A look at the balance between cost and reliability and why spending more often leads to savings in the long run.

High pressure, high flow pumps require considerable energy input in order to deliver the demands of each application, be that in the mining or the steel industry. Increasing energy prices continue to apply additional pressure to these industries and so the manufacturers of these systems are developing more efficient control systems such as ODIN which has been designed and implemented by RMI Pressure Systems.

Mine safety, whether above or below ground, is the highest priority for all operators and maintaining a high standard requires considerable effort from all parties involved. This includes the manufacturers of equipment that forms part of the safety apparatus, requiring them to meet stringent performance criteria and successfully complete extended periods of testing.

There are few industries as potentially dangerous as underground mining where safety systems must be built and maintained to the highest standards. Market pressures demand that the productivity and efficiency of mines continue to increase, which puts increasing pressures on technology to improve safety equipment.

The technology involved in coal mining around the world has advanced a great deal over the years, especially in terms of improving the health and safety of the miners. At the same time mining efficiency and production rates have also improved. These advancements have been made possible, in part, by the increasing use of high pressure pumping systems that power the critical roof support systems and allow the vast array of very expensive equipment to be recovered once a mine has been exhausted.

RMI Pressure Systems has taken a major step forward in expanding its support of the Chinese mining market by achieving a 5 year mining approval certificate for its complete product range, including the pump control system. The company has now been issued with the certificates, concluding an extended process which included detailed examinations of both the products and the production facilities.

As China aims to improve its coal mine safety record, it is investing in new, large-scale mining operations with modern equipment, while also improving the safety and productivity of the medium sized enterprises. In order to assist this initiative, RMI has launched a range of high pressure pump stations which are designed to provide a cost effective pumping system; predominantly used for powering the roof support systems.

The use of high pressure pumps, up to 1,000 bar, is widely seen in a variety of industries, including mining, steel production and oil & gas, each of which presents its own set of challenges. In industries such as these, where production losses during unplanned downtime can be astronomical, reliability is crucial. OE manufacturer innovation is therefore essential in order to reduce costs associated with maintenance and operation. Lee Derbyshire, Engineering Manager at RMI Pressure Systems, offers an insight into the design of the latest Quinmax S500 pumping system.