MechChem Africa November-December 2023

KSB: SA’s preferred API 610 pump provider MechChem Africa talks to Stefano Testi, who has a 27-year history with KSB Pumps and Valves in South Africa, and Casper Steenkamp, KSB’s Secunda branch manager, about the company’s preferred provider status in South Africa for API 610 pumps, mainly for the petrochemical market but also for applications in the chemical and energy markets.

“M ost of our new busi ness is currently coming from the petrochemical industry, where Sasol is a key customer for our API 610 pump range,” begins Stefano Testi, project sales for the petrochemical and energy sectors. “As their preferred API 610 pump supplier, at KSB we are very heavily reliant on Sasol, where there has been an increase in the number of new local projects, and which is really good news for us,” he continues. KSB, he says, is in a fortunate position with respect to API 610 pumps, which are typically used for pumping hydrocarbons, often at high temperatures, or dangerous substances such as ammonium nitrate. “There are also applica tions that involve high temperature water or high pressure and temperature requirements, such as at Concentrated Solar Power installa tions. Mostly, though, API 610 pumps are used for hydrocarbon applications at refineries,” he explains. “We are currently supplying our KSB API 610 type OH2 pumps for a number of projects in the Sasol stable, and expect this to continue. There was a time when the Petrochemical Market was booming, so we also have a sub stantial installed base, mostly with Sasol, but also in the remaining refineries.” Describing the API 610 specification for this pump design, Testi says the Type OH2, which makes up some 90% of all API 610

The specification for the Type OH2 pump makes up some 90% of all API 610 business for KSB in South Africa.

KSB Group companies around the world,” he says, adding that the company’s preference is always to manufacture the pumps locally when possible. “We are the only company in South Africa that can locally produce the OH2 design pumps. Competitors can import them and they will perhaps add a motor, coupling and a locally manufactured base plate, but we alone have the ability and capacity to fully manufac

business for KSB in South Africa, is an end suction, vertical discharge, radially split process pump. “We have the option to fully manufacture these pumps locally in South Africa, and have patterns for the majority of the range, which include the casings, covers, impellers and bearing brackets. Where the logistics make sense, however, we can also import components for local assembly, or fully made up pumps from one of a number of

KSB South Africa enjoys preferred provider status for API 610 pumps, mainly for the petrochemical market but also for applications in the chemical and energy markets.

6 ¦ MechChem Africa • November-December 2023