Water in Mining
TRU-FLO Pumping Systems is a world-leader in dewatering pump and pontoon packages, providing cutting-edge mine dewatering and water transfer products for open cut and underground mines.
Headquartered in Bathurst, NSW, the company has branches operating near key mining hubs in QLD, WA, and Indonesia.
From these bases, Tru-Flo can service clients throughout Australia and abroad; even in remote international mining locations such as Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.
“Tru-Flo is the benchmark for mine dewatering, you won’t find a pump more reliable or efficient,” Tru-Flo director Andrew Allbut said.
“We have an expansive range of mining and industrial pumps supplying solutions to global mining, oil and gas, civil and food markets.
“What’s more, our extensive team of engineers and hydrologists take projects from initial concept all the way through to commissioning and client hand over.”
Mr Allbut said the company’s pontoon mounted pumps are a “must-have” in areas that receive heavy rainfall.
“Skid mounted pumps are often drowned in these situations due to limited access to operating pits once rain starts,” he said.
“If you do drown your pump we have that covered also. We have rebuild facilities that can bring pumps back to ‘as new’ condition.”
When building a pontoon pump, Tru-Flo’s skilled in-house engineering team considers each location’s particular specifications during the planning and design process, resulting in the delivery of a tailored pump that precisely meets our client’s specifications.
Tru-Flo pontoons can be configured to suit a range of applications, including tailings decant, dewatering, leachate and CHPP supply water pumps; as well as to underground or fire water supply and water evaporation projects.
“All our pontoons are manufactured to withstand harsh Australian and international open cut mining environments and are quality assured and pressure tested prior to painting,” Mr Allbut said.
Pontoons come in various configurations depending on the application.
They can either be of steel construction or roto mould high-density polyethylene cells, with the option of foam filling for indestructible buoyancy.
Each pontoon is manufactured in either two or three module sections enabling easy transport in condensed shipping and sea freight containers.
Access to pontoons is available through various systems including floating and spanning walk ways.
“The diesel range can be fully customised to suit individual mine applications, with engineering approvals available for compliance, displacements and weight carrying capacities; and are custom designed for safety, quality and ease of use,” Mr Allbut said.
The range is capable of pumping against high head situations, large quantities of solids, and slurries; often encountered in mine dewatering.
“Our broad range of diesel and electric options span from 30l/s to 1200l/s, and can achieve heads of up to 200m in a single lift,” he said.
Skid mounted pumps can be dragged across tough mining terrain, as they have a rugged design that is fitted with super heavy duty push bars enabling them to be towed or pushed by earthmoving equipment.
Tru-Flo pumps and pontoons are sandblasted, primed, and painted with high build, two pack epoxy paint in accordance with Tru-Flo’s ‘mine spec’ coating and bake procedure to protect against abrasive mine water.