GRAND TERRACE, CA — Pump manufacturer Wilden^® recently donated a new air-operated double-diaphragm (AODD) pump to Mercy Ships for transferring blackwater onboard the hospital ship Africa Mercy, the largest civilian hospital ship in the world. Founded in 1978, Mercy Ships is a global charitable organization that operates a fleet of hospital ships specially designed for use in developing nations.

Many people in Africa have little or no access to healthcare. As a result, many children, teens and adults suffer and die every day from curable or treatable causes. For nearly 40 years, Mercy Ships has delivered free services valued at more than $1 billion, directly impacting more than 2.5 million children and families. As a state-of-the-art hospital ship, the Africa Mercy brings volunteer medical teams and sterile operating rooms directly to people who would otherwise go without care.

“At Wilden, we are passionately committed to making a difference in people’s lives,” said Erik Solfelt, Diaphragm Pump Product Manager for Wilden. “We’re thrilled to participate in important programs, such as Mercy Ships, and are extremely happy that our pumps have the ability to help improve the health of those in need. We look forward to continuing to help Mercy Ships for many years to come.”

Specifically, Wilden donated a PS8 Original™ 51 mm (2”) metal AODD pump to Mercy Ships. This high-performance pump features the reliability and energy savings of the Pro-Flo SHIFT^® Air Distribution System (ADS) while its clamped configuration allows for easier maintenance, diaphragm replacement and cleaning. PS8 Original pumps are shear sensitive and intrinsically safe with self-priming and dry-run capabilities, and offer the longest mean time between repair (MTBR), superior anti-freezing and increased on/off reliability.