To address several challenges associated with mining in Africa and pumps applications, Germany-based technology company NETZSCH Southern Africa is implementing a growth strategy that includes opening an office in East and West Africa last year and this year respectively.

The company also plans to open another office in Central Africa later this year.

Further, as of September this year, it will expand its local presence to a larger facility, increasing its assembly area by 200%.

The new assembly plant will enable NETZSCH to continue providing value in the areas of delivery, availability and costs, particularly for customers in the mining industry.

The challenges for the company in the South African mining market are high costs, the delivery of products to customers, and the ability to “connect directly with the customer to create value”, says NETZSCH Southern Africa MD Eden McGee.

The company has noted an increase in enquiries related to products for the gold, copper and cobalt sectors.

“In terms of costs, we have realised that localisation offers an advantage for us and our customers. Since 2018, we have been implementing a local assembly programme to improve delivery times and availability of our products,” he adds.

Further, the company will launch a new product later this year – a digitally interfaced pump used in the mixing and dispensing of explosive emulsion.

“This product really pushed this specific application forward in terms of innovation,” says McGee, who is positive about the timely launch of this product amid the local mining sector’s challenges regarding costs, scarcity and availability of power, as well as digital integration.

However, this provides an opportunity for end-users and the whole supply chain to provide innovative solutions for these complex challenges, he enthuses.

NETZSCH Southern Africa’s Nemo pumps product range “has defined itself”, with proven excellence in mining in applications centred around reagents, flocculants and dosing.

Further, as mines encounter challenges with underground water that contains solids, the company’s dewatering solutions are also starting to “gain traction”.

“The addition of the Peripro peristaltic pump product offering now gives our customers the added advantage of NETZSCH quality when they are looking for a hose/peristaltic pump,” he says.

McGee stresses that mines in Africa face scarcity in terms of services and resources.

As a result, NETZSCH’s product innovation focuses on the provision of energy efficient pumping products that can deal with complex fluids.

“We are also seeing a trend towards dewatering applications as mines go deeper, specifically pumps that transport dirty water from below the surface, to the surface.

“There is a serious commitment from the industry to improve its environmental impact, so the push is for pump products to convey higher viscosities containing less water while consuming less power in pumping the medium.”

McGee affirms that, for this reason, the company’s pumping systems are “an ideal fit”, as the mining industry requires digitally integrated products that NETZSCH can provide.

The company’s most significant growth opportunities lie in its ability to provide customers with expert knowledge in dealing with complex fluids using positive displacement pumps.