Built for Australian conditions, these Melbourne-made submersible pumps deliver peak performance across diverse, demanding applications.
Sterling Pumps has been designing and manufacturing submersible pumps in Australia, using its heritage brands for over 40 years. This rich history of manufacturing locally has allowed Sterling to develop technology that is directly suited to Australian conditions.
In 2020, Sterling acquired United Pumps Australia (UPA), which has Australian manufacturing experience dating back to the 1940s. UPA started as a service-oriented company focused on refurbishing and improving existing pump technologies. Over the years, the company has leveraged its expertise in designing and manufacturing custom-engineered pumping solutions, gaining a reputation for durability and efficiency.
The two companies’ combined manufacturing and engineering strengths allow them to expand their reach and capabilities. With an impressive engineering design and R&D team, Sterling has developed over 50 unique submersible pump hydraulics with bowl diameters between 100 and 915mm. These pumps are rigorously tested in their 2,500kW or 1000kW test rooms. From design to casting, machining to testing, Sterling is committed to Australian-made products.
Development
Sterling developed its own submersible pump and motor combination, which means that units are matched from design to perform as one unit. For high-head applications, pumps are hydraulically balanced, significantly reducing the load on the motor thrust bearing. In recent years, Sterling has redeveloped its range of six to 12-inch submersible pumps to include investment cast impellers and diffusers. This improves the surface finish of these components, increasing pump efficiency.
The Sterling submersible pump range now covers flows of up to 3,600 cubic metres per hour (m³/hr) and heads of over 550 metres. Construction is either a traditional submersible motor mounted below the pump or a ballast design with the submersible motor mounted above the pump for shallow applications.
Wear rings and bearings are made of bronze, stainless steel or tungsten carbide. These hard-wearing materials maintain running clearances for longer, allowing the pump to maintain its efficiency for longer. Specific material selections are made for each application. Irrigation, mining, municipal, seawater lift, and DNV-certified pumps each have specific requirements that our application engineers meet.
Local support
Sterling engineers, manufacturing and testing are all based in Melbourne and all staff are Melbourne-based. This ensures that Sterling’s customers can receive full support without referring to an offshore engineering team. The Sunshine and Pakenham teams welcome product inspections, pump and system testing. With support from its project engineering team, Sterling can supply fully engineered and documented projects to the highest standards, such as API 610.
As a global WPIL International Group member, Sterling Pumps remains committed to excellence and providing custom solutions for its clients. By sharing designs, patents, and information across the group, Sterling Pumps and other members of the WPIL International Group can continue to be trusted leaders in the design and manufacture of industry-specific products and pumps.
