Dubai, UAE, 8 November 2018: A total of 44 engineers, consultants, clients and regulators attended a training programme at the Grundfos Retrofit Academy, in Jebel Ali Free Zone, the company announced in a Press communiqué. The training programme started with a refresher session on pumps, controls, motors, variable frequency drives and applications, during which the attendees witnessed a number of special demonstration units in action, the communiqué said. Attendees were shown how system inefficiencies can be quickly traced using Grundfos’ Energy Check – a free service that quickly identifies problem pumps and shows the potential savings and payback periods that can be achieved, when these are replaced with high-efficiency pumps and controls, the communiqué further said. Particular emphasis was placed on the latest developments in cloud connectivity and digital technology, which are now driving a move to intelligent pumping networks that react automatically to changes in demand and system pressure, to ensure optimum efficiency at all times, the communiqué added.

According to Grundfos, pumps are responsible for 10% of the world’s energy and half of this can be saved through energy optimisation. The training focused on the problems caused by old and inefficient pumping systems that are currently widespread throughout the GCC region’s water supply and sewage infrastructure, agriculture sector and industrial processes and the savings that could be achieved by retrofitting with Grundfos automated pump systems, the communiqué said.

Tolga Candan, Business Development Manager, Energy Opt and Retrofit, Grundfos, said, “Customers often fail to appreciate that 85% of the lifetime cost of any pumping system relates directly to the energy used to run the pumps. Grundfos pumping systems can cut energy usage by between 30% and 60%, so the retrofitted pump systems pay for themselves, often within a matter of months.”

The day ended with issuance of certificates and a chance for the attendees to discuss individual projects with Grundfos experts, as well as network with colleagues from a range of industries and sectors represented at the event, the communiqué said.

According to Grundfos, the Grundfos Retrofit Academy has received appreciation since its launch in 2017 and the fifth session is going be held on December 5, 2018.