Gusher Pumps Part of State-of-the-Art Powder Coating System
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Great Lakes Pump and Supply specs 7600 Series pumps for recreation equipment manufacturing plant
The midst of a global pandemic is not the time when you want to be undertaking an extensive plant revitalization project. However, the timing proved fortuitous for Lifetime Products, a Utah-based manufacturer of outdoor recreation equipment. The replacement of its 20-year-old powder coating system allowed them to meet the spike in demand for its basketball goals, playsets and other outdoor products, driven by Covid-19 distancing and safety protocols, Ruthman division Great Lakes Pump and Supply specified and sold the Gusher 7600 Series pumps on the system.
The system was designed, fabricated and installed by automated finishing systems expert KOCH. It features smart controls, six-stage pretreatment, dry-off oven, powder application equipment, and an overhead conveyor system. Six Gusher Pumps’ 7600 Series vertical pumps are used throughout the system. VFDs (variable frequency drives) on the system help operators maintain pump motor speed at a level that ensures optimal operation, regardless of flow changes on the system.
Gusher’s 7600 Series Pump is an ideal choice for finishing applications from powder coating to e-coat and phosphate paint. Heavy-duty bearings and the absence of a mechanical seal eliminate common failure points to assure reliable performance.
When routine maintenance is required, its top pullout design cuts downtime to a minimum. With this design, the pump’s rotating elements can be removed for service and reinstalled without disconnecting the piping. Lifetime has elected to keep spare pumps on hand to keep production moving when maintenance is required.
Available in capacities to 4,000 gpm with pressures up to 400’ TDH, each pump is custom manufactured to exact customer specifications. For Lifetime’s application, Stainless Steel wetted parts were selected to maximize corrosion resistance.
According to Great Lakes’ Ryan Miller, “Working with Koch is always a smooth process. They are well acquainted with the Gusher line. They typically come to me with flows, heads, and materials required and then we discuss any special considerations such as installation altitude or motor preferences. I’m then able to size the pumps needed to meet the application’s requirements. I really enjoy working with Koch’s engineers, estimators, spare parts department, and purchasing agents.”
After several months in operation the system has accelerated production and has an amazing uptime performance rate of 98%. Read more about the installation and equipment in this article from Products Finishing magazine.