Case Study: Panama Canal expansion project moves 1.7 billion gallons of water to test new locks

Summary

Xylem, a global leader in water solutions, played a pivotal role in the expansion of the Panama Canal by pumping water from Lake Gatun to the new locks. The company assembled a specialized team to design, set up, and monitor the water transfer, utilizing its extensive pump rental fleet. Xylem's 15 Godwin CD400M pumps and 2.5 miles of HDPE pipe moved 1.7 billion gallons of water in just 22 days, showcasing their expertise, logistical capabilities, and commitment to solving complex challenges with passion and efficiency.

Takeaways

• 🌎 Panama is undertaking a significant expansion of its famous Canal to accommodate larger vessels.
• 🚢 Xylem, a company specializing in water solutions, was chosen to pump water from Lake Gatun to the new Canal locks for testing purposes.
• 🔧 The project showcases Xylem's ability to rapidly mobilize resources to hard-to-reach locations and solve complex customer challenges.
• 💧 Xylem provided a comprehensive solution, including transport, design, setup, and monitoring, for the Panama Canal Authority.
• 🛫 To meet tight deadlines, Xylem chartered five 747 cargo planes to transport rental pumps and equipment from the U.S. to Panama.
• 🔄 They delivered 15 Godwin CD400M dry prime pumps and 2.5 miles of HDPE pipe to move 1.7 billion gallons of water in just 22 days.
• 🛠️ Xylem's engineers designed and installed the system, incorporating Godwin Field Smart technology for real-time remote pump monitoring.
• 🏆 Xylem's application expertise sets them apart from competitors, as they manufacture, service, and rent their pumps, ensuring reliability and responsiveness.
• 🌟 The company's global presence, with 150 sales offices, and the dedication of its people, contribute to its reputation as a key player in water solutions.
• 👥 The quality and passion of Xylem's team are highlighted as crucial to the successful execution of projects, big or small.
• 🏛 The Panama Canal project is not just significant for Panama but is a global endeavor, demonstrating Xylem's capability on a historic scale.

Q & A

What was the purpose of the Panama Canal expansion project?

The purpose of the Panama Canal expansion was to accommodate bigger ships from around the world, enhancing its capacity for global shipping.

What was Xylem's role in the Panama Canal expansion project?

Xylem was tasked with pumping water from Lake Gatun to the new locks of the Panama Canal to test their functionality, demonstrating their capability in mobilizing assets to a hard-to-reach location in a short period of time.

What challenges did Xylem face in delivering the project on time?

The main challenge was the timing, as Xylem had to mobilize and deliver the project within a very short period to meet the tight schedule.

How did Xylem ensure the water was flowing during critical pumping periods?

Xylem's highly skilled engineers designed and installed a system that included Godwin field smart technology for real-time remote pump monitoring.

What was the scope of Xylem's project for the Panama Canal Authority?

Xylem provided a total rental solution, handling every aspect from transport, design, setup, fusing miles of pipe, to pumping and monitoring.

What was the significance of using pump rental for this project?

Pump rental was the right solution because it allowed Xylem to mobilize the necessary assets logistically and ensure they were operational when needed.

How did Xylem transport the rental pumps and equipment to Panama?

Xylem chartered five 747 cargo planes to transport the rental pumps and equipment from the United States to Panama.

What type of pumps did Xylem use for the project, and how many were deployed?

Xylem used 15 Godwin CD400M dry prime pumps for the project.

How much water did Xylem move in the project, and in how many days?

Xylem moved 1.7 billion gallons of water in just 22 days.

What differentiates Xylem from its competitors in the pump rental industry?

Xylem differentiates itself through its application expertise, manufacturing, servicing, and renting its own pumps, ensuring reliability and responsiveness.

What is Xylem's global presence, and how does it reflect on its ability to serve projects worldwide?

Xylem has 150 sales offices around the world, demonstrating its global presence and ability to serve projects of any scale with quality and dedication.