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Pumps & Compressors

T

he phrase ‘Buy cheap, buy twice’ East, people will pay more attention to

has never been more true than the equipment that is put onboard and
for maritime pumps, where the they will want to change it to more

daily toil and harsh conditions endured reliable equipment from Western
by these vital pieces of equipment means Europe.”

only high quality products are likely to Ship owners and managers also don’t
survive long-term, helping ship owners realise there can be a lot of costs

and managers to avoid spending more associated with changing a pump owing
money in the long-run.
to the fact that each manufacturer has a

Castle Pumps are a UK company different set-up – changes may need to be

founded in 1997, staffed by experienced made to outlets or inlets and pipework
technical sales engineers with vast may also need to be replaced. “You have

experience in this field. Committed to to take into account the downtime, loss
providing exemplary service, Castle of service and other wastage owing to a

Pumps is part of the Flowmax group of pump not working,” Mr Martinez- option with low quality pumps as the
Companies. Pablo Martinez-Moore Moore said. “But good quality pumps same attention to detail has not been

(pictured right), Operations Director, said can last for decades. We had a paid during the manufacturing process.”
his company frequently oversees the requirement a couple of weeks ago for a Plus with a worldwide network of

replacement of poor quality pumps, replacement pump for one which was distributors ship owners can benefit from
often manufactured in Far Eastern supplied back in 1981! If a pump is of local service.

Mr Martinez-Moore added that he countries.
good quality it can last a long time,

“A vessel may have been built in a believes people are also paying more perhaps even 30 or 40 years!”
low-labour cost country, to a specified Castle Pumps supplies pumps from attention to the efficiency of pump

budget but what ship owners and high quality manufacturers and on the motors. The new IE (international
managers are coming to realise is that marine side, it is the UK re-seller for efficiency) classes of motors are IE1 –

often, the pumps which are being pumps by Bombas Azcue, a Standard Efficiency (comparable to
installed on such ships are low quality manufacturer from the Basque region of EFF2); IE2 – High Efficiency

and have a vastly reduced lifetime. Spain which was established in 1910 with (comparable to EFF1); IE3 – Premium
Sometimes they are not even suitable for the aim of offering competitively priced Efficiency. He said many customers are

the application they’ve been put to high quality pumps and high quality looking to move up from IE1 but are
onboard! A lot of pumps we replace customer service too. Bombas Azcue has deciding to leapfrog and bypass the IE2

from Far Eastern manufacturers are just its own foundry on site at its headquarters class, going straight for motors of
not up to scratch when it comes to quality
in Zumaia and all its pumps are tested premium efficiency in the IE3 bracket.

and available with class approval from “Customers want to be greener and this and we’re seeing a lot of

societies such as Lloyds and ABS. Pump is being driven by environmental customers who are dissatisfied
types include self-priming, centrifugal, legislations but also energy costs. with the pumps which have

screw pumps, progressive cavity, Sometimes the energy use of the pump been fitted by shipbuilders,” Mr
multistage and side channel.
can far outweigh the cost of the actual
Martinez-Moore said.

He added that vessel owners
As the official UK reseller for
Bombas Azcue marine pumps, Castle often do not realise the

Pumps can offer interchangeable spares – difficulties they may face in Vertical inline Screw
another money-saving option for getting hold of spare parts for Pump in bareshaft

customers, as Mr Martinez-Moore a pump if difficulties occur: “If a
explained: “If you buy from a quality pump goes down then trying to get hold

manufacturer you get interchangeable of the spares you need can be a lengthy

spares too. People don’t realise that if you process if you need to get these parts
keep our range of pumps onboard, a lot from the Far East. It’s not just about the

of these pumps use the same spares, so quality of the pumps themselves but it’s
you will end up with interchangeable also about the quality of customer service

stock onboard. You might only need to in trying to get the actual part that’s
retain a few shafts or mechanical seals. needed for the pump in good time.

onboard because these spare parts will fit There’s often just no back-up. I think as
several pumps but this isn’t often an
more vessels are being built in the Far

2014 Issue 60 The SHIP Supplier 57