Stormill’s expertise, capacity underpins FLSmidth’s KREBS brand

FLSmidth has an installed base of over 4 000 units of KREBS pump, cyclone and valve equipment in its Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and South Asia (SSAMESA) region alone. Its world class Stormill facility in South Africa keeps this technology running, growing and evolving.

FLSmidth’s pure play mining strategy sees the regions taking these solutions to the market, supported by resources in countries across the globe.

Deon de Kock, FLSmidth’s President for SSAMESA, highlights the Stormill plant’s key role in the success of the KREBS range – not just in the region but globally. The facility conducts remanufacturing, rebuilding and product assembly, as well as service exchange and testing.

It also stores a large inventory of stock worth over R250-million, ensuring quick lead times for spares and components. Aligned with FLSmidth’s CORE’26 strategy, the ongoing technological improvements focus on achieving a sustainable future by prioritising efficiency.

According to Stephan Kruger, Vice President Pumps, Cyclones & Valves at FLSmidth, the KREBS range undergoes continuous innovation through a large variety of research and development projects.

“In the KREBS centrifugal and slurry pumps, for instance, our developments include the patented wear ring technology,” he says. “This eliminates grinding and reduces recirculation – boosting pump life and saving on energy.”

Users can save up to 10% of energy consumed, and the wet end components of the pump can have their life extended by 50 to 100%. By needing to be replaced less often, there is the added benefit of less scrap being generated.

In the KREBS cyclone range, he notes that the gMAX hydrocyclone outlasts competitor products. With its enhanced inlet head geometry and best-in-class material options, it achieves sharper separation and reduces coarse bypass solids in the overflow.

“This gives customers better recoveries and reduces their risk of unscheduled downtime due to maintenance,” he explains. “Smart technology allows accurate remote monitoring of performance, which has saved customers up to $250 000 per million tonnes produced.”

In the valve range, he highlights the KREBS Technequip knife gate slurry valve as a premium heavy duty product. A bi-directional slurry valve with full flanged body and rubber sleeves provides a reliable seal and eliminates downstream leakage.

“As with our KREBS pumps and cyclones, we offer our valves in a wide selection of materials from high chrome alloys to stainless steel,” he says. “Our exciting designs also include the incorporation of elastomers, ranging from natural rubbers, polyurethane and neoprene.”

The performance and monitoring of the large installed base of KREBS equipment is vital in FLSmidth’s pioneering of improved technologies, adds Kruger. “We can gather real time information from our installation sites, and this guides the focus of our product development,” he says.