AUSTRALIAN Pump Industries is a consumer oriented pump designer and manufacturer.

Their product range has developed over the last 27 years based on input from users, with the emphasis being on how to provide better solutions wherever possible.

"You can only do this by understanding the needs of the application," said Aussie Pumps chief engineer, John Hales.

"Our sales team bring us ideas, mainly from users, who after all know more about the challenges of their tasks than anybody else."

This story is about how Aussie's products have evolved to suit the dairy industry's needs.

GMP CAST IRON MOTOR PUMPS ... WATER TO PADDOCK

During the drought, the company found the major problem was getting water to dairy herds.

They saw the tragedy of dairy cows sent off to slaughter, simply because there wasn't water to pump.

The long term solution is obvious to us simple pump people.

If necessary, the landscape needs to be changed so that the water storage capabilities of inland Australia are dramatically improved.

The recent floods in NSW and Queensland and those experienced in Gippsland, represent massive wastes of water that could have been conserved.

At Aussie Pumps, one important thing that they did apart from talk about it, was to introduce a range of efficient self priming centrifugal pumps, capable of providing the ability to move water fast in the event of excess rain.

They do that with either diesel drive, Honda petrol engine drive, or even with a range of big self priming centrifugal motor pumps for permanent installation.

"In the engine drive machines, our pumps will move up to 2900 litres per minute (lpm), that's with a 13 horsepower (hp) Honda petrol engine driving a 6" pump that self primes with a vertical lift of 7.4 metres," said Mr Hales.

"We call them Aussie Guzzlers.

"They do a fantastic job of moving water out of a dam that is filling fast to the dams or reservoirs that are filling slowly.

"That way we don't waste a drop."

Other pumps which will handle 1800 lpm are also readily available from the team.

Like all QP range, they are called 'Quik Prime' because they prime so well.

AUSSIE GMP MOTOR PUMPS

This product range goes all the way to giant 8" pumps but, most popular with farmers is 3" and 4" versions.

Pumping water fast sometimes containing some solids, is a great job for the big 4" 15 kilowatt (kW) model B4XRA–ST.

This pump will handle 2300 lpm maximum flow, has a maximum vertical lift head of 29 metres and will suck through a vertical lift of 6 metres.

Best of all, it self primes so there is no fooling around trying to fill suction hoses with water to get the pumps to prime.

You don't need a foot valve with a genuine self priming pump (but you do need a strainer).

The 6" version does 7500 lpm while the 8" pump, a monster that runs off a 37 kW electric motor will pull 8300 lpm.

All of these big irrigation and transfer pumps come with their own base and just need to be wired in with or without automatic float switches.

"What customers love about these pumps is they have huge advantages over submersibles," said Mr Hales.

"You can see the pump, you can service it and if there is a leak, a malfunction or choke, you can easily clean it out.

"All of Aussie's GMP range of semi trash pumps feature a front clean out port so you don't even have to undo the hose or poly pipe fittings to carry out a basic service."

MAKING GRASS GROW

Smart dairy farmers are already sold on liquid fertilisers.

The introduction and popularity of this innovation has meant big gains in beef cattle growth rates and milk production numbers.

However, there is a catch.

Agricultural fertilisers are expensive and corrosive.

Aussie has a program they call "DON'T WASTE A DROP".

They've developed what they call Smart Pumps that can be either Honda petrol, Yanmar diesel or even hydraulic drive for applications involving corrosive liquids like nitrogen based fertilisers.

"Aussie builds hydraulic drive versions in 2" and 3" configuration that will fill sprayers fast," said Mr Hales.

"The 3" pump produces a whopping 1000 lpm running off a Honda 6.5 hp GX200 engine.

"Electric start versions are also available.

"A hydraulic version for direct installation on sprayers is helping owners of sprayer rigs with an upgrade from 2" to 3" to reduce refilling cycle times.

"The days of filling sprayers with firefighting pumps are over."

EFFLUENT, WE DO THAT TOO WITH TRASH PUMPS

With a range of portable engine drive trash pumps, moving anything from 600 lpm all the way through to 6000 lpm, the company caters for all sized operations.

The big machines are all diesel powered but smaller sizes; 2", 3" and 4" pumps are designed for handling solids in suspension with flows to 1800 lpm and can be Honda petrol driven as well.

All pumps feature a front clean out port, silicon carbide mechanical seals, huge non clog style impellers in high SG cast iron with a fully welded heavy duty carry frame with base and anti–vibration mounts.

These pumps will handle solids to 35mm in diameter, depending on the model.

ELECTRIC DRIVE SEMI TRASH PUMPS

For those with a permanent installation in an effluent pit, the company again applies the Aussie GMP motor pump range.

High head versions of these semi trash design cast iron pumps are a big hit in the market.

One pump that has captured everybody's imagination is a new 22 kW version.

"Can you believe a pump with a 22 kW three phase motor that can deliver 1250 lpm flow, handle small solids in suspension up to 19 mm, and pump as high as 78 m head?" said Mr Hales.

"It self primes through a vertical lift of 6 m as well."

The pumps have a non–clog impeller in cast iron, but 316 stainless steel impellers are available as an optional extra.

Mechanical seals are silicon carbide with a tungsten carbide option.

THE PROCESS PLANT ... 316 STAINLESS STEEL

We know that milk, whey and other dairy products can be highly aggressive.

For processing, the company has again introduced a range of Aussie GMP self primers that are made from 316 cast stainless steel.

These pumps, available in 2" through to 4", can handle solids in suspension with big open impellers and most importantly are corrosion resistant.

Available in bare shaft or as close coupled motor pumps, they'll move flows up to 2100 lpm and pump against heads, depending on configuration, up to 55 m vertical lift.

"That is a major innovation for a very tough application," said Mr Hales.

As you can see, Aussie is focused on self priming centrifugal pumps.

It's that specialisation in this area of endeavour that makes them so good at what they do.

On the other hand, their other major product line is high pressure water blasters designed and built in their 2.5 acre plant in Castle Hill, Sydney.

In that area, they've developed washdown, blocked drain clearing, even hot wash and steamers to clean without carcinogenic chemicals or expensive detergents.

The company makes machines up to 7000 psi (500 bar) but recommends 3000 and 4000 psi as being the go, depending on the size of dairy operation.

Australian Pump, like its very competent Aussie Pump shop outlets is committed to the Dairy Industry.

That Aussie pressure cleaner profile is another story coming soon.

For further information on Aussie's range, visit aussiepumps.com.au.

Get free copies of Aussie Pump Smart covering the pump range, and the Aussie Blaster Blitz covering all you need to know about pressure cleaners on the website or from local authorised Aussie Pump Dealers.