GIW Industries has launched what it says is the largest and heaviest pump available in the mining industry, targeting heavy-duty slurry transport applications in the Canada oil sands.

The GIW® TBC-92 slurry pump is named for its 92 in (2.34 m) impeller and is the latest in a line of powerful high-pressure pumps offered by GIW, the company said.

“The installation of the TBC-92 marks an important milestone: GIW now has pumps in service at all operating Canadian oil sands hydrotransport applications,” GIW said. “The TBC-92 is designed to tackle heavy-duty slurry transport while providing a low total cost of ownership. Minimal labour and maintenance time help to maximise production and profit.”

According to GIW Business Development Manager, Mollie Timmerman, this latest pump incorporates lessons learned over the years from operating in the oil sands, and features GIW’s latest hydraulic and wear technologies.

“Because this is the heaviest TBC pump we have ever designed, particular attention was given to maintainability, as well as material selection and construction of the pressure-containing components,” she said.

The TBC-92 combines the best elements of the products that preceded it, according to the company. This includes many elements from the TBC-84, also known as the ‘Super Pump’, and added features from GIW’s MDX product line – used in heavy-duty mining circuits throughout the world of hard-rock mining such as the First Quantum-owned Cobre Panama mine.

“The client needed a higher-capacity pump than was currently available on the market; the TBC-92 pump is the best solution for maximised production,” Timmerman said.

In total, the TBC-92 weighs about 209,000 lb (94.8 t), with a casing that weighs 34,000 lb (15.4 t) by itself. For ease of maintenance, customers receive custom lifting devices to facilitate safe removal and installation of wear components, GIW said. The pump also features a long-lasting suction liner that can be adjusted without needing to shut the pump down.

After the pump is installed, dedicated site account managers are on call to work through the start-up process, according to GIW, while local services and spare parts supply will be based out of GIW’s Fort McMurray Service Centre, located close by to the oil sands operations.