The Top 10 World Pumps news stories of 2023

As 2023 comes to a close, we list the 10 most-read news stories on the World Pumps website during the last 12 months.

Image © fotogestoeber - Adobe Stock.

Pump companies featured include Alfa Laval, Circor, Ebara, Indicor, ITT, KSB, Simflo, Spandau Pumpen, Sulzer and Svanehøj.

 

1. KSB develops new wastewater impeller

The KSB Group has developed a new radial multi-vane impeller in open design that is suitable for handling untreated wastewater.

The D-max impeller can handle fluids containing solid substances and long fibres, coarse solids as well as entrapped gas or air. It is suitable for untreated wastewater, combined sewage, recirculated and heating sludge as well as activated, raw and digested sludge with a solids content of up to 8%. The impeller is also suitable for transporting fluids with a high viscosity.

The new D-max impeller from the KSB Group - Image © KSB SE & Co KGaA.

 

2. Ebara develops liquid hydrogen booster pump for power generation

Japan’s Ebara Corporation has developed a liquid hydrogen booster pump for hydrogen power generation.

The pump will supply hydrogen to hydrogen power generation gas turbines.

Because of the high level of technical difficulty, pumps with a large capacity capable of handling liquid hydrogen at -253°C and high pressure for power generation are not currently available on the market. Ebara is planning to launch the pump this year as the world's first to supply liquid hydrogen fuel.

 

3. Pump Industry Awards 2023: The Winners

The best pump products, projects, companies and people have been celebrated and recognised at the 2023 Pump Industry Awards.

Image © Peppygraphics - stock.adobe.com.

 

4. New name unveiled for former Roper Technologies industrial businesses

Indicor is the new name for the company formed following the sale of a majority stake in a portfolio of industrial businesses from Roper Technologies Inc to funds affiliated with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R).

The Indicor family includes pump manufacturers Cornell and Roper Pump Company, as well as the Alpha, AMOT, CCC, Dynisco, FTI, Hansen, Hardy, Logitech, Metrix, PAC, Struers, Technolog and Uson companies. Collectively, these businesses generated approximately US$1.1 billion of revenue in 2022.

Image © red150770 - stock.adobe.com.

 

5. Sulzer and Siemens announce digital collaboration for enhanced pump operation

Sulzer and Siemens Large Drives Applications (LDA) are teaming up through their IoT-platforms to provide operators of large centrifugal pumps with an integrated solution that improves equipment reliability and cuts operation costs.

Sulzer’s pump-specific, AI-based analytics platform, BLUE BOX, will now be complemented by predictive maintenance data from Siemens LDAs’ SIDRIVE IQ, an IoT-platform for smart fleet management of drive systems & solutions.

 

6. KKR to acquire Circor in US$1.6bn deal

Investment firm KKR entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Circor International Inc in an all cash transaction valued at approximately US$1.6 billion, including the assumption of debt.

Circor provides flow control products and services for the Industrial and Aerospace & Defense markets. Pump brands include Allweiler, Houttuin, Imo, Tushaco, Warren Pumps and Zenith.

 

7. Simflo appoints new senior leadership

Simflo, the Lubbock, Texas-based pump company, has announced significant changes to the company’s senior leadership team.

Troy Pickering, who formerly served as Simflo’s executive vice president, is named chief executive officer (CEO); Woody Boyd, who served as president, is now president and chief financial officer (CFO); and Jay Tando, who was Simflo’s vice president of operations and production, takes on the role of chief operations officer (COO).

Left to right: Jay Tando, Troy Pickering and Woody Boyd.

 

8. Ebara to acquire SKF’s Spandau Pumpen

Ebara Corp’s Ebara Pumps Europe SpA (EPE) has reached an agreement with SKF Lubrication Systems Germany GmbH to acquire its coolant pump business Spandau Pumpen.

 

9. ITT to acquire Danish pump supplier Svanehøj in US$395mn deal

ITT Inc has signed an agreement to acquire Svanehøj Group A/S for approximately US$395 million.

Headquartered in Svenstrup, Denmark, Svanehøj is a supplier of pumps and related aftermarket services for the marine sector. The company’s product portfolio primarily consists of deepwell gas cargo pumps, fuel and energy pumps and tank control systems. These products manage critical liquids for the energy transition, including ammonia, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol, hydrogen and CO2. Svanehøj also has an established global aftermarket business. Founded in 1928, Svanehøj employs approximately 400 people and has operations in Denmark, Singapore and France. The company had sales of around US$140 million in 2022.

 

10. Alfa Laval offers new AI-based pump monitoring software

Alfa Laval has released new condition monitoring software with built-in analytics.

Using artificial intelligence, Alfa Laval Analytics helps hygienic industries prevent unplanned downtime, extends lifetime of valuable assets and helps reach sustainability targets.

Alfa Laval Analytics collects and analyzes pump vibration data around the clock. The philosophy behind the development of the AI-based solution has been to create peace of mind for plant operators and management. Alfa Laval Analytics provides a clear and intuitive overview of the health condition of the equipment through a simple dashboard: green for ok, yellow for pay attention, orange for warning and red for immediate action.