MechChem Africa July-August 2025

⎪ Water, wastewater and pumping solutions ⎪ MDX Pumps: a leap forward in mill duty pumping This article from KSB Pumps and Valves outlines the design strides that have been taken since KSB’s MDX mill duty pump was first introduced in 2008.

ticipated in 2025 to enhance the hydraulics of smaller pumps in the 100 to 350 range.

Additional upgrades In 2018, the first RAMSL (Remotely Adjusted Mechanical Suction Liner) was installed, revo lutionising the adjustment of impeller nose clearance by enhancing wear performance and reducing maintenance time. This was followed by the installation of the first SLYsight in 2021, an advanced slurry pump wear monitoring system that uses sensors to provide real-time data on pump wear, optimising maintenance schedules and extending pump life. These features have enhanced the main tenance-friendly aspects of the MDX range, allowing for real-time data collection on pump operation, wear and nose clearance settings. This data, previously requiring planned main tenance shutdowns, can now be collected in real time, providing operators with new tools to optimise equipment uptime. Future advances Looking ahead, KSB GIW is leveraging its world-class foundry capabilities to meet the market demand for larger mill duty pumps. The development of the MDX 850 will take full advantage of this expanded foundry capacity. Additionally, the new KSB IoT and Automation Lab in Grovetown, Georgia, USA, will accelerate the development of digital products. Plans include a handheld version of SLYsight and a user dashboard for on-demand data to optimise equipment performance. These initiatives will introduce exciting new features to the market, ensuring the MDX product line remains ahead of the curve and continues to offer best-in-class performance. www.ksb.com/en-za

KSB’s GIW MDX pump has consistently evolved to meet the changing needs of mill-circuit applications. This pump is designed with the latest technology from GIW to deliver superior wear properties and extremely long service life while handling aggressive slurries.

I n 2008, the KSB GIW ® MDX pump repre sented a major leap forward in mill duty applications. Before its introduction, KSB's range of GIW ® slurry pumps had already built a solid reputation in the industry. Nevertheless, the MDX was meticulously designed from the ground up as a world-class mill pump for cyclone feed applications. It incorporates cutting-edge features such as an adjustable suction liner, thicker sections for improved wear life, and oversized shrouds for superior performance. Within five years of its launch, major mines began specifying the MDX pump for new facili ties and expansions. The MDX has consistently outperformed other pumps, often two to four times in certain cases. As a result, many cus tomers have standardised on the MDX for their cyclone feed applications, praising it for its best-in-class wear performance and ease of maintenance. The adjustable suction liner, which allows for nose gap adjustments while the pump is running, has been particularly lauded. Significant advancements KSB GIW has remained closely engaged with customers, using their feedback to continuously improve the MDX design since its introduction to the market. • In 2009, the introduction of Endurasite ® and Enduraclad ® materials provided addi tional paths to enhance wear performance.

• By 2011, full pump lift capabilities were introduced even for the largest MDX 750 pumps. • The modular wet end introduced in 2012 reduced the time required to replace a complete pump wet end. • By 2014, further hydraulic improvements were made, including adding 35% more wear material to the impeller nose and optimising casing thicknesses. These advancements harmonised the wear life of all key wet-end components, creat ing a consistent hydraulic design approach for larger models from the MDX 400 to the MDX 750. Additional design advancements are an

SLYsight is a slurry pump wear monitoring system that provides real-time data on pump wear.

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