Pumps manufacturer Verder Pumps South Africa (VPSA) will exhibit the full range of its products at Electra Mining Botswana, which takes place at the Gaborone Fairgrounds, from September 3 to 5.

VPSA marketing manager Laetitia Möller states that, traditionally, Electra Mining Africa is one of the biggest mining exhibitions in the world.

“We regard it as a good networking opportunity, as it attracts a broad range of decision-makers in the company’s target market. We believe that the trade show will enable us to have time with some of our existing African customers and also give us an opportunity to meet with other prospective clients in the African market,” she says.

The company believes that the market still values personal interaction, despite the boom in technology, and that business is based on mutually beneficial partnerships that are initiated through events such as Electra Mining Botswana.
“We hope to open doors and communication channels with our existing and future stakeholders in Africa,” she says.

Meanwhile, Möller explains that the mining industry is still one of the major driving forces behind the development and sustainability of the African economy.

“With the world economy slowly starting to recover, the demand for commodities increases and so does the need for infrastructure and technology. The African context is slightly different from other contexts anywhere else in the world – in terms of infrastructure, communication and infor- mation exchange, it is not always easy for us to attract our target market,” she states.

She points out that events, such as Electra Mining Botswana, create a platform for suppliers to showcase their latest technology and for industry players to acquire information about the available technology to ensure that the African mining industry performs on par with its counterparts worldwide.

Company Offerings

Möller notes that VPSA’s range of durable industrial pumps can assist in various applications.

“The range includes Verderflex peristaltic hose and tube pumps, Verdermag magnetic-drive centrifugal pumps, Verderair air-operated double-diaphragm pumps and Verderhus screw channel pumps,” she says.

She adds that the Verderhus pump is the latest addition to VPSA’s range of industrial pumps and assists with challenges such as pumping thick and polluted fluids.

“The development of the Verderhus pump was driven by high efficiency and low operation cost. “After extensive testing in various applica- tions in South Africa, the pump design was enhanced to suit the harsh African mining conditions,” explains Möller.

She points out that the test results also indicated cost savings in terms of energy consumption and maintenance, owing to the pump’s hydraulic design and the pump having fewer wearing parts compared with other pumps.

“This is not the first pump of its kind in Southern Africa, but, unlike comparable market offerings, the Verderhus screw channel pump has no clogging, owing to its unique impeller design,” she states.

Möller further explains that the impeller is shaped like a corkscrew, giving it a semi-axial pumping action.

“The special impeller ensures high efficiency and a wide passage and outlet, even when pumping thicker fluids. The cone form of this pump ensures a blockage-free operation, minimises the power consumption and, therefore, the electricity bill, when pumping liquids containing solids, as well as sludge and slurry,” she notes.

Challenging Environment

The African Development Bank has identified three major obstacles in the African mining industry – the low rates of industrialisation, overdependence on the mining sector and factors not pertaining to, but impacting on mining.

“Low industrialisation of the industry is a major challenge. “Africa is underexplored and most minerals are exported without being processed, reducing potential income from value added by processing,” Möller says.

She adds that dependency on metal and mineral products is hampering several economies.

“Some African countries generate 75% of their export income from mineral products, which makes them vulnerable to external global economic tremors,

” she concludes.