AUSTRALIAN PUMP AND CIRCOR MoU

AUSTRALIAN PUMP AND CIRCOR MoU

Australian Pump Industries has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CIRCOR IMO Allweiler.  CIRCOR is a leading defence supplier specialising in global solutions for warship flow control systems (centring around pumps).

CIRCOR’s European Defence Support Division is based in Tours, France, drawing on the experience and products of IMO in Sweden, Allweiler in Germany, and French production of specialised defence products.

In the United States, the CIRCOR IMO Allweiler Defence Group includes Warren Pumps, Portland Valve and the US IMO operations.

As part of the MoU, Australian Pump and CIRCOR have agreed to collaborate on the compilation and submission of requests for tender (RFT) responses for pumps of all types for both the SEA 1000 and SEA 5000 projects.

The MoU was signed by Warwick Lorenz, Managing Director of Australian Pump Industries and Clement Snauwaert, Managing Director of CIRCOR IMO Allweiler International Defence Division.

“We know very well that the Australian Government has a clear plan to support these major shipbuilding projects with maximum Australian participation. Our partnership with Australian Pump allows a free interchange of technical collaboration, exchange of intellectual property and commercial support”, said Snauwaert.

Australian Pump is well known for working with defence projects having provided support for Collins, FFG and ANZAC platforms over the years.  The company is now also deeply involved in Hobart Class DDG and LHD vessels.

All of the above mentioned ships use CIRCOR IMO Allweiler pumps in a number of applications including seawater, fresh water services, and fuel and lube.

CIRCOR’s experience includes substantial sub surface vessel projects with Australia, France, Germany, India, and more recently Korea and Sweden.  Their products are also used on the USA’s Ohio and Virginia Class Nuclear Submarines.

An example is the Korean KSS Jangbogo III where trimming pump, low magnetic design, Battery Cooling (SW and distillate, HP bilge) products were supplied.

Snauwaert has a background in naval pump design and manufacture.  He was deeply involved in the Barracuda project and has extensive experience of submarine pump requirements and design.

Snauwaert and Lorenz visited Canberra to hold meetings with AIC and CDIC earlier this year to discuss support available to Australian companies.  “We take the idea of Australian manufacture and through life support as very serious aspects of our combined efforts”, said Lorenz.

Both parties view the SEA 1000 Attack Class Submarines as a great opportunity.  Australian Pump has a long history of supporting the Australian Navy and has engineering personnel with experience in the full manufacturing process of pumps and associated equipment.

The two companies are already working hand in hand on supporting the Royal Australian Navy’s major platforms and expect to play a major role in supporting the Naval Group and the Royal Australian Navy submarine fleet over the next 30 to 40 years.

Australian Pump has already undertaken a process of evaluating potential foundries and machine shops. “We see no reason why equipment for this nation building project shouldn’t have Australian manufacturing, testing and through life support participation”, said Aussie Pumps’ Chief Engineer, John Hales.

The MoU was signed in early September with synchronised signing in CIRCOR’s Tours European HQ and API’s Sydney office.

For further information on CIRCOR’s defence activities in Australia, contact Australian Pump Industries, CIRCOR’s Representative Office in Australia at www.aussiepumps.com.au