Original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) Weir Minerals’ extensive experience allows it to comprehend clients’ processes, needs and operational hurdles to design solutions that enhance processing efficiency and reduce total cost of ownership.

Referring to products like the company’s Envirotech centrifugal pumps, Cavex hydrocyclones, Multiflo dewatering pumps, chemical pumps, Warman mill circuit pumps and Isogate valves, among others, West Africa regional manager Andrew Ayirebi says that the company has a large team of engineers who provide significant in-house capacity to support engineered-to-order (ETO) requirements.

“Weir Minerals products have been developed to perform in some of the harshest environments at our customers sites. For example, our pumps are built to the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) standards that regulate pumps, and we test performance against the same specifications and standards.”

This means that Weir Minerals applies quality processes which include methodologies like process controls, inspections, nonconformance reporting, quality assurance audits and quality performance reporting.

“We are very particular, and observe all the quality management systems for ISO9001, as well as adherence to environmental responsibility including management system ISO14001 and compliance to occupational health and safety standards per ISO45001,” Ayirebi says, highlighting that, as a “world-class” company, Weir Minerals endeavours to ensure that it does not deviate from local regulations and/or international standards.

According to Ayirebi, the company provides insights and guidance on pump and process-related issues to its active customers in West Africa. This support makes it easier for project managers to anticipate and prevent technical challenges that may arise.

Weir Minerals Africa’s top-notch foundry facility in South Africa’s Isando area is one of Weir Minerals’ technology hubs for several pump brands, including the Warman DWU and Envirotech range. As a result, it can export significant volumes of equipment to sister companies throughout the rest of Africa, and worldwide.

“We understand each customer is different. Our product designs and materials therefore allow for flexibility to suit individual customer site process applications, meeting their specific needs. We have a very strong and robust production capacity and facilities which meet West African demand at large, and we continue to grow in that respect,” Ayirebi says.

Ghana remains a central part of the service and product support staff network cluster in West Africa. Senegal, meanwhile, has a fully-fledged office with a Country Manager, Process and Application Engineers and roaming Service Technician based in Mali.

Weir Minerals also has representation in the Ivory Coast and Nigeria, looking after other countries in the region bringing its presence closer to customer operations in the sub-region.