Pioneer Pump launch new dewatering sets

Company introduce new high-pressure pumpsets for specialist pump rental market

PIONEER Pump have launched their new 300–600hp mine dewatering sets complete with the company’s ‘Rock & Rain’ weather-protection system, for use in the specialist high-pressure pump rental markets.

The common-designed pumpsets are powered by Caterpillar C9–C18 (225kW–475kW) engines, allowing them to offer maximum flows in excess of 1,000 cubic metres per hour (275 litres/s or 4,400 US gal/min) and pressures in excess of 23 bar (230m or 750ft), and making them the highest-performing dry-prime engine-driven pumpsets on the market.

For overall efficiency at a time of high fuel prices, the pump designs have been optimized to run at 1,800 rev/min, thereby minimizing power peaks and fuel burn in the new Tier IIIb/IV engines.

For convenience, the pumpsets can be converted from skid to trailer in less than an hour. Through the use of an integrated skid, the axles complete with an A-frame tow hitch can be mounted directly to the skid allowing the set to be pulled behind a front-end loader or bulldozer.

Moreover, the pumpsets are less than 4m in length, allowing Pioneer to ship up to three complete sets anywhere in the world inside a standard 40ft Hi-Cube container, thereby significantly reducing shipping costs to the rental companies.

Options include the availability of a suction hose crane that provides up to a 6m reach in front of the pumpset, as well as safety cages for operator protection.

Paul Skippins, operations manager for Pioneer Pump in the UK, said: ‘We undertook an in-depth research programme with the help of our global mining customers to attempt to integrate as many of their wishes as possible into one mining set.

‘The 1,000-litre fuel tank design allows us to mount a 6x4 with a 225kW engine capable of 230m head on the same base as a 10x8 which is capable of over 1,000 cubic metres per hour using a 475kW Cat C18 ACERT engine, giving us and the customer huge flexibility.

‘This flexibility allows us to build stock bases, and with a growing number of Cat engines being held in our stock we can often deliver these pumpsets in less than six weeks, and in the case of the 9-litre units, from our current stock.’