With so many product lines and acronyms, it can seem as though all of the pumps produced by KSB GIW, Inc. are a bit random. However, our products are more related than you may realize. Each pump is a unique part of a giant family tree and, like any family, we have all shapes and sizes, a few historically significant members, and a handful that are … well, a little odd!
Each KSB GIW, Inc. product is part of a rich, tapestry more than a century and a quarter old that has brought us to where we are today: A manufacturer of a diverse range of slurry pumps and products for our equally diverse mining and manufacturing customers across the globe.
Strong roots
Like any family tree, ours starts with strong roots.
The company we all know today as KSB GIW, Inc. began in 1891 as a small, privately owned foundry and machine shop located in Augusta, GA. It was incorporated as Georgia Iron Works in May of 1892 primarily as a production facility of "High Grade Heavy Saw Mill Machinery" and ornamental iron. In 1914, Georgia Iron Works began manufacturing spare parts for the solids-handling pumps used in the Florida phosphate industry. Soon thereafter, GIW began designing and manufacturing their own slurry pumps to meet their phosphate customers’ growing demands. This quickly became the sole focus of their production, permanently placing GIW in the slurry pump market as an Original Equipment Manufacturer of mining pumps.
Inside the foundry on the Augusta Canal.
“Originally, KSB GIW, Inc. produced low-speed (LS) and high-speed (HS) pumps,” explained Product Manager Jon Keith. “The LS pumps were available in two designs: A and B. As evolution would have it, GIW eventually discontinued the LS-B and HS pump lines, leaving the LS-A — or what is now formally known as the LSA® — the oldest established product line still in production today.”
Big branches
Today, KSB GIW, Inc. manufactures 11 product lines: LSA®, MDX®, MHD®, LHD®, LCC®, LCV®, HVF®, FGD®, TBC®, WBC®, and DWD®. The LCC® can be considered the father of the HVF® and LCV® products, while the good ol’ LSA® pump is the grandfather to all of the other product lines.
“The LSA offspring all share the original LSA® mechanical end design; however, they all differ when it comes to the wetted end. Three or more products feature different hydraulic and pressure design aspects.” Mr. Keith said.
Of course, no family tree would be complete without its fair share of “crazy uncles” who don’t seem to be related to anyone in particular. Although GIW has retired most of these outliers, we have manufactured a handful of distant relatives that meet the needs of unique applications. The Sewage Vertical Pump (SVP)® was developed for a wastewater project in London, while the Double-Wall-Dredge (DWD)® pumps were custom designed for our offshore dredging customers.
The double-log ore and phosphate washer was designed by J. A. Hauser for use in the phosphate industry. Today, the original tracing of the design hangs in the engineering department of KSB GIW, Inc. Photo by Schaeffer Studio.
Still growing
It’s fascinating to look back at this ever-growing tree and see how our customer focus has impacted our designs and manufacturing. These unique projects helped us “branch out” into the pump lines we have today. With pump impellers ranging in diameter from 9 inches to 9 feet, we’ve adapted and grown with our customers — and will keep doing so.
GIW continues to be a mainstay in the global mining and dredge markets through cutting-edge technology, seasoned design, professional engineers, and a state-of-the-art testing facility.
“I invite anyone with a specific slurry pumping need to put KSB GIW, Inc. to the test,” says Mr. Keith. “We are here to assist and welcome the opportunity to put our expertise to work for you!”
We hope you’ll take Mr. Keith’s advice. The GIW product family tree is still growing and, together, we can turn over a new leaf!
You don’t need to do a genetic test to see our history! Check out the KSB GIW, Inc. pump family tree infographic here!