FBE Gear Pumps in Rio Tinto

Yes. Correct sizing is the main lever for energy efficiency — an oversized or undersized pump wastes energy. FB Bombas engineering calculates the optimal operating point considering the actual process conditions in Rio Tinto, optimizing the flow/pressure/power ratio.

It does. The technical support and logistics covering Rio Tinto are the same applied to the metropolitan region and nearby microregions. That operating radius enables coordinated service to industrial plants distributed across several cities.

FB Bombas manufactures four major lines: FBE (external gear) for viscous fluids, FBEI (internal gear) for lubricating fluids, FBCN (normalized centrifugal) for water and low-viscosity fluids, and FBOT (specific centrifugal) for thermal oil circuits. We also serve fire protection systems in compliance with NFPA and NBR 16704.

It depends on the service: fluid, temperature and operating pressure determine the configuration, which engineering defines. Available options are single seal, double seal (tandem or back-to-back), cartridge version and, in specific applications, packing glands. Hazardous fluids call for a double seal with barrier — that is the recommended option.

For critical parts (mechanical seal, impeller, shaft, wear ring, bearings) during a plant shutdown in Rio Tinto, FB Bombas runs an emergency flow: pre-invoicing, priority dispatch and alternative modal (express road or air transport depending on distance and criticality). Typical lead time varies by region, with a window negotiable case by case. For customers with an installed base and scheduled PM, part of the stock can be kept on consignment at the plant.

It is compatible when the dimension designation is the same. ASME B73.1 (North American dimensional standard for end-suction process pumps), adopted in the FBCN series, defines an envelope common to the whole normalized fleet operating in Rio Tinto plants, whoever manufactured the installed unit. In a typical retrofit, baseplate, suction/discharge piping and foundations are preserved, and FB Bombas supplies the complete new pump — not loose parts for third-party equipment. The dimensional and hydraulic gap analysis is executed by application engineering before supplying.

Manufacturing in Brazil since 1944, FB Bombas delivers shorter lead times — with no import dependency —, direct technical support from FB engineering, in-house manufactured replacement parts, local-currency pricing free of exchange rate exposure, and on-site service for projects in Rio Tinto and surrounding areas.

Yes. In addition to the standard portfolio, FB Bombas develops custom solutions for special applications, including modifications in construction materials, sealing arrangements, integrated heating systems, skids, mobile assemblies and retrofit of existing installations. Special projects go through engineering before manufacturing.

Yes. On pumps installed in Rio Tinto, FB Bombas application engineering applies ISO 10816 (velocity RMS in mm/s) to diagnose misalignment, imbalance, bearing defects and cavitation. The scope covers baseline captured at startup, spectral comparison throughout PM campaigns and recommendation of interventions — re-balancing, bearing replacement, laser alignment — before the machine reaches the standard's zone D.

Shipment is by road via BR-101 (via PE), with industrial packaging suited to the journey and tracking until delivery. Sizing, proposal and technical support run in parallel through remote channels — distance does not change the engineering scope, only the logistics planning, reflected in the proposal schedule.