SA pumps power Iraqi water project
6 May 2008
APE Pumps, a member of the industrial engineering group PSV Holdings, has completed the second of two orders worth a total of R30-million, to supply four giant water pumps to a water project in Iraq.
In a statement last month, PSV said the order was for similar machinery to that previously supplied to the same project, located approximately 100 kilometres southwest of Baghdad, in 2005.
The project comprises the multi-billion US-dollar rehabilitation of existing canals and pumphouses, which deliver water to nearby populated centres.
According to PSV Holdings, the four newest pumps are the biggest yet manufactured by Germiston-based APE, while the latest order consists of a 1 600mm (42-inch) single-stage vertical turbine pump.
"With the recent acquisition of APE Pumps, PSV Holdings now has an expanded engineering capability, able to benefit from contracts such as these," said PSV Holdings' chief executive Abie da Silva, adding that APE was a market leader in South Africa of vertical turbine designs and manufacture.
Da Silva said that getting a repeat order from the project demonstrated the importance of an original equipment manufacturer within the group, with APE's current order book standing at R25-million and rising.
APE's vertical turbine pumps are needed to replace obsolete machines within a key existing pumphouse, and were designed to fit existing sumps and foundations, and to align with original pipes.
The order for the fourth vertical turbine pump was placed with APE Pumps by Washington International Incorporated, a USA-based project management company, and includes a motor supply and a comprehensive set of spare parts.
When fitted with its 1 300kW, electric motor, the pump measures almost 20 metres in length, and weighs 36 tons, and is set to pump 3 800 litres of water per second.
Apart from the casing, the pump is constructed of stainless steel throughout to combat the corrosive attack by water pumped at the high Iraqi ambient temperatures of around 50 degrees Celsius.
"Before shipping early in May, witness performance tests will be carried out on the pump at the South African Bureau of Standards facility in Pretoria," the statement read. "The motor will then be removed and the two machines shipped as separate, but complete assemblies from South Africa to the port of Umm Qasr in Iraq."
The pump will then be transported to the site by road.
SAinfo reporter
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