UDOR has been manufacturing high pressure pumps and diaphragm pumps in Rubiera, Italy since 1944. We’ve been their sole New Zealand distributor since the 1990s, and we fit UDOR pumps as standard across our Tornado and trailer-mounted water blaster ranges. This guide covers the full UDOR pump lineup, what each series is designed for, and how to get the most out of them.
There are plenty of pump manufacturers out there. We chose UDOR — and stuck with them for 30-odd years — for a few straightforward reasons:
We carry a full range of UDOR spares in Auckland. When you need a seal kit or valve set, you’re not waiting for an air freight from Italy.
These are the workhorses of the water blaster industry. Triplex (three-plunger) design with a crankcase, ceramic plungers, and brass heads. Used in everything from portable water blasters through to industrial cleaning systems.
PN Series — The entry point for commercial water blasters. Compact, belt or direct drive compatible. Pressure ratings from 100 to 200 bar, flow rates from 8 to 21 LPM. We fit PN series pumps on our smaller Tornado and Electro-Blast machines.
PK Series — Medium duty. Heavier crankcase, larger bearings. A step up from the PN for machines running longer hours. Same pressure and flow range, but built for higher duty cycles.
PKL Series — The workhorse of the range. Beefed-up bearings, larger oil capacity, designed for continuous industrial duty. This is what goes on our Tornado Heavy Duty models with gearbox drive. Running at 900–1,000 RPM through a gearbox, these pumps will do serious hours between rebuilds.
B/C Series — Heavy industrial. Larger displacement, higher flow rates. Used on diesel-powered skid and trailer units where you need 20+ LPM at 200+ bar. The C series runs up to 500 bar for UHP applications.
NK/VX Series — Specialist high-pressure, lower-flow pumps. Used in industrial cleaning, hydro testing, and surface preparation. The VX series is rated for continuous duty at extreme pressures.
PENTA Series — Five-plunger pump for applications where smooth, pulsation-free flow matters. Less common in water blasters, more often found in industrial process applications.
GAMMA Series — UDOR’s top-end industrial plunger pump. Massive crankcase, huge bearings, designed for 24/7 operation in mining, petrochemical, and heavy industry. Flow rates up to 182 LPM.
The key factors are:
UDOR’s diaphragm pumps are the standard across New Zealand for agricultural spraying, weed control, and chemical application. Unlike plunger pumps, diaphragm pumps can run dry without damage and handle chemical solutions that would eat through brass fittings.
IOTA Series — Small, compact. 20–40 LPM at up to 20 bar. Ideal for spot spraying, small boom sprayers, and handgun applications. Shaft or belt driven.
ZETA Series — Mid-range. 40–100 LPM at up to 40 bar. The go-to for medium boom sprayers, orchard sprayers, and weed control rigs. We use ZETA pumps on our Ute Pack sprayer units.
KAPPA Series — Heavy duty diaphragm pump. 70–150 LPM at up to 50 bar. For large boom sprayers, high-volume chemical application, and industrial transfer.
DELTA Series — High-flow diaphragm pump for large agricultural sprayers. Flows up to 200+ LPM.
OMEGA Series — Top of the diaphragm range. Maximum flow and pressure for large-scale agricultural and industrial spraying.
BETA Series — Specialised diaphragm pump for chemical transfer and industrial applications where corrosion resistance is critical.
| Plunger Pump | Diaphragm Pump | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Water blasting, high pressure cleaning | Spraying, chemical application |
| Pressure range | 30–500+ bar | 5–50 bar |
| Can run dry? | No — will damage seals and plungers | Yes — no damage |
| Chemical compatible? | Limited — water or mild detergent only | Yes — handles most ag chemicals |
| Rebuild cost | Moderate (seal kits, plungers) | Low (diaphragm replacement) |
| Typical life | 1,000–3,000+ hours between rebuilds | 500–2,000 hours per diaphragm |
A UDOR triplex plunger pump is a precision piece of gear. Look after it properly and it’ll run for thousands of hours. Neglect it and you’ll be buying rebuild kits far more often than you need to.
Every 50 hours:
– Change pump oil (more often in dusty or dirty conditions)
– Inspect inlet filter and clean/replace
Every 250 hours:
– Inspect high-pressure hose for wear, cuts, or bulging
– Check unloader valve operation
– Inspect nozzle for wear (a worn nozzle drops pressure and wastes fuel)
Every 500–1,000 hours (or when you notice pressure drop):
– Replace pump seals (water seal kit)
– Inspect ceramic plungers for scoring — replace if needed
– Inspect inlet and outlet valves — replace if seated surfaces are worn
Pressure drops off: First check the nozzle — a worn nozzle is the most common cause. If the nozzle is fine, check inlet valves (stuck or worn), outlet valves, or water seals.
Pump is noisy / vibrating: Usually cavitation from a restricted water supply. Check inlet hose for kinks, clean the inlet filter, and make sure the water supply can deliver the required flow rate.
Oil turns milky: Water is getting past the low-pressure seals into the crankcase. Replace the water seal kit and change the oil. Don’t run on milky oil — it won’t lubricate properly and you’ll damage bearings.
Pump won’t build pressure: Check the unloader valve first. Then check for worn nozzle, stuck valves, or blown seals. Work through them systematically — it’s almost always one of these four things.
Water leaking from under the pump head: The high-pressure seals or plunger packings are worn. Replace the seal kit. If the plungers are scored, replace those too — new seals won’t seal against a damaged plunger.
We carry a full range of UDOR spare parts in Auckland:
Most common seal kits and valve sets are in stock. For less common parts, we can typically get them from Italy within 1–2 weeks.
If you’re speccing a new water blaster build or replacing a pump on an existing machine, get in touch. We need to know:
We’ll recommend the right pump and can supply it c/w mounting flange, fittings, and unloader valve ready to install.
46 Sir William Avenue
East Tamaki, Auckland 2013,
New Zealand
info@aesblasters.co.nz09 271 4782Copyright © 2024 Aesblasters. - All Rights Reserved.
