A brief history of the pump industry:
Source: (World Pumps)
| 2000 BC | Egyptians invent the shadoof |
| 200 BC | Ctesibius invents the reciprocating pump; Archimedean screw pump described (but not invented) by Archimedes |
| 1580 | Sliding vane pump invented by Ramelli; Serviere invents the gear pump |
| 1650 | Otto van Guericke invents his piston vacuum pump |
| 1674 | Sir Samuel Morland patents the packed plunger pump |
| 1738 | Ural hydraulic machinery plant established |
| 1790 | Plenty Ltd established |
| Thomas Simpson establishes his pump business in London Hayward Tyler established | |
| 1830 | Screw pump invented by Revillion |
| 1834 | Sulzer Brothers founded |
| 1840 | Henry R Worthington invents the first direct-acting steam pump |
| 1848 | Goulds Pumps founded |
| 1851 | John Gwynne patents his centrifugal pump improvements |
| 1853 | Bornemann Pumpen founded |
| 1856 | Gilbert Gilkes & Gordon founded |
| 1857 | Roper Pump Company founded |
| Jacob Edson invents the diaphragm pump and founds the Edson Corporation | |
| 1860 | David Brown commences business as pattern maker |
| Allweiler founded | |
| A.S. Cameron invents the first reciprocating steam pump | |
| 1862 | Lawrence Pumps established; Philipp Hilge founded |
| 1866 | Lederle founded |
| Sigma Lutin founded; Stork Pumpen founded Scanpump founded | |
| 1871 | KSB established; Southern Cross established in Australia |
| George and James Weir set up the partnership that forms the Weir Group | |
| 1872 | Weise & Monski, Ochsner, Byron Jackson and Wilo founded |
| 1873 | G & J Weir moves to Glasgow |
| 1875 | Hodgkin and Neuhaus, forerunner of SPP, founded |
| 1877 | Ritz Pumpenfabrik established |
| 1878 | Steimel founded; Hodgkin and Neuhaus becomes the Pulsometer Engineering Company Ltd |
| 1881 | Halberg Maschinenbau founded |
| 1883 | Holden & Brooke founded |
| A W Chesterton founded | |
| 1888 | Kirloskar Brothers Ltd founded |
| 1890 | Salmson starts making pumps in Paris; Osna Pumpen established |
| 1893 | Uraca Pumpenfabrik founded |
| 1894 | Sero Pumpenfabrik founded |
| Peroni founded | |
| 1896 | KSB opens UK subsidiary; Dia Pumpen founded |
| 1897 | Wirth founded |
| Worthington Pump Company and Thomas Simpson amalgamate to form Worthington Simpson Ltd | |
| 1901 | Flygt’s forerunner Stenberg founded |
| 1903 | Rateau founded |
| 1905 | Leistritz Company established |
| 1906 | Stuart Turner Ltd founded |
| 1907 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries produces its first pump |
| 1909 | Tristam Pumpen and Pumpen fabrik Ernst Vogel founded |
| Ingersoll-Rand enters the pump business by acquiring the Cameron Steam Pumps Works | |
| 1910 | Gilbarco produces its first gasoline pump |
| Dickow Pumpen and Hitachi founded | |
| 1911 | Jens Nielsen builds the first Viking internal gear pump, founding the Viking Pump Company |
| 1912 | Ebara Corporation founded; Duriron (Durco Pumps) founded |
| 1916 | Hazleton Pumps founded as Barrett Haentjens and Co. |
| Worthington Pump & Machinery Corporation acquires Worthington Simpson Ltd | |
| 1917 | John Crane founded; Hydraulic Institute established |
| Louis Bergeron invented the concrete volute pump and founded Bergeron S.A. | |
| 1918 | Scanpump and CCM Sulzer founded |
| 1919 | Torishima Pump Mfg Co and Kawamoto Pump Mfg established |
| 1920 | Bombas Itur, Wernert Pumpen and SIHI established |
| 1921 | LaBour founded |
| 1922 | Midland Dairy Machines founded |
| 1923 | Peerless founded; Pacific Pumps founded |
| 1924 | Jung Pumpen established; Leistritz starts making screw pumps |
| Rheinhuette starts pump production | |
| 1926 | Arai Pump Mfg. Co. founded |
| 1927 | Industrial Filter and Pump Mfg Co forerunner founded |
| Edur Pumpenfabrik founded | |
| 1928 | Girdlestone Pumps founded |
| 1929 | Heishin Works, and Houttuin founded |
| Pleuger pioneers the submersible turbine pump motor | |
| Stenberg and Flygt commence their cooperation | |
| 1930 | René Moineau receives a doctorate for his thesis which will lead to the invention of the progressing cavity pump |
| Ensival starts selling centrifugal pumps | |
| Reda Pump Company founded | |
| 1931 | Imo established by Ingeström and Montelius |
| VNII Gidromash research and design organization founded in Moscow | |
| 1932 | Sarlin Pumps founded; Bran+Luebbe founded |
| 1933 | Bush pump invented; Gormann-Rupp established |
| 1936 | Robbins & Myers acquires North American license for the Moineau progressing cavity pump |
| Mono Pumps Ltd formed to manufacture and distribute Moineau’s pump design in the UK | |
| 1937 | Sigmund Pumps Ltd (GB) established |
| 1938 | Ebsray and Warman International founded |
| 1940 | Grindex founded; Dresser acquires Pacific Pumps |
| 1941 | British Pump Manufacturers Association founded |
| Smedegaard Pumps founded | |
| 1944 | Franklin Electric founded |
| 1945 | Grundfos Pumps, Caprari and Flexibox founded |
| 1946 | Cornell Pumps, Klaus Union, Totton Pumps founded |
| 1947 | HMD Seal/Less Pumps established; Hyundai founded |
| 1948 | Abel Pumps launched; Mast Pumpen founded |
| Stenberg Flygt AB designs the first submersible drainage pump; Varisco starts pump production | |
| 1949 | HMD supplies its first production magnet-drive pump |
| 1950 | Batescrew estabIished; Delasco founded |
| 1951 | Tsurumi and Netzsch Mohnop umpen founded |
| 1952 | Lewa and Rovatti founded |
| 1953 | Nikkiso established |
| 1954 | Orlita and Sta-Rite founded |
| Bell & Gossett opens its Little Red Schoolhouse training facility | |
| 1955 | Wilden and DMW Corporation established |
| Borg-Warner acquires Byron Jackson | |
| 1956 | Flygt introduces the submersible sewage pump |
| Saer Elettropompe founded | |
| 1957 | Richter Chemie-Technik founded |
| Centrilift founded | |
| 1958 | Heishin Works becomes Heishin Pump Works Co Ltd |
| SSP Pumps founded | |
| 1959 | World Pumps is launched as Pumping |
| ABS and Calpeda founded | |
| 1960 | David Brown Pumps division formed |
| Europump established | |
| 1961 | Ingersoll-Rand acquires the Aldrich Pump Company |
| Pulsometer Engineering joins the Booker McConnel Group, which had already acquired Sigmund Pumps | |
| 1962 | Acromet commences operations |
| 1964 | First edition of the Pumping Manual published |
| 1965 | Nigo’s Pumps incorporated in India; Warren Rupp founded |
| Sulzer acquires majority interest in Weise & Monski | |
| Pumping becomes Pumps, Pompes, Pumpen | |
| 1966 | Crisafulli Pump Company founded; ITT acquires Jabsco |
| 1967 | Scienco founded |
| 1968 | Johnson Pump International founded |
| ITT Corporation acquires Flygt | |
| 1969 | Weir acquires Harland Engineering; Worthington acquires Worthington-Simpson |
| 1970 | Alma Pompe founded; Weir buys Drysdale; Ingersoll-Rand buys Sigmund Pumps Ltd (GB) in Gateshead, UK |
| 1971 | SIHI takes over Halberg; Gévelot group acquires Delasco |
| Turbosan founded | |
| Seepex Seeberger founded | |
| 1973 | Crest Pumps Ltd founded |
| 1976 | Worthington acquires Sier-Bath Pump Division from Gilbarco |
| 1977 | Ingersoll-Rand buys Western Land Roller Irrigation Pumps |
| Sterling Fluid Systems (TBG) buys Peerless Pump | |
| 1978 | Thompsons acquires the pump manufacturing operations of Kelly & Lewis to form Thompsons, Kelly & Lewis |
| 1979 | Totton Pumps bought by Wolseley plc |
| SPP acquires Godiva Fire Pumps | |
| 1981 | Red Jacket and Hydromatic merge to form Marley Pump |
| Sterling Fluid Systems takes a half share in SIHI | |
| 1982 | Pumps, Pompes, Pumpen is relaunched as World Pumps Magazine |
| Biwater acquires Wallwin Pumps | |
| SPP is subject to a management buy-out | |
| 1984 | First Texas A&M Pump Users Symposium |
| SIHI buys the canned motor programme of Bran+Luebbe | |
| 1985 | Dresser Industries acquires Worthington Pumps |
| KSB acquires Pompes Guinard; Scanpump acquires Pumpex | |
| SIHI buys the pump programme of MAN | |
| Pentair acquires FE Myers; Goulds | |
| Pumps acquires Lowara | |
| SPP acquires Henry Sykes plc | |
| 1987 | Bedford Pumps launched; BW/IP formed by management buy-out of Borg-Warner’s Industrial Products subsidiary |
| Weir buys Mather and Platt Machinery; SIHI France buys Schabaver; Dresser acquires Pleuger Pumps | |
| 1988 | KSB acquires a majority stake in Georgia Iron Works |
| Scanpump acquires Pompes Lefi; Idex Corporation founded | |
| Weir buys the large pumps business of WH Allen & Gwynnes from NEI; BW/IP acquires United Centrifugal Pumps | |
| Braithwaite acquires SPP and sells off Godiva Fire Pumps | |
| 1989 | Elsevier acquires World Pumps; Scanpump acquires ABS; Pearce Pump Supply founded |
| TBG acquires SPP Ltd as part of Sterling Fluid Systems | |
| Dresser Industries acquires Mono Pumps Ltd; Ingersoll-Rand acquires Scienco Ltd | |
| Watson-Marlow bought by Spirax-Sarco | |
| 1991 | Idex acquires Corken; Baker Hughes acquires Geho |
| 1992 | Ingersoll-Rand and Dresser Industries merge their pump businesses to form Ingersoll Dresser Pumps (IDP) |
| Warman acquires Girdlestone Pumps | |
| Idex acquires Pulsafeeder and Johnson Pump (UK) Ltd | |
| Weir buys Floway; BW/IP buys ACEC | |
| Ebara establishes state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Italy | |
| 1993 | United Dominion acquires Marley Pump |
| Vogel acquires Ochsner | |
| Sterling Fluid Systems acquires LaBour | |
| 1994 | Weir acquires EnviroTech Pumpsys tems |
| Warman acquires Barrett Haentjens | |
| Idex acquires Hale Products; | |
| Goulds acquires Vogel | |
| ITT buys Richter Chemie-Technik | |
| Sundstrand acquires HMD Seal/less Pumps | |
| 1995 | Idex acquires Micropump; BW/IP acquires the Wilson-Snyder centrifugal pump business from National Oilwell |
| Durametallic acquires Pacseal and then is bought by Duriron | |
| 1996 | Hayward Tyler sold by Sterling Fluid Systems, which buys the remaining half share in SIHI; Grundfos acquires Interdab |
| Pump Industry Analyst launched | |
| BW/IP acquires Stork Pumps’ engineered pumps business | |
| Johnson Pumps International acquires the modular pumps business | |
| Durco and BW/IP merge to form Flowserve Corp. | |
| ITT Industries acquires Goulds | |
| Idex acquires Blagdon Pumps | |
| Textron acquires Maag Pump Systems | |
| Spirax-Sarco acquires Bredel | |
| Pentair acquires General Signal’s Pump Group | |
| Constellation Capital acquires Imo | |
| David Brown acquires Union Pump Company | |
| Gilbert Gilkes & Gordon buys Wallwin Pumps from Biwater | |
| Textron buys David Brown Union Pumps | |
| Constellation Capital buys Allweiler; Glynwed acquires Friatec; Sundstrand acquires Ansimag and Masco; Weir buys Schabaver | |
| 1999 | Hayward Tyler acquires APV Industrial Pumps |
| Ebara acquires Cryostar cryogenic pumps | |
| Howard Anderson buys Pullen Pumps | |
| Sterling Fluid Systems acquires QVF Engineering (Germany) | |
| United Technologies Corp acquires Sundstrand | |
| Textron buys KSB Annecy (France) | |
| Weir Group acquires Warman International (including Girdle stone Pumps) | |
| United Dominion Industries acquires Bran+Luebbe; Ensival merges with Moret | |
| 2000 | Flowserve acquires IDP |
| ABS acquires CH&E Pumps (USA) | |
| Cat Pumps (UK) buys Ram Pumps | |
| Grundfos acquires Myson and Sarlin Pumps | |
| Sulzer acquires Ahlstrom Pumps | |
| Watson-Marlow Bredel acquires Alitea (Sweden) | |
| Roper acquires Abel; Blackmer buys Chesterton’s System One pumps | |
| Sulzer (temporarily) decides to leave the pump business; Sundyne acquires Caster (Italy) | |
| 2001 | SPX acquires United Dominion Industries |
| Godwin Pumps of America acquires Godwin Pumps (UK) | |
| Lightnin (of SPX) acquires Plenty Group | |
| Metso acquires Svedala; Idex acquires Versa-Matic | |
| 2002 | Gorman-Rupp acquires American Machine and Tool |
| Grundfos takes controlling interest in Chung Suk (Korea) | |
| ITT acquires Svedala Robot (Holland) | |
| Idex acquires Wrightech (USA) | |
| 2003 | National Oilwell acquires Mono and Corlac (Canada) |
| Wilo acquires EMU | |
| Weir Engineering Services acquires Allen Gwynnes pump business | |
| Kirloskar acquires SPP Pumps; KSB acquires controlling share in Bombas Itur (Spain) | |
| 2004 | Howden pumps merge with Orbit in South Africa; Flowserve acquire Thompsons, Kelly & Lewis; Armstrong Pumps buy Holden Brooke Pullen, Baric and RMI |
| Grundfos take control of Philipp Hilge | |
| Dover Resources acquire Almatec | |
| 2005 | Grundfos takes over Tesla (Italian submersible motor maker) |
| National Oilwell merges with Varco International | |
| Interpump acquires Hammelmann | |
| Weir acquires Pompe Gabbioneta (Italy) | |
| Wilo acquires majority holding in Mather & Platt Pumps and Fire Systems (India) | |
| Grundfos acquires Brisan Turbo (South Africa) | |
| 2006 | SPX acquires Johnson Pump |
| Franklin Electric acquires Little Giant Pump | |
| United Components acquire ASC Industries (USA) | |
| Wilo acquires Circulating Pumps (UK) | |
| South Bank UK acquires Hayward Tyler Group | |
| Sulzer Pumps sells Paco to Grundfos | |
| Pentair acquires Jung Pumpen (Germany) | |
| Lowara buys Mercury submersible motors (Italy) | |
| 2007 | Sulzer’s proposed acquisition of Weir Pumps falls through |
| Clyde Pumps (part of Clyde Blowers) acquires Weir Pumps | |
| SPX acquires APV | |
| Grundfos acquires Peerless Pump | |
| Wilden Pump acquires Griswold Pump | |
| Franklin Electric acquires Monarch Industries pump division (USA) | |
| Weir Group acquires Multifl o Australia and SPM Flow Control (USA). | |
| 2008 | Weir Group acquires CH Warman Pump Group |
| Franklin Electric acquires Industrias Schneider (Brazil) | |
| Flowserve complete acquisition of Niigata Worthington (Japan) | |
| Dover Corporation acquires Neptune Chemical Pump to join its Pump Solutions Group (Wilden, Blackmer, Griswold, Almatec) | |
| Weir Group acquires Mesa Manufacturing (USA) | |
| Hamilton Sunstrand acquires Marelli Pumps (Spain) | |
| Clyde Blowers acquires Textron Fluid and Power division (including Maag Pump Systems and Union Pumps) | |
| IDEX acquires Richter | |
| Chemie-Technik. |
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