Fluid Handling Products
Bearings International (Bi), a market-leading supplier and distributor of premium mechanical industrial consumables, has made a deliberate decision to extend its offering into fluid handling products, thus strengthening the company’s value proposition to customers. This move propelled Bi’s entry into the local pumps market in September 2025 through an exclusive distribution agreement with Italian manufacturer, SAER.
The agreement terms have unlocked the SAER range of surface pump types for clear-water applications, including centrifugal, multi-stage and high-pressure units, complemented by end-suction and close-coupled variants as well as a selection of submersible solutions. While surface pumps will remain the primary focus, Bi is also offering submersible wastewater pumps ideally suited for select municipal and industrial applications, adding comprehensive and tailored solutions to meet diverse sector needs.
Highly encouraging
“Since the launch of the SAER pumps to the local market, the response from industry has been highly encouraging,” notes Glen Espag, Bi Product Application Engineer – Pumps. “While still in the early stages locally, market acceptance of the SAER range continues to build momentum, with customers responding positively to the brand’s strong engineering pedigree and proven global track record.
“With more installations coming online, successful applications serve as strong references across the market and customers experiencing the product’s reliability and performance first-hand, confidence is steadily rising.” Glen observes that SAER pumps are increasingly being integrated into both new projects and retrofit applications, often displacing older, less efficient units and thereby enhancing reliability and energy efficiency.
Strongest interest
The municipal, industrial and agricultural sectors are showing the strongest interest, propelled by infrastructure upgrades, water security initiatives and the need for efficient water transfer and pressure-boosting solutions. Mining, construction and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sectors seeking robust, reliable pumping solutions are also showing growing engagement.
“SAER surface pumps are proving effective across applications including water transfer, pressure boosting, HVAC systems, irrigation and general industrial processes, with customers valuing their versatility and ease of maintenance,” notes Glen.
Plug-and-play
Building on this, further key adoption drivers include robust construction, high hydraulic efficiency and low energy consumption, with customers also valuing the quality of materials and consistent performance under Africa’s demanding operating conditions.
Adding to these strengths are SAER pumps’ plug-and-play configurations, which simplify installation and support efficient commissioning while ensuring market-leading reliability and improved uptime during operation. These advantages are being echoed by feedback from early adopters, who highlight the same strengths while also noting stable performance, improved operational efficiency and the benefit of responsive local technical expertise.
Crucial differentiator
After-sales support is a critical differentiator, with Bi’s national footprint, reliable spare-parts availability and a dedicated team of technical specialists ensuring customers receive timely, effective assistance. Training remains a cornerstone of Bi’s customer support too. A dedicated SAER-certified technician has equipped Bi staff with in-depth knowledge of product specifications, installation protocols, maintenance and troubleshooting, ensuring the team is fully equipped to assist customers.
The company has further strengthened its capacity by onboarding additional technical sales personnel and upskilling existing staff through comprehensive SAER training. “We are equally focused on empowering our customers with structured programmes,” highlights Glen. “Delivered both on-site and at Bi’s facilities, these sessions cover pump operation, maintenance, fault diagnosis and lifecycle optimisation, tailored to sector-specific requirements.”
Future plans
He reveals future plans to expand into additional product lines such as borehole and deep-well submersible pumps, fire-fighting systems and customised pump solutions. “We have also identified a growing potential in energy-efficient and sustainability-driven applications as well as in pumps-as-turbines (PAT) for energy recovery. As infrastructure investment and water management initiatives continue, we anticipate broader adoption across multiple sectors.”
“By adding pumps to our portfolio alongside drive systems, torque transfer, bearings, seals and field services, we now offer a comprehensive suite of solutions to keep our customers in motion. Looking ahead, we see strong opportunities in energy-efficient and sustainability-driven applications, as well as customised pump solutions. The SAER partnership represents a decisive step forward for Bi, future-proofing customer operations and driving mutual long-term success,” Glen concludes
