KSB launches revolutionary Imvubu wastewater pump KSB’s ELN-150 Imvubu is a new wastewater pump with a ‘mouth’ large enough to pass 77.3 mm solids, achieving a hydraulic efficiency of 65%. Designed, developed and manufactured by KSB Pumps and Valves in South Africa, this new pump uses the best available global technology and optimises it for the harsh conditions of Africa.
word for hippopotamus, the name carries a double meaning, referring to its distinctive top-mounted lifting ‘ears’ that mimic its profile in water. At the same time, its massive free-pass mouth and formidable strength mirror the ex- ceptional solids handling ability that swallows up oversized waste, attesting to the toughness and power of its design. KSB Pumps and Valves product manager for wastewater, Hugo du Plessis, says the KSB Imvubu is the result of years of development, which measured the strengths and limitations
of earlier self-priming pumps used in municipal wastewater networks across Southern Africa. During this time, KSB Pumps and Valves' engi- neering team worked closely with municipali- ties and industry operators to understand the realities they face daily, including clogging, solids carry-over,complexmaintenance,pumpfailures in remote areas and the need for equipment that is easy to service in places where skills are often scarce and uptime is critical to prevent spills. “We live in South Africa and can see the challenges of dealing with sewerage and waste- water. We also listened to the market, where customers told us exactly where the problems lie in terms of pump clogging, difficult seal re - placement, thin casings that wear quickly and designs that do not stand up to raw, unscreened sewage. This culminated in the development of the KSB Imvubu pump, which addresses the market’s needs. It is proudly designed and manufactured in South Africa and takes the best global technology and optimises it for African conditions,” says du Plessis. He explains that the KSB Imvubu pump was developed using advanced CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) modelling and efficiency rede - signs of the impeller, volute and hydraulic pas- sageways. The result is significantly improved pumping performance, now reaching more than 65% hydraulic efficiency, which places it well ahead of competitor self-priming pumps cur- rently in service. Critically, the pump achieves a 77.3 mm free-pass solids handling capability exceeding the global raw sewage benchmark of 76 mm. In real-world operation, that 1.3 mm can be the difference between uninterrupted pumping and a costly blockage. “The free pass is what sets us apart. It is market-leading, which means that if a pump can pass a larger 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 cham- bers, top-up checks, and a risk of contamination, the KSB Imvubu pump utilises 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. Its smart design includes
K SB has officially launched the KSB ELN-150 Imvubu, a rugged new self-priming wastewater pump de- veloped and built in South Africa specifically for African operating conditions. Named after the Imvubu, which is the Zulu KSB Pumps and Valves product manager for wastewater, Hugo du Plessis.
The market-leading impeller design enables the Imvubu pump to pass a larger solid (77.3 mm) than any of its competitors in the wastewater sector.
The new South African-designed and manufactured KSB ELN-150 Imvubu pump is a breakthrough in wastewater handling in South Africa.
10 ¦ MechChem Africa • November-December 2025
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease