping has teamed up with Franklin Electric’s Orbit Pumps through a new national distribution and service partnership.
As part of this strategic alliance, Southern Pumping will begin distributing Orbit’s VIGA range of pumps – a compact, high-efficiency helical rotor pump series engineered for maximum performance in industries where uptime and reliability are critical.
The new VIGA range is designed for space-constrained sites, challenging fluids, and applications that demand long service life and minimal maintenance.
Thanks to an extended pitch rotor design, the VIGA pumps can achieve up to 60 per cent more flow per revolution. They also have lower starting torque, which enables the use of smaller motors to reduce power costs.
The pumps have been designed with a small footprint in mind, ideal for skid systems and space-limited pump rooms. A standard mechanical seal and universal coupling rod help enhance leak prevention.
Maintenance is minimised thanks to a pre-assembled rotating assembly, which allows for rapid changes in spare parts.
“VIGA is compact, tough, and designed for real-world conditions,” Wallace said. “Its low power requirement and quick-swap rotating assemblies mean it’s not just easier to run, it’s easier to keep running.
“We have around 35 years of experience working with Orbit products. This is a technical range of pumps with many variations. We’re excited to have the opportunity to represent the brand in an agile way, particularly when it comes to service and spare parts.”
Southern expertise
Southern Pumping is an Australian-owned pump specialist based in New South Wales. The company offers expert design, system integration, commissioning and support for tier one mining businesses and quarries.
As the Australian distributor, the company provides customers with rapid access to pumps and spares, even for the most remote sites.
Wallace said that service is everything for Southern Pumping.
“Service is more than just the machining and providing spare parts,” he said. “Service is about keeping response times low for our customers.”
“We encourage a culture of continual improvement and listen to our customers’ concerns to ensure they get the support they need within a given period of time.
“Whether that’s distributing orders within a certain timeframe or pulling out all the stops to make sure an urgently needed component can reach a client in time.”
To ensure its Australian customers get the support they need, Southern Pumping’s field service team offers on-site commissioning and maintenance.
It can also assist customers with redundancy planning. Orbit drive trains and assemblies are kept in stock for emergency replacement if needed.
Wallace said the future looks bright for the business as it moves into an original equipment manufacturer model.
“We’re already working with major mine sites on pump upgrades, using VIGA’s compact size and efficiency to reduce infrastructure costs while increasing throughput,” Wallace said.
“Orbit and Southern Pumping share a vision: resilient infrastructure, smarter engineering, and support you can count on. Together, we’re making next-generation pump systems available nationwide.”•
For more information, visit southernpumping.com.au
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