Gusher Vertical Pump Retrofit Keeps Heat Treat Operations Flowing

Distributor Great Lakes Pump & Supply specs Gould replacement at Acument Global Technologies

When it comes to heat treating, consistency is everything. At Acument Global Technologies in Fenton, Michigan, maintaining uniform quench oil temperature is critical to ensuring that the automotive fasteners it manufactures harden correctly and production stays on schedule. That consistency was being threatened by an aging, obsolete pump at the heart of the facility’s furnace-quench system.

The original system, built in the 1980s, relied on an ITT Goulds 3755 6×6-9 horizontal pump mounted vertically inside a 22,000-gallon quench tank. While it did the job for decades, servicing it had become increasingly painful.

“Changing pump bearings was a huge pain,” says Jesse Gatica, Heat Treat Operator. “There are dirty jobs, and then there are ass-kicking dirty jobs. This was one of them. And we’d lose at least two days of production too.”

Any maintenance required shutting down the system, transferring all 22,000 gallons of hot quench oil to holding tanks, entering the tank, disconnecting tight process piping, and pulling the pump. On top of that, replacement parts were scarce and expensive.

Plant management first explored repairing the Goulds pump, but the numbers didn’t add up. A new impeller alone was quoted at more than $8,000 with a 180-day lead time. The OEM heat treat supplier proposed a full replacement pump at a cost approaching $60,000. Neither option was very attractive. To find a better solution, Acument turned to Scott Boone at Great Lakes Pump & Supply.

“We’ve gotten great ROI from maintaining our heat treat equipment,” explains Brian Kelly, Operations Supervisor. “But with this pump obsoleted, it turned into a maintenance nightmare. Scott offered the Gusher pump and motor for a cost that was less than twice a new impeller.”

Scott recommended a Gusher 7550 Series vertical pump with the Top Pullout option. A model T6x8-11SEL+12-CDM-ADP with a 6” non-centerline discharge and 40hp motor was matched to the performance parameters of the prior pump. Capable of moving 1,500 GPM at 92 feet of TDH, the pump delivered the performance needed to circulate hot oil quench throughout the tank, drawing heated oil from where parts enter and redistributing it through piping and eductors to maintain uniform temperature.

The new Gusher pump eliminated a lot of maintenance headaches presented by the aging original pump. The 7550 Series was engineered to avoid common failure points, using heavy-duty bearings and a sealless design for more reliable performance.

Choosing the Top Pullout Design option further cuts production downtime. When routine maintenance is required, the pump’s rotating element can be removed without disconnecting the piping and casing. After service, the rotating element can be quickly reinstalled and the pump returned to operation. This shaves hours off repair time and maintains tight pump connections.   

While the selecting a pump with the right performance was easy, mechanical fit was another story. Like most heat treat systems, the quench tank footprint was extremely tight. A short-radius elbow came directly off the pump discharge, leaving virtually no room for modification. The process piping couldn’t be moved without significant cost.

To make it work, the team engineered an extended-length pump, mounted it on a 1-inch riser, reduced the mounting plate dimensions, and used the non-centerline discharge to tuck the flange tightly against the casing. Installation even required tilting the pump into place.

“We had to commit to the Gusher vertical before we were 100% certain it would fit,” explained Doug Carey, Maintenance Supervisor. “We knew from the drawing we needed a 1-inch riser, but making it work meant cutting the plate on one side, moving a support beam, and tilting the pump to get it in.”

Despite the tight clearances, installation went smoothly. The benefits were both immediate and long-term, starting with a modern pump platform supported by readily available replacement parts. The Top Pullout design significantly simplifies service work. As a result, downtime and maintenance labor have been dramatically reduced, while responsive support from Great Lakes Pump & Supply helps ensure the system continues to operate reliably.

Acument already relies on several Ruthman pumps throughout the facility, including Gusher 7550s on parts washers, Ruthman 2E-18-XL pumps on the plating line, and Gusher RL-XL coolant pumps on CNC machines. Adding the Gusher 7550 vertical was a natural fit.

For Acument’s heat treat team, the retrofit didn’t just solve an obsolete-equipment problem. It eliminated a major maintenance headache and helped ensure consistent, high-quality parts for the automotive industry.

And best of all, no more ass-kicking dirty jobs.