Industrial Sump Pump Case Study: Submersible Pumps Stay the Course

Metal Finishing Plant Cuts Maintenance Costs, Downtime with Positive-Displacement Pump

END USER: Castle Metal Finishing Corp. in Schiller Park, Ill.

THE APPLICATION:
Submersible pumps to remove plating waste water that contained high levels of calcium and lime, as well as a mixture of low pH and high pH fluids, at a metal finishing plant.

THE PROBLEMS:

1. Calcium and lime from the plating waste water coated the level controls for the centrifugal pumps the plant previously used and kept the controls from working properly.
2. The centrifugal pump motors frequently burned out because the pumps couldn’t handle the required head and because they would become plugged up with the minerals in the water.
3. Maintenance costs and downtime became unacceptable.

THE SOLUTION:
We eliminated the need for centrifugal pumps by providing 2 S4 positive displacement submersible pumps.

THE RESULTS:
After experiencing routine failures with the centrifugal pumps it formerly used, Castle has experienced no pump failures or emergency maintenance incidents since the Pitbull submersible pumps went into operation 34 years ago.

1. Coated level controls were no longer an issue because Pitbull air-operated pumps don’t use mechanical level controls.
2. Pitbull’s simple design meant the pumps no longer clogged and were able to maintain the proper head.
3. Castle’s pump-related maintenance costs dropped to nearly zero.
4. Production downtime decreased.

THE SPECS:

Click here for the S4 spec sheet.

THE RESPONSE:

“Castle Metal Finishing Corp. was a beta site for a pair of the original Pitbulls around 1984. The concept was unique in its day and had many here believing it would not work … but the system has continued to work very well. … These units have been in service and working for 34 years with just minor problems. … To say that we have had a product that worked and lasted would be an understatement. In my opinion, it was well thought out and built to last. We are more than happy to have found these units and done business with Pitbull.†– Dale Weter, Plant Engineer, Castle Metal Finishing Corp.