Summary
An Australian mining company has achieved savings of an estimated AU$240,000 (US$168,000) over three years following the installation of an AESSEAL® TPDS™ heavy duty mechanical seal.
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With Murray Christou
Could you explain why the existing seals were failing, and how AESSEAL’s solution was the right one?
The competitor’s seal could not handle the pressures and would start leaking within weeks of being installed.
Was it immediately obvious that the TPDS was the solution and, if so, why?
The TPDS was specifically designed to handle this duty and overcome the problems. Within a few months it was obvious that we had provided the right solution.
Can you tell us a bit more about Plan 54 and why that was added to the installation?
The Plan 54 system was already in place to supply gland water to the competitor’s seal, so we just used what was already there.
What would have happened if a solution had not been found?
If we hadn’t been able to offer the solution, the customer would have continued to use the competitor’s seal and dealt with constantly leaking seals and regular failures. They were being replaced at between three to six month intervals at $50,000 a time previously. Our seal, which cost approximately $60,000, was replaced after three years, so a saving of $240,000.
The company was obviously pleased with the result and has gone on to have nine more pumps fitted with the TPDS, saving millions of dollars. What was their reaction and have any further orders come in as a result?
The customer is extremely happy with us and have fitted our double seals and system across the plant and have also specified our seals and systems for any expansions. We received a PO for 12 more of the seals that are installed on a tailings booster line.
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