Pump Manufacturers & Suppliers

Everything You Need To Know About Pumps

Here at Midwest Valves and Controls, we’re proud to work with some of Australia’s leading pump manufacturers. For us, it’s all about quality over quantity. That’s why we’ve spent years building meaningful relationships with our suppliers to ensure our customers get top of the range products at competitive prices. Discover more about our pumps and pump manufacturers below.

Midwest Valves And Controls: About Our Chosen Pump Manufacturers

Deutz F6L914 Fishbury pump

As an Australian business, we understand how important it is to support other Australian companies, which is why much of our equipment is manufactured right here onshore. We stock equipment and spare parts from the best manufacturers in the industry. They are:

Finsbury. Australian owned and operated since the 1940s, Midwest Valves and Controls is proud to have Finsbury onboard as one of our trusted manufacturers. Located in Adelaide, all of our Finsbury pump systems are manufactured and quality tested at their warehouse. Their dedication to providing their customers with only the best products is why we choose to work with them. So if you’re after pump advice for the mining sector, Finsbury has all the technical information you need.
Orange Pumps. Water pumps are Orange Pump’s specialty, building exceptionally engineered and high-performing products that last. At Midwest Valves and Controls, we’ve built a strong relationship with Orange Pumps, stocking and supplying a variety of their products.
Pentair Onga. Water movement specialists, Onga, has been supplying Australia with quality products for more than four decades. We stock a variety of Onga pumps and can supply our customers with after-sales services anywhere in Australia.
Seepex. Founded in Germany almost 40 years ago, Seepex pumps can be used in practically any industrial industry sector.
Southern Cross. With a focus on manufacturing water handling equipment, Southern Cross pumps have been produced in Australia for over 100 years.
Aussie Pumps. Inspired by Australia’s extreme climate, Aussie Pumps use their equipment to provide solutions to help combat the country’s harsh conditions.

A Beginner’s Guide To All Things Pumps

If this is your first time purchasing a pump, you’ll likely need some assistance. So, we’ve developed a beginners guide to help get you started.

How pumps work

Creating somewhat of a vacuum, pumps use some type of impeller or rotor to push media. This media could be liquid or gas, however, all pumps work by producing areas of low pressure.

Basic pump parts

While there are different types of pumps, there are generally six main pump components. They are:

Source: Dominik Fry on Pumps and Systems

Common Terminology

NPSHa: Net positive suction head available to avoid cavitation.

NPSHr: Net positive suction head required to avoid cavitation.

Cavitation: The formation of small bubbles that burst. This can result in loss of capacity and pump damage.

Density: The weight per unit volume of a material.

Head: Pressure measured to determine the height a liquid will produce.

Flooded suction: Suction fed by gravity. Common in centrifugal pumps.

Pressure: The amount of force applied to the area.

Prime: To fill the pump with fluid before operation.

Strainer: A small metal mesh covering the inlet to prevent foreign objects from passing through.

Dry running: Running the pump without any fluids present.

Specific gravity: The ratio of a given volume’s weight to the volume of liquid to water.

Viscosity: The density of a liquid affecting its ability to flow.

Total head: The total sum of the head produced by the pump. Includes discharge head, friction loss, and suction lift.

Types of pumps

Pumps can be divided into two categories: Dynamic and Positive Displacement.

Those are then split further into four major pump types:

Dynamic:

Centrifugal. The most common type of pump, centrifugal pumps, use an impeller to speed up and transfer fluids. These pumps can be broken down into three sub-categories:
- Axial Flow — High flow, low pressure.
- Peripheral — Low flow, high pressure.
- Mixed Flow — Medium flow, medium pressure.

Special Effect.
- Electromagnetic — Passes current through a right-angled magnetic field.
- Jet — Non-submersible, uses pressure to vacuum a constant stream of liquid.

Positive Displacement

Reciprocating. These pumps alternate force and suction moving fluids in a linear motion. The main types of reciprocating pumps are:
Piston, Plunger — Push media through a cylinder chamber.
Diaphragm — Move liquids from one place to another using a diaphragm that motions back and forth.
Rotary. Rotary pumps rotate in a mechanical motion, moving fluid through available spaces. The two main rotary pumps are:
Single Rotor — Self-primed using flexing vanes to move media.
Multiple Rotor — Self-primed with rotors timed separately.

Still not sure which is right for you? Click here to help find the most suitable pump for your project.

How To Correctly Take Care Of Your Pumps

Generally, pumps can have a long lifespan, with the average pump lasting between 5 and 10 years. However, if pumps aren’t adequately cared for, there is a chance they will stop working prematurely. Below is a list of tips and tricks for you to get the most out of your pump systems.

Ensure your pump is installed properly. This can be achieved by reading the owner handbook prior to installation. Alternatively, you can have your pumps fitted by a professional.
Regularly service your pump. Like a car, pumps have to be serviced regularly. Each pump varies, however, so refer to your manufacturer or owner manual to determine the frequency of which you should service your pumps.
Lubricate. This will prevent your pump from ceasing and help parts of your pump remain cool.
Corrective maintenance. It’s as simple as it sounds. If something doesn’t sound right or a part has been displaced, stop operation immediately and rectify the problem.
Preventative maintenance. Performed more regularly than a service, undertaking preventative maintenance on your pumps will allow you to easily identify issues (should any arise) which can be remedied before causing any further inconvenience or damage.