HM100 Slurry Pump Wet-End Parts exceed performance target by 39% at a mining operation in Central Asia
Case Summary
| Location | Central Asia |
| Ore Type | Copper, Zinc, Lead |
| Equipment Models | HM100 Slurry Pump |
| Part Supplied | Case liner, impeller, back liner |
| Material | High-chrome white cast iron grade AR27 |
| Wear Mechanism | Sustained abrasive wear (no cavitation) |
| Trial Target | 1800 hours |
| Hours Achieved | 2,500 hours (39% increase) |
Challenge: Premature wet-end wear was disrupting dewatering circuit stability
The HM100 pump feeds slurry directly to the VPA1540 filter press, making wet-end wear life a critical variable in overall filtration circuit performance, and unplanned part replacement causes a stoppage that compromises dewatering throughput.
The customer had operated on OEM wet-end parts since commissioning and was seeking a cost-efficient alternative, but other suppliers fell short on wear life or process stability. What the customer needed was a supplier willing to engineer a solution based on their actual operating data, not just a standard product range.
Our solution: Application-specific wet-end set engineered to the circuitās abrasion profile
Element reviewed the application and analyzed the wear pattern reported by the customerās HM100. After evaluation, a complete wet-end set consisting of case liner, impeller, and back liner, which were manufactured from a high-chrome alloy grade selected specifically for sustained abrasive duty and tailored to the circuit’s documented wear conditions, is in direct contact with the process slurry. The customer and Element agreed on a trial target of 1,800 operating hours as the minimum performance benchmark.
Results
- 2,500 operating hours were achieved at the end of the setās service life (increased by 39% over the 1,800-hour trial target), with the parts only being removed during the planned maintenance service.
- An interim inspection, carried out after 2,150 operating hours, showed approximately 50% of the wear life remaining, leading to the recommendation to keep the wet-end set in operation until the maintenance.
- No unplanned stoppages and no spare-part-related failures.
What It Means for Our Customers
Element delivered what the customer had been searching for: fewer changeovers, consistent filter press feed, and a lower cost per ton processed. For a site in the Central Asia where supply chain lead times carry real operational risk, Elementās reliable products and responsive technical support give the customer a trusted long-term partnership, not just a one-time trial.