Roto Pumps’ service program provides a blueprint for managing equipment troubles without wasting precious hours.
With many Western Australian mine sites situated in far flung and isolated locations, working off the map can often equate to being cut-off from timely assistance.
This inaccessibility can be a major hindrance for managers seeking to get operations back on track by quickly overcoming machinery downtime.
However, being far removed doesn’t mean sites should be detached from essential equipment support.
That rationale is the driver behind Roto Pumps’ ever-expanding presence, especially within WA.
The underground dewatering helical rotor manufacturer has set up a facility in Perth to cater to its clients’ ever-changing pumping needs immediately and efficiently.
“When equipment fails, a rapid response is expected, particularly from customers working on remote mine sites,” Roto Pumps Western Australia territory manager Graeme Martin told Mining.
“Having stock and repair facilities in (WA’s capital) can reduce response times by over a week compared to (sending) products from the east coast.”
Having a dedicated, strategically located facility is not the only asset propelling Roto Pumps’ standing in the industry, it’s also the company’s ability to foresee customer requirements.
Roto Pumps ensures its facilities are appropriately equipped with various models depending on the profile of its local client-base.
“Having the right stock locally can give mine sites the assurance they need when choosing our products,” Martin said.
This ‘you need it, you get it’ approach is a key cornerstone of the manufacturer’s service exchange program – which ensures the company’s relationship with mine operators doesn’t simply end when the transaction is complete.
Rather, it continues during a pump’s operating life and beyond its expiration.
“Many things can go wrong with underground pumping equipment, and it is not uncommon to have more than one failure at a time, which can build to a critical level over time,” Martin said.
“Having equipment in stock rather than needing to wait six weeks for a pump repair can make a huge difference to a mining operation.
“Our service exchange program sees our customers return their existing pump for assessment and a rebuild, and once done, this pump joins our fleet of units available for fast response breakdowns.”
So how is this program benefitting the industry?
According to Martin, the typical repair process can involve lengthy lead times from subcontractors which, depending on their work loads, can result in a significant delay to operations.
“Our aim is to eliminate these unforeseen issues by offering pumps ex-stock, which means the pumps are available straight away,” Martin said.
“This process can also reduce the requirement for mine sites to keep stand-by pumps on-site to ensure their processes are not interrupted, leading to significant cost savings. Ultimately, we offer quicker turnaround times, and cost competitiveness without compromising on quality.”
As an original equipment manufacturer, the company oversees its own destiny, which also has a more practical translation – one that sets Roto Pumps apart from competitors.
“We’ve been manufacturing pumps for over 50 years, with our in-house processes allowing us to consistently create high-quality products,” Martin said.
“Our manufacturing capability means we can boost our inventory to suit all requirements at a lower cost, without passing this onto our customers.”
Roto Pumps’ overarching strategy underpins one prevailing outcome.
“Peace of mind,” Martin said.
“We would encourage any operators who are not happy with their current level of service regarding their underground dewatering helical rotor pumps to give us a call to discuss how we can help improve their operations,” he said.
“In this market, offering exceptional service is the key to success.”
This article appeared in the Winter edition of Mining Magazine.
