FAQs

Look for a supplier with deep product knowledge, local servicing capability, and access to parts. At Prime Fluid Management, we support critical civil and industrial operations with both hire and purchase options—and back it with real-world advice.

Answer to question number 2

Have backup pumping systems and contingency hire agreements in place before storm season. Our emergency pump hire and flood bypass setups are trusted across NZ councils and contractors to keep operations running when the pressure’s on.

Each brand suits different uses—Crest pumps have no mechanical seal, Assoma is great for corrosion resistance, and Wangen handles viscous and abrasive fluids well. We’ll recommend the right one for your chemical or industrial application.

A hydraulic dredge pump is a heavy-duty pump powered by hydraulic systems, designed to remove sediment, silt, sand, or debris from rivers, lakes, harbours, and other bodies of water. It works by using high-pressure suction to loosen and transport material from the seabed or the riverbed. 

The process happens in two stages: 

1. Suction Stage - The pump's impeller creates a low-pressure zone at the inlet, drawing in water and sediment to the pump. 
2. Discharge Stage - The mixture is pumped out through a discharge outlet, moving the material via pipelines or hoses to a designated location for disposal or reuse. 

Hydraulic dredge pumps are commonly used in mining, marine and environmental applications where efficient sediment removal and transport are required. 

An electric dredge pump is a centrifugal pump powered by an electric motor, designed to efficiently move water, sediment, and debris during dredging operations. It offers a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to fuel-driven pumps, producing no direct emissions.

The pump is built to perform reliably in demanding environments. Operating at low rotational speeds, it delivers high resistance to abrasion and extended service life. Electric dredge pumps are also quieter than hydraulic systems, making them well-suited for projects where noise and environmental impact must be minimised.

Commonly used in mining, marine, and environmental applications, electric dredge pumps provide an energy-efficient and environmentally responsible solution for sediment removal.

A flexi drive pump is a portable, self-priming pump that uses a flexible drive shaft to transfer mechanical power from an external petrol or diesel motor to the pump head. This design allows the motor to remain in a safe, dry location while the pump head operates underwater.

The flexible shaft provides reach and accessibility, making it possible to pump from locations that conventional pumps cannot easily access. Built for rugged conditions, flexi drive pumps are capable of handling abrasive materials, slurry, and debris with ease.

Commonly used in construction, mining, and flood control, flexi drive pumps deliver reliable performance in demanding environments where portability and durability are essential.

A vortex pump is a centrifugal pump designed to move large volumes of water quickly while also handling fluids that contain solids, sludge, or fibrous materials. It operates by using a specially designed vortex impeller, which creates a swirling motion inside the pump casing.

This vortex transfers energy to the liquid without solids making direct contact with the impeller. As a result, vortex pumps are highly resistant to clogging and wear, making them ideal for wastewater treatment, slurry transfer, mining, and other demanding applications.

An end-suction pump is a centrifugal pump with the inlet located at one end of the casing and the outlet on the top. The pump uses an impeller to create centrifugal force, drawing fluid into the casing and pushing it out through the discharge port.

Typically mounted horizontally, end suction pumps are designed for medium to high flow rates. Their simple design, efficiency, and versatility make them one of the most commonly used pump types across industries such as water supply, HVAC, irrigation, and general industrial processes.

A centrifugal pump is a mechanical device that moves fluids by converting rotational energy from a motor or engine into hydrodynamic energy. It is the most commonly used pump for transporting liquids in industries, households, and large-scale processes.

Centrifugal pumps are ideal for applications such as water supply, sewage, agriculture, petroleum, and petrochemical transfer. They offer high flow rate capabilities, can handle abrasive solutions, and are also suitable for mixing and circulation tasks, making them a versatile and reliable choice across a wide range of applications.

A self-priming pump is designed to automatically remove air from its casing and suction line, allowing it to start pumping fluid without manual priming or external assistance.

This makes self-priming pumps ideal for applications where the suction line may run dry or contain air, such as wastewater management, irrigation, dewatering, and various industrial processes. Their ability to restart easily and operate reliably in challenging conditions makes them a versatile and convenient choice for many pumping needs.

A diaphragm pump is a type of positive displacement pump that uses a flexible membrane (diaphragm) to move and pressurise fluids. These pumps are ideal for low-pressure, low-flow applications and can handle a wide variety of liquids, slurries, and gases.

Diaphragm pumps are valued for their versatility, ability to handle abrasive or corrosive fluids, and their suitability for precise dosing, chemical transfer, and other specialised pumping tasks.

A gear pump is a positive displacement pump that uses the meshing of gears to move and pressurize fluids. It is well-suited for handling viscous liquids with precision and efficiency, making it a popular choice in industrial applications.

Gear pumps are ideal for pumping high-viscosity fluids such as oils, paints, resins, and food products, providing reliable and steady flow even under varying pressure conditions.

An external gear pump consists of two identical interlocking gears mounted on separate shafts, while an internal gear pump has two gears of different sizes, with one rotating inside the other.

External gear pumps are generally better suited for high-pressure applications, providing reliable performance with viscous fluids such as oils and resins. Internal gear pumps are typically used at lower pressures and are ideal for smooth, steady flow in applications handling low-viscosity or shear-sensitive fluids, such as chemicals or food products.

A progressive cavity pump, also known as a PC pump, screw pump, or eccentric screw pump, is a positive displacement pump that moves fluids through a series of small, fixed cavities formed by the interaction of a helical rotor and a stator.

These pumps excel at handling highly viscous fluids and are particularly effective for transferring materials over long distances. Progressive cavity pumps are commonly used in wastewater management, chemical processing, food production, and other industrial applications where smooth, consistent flow and gentle handling of fluids are essential.

A hopper feed pump is a specialised pump designed with an integrated hopper and feeding mechanism to facilitate the transfer of viscous, semi-solid, or solid-laden materials. The hopper helps move challenging materials into the pump’s working chamber, ensuring a consistent and reliable flow.

Hopper feed pumps  are ideal for pumping high-viscosity or non-fluidising products and can handle materials with a high solid content. They are commonly used in industries like mining, wastewater treatment, and industrial processing, where reliable handling of difficult-to-pump materials is essential.

Immersion and surface-mounted progressive cavity pumps are two variations of progressive cavity pumps, each designed for specific applications and fluid conditions. The main difference lies in their positioning and how they interact with the fluid.

Choosing between immersion and surface-mounted pumps depends on fluid properties, depth, viscosity, and ease of maintenance. Both retain the benefits of progressive cavity pumps, including smooth, continuous flow and reliable handling of viscous or shear-sensitive fluids.

A PTO (Power Take-Off) pump is powered by the PTO system of a vehicle, such as a truck, tractor, or other machinery. The PTO transfers mechanical power from the vehicle’s engine to the pump, allowing it to operate without a separate motor or stationary power source.

PTO pumps are ideal for mobile applications, including hydraulic systems, water transfer, slurry handling, and fire-fighting operations. They provide reliable, high-flow pumping directly from the vehicle’s engine, making them versatile and effective for field-based or remote pumping needs.

A twin screw pump is a positive displacement pump that uses two intermeshing screws (rotors) to move fluids or slurries. The synchronised rotation of the screws creates cavities between the screws and the pump casing, which expand at the inlet to generate suction and contract at the discharge to create pressure.

Twin screw pumps provide smooth, pulsation-free flow, making them ideal for handling clean, viscous, or solids-laden fluids. Flow rate is easily controlled by pump speed, and the pumps are widely used in industries such as oil and gas, chemical processing, and marine applications where reliable, continuous pumping is essential.

A piston pump is a positive displacement pump that uses the reciprocating action of a piston inside a cylindrical chamber to move fluid. As the piston retracts, it creates a vacuum that draws fluid into the chamber; as it advances, it forces the fluid out through a discharge valve.

Piston pumps can operate over a wide range of pressures and are capable of delivering high-pressure flow without compromising flow rate. They are commonly used in hydraulic systems, high-pressure cleaning, chemical transfer, and other industrial applications requiring precise, reliable fluid delivery.

A trash pump is a heavy-duty pump designed to handle water containing debris and solids such as leaves, pebbles, twigs, dirt, sand, and rocks. Unlike standard pumps, trash pumps are built to pass these materials intact through the pump without clogging.

With larger impeller veins and a robust pump housing, trash pumps are ideal for construction sites, dewatering projects, and flood control applications. They provide reliable, high-flow performance in challenging environments where standard pumps would struggle.

Single-phase and three-phase motors differ in power supply, starting mechanism, and efficiency, making each suitable for different applications.

• Single-Phase Motors

  • Power Supply: Operates on single-phase AC, where current alternates in one cycle between positive and negative polarity.

  • Starting Mechanism: Requires an external starting mechanism or capacitor (such as a start capacitor or split-phase winding) because it initially generates only an alternating magnetic field.

  • Wiring: Has two terminals and requires two wires to operate.

  • Performance: Lower power factor and less starting torque, making them suitable for low-power applications like small pumps and household appliances.

• Three-Phase Motors

  • Power Supply: Operates on three-phase AC, with currents offset by 120 degrees, creating a continuous and smooth power supply.

  • Starting Mechanism: Generates a rotating magnetic field naturally, so no external starting mechanism or capacitor is needed.

  • Wiring: Has three terminals and requires three or four wires (including neutral) to operate.

  • Performance: Higher efficiency, higher starting torque, and better power factor, making them ideal for industrial applications such as large pumps, compressors, and heavy machinery.

Choosing between single-phase and three-phase motors depends on the application’s power requirements, load, and available electrical supply.

A side channel pump is a self-priming, multistage pump that combines characteristics of centrifugal and positive displacement pumps. It is designed to handle liquids with high viscosity, low flow rates, and small amounts of entrained gases or solids.

Side channel pumps are unique in that they can handle up to 50% entrained gas, with fluid and vapour taking separate paths through the pump. The name comes from the side channel that runs parallel to the impeller, which moves the fluid through the pump efficiently. These pumps are commonly used in applications such as boiler feed, condensate transfer, and chemical processing, where handling gas-laden or viscous liquids is essential.

A multi-stage centrifugal pump is a type of centrifugal pump that uses multiple impellers (stages) arranged in series to increase the pressure of the fluid being pumped. The fluid passes sequentially through each impeller, gaining pressure at each stage.

Multi-stage centrifugal pumps are used in applications where high discharge pressure is required and a single impeller cannot achieve the desired output. They are commonly used in water supply, boiler feed, reverse osmosis, and high-rise building systems, offering efficient, smooth, and reliable operation across a range of pressures.

A single-stage centrifugal pump is a type of centrifugal pump that uses a single impeller to move fluid and increase its pressure. The pump’s head (pressure) is largely determined by the type of impeller and its circumferential speed.

Single-stage centrifugal pumps are simple, cost-effective, and ideal for low to moderate-pressure applications such as water supply, irrigation, HVAC, and drainage systems. Their straightforward design makes them reliable, easy to maintain, and suitable for handling clean or slightly contaminated liquids.

A bareshaft pump is a pump that includes only the core components—such as the impeller, shaft, casing, and other mechanical parts—without any integrated driving mechanism like a motor or engine. Essentially, it is the pump unit itself, requiring an external power source to operate.

Bareshaft pumps are commonly used in industrial, commercial, and agricultural applications where a pump is needed but the motor or engine is already available or must be selected separately. This design allows flexibility in driver selection and simplifies maintenance, making it ideal for a wide range of pumping needs.

A contractor’s pump is a portable, heavy-duty pump designed for use in construction and other industrial applications. Its primary purpose is to remove excess water, slurry, or other liquids from work areas, helping maintain safe conditions and prevent flooding.

Contractor’s pumps are commonly used for dewatering, draining, or transferring fluids at construction sites, mining operations, and other industrial job sites. They are built for durability, reliability, and ease of deployment in demanding environments.