Grundfos bets big on intelligent pumps to avoid water wastage

G Naga Sridhar

How about sending a drone to find and fix leakages in water piping systems?

In the Indian context this may appear a bit far-fetched in a predominantly agricultural economy, but this line of thinking sums up the vision and work of the digital technology team at the Denmark-based pumps maker, Grundfos.

Like any other manufacturer, Grundfos, too, is now focussing on harnessing digital technologies to make intelligent pumps or e-pumps, said Marianne Kjeldgaard Knudsen, Senior Director, Digital Offerings, Grundfos .

“With increasing digitisation, we are on the path to become a future water company,” she said.

Scope

On the scope of digital offerings, Knudsen said a demand-driven distribution and sensor-based technology could be used in piping systems to manage water pressure to avoid wastage.

About 25 per cent of water goes waste in London due to leakage in their water systems, she said, adding that Grundfos was conducting some case studies in this regard in Hungary and in a few other locations.

In Germany, Internet of Things-based solutions are being provided in water wash systems by dosing the pumps on the basis of requirements.

Even in India, more than one-third of water meant for irrigation purposes, is being wasted due to leakage in distribution.

A team of over 60 software professionals is now working exclusively on digital offerings in pumps with the active participation of the R&D team from Grundfos India’s facility, said Knudsen.

Grundfos is further stepping up the use of analytics, eco-system integration and predictable maintenance and repair of pump systems.