Innovation in the mining industry does not always have to mean bigger or more complex. Sometimes, real progress lies in making an existing process more reliable, efficient and practical.
It is this approach that earned Pressure Filter Specialists (PFS) an Innovation & New Product Award at Electra Mining Africa 2026. PFS was one of the winners in the category recognising local manufacturing innovation in mining, celebrating South African engineering expertise and solutions developed for real-world operating conditions.
For PFS, the award represented more than simply a highlight of the show. According to the company, it reflects the engineering, problem-solving and development that go into creating equipment capable of performing under real mining and plant conditions.
Specialists in pressure filtration
Pressure Filter Specialists is a South African company established in 2019 with the aim of providing key solutions to the global mining industry. The team has extensive experience in pressure filtration and focuses on solutions that improve productivity, extend equipment life and minimise plant downtime.
At the heart of the company’s expertise are filter presses.
A filter press is used to separate solid material from liquid. In mining and mineral processing, this process plays an important role when slurry needs to be dewatered and water or other liquids need to be removed from the material.
PFS’s involvement, however, extends far beyond supplying a single machine or component. The company provides critical filter press components, planned and emergency maintenance, operational optimisation, 24/7 support and filter press operation services.
When downtime is not an option
A filter press often forms a critical link within a larger production process. If this link does not function properly, the effects can be felt throughout the rest of the plant.
PFS therefore offers, among other services, service level agreements (SLAs) through which maintenance can be planned in advance, as well as filter audits to assess system performance and identify potential improvements. The company also works with automation for filter monitoring and fault detection.
This approach shifts the focus from simply repairing equipment when something breaks to continuously improving and maintaining the entire filtration process.
PFS also manufactures and supplies an extensive range of filter press components and offers both new and refurbished parts, as well as service exchange units that can be adapted to customers’ requirements.
A South African company with a bigger vision
Although PFS is a relatively young company, its team brings many years of combined industry experience. The company aims to be more than just a supplier, positioning itself as a technical partner that understands a customer’s filtration challenges and develops solutions accordingly.
Safety, sustainability and innovation also form part of this approach. PFS’s overarching objective is to develop and support filtration systems that improve operational efficiency and productivity while taking the environmental impact of operations into consideration.
The award at Electra Mining Africa 2026 is therefore a fitting milestone for the company. It places the spotlight on something that can easily be overshadowed by the mining industry’s massive machinery: the technology and people that ensure critical processes continue to operate day after day.
For Pressure Filter Specialists, innovation ultimately is not only about building something new, but about asking: Can it work better? Can it last longer? And can it help the customer’s plant operate more efficiently?
Kelsey Tait, Managing Director of Pressure Filter Specialists (PFS), alongside one of the company’s advanced pressure filtration systems.
Keep your filtration process running
Whether the requirement is a complete filter press solution, critical components, maintenance, a filter audit or 24/7 operational support, PFS provides expertise across the full lifecycle of the filtration process.
Contact Pressure Filter Specialists on 012-653-8380 or at sales@pressurefilterspecialists.co.za to discuss your application and filtration requirements with the team. Visit Pressure Filter Specialists for more information.
