Manufacturer Introduces High Tech Pump Controllers For Buildings
- Jul 3
- 4 min read
The world’s largest pump manufacturer, Grundfos, has applied its technical expertise to simplify the management of pumps in complexes and high-rise buildings with the introduction of its new Geniecon panel controller.
Speaking at the South African Infrastructure Expo in Midrand recently, Grundfos sales engineer for the Commercial Building Services division, Brendan Visser, says the new offering supports construction professionals and facility managers to simplify and improve the reliability of water supply in large buildings.
“We are on a sustained drive to engage directly with the construction and building services industry and have taken the opportunity to interact directly with professionals and end-users who rely on pumps for sustained reliable water supply, which is especially critical in hospitals, universities, stadiums and even domestic markets where water pressure is an issue or pressures fluctuate.” He explains that the Geniecon controller is the successor to the Hydro MPC system and has been completely redesigned with a smartphone like intuitive interface and a colour display that allows users to control every aspect of up to six pumps’ performance. It can also log up to 500 alarms to give operators far greater visibility into system performance.
Alarms can include voltage errors, power supply issues or early signs of pump failure. It also supports over-the-air updates which eliminates the need for technicians to perform manual upgrades on-site and fully incorporates advanced cybersecurity compliance. The controller can be used in a wide variety of applications including the most common applications in multi-storey buildings where water pressure must be maintained at upper floors. Here the system can be programmed to monitor demand and ensure that the necessary number of pumps operate at any given time. “A good example is in a six-pump system where only one pump may run at half speed during off-peak periods while three or four may be used during peak loads and all six may be engaged when demand spikes. This kind of optimisation reduces operating costs significantly especially in terms of energy consumption and pump wear.
“Customers often focus on the initial price tag but when you look at lifecycle costs, maintenance, energy consumption and built-in Grundfos reliability our systems save money in the long run. “Our systems and control units are known for their durability with recorded service lives expanding to many decades in instances where they are selected and installed correctly. This reliability is as a result of careful engineering and material selection, as well as world class manufacturing facilities across the globe and in South Africa. For this reason our pumps sit on the premium side of the price range, but it is also why the company is trusted in critical infrastructure such as hospitals where pump failure is not an option,” says Visser.
In terms of sustainability he adds that the motors carry IE5 efficiency ratings ensuring minimal energy loss between electrical input and mechanical output. The company also conducts energy audits for facilities measuring consumption and providing optimisation reports. This allows facility managers to compare lifecycle costs and make informed decisions about pump selection and can compare to see the long-term savings.
According to him Grundfos is on an active drive to build relations with buyers and non-buying customers such as consulting engineers. While engineers may not purchase directly they specify products and therefore require detailed technical information while contractors, subcontractors, distributors and wholesalers need to be familiar with installation and operation.
“It doesn’t help if the end-user is willing to pay and the engineer specifies the product but the contractor is unfamiliar with it. We want to build relationships across the entire value chain to ensure that all stakeholders know our products.
It is interesting to note the company’s large local capability with the Geniecon systems being fully assembled in South Africa alongside various pumps that are already being produced annually. “We can produce a pump in as little as two days or larger systems such as multi-pump installations with control panels in a week. Fully imported units usually take several weeks with expedited options available if needed. All of these are tested to ISO standards.
”Local assembly is good news for the local market as well as the rest of Africa where Grundfos is expanding its footprint across the continent with offices in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and Tanzania, as well as new partnerships being across sub-Saharan Africa. “Africa is a key focus for us. We are actively building networks of distributors and service partners in other regions to provide local support and backup service to support those markets.
“Our product range is extensive covering commercial building services, domestic building services, industrial, mining and water utilities among others. Applications include potable water, hot water, sewage, grey water, chilled water systems and chemical dosing. The range covers everything from borehole pumps to specialised chemical pumps and large pumps for water utilities and mines. “As far as aftersales service and support is concerned we are ahead of the pack and our services even extend to commissioning support if needed where our field engineers and service technicians can assist contractors during installation.
This type of service goes beyond the usual types of services available and ensures pumps are installed correctly for additional peace of mind for customers. If we are present at commissioning we will even extend the standard two-year warranty by six months – now that’s what I call service,” Visser concludes.
GRUNDFOS (PTY) LTD,
+27 (0) 10 248 6000,
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