KSB Group launched NoriResist, a carbon-based high-performance coating designed to enhance the durability, efficiency and sustainability of pumps and valves operating in harsh industrial environments. The company developed the diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating through close collaboration between its research teams, application technology specialists and industry partners. Primarily targeted at wastewater treatment and process engineering applications, NoriResist offers a robust solution for components exposed to abrasive and corrosive media.
Wide Range of Pump Components Covered
KSB can apply the coating to several hydraulic components, including impellers, wear plates, discharge covers, casing wear rings, impeller wear rings and casings of close-coupled pumps. In addition, NoriResist is compatible with grey cast iron, nodular cast iron and steel materials, while selected plastic components can also receive the coating.
Exceptional Hardness and Wear Resistance
The coating achieves a hardness of 4000–8000 HV (40–80 GPa), making it highly resistant to abrasive wear. Consequently, it performs particularly well in fluids containing sand and other solid particles that typically accelerate component erosion.
Precision Coating Without Component Distortion
KSB applies NoriResist in micrometre-thin layers, which helps preserve the original weight, dimensional accuracy and hydraulic contours of the component. As a result, impellers do not require rebalancing after coating, the low application temperature prevents distortion and the process avoids undesirable microstructural changes.
Field Trials Confirm Long-Term Performance
Field trials conducted in heavily contaminated wastewater applications demonstrated that NoriResist maintained both surface quality and hydraulic efficiency even after thousands of operating hours. By contrast, conventional coatings showed noticeable wear and experienced a measurable decline in efficiency during the same operating period. The coating helps components retain their original contours and sharp vane edges, thereby reducing flow separation and minimizing efficiency losses. According to KSB, coated components can achieve up to three times the operating life of uncoated or conventionally coated alternatives.
Enhanced Reliability in Abrasive and Corrosive Services
NoriResist features a low-friction surface that reduces adhesion and deposit formation. Therefore, pumps handling abrasive or corrosive fluids can operate more reliably with fewer performance disruptions. Moreover, the coating remains chemically inert and thermally stable at temperatures of up to approximately 500°C, while resisting many aggressive substances commonly encountered in industrial processes.
Sustainability and Lower Life Cycle Costs
Beyond performance improvements, KSB designed NoriResist with sustainability in mind. The coating is recyclable and helps avoid the release of plastic and heavy metal particles into the environment. As reported by worldpumps.com, longer maintenance intervals and reduced spare-parts consumption can lower resource use and decrease overall pump life cycle costs, making the technology attractive for operators seeking both operational and environmental benefits.
