Jul 23, 20256 min read

A mass customisation phenomenon: KSB’s Eta type series

A standardised pump – but available in millions of variants: KSB’s Eta type series is a prime example of successful mass customisation!

Customised mass production – not a contradiction with KSB

Individual customer requirements are not always easy to fulfil – this is the case almost everywhere in business and of course also in the area of fluid handling. Customers want individually configured pumps. Ideally, they should correspond 100 percent to the customer’s requirements with regard to size, material selection and other variables.

However, the pumps should also be as “standard” as possible, i.e. fast delivery, simple to install, easy to maintain with spare parts quickly supplied, and, last but not least, inexpensive.

At first glance, this is a complete dilemma – either you go for highly individualised custom manufacturing, which usually entails very high costs, or you opt for mass production of your products – with economies of scale, a high level of automation and correspondingly low prices. But couldn’t both work at the same time?

How can seemingly incompatible things be combined?

The magic word is mass customisation, i.e. customised mass production – an approach which is already being used successfully by many companies today, from car manufacturers offering mass-produced vehicles in countless different variants through to computer manufacturers and online mail order companies supplying customised muesli mixes.

Intelligent mass customisation combines the advantages of mass production (automation, economies of scale, low unit costs, etc.) with the benefits of custom manufacturing (i.e. highly customised).

KSB employee in an assembly hall assembling Eta pumps — At KSB, thousands of Eta pumps leave the factory halls in Frankenthal, South Africa, China and other production locations every year.

But how can companies master this balancing act?

The secret lies in the production process. Modern production lines are increasingly able to flexibly react to individual requirements. Smart processes, digitally controlled production and intelligent warehousing and logistics provide the necessary basis. There’s a good reason why mass customisation is also a key objective of Industry 4.0.

In this process, the work is often carried out in two stages. First, a base unit that is always identical is manufactured according to the rules of mass production – for example, a laptop shell with a screen and non-configurable standard components. The base unit can also be produced for stock to ensure that the products can be quickly completed on demand. This then takes place during the second stage when the base unit is tailored to the customer’s requirements with individually selected components – in our example, perhaps a faster processor, more memory and a larger hard disk.

At KSB, the answer to the question of the highest possible degree of customisation combined with a high level of product standardisation is very simple: Eta!

A standardised pump – but available in over 5 million possible designs

First of all, what is a standardised pump? And how can it be standardised if it’s available in so many different variants? It’s actually very simple: the pumps from the Etanorm and Etabloc ranges comply with the EN 733 standard – guaranteeing clearly defined parameters such as nominal power, main dimensions and the designation system. This offers users many advantages in terms of service, spare parts supply and maintenance. The standard specifies the performance range and main dimensions in such a way that the pumps can be replaced with standardised pumps of other makes without additional modification to the piping and baseplate. Standardised pumps are now the classic choice and preferred “workhorses” in the process industry.

KSB alone sells over 100,000 pumps from the Eta family every year. This makes it the world’s best-selling standardised water pump! The majority are manufactured in Frankenthal and the remainder are produced at KSB’s plants in South Africa, China, Pakistan and India. The pumps are suitable for use in water supply systems, in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning applications and for fluid transport in industry. In addition to the Etanorm pump, this type series also comprises Etabloc, Etachrom, Etaprime, Etanorm V and Etaline as well as the heat transfer fluid pumps from the SYT ranges. They are available in grey cast iron, stainless steel, nodular cast iron or bronze, as well as in countless other combinations and designs. In total, these KSB pumps are available in an incredible 5.2 million variants!

A standardised pump that can be supplied to customers in millions of variants within a very short time and at a low cost – KSB created the prototype for successful mass customisation years ago.

Eta close up — A success story made in Frankenthal: The Eta standardised pump, tried and tested thousands of times over.

Eta maximises efficiency – and minimises problems

It’s no coincidence that the pumps bear the name Eta – in the field of engineering, the Greek letter η stands for efficiency. Eta demonstrates maximum efficiency in many respects:

Low energy consumption: optimised hydraulic system delivering high efficiency
Pioneering energy efficiency: variable speed operation using a KSB PumpDrive
Optimum drive solutions: from standard asynchronous motor to high-efficiency IE5 KSB SuPremE® motors
Maximum system availability through optional digital solutions: PumpMeter,KSB FlowManager app, KSB Guard
Maximum service-friendliness thanks to rapid spare parts delivery, easy dismantling/reassembly and global service network

A more efficient future, step by step

Over many decades, the pumps from the various Eta ranges have proven their worth millions of times over – and are still being even further refined. KSB will soon be introducing new hydraulic systems for the largest 19 sizes of the Etanorm – with crucial advantages:

Even higher efficiencies (up to 88 %) and thus lower operating costs
Minimum efficiency index (MEI) significantly above the minimum requirement (max. 0.7)
Lower investment costs thanks to hydraulic system selection based on your operating demands

Etanorm/Etanorm MyFlow/Etanorm Pro

Documents

Single-stage volute casing pump in back pull-out design, with ratings and main dimensions to EN 733, with IEC-compatible power drive system comprising PumpDrive 2 and KSB SuPremE® motor or PumpDrive 3 (efficiency class IE4/IE5 to IEC TS 60034-2-3:2016) and motor-integrated frequency inverter. The pump is designed with replaceable casing wear rings, closed radial impeller with multiply curved vanes, single mechanical seal or double mechanical seals to EN 12756, shaft equipped with replaceable shaft protecting sleeve in the shaft seal area. The back pull-out design allows the coupling, bearing brackets and impeller to be dismantled without the need to disconnect the pump casing from the piping. Motor mounting points in accordance with IEC 60072, envelope dimensions in accordance with DIN V 42673 (07-2011). ATEX-compliant version available. Well ahead of the ErP Directive's efficiency requirements.

Details

Etabloc/Etabloc Pro/Etabloc MyFlow

Documents

Single-stage volute casing pump in close-coupled design, with ratings to EN 733, with IEC-compatible power drive system comprising PumpDrive 2 and KSB SuPremE® motor or PumpDrive 3 (efficiency class IE4/IE5 to IEC TS 60034-2-3:2016) and motor-integrated frequency inverter. Shaft fitted with a replaceable shaft sleeve in the shaft seal area. Volute casing and casing cover with replaceable casing wear rings. Volute casing with integrally cast pump feet for variants B, C and S. Motor mounting points in accordance with IEC 60072, envelope dimensions in accordance with DIN V 42673 (07-2011). ATEX-compliant version available. Well ahead of the ErP Directive's efficiency requirements.

Details

Etaline/Etaline Pro/Etaline MyFlow

Documents

Single-stage volute casing pump in in-line design with IEC-compatible power drive system comprising PumpDrive 2 and KSB SuPremE® motor or PumpDrive 3 (efficiency class IE4/IE5 to IEC TS 60034-2-3:2016) and motor-integrated frequency inverter. Pump shaft and motor shaft are rigidly connected; with uncooled mechanical seal to EN 12756 and replaceable casing wear rings. Drive lantern made of grey cast iron. Motor mounting points in accordance with IEC 60072, envelope dimensions in accordance with DIN V 42673 (07-2011). ATEX-compliant version available. Well ahead of the ErP Directive's efficiency requirements.

Details

PumpMeter

Documents

Device for monitoring the operation of one pump. It is an intelligent pressure transmitter for pumps, with on-site display of measured values and operating data. It records the load profile of the pump in order to indicate any potential for optimising energy efficiency and availability. The device comprises two pressure sensors and a display unit. PumpMeter is supplied completely assembled and parameterised for the pump it is used with. It is ready for operation as soon as the M12 plug connector is plugged in.

Details

KSB Guard

Documents

The smart and comprehensive monitoring service for pumps and other rotating machinery, available 24/7 and also for non-KSB pumps. Benefit from predictive maintenance with KSB: comprehensive transparency, increased availability, enhanced operating reliability and efficient operation (of fixed-speed pumps). Important operating data such as vibrations, temperature, operating hours and load condition (of fixed-speed pumps) can be accessed via KSB Guard, anytime and from anywhere. In addition, deviations from normal operation trigger immediate notifications via the KSB Guard web portal and/or app. The experts at the KSB Monitoring Centre also provide support in analysing causes.

Details

KSB EasySelect

KSB EasySelect^® is the all-round tool for all pump and valve selection applications – fast, simple, clear and user-friendly.

Learn more

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A mass customisation phenomenon: KSB’s Eta type series

Customised mass production – not a contradiction with KSB

How can seemingly incompatible things be combined?

But how can companies master this balancing act?

Eta from KSB

A standardised pump – but available in over 5 million possible designs

Eta maximises efficiency – and minimises problems

A more efficient future, step by step

Used products

Etanorm/Etanorm MyFlow/Etanorm Pro

Etabloc/Etabloc Pro/Etabloc MyFlow

Etaline/Etaline Pro/Etaline MyFlow

PumpMeter

KSB Guard

Matching services

KSB EasySelect

Stay up to date with the KSB Newsletter.

Stay up to date with the KSB Newsletter.