MechChem Africa March-April 2021

Grindex: for long lasting pumping solutions Jordan Marsh, the recently appointed national sales manager for Integrated Pump Technology, talks about the company’s geographic footprint, the operating philosophy of its distributor base and some of the reasons why Grindex Pumps have become a preferred solution for mining applications across South and sub-Saharan Africa.

O riginallyestablishedas theofficial distributor for Grindex Pumps in sub-Saharan Africa in 2014, Integrated Pump Technology nowhas a large installed base across all of the mining regions of sub-SaharanAfrica. “On the Grindex range, our focus is on mine drainage and slurry applications, inSouthAfrica aswell as northof our borders,” begins the company’s new national sales manager, Jordan Marsh, who was appointed to the role on January 1, 2021. A key aspect to this growth is the

company’s distribution philosophy, which strives tomaximise the local support available to operators of its pumps: “Since 2014, we have been developing a skills-based distribu- tor network. This involves putting pumping specialists into all majormining areas, people whoareable to support ourmining customers via a local andaccessiblehub,”Marshexplains. “Technically trained sales representatives with knowledge of the local people, problems and needs are chosen to deliver our offering on a best fit for purpose basis,” he continues.

“From our premises in Jet Park, near the OR Tambo Airport in South Africa, we then offer higher-level support to ensure that each lo- cal distributor is able to deliver local backup, maintenance and technical service support at the levels needed by mine operators. We strive to empower each distributor to pro- vide a rapid after sales service response so as to keep our Grindex pumps delivering as requiredandpreferredby everyonewhouses them,” he adds. Members of the distributor network sign agreements with Integrated Pump Technology year on year which specify the services that will be offered locally and the support each distributor can expect from the Jet Park facility. “We prefer our pumps to be serviced and repaired locally, so we strive to find distributors with repair workshops and a test bay, so the pumps can be looked after properly, repaired and refurbished to the original specifications and tested to maintain the high standards expected of the Grindex brand. “We also keep exceptionally high stocking levels of all wear parts and spares for every pump inour range, whichusuallyenables us to deliver toour distributors onanext daybasis,” Marsh tells MechChem Africa. “There are always some repairs that are too large or complex to be handled in smaller workshops, though, so we make our large workshophere inJet Parkavailable for any re- pair that cannot be completed locally. As well as being able to repair the full Grindex range, we can service almost anyother pumpbrands, including all other high-end Swedish pumps. Marsh assures that Integrated Pump Technology’sGrindexdistributors are compli- ant with B-BBEE initiatives and committed to conforming with the current localisation requirementsof theMiningCharter. “Wehave also initiatedonsitepump and technical train- ing for our distributors and for endusers. This includes routine operation and maintenance requirements as well as the local refurbish- ment of worn pumps. “We see this as part of our responsibility to transfer skills to local people and to raise their employment prospects. Many of the pumps in mines are not being used very effectively, and by pointing out how this can be improved

A Grindex Bravo being installed on a mine.

12 ¦ MechChem Africa • March-April 2021