Sustainability through Technology

Water scarcity is one of the core issues of our time. As a leading global enterprise for the provision of efficient and sustainable water cycle technologies, Xylem is committed to fighting water shortages through innovative and resourceconserving solutions.

The company helps their customers to master the challenges involved in handling water to solve the world‘s most urgent water problems. A goal that one of the largest pump manufacturers – with approx. 16,000 employees worldwide – is pursuing handin-hand with a number of strong partners. EagleBurgmann is one of Xylem’s select few “Preferred Suppliers” that excel due to the quality of their products and services, their innovative technologies, their reliability and the responsible and respectful way in which they treat the environment. The outstanding performance of EagleBurgmann has now been honored through the presentation of the Xylem Supplier Award.

This award is a milestone in a longstanding collaboration that began with Xylem’s predecessor, ITT Fluid, and which has continued with Xylem since 2014. A partnership of equals has emerged, characterized by shared values and a mission to make the planet greener through smart technologies. The Xylem Supplier Award recognizes the excellent quality and diversity of EagleBurgmann’s product portfolio, their innovative strength and their outstanding services.

Signing the WASH Pledge of the WBCSD (World Business Council for Sustainable Development) is a further step along the road to achieving greater sustainability. Through signing this agreement, the participating companies undertake to guarantee their employees access to clean water, adequate sanitary facilities and hygiene at the workplace at all their locations. “This is a consistent development because not only do we want to help our customers to design more sustainable products, we also want to actively demonstrate responsibility at our own company,” says René Heilmann, Director Global Communications & Marketing at EagleBurgmann. 

The WASH Pledge for access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) was developed by the WBCSD in collaboration with their partners and published in 2013. The Pledge is an opportunity for companies to make a concrete contribution to the implementation of the United Nations’ SDG 6 (Sustainable Development Goal 6). By signing the now updated version, companies commit themselves to implementing the requirements at all the industrial premises currently under their direct control within a three-year period. They are also urged to campaign for the WASH goals throughout their value chain, in the homes of their employees, in the local communities and along the supply chain.

EagleBurgmann is a synonym for sealing solutions that are both high-quality and economical at the same time, thus also synonymous for sustainability based on technology and reliability. This is also something of which Xylem are convinced, with the result that they rely on seals supplied by EagleBurgmann during the development and production of their pumps, pump systems and pump stations. The bandwidth extends from elastomer bellows and metal bellows mechanical seals to stationary and split mechanical seals, cartridge units and packings. These include both standard and customized products, such as large seals with a diameter of over 500mm used in pump systems for irrigation projects in India.

Xylem, who are involved in large-scale manufacturing, believe in technological leadership, which is why they like to use the seal designs and innovations supplied by EagleBurgmann. The eMG seal series is one of these new generations of seals and a further development of the tried-and-tested MG series. When revising the design of these mechanical seals, the optimization of the seal geometry is just one important aspect where the eMG series can score points. Equally important is the comprehensive know-how which flows into the development of the raw materials used – aimed at improving the mechanical properties of these seals. In addition, the raw materials used in seals destined for water applications must come with the respective national drinking water approvals. When used around the globe, therefore, approvals and certificates from several different certification bodies are often required. In Europe, for example, this includes the guideline on materials in contact with drinking water published by the German Environment Agency (“UBA (KTW)”) in Germany and in the UK, the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS).

The new eMG elastomer bellows seals consist of an innovative, series optimized eSic Q7 silicon carbide, high-performance face material – a friction and wear optimized face material that enables up to 50 % longer operating periods, extended emergency running properties and lower energy consumption. Accordingly, this new generation of eMG seals is a good example of how higher safety levels and an increase in reliability and sustainability can be achieved through technological advancement.

Alongside EagleBurgmann’s excellent product quality and their wide-ranging portfolio, the decisive factor for the presentation of the Xylem Supplier Award was the total reliability of their services. This includes the dependable, punctual management of global deliveries, an extensive support network and the geographical proximity to customers through a range of service and sales centers located around the globe. “EagleBurgmann is a full-service partner with a global presence and a competent and dedicated key account team that meets our expectations – not only in terms of products and service but also with respect to adhering to delivery dates, innovation and ongoing support”, explains Katrina Thorogood, Director Global Indirect Category Management at Xylem. This award acknowledges EagleBurgmann as a supplier of first-class industrial sealing technology with the ability to cut costs and resources on the shop floor through innovation, the deployment of the latest technologies and a comprehensive range of services.

“We are proud that the image we have of ourselves as a reliable and leading technology partner vis-à-vis our customers has received such recognition,” says Peter Bock, Key Account Manager and Application Engineer at EagleBurgmann, expressing his thanks for the award, “this motivates us to continue to develop reliable, highperformance solutions in the future – whilst simultaneously advancing down the road to sustainability.

Our products & services for water related applications

Would you like to learn more about what we have to offer to industries with water related applications? Find out more here. Or feel free to contact us.