About Us

“Everything we have, we built from Kalgoorlie. It’s home. That’s why the name will never change. It’s imperative that the branch grows, thrives, and builds because that’s where it all began. A couple of guys took a risk and the community got behind us,” he says. Kalpumps was established 32 years ago. Though it’s hard to believe with the level of mining activity in the area, it was the first local pump business. Most of the mines were serviced out of Perth or even the eastern states. Greg, a plumber gasfitter by trade, had been working underground until his then-fiancé said she wanted him out of the mines, so 19 years ago he joined Kalpumps in a sales role. 

Six years later, other companies started trying to woo Greg, but an offer of a 50% stake in the business kept him with Kalpumps. He is now the biggest of four shareholders. The business now has a branch in Perth, where many mining companies are headquartered, but its heart remains in Kalgoorlie, where the branch is headed up by Greg’s best mate. And while regional WA is home to the business, its reach is now global. “Our customer base stretches all through WA and interstate plus into New Zealand, West Africa and even Mongolia, which has the biggest mine in the world,” Greg says. “Most of our global customers come because they have expats working for them who have dealt with us and had a good experience.  “Our service is go to whoa and that is where we win and keep customers. We offer knowledge, service and product. Originally we were just supplying pumps but we have become a much more multi-faceted supplier, with control panels, gen sets, pipes, our own fabrication in-house. We supply a package instead of the client have to deal with five or six suppliers. It makes it very easy, and if they have a problem they just need to call one person.” Greg says his business is all about relationships, so he chooses staff who have the right drive even if they don’t come in with the right skills. “When I find the right person, I will wait for them. I never poach them. Then I teach them what they need to know.” Supplier relationships are critical, too. Greg has always carried Davey products but drastically increased his commitment to the brand because of the excellent support he received from his regional rep. “When you rang he answered, if you emailed he returned it. He listened and went with our ideas and in our second year as a Black Master Dealer we were doing eight or nine times more Davey product than we used to. It’s a symbiotic relationship. Davey supported us in the early stages and now we work hard for them.”