apart. It is market leading and equates to the fact that if a pump can pass a bigger solid it will clog less. It is that simple and less clogging means less callouts, less downtime and less cost.” In addition, the KSB Imvubu features bearings-for-life with no
oil lubrication required. Unlike competing pumps that require oil chambers, top-up checks and contamination risk, the KSB Imvubu pump uses grease-for-life bearings and KSB’s own mechanical seal which is lubricated by the pumped medium itself. This makes the pump environmentally cleaner, safer to maintain and significantly simpler to service. The pump body is also cast with thick, heavy-duty volute walls to resist erosion and extend operating life, while its smart design includes an inspection hatch that allows staff to clear blockages without removing the suction cover which is a major advantage for treatment plant technicians and municipal maintenance teams. “We know that South Africa’s wastewater infrastructure is under immense strain with limited resources and ever-rising sewage volumes which means equipment must be robust and easy to service to ensure its longevity. These are exactly the issues we have considered and served as guiding principles for our Imvubu pump and our design directly addresses the problems encountered in the field. We have made this pump for Africa and that is why we made it to be maintained using basic tools and why it can be speed-adjusted using simple pulley changes. It can also do the job of two pumps simply by moving from low to high heads and low to high flows easily with no need for a second pump. It can even be mounted on diesel skids for remote pumping or flood emergency use. It is versatile, strong and practical,” says Hugo. Applications extend beyond municipal wastewater to mining sumps, industrial effluent, pulp and paper, agricultural waste dams, river abstraction and portable dewatering units. The pump has already proven itself during extended testing at the Drakenstein Wastewater Treatment Works in the Western Cape where it has operated continuously with excellent results. Because the KSB Imvubu pump is 100% locally manufactured, it aligns strongly with the Department of Trade and Industry’s localisation incentives supporting South African industry and local employment. It also positions KSB Pumps and Valves as a major contributor in the export of high value engineered products into Sub-Saharan Africa and other regions where similarly robust and versatile pumps are required. “This is a pump we are proud to build in South Africa as it keeps our people employed and shows that we can compete and lead international brands. We like to think that we do not follow, we leapfrog. Our Imvubu pump is a direct answer for many of the failures making national headlines and the timing in this period of regeneration could not be more significant. Municipalities and utilities urgently need equipment that can keep working away with minimum attention and maintenance to clear the backlog – and we are proud to say the answer is the KSB Imvubu,” Hugo concludes. Operating characteristics • Max Flow: 429.4m³/h • Max Head: 47.6m
The new locally designed and manufactured KSB ELN-150 Imvubu pump is a breakthrough in wastewater handling in South Africa.
• Suction Size: 150NB (6”) • Discharge Size: 150NB (6”) • Solids Handling: 77.3mm • BEP Flow: 305m³/h • BEP Head: 33m • BEP ŋ: 65% • Temperature: up to 80°C n
The new KSB ELN-150 is also known as the Imvubu or hippo pump due to its unique lifting “ears” which give it a resemblance to the animal.
DECEMBER 2025 - JANUARY 2026 | www.modernminingmagazine.co.za MODERN MINING 47
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