Grundfos () is the largest

pump A pump is a device that moves fluids (liquids or gases), or sometimes slurries, by mechanical action, typically converted from electrical energy into hydraulic energy. Pumps can be classified into three major groups according to the method they u ...

manufacturer in the world, based in

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, with more than 19,000 employees globally. The annual production of more than 16 million pump units,

circulator pump A circulator pump or circulating pump is a specific type of pump used to circulate gases, liquids, or slurries in a closed circuit. They are commonly found circulating water in a hydronic heating or cooling system. Because they only circulate liq ...

s (UP), submersible pumps (SP), and centrifugal pumps (CR). Grundfos also produces

electric motor An electric motor is an Electric machine, electrical machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. Most electric motors operate through the interaction between the motor's magnetic field and electric current in a Electromagneti ...

s for the pumps as well as electric motors for separate merchandising. Grundfos develops and sells electronics for controls for pumps and other systems.

History

Grundfos was established in 1945 in

Bjerringbro Bjerringbro is a railway town located at the railway line between Viborg and Randers and lying on both sides of the Gudenå (''River Guden''). Until 1 January 2007 it was the municipal seat of the former Bjerringbro Municipality and today, with ...

by the late Poul Due Jensen. He gave his company the name of "Bjerringbro Pressestøberi og Maskinfabrik" (Bjerringbro Die-Casting and Machine Factory) and not until 1967, after several changes of names, did the company get its present name.

Ownership

The Poul Due Jensen Foundation was established as a self-governing institution in 1975. Today, the foundation owns about 86 per cent, staff about 2 per cent and the founder's family about 12 per cent of shares in Grundfos Holding A/S. The aim of the foundation is the continued development of the Grundfos Group. The capital and the profits of the foundation are used solely for the aim of the foundation, that, is the profits are to be re-invested in the Grundfos companies. Grundfos Holding A/S is the majority shareholder in all the Grundfos companies.

Lars Kolind Lars Kolind (born 5 May 1947) is a Danish businessman. Kolind holds an M.Sc. in Mathematics from Aarhus University from 1972 and a B.Comm. from the Copenhagen Business School from 1977. He is adjunct professor of leadership and strategy at Aarh ...

was the group chairman.

Applications

SP submersible pumps for dewatering applications, dosing pumps, end suction, SP, booster sets, wastewater and solar powered solutions for set and forget requirements and many many other pumps for countless mining applications. Circulator pumps are used for heating, ventilation and

air-conditioning Air conditioning, often abbreviated as A/C or AC, is the process of removing heat from an enclosed space to achieve a more comfortable interior environment (sometimes referred to as 'comfort cooling') and in some cases also strictly controlling ...

in private homes, office buildings, hotels, etc. In industry, the pumps are used in processes, plant maintenance, and as built-in parts in

Original Equipment Manufacturer An original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is generally perceived as a company that produces non-aftermarket parts and equipment that may be marketed by another manufacturer. It is a common industry term recognized and used by many professional or ...

(OEM) products. In the water-supply and wastewater sector, Grundfos offers pumps for

irrigation Irrigation (also referred to as watering) is the practice of applying controlled amounts of water to land to help grow Crop, crops, Landscape plant, landscape plants, and Lawn, lawns. Irrigation has been a key aspect of agriculture for over 5,00 ...

green house A greenhouse (also called a glasshouse, or, if with sufficient heating, a hothouse) is a structure with walls and roof made chiefly of transparent Transparency, transparence or transparent most often refer to: * Transparency (optics), the phys ...

s and for municipal, private and industrial water supply as well as for

sewage Sewage (or domestic sewage, domestic wastewater, municipal wastewater) is a type of wastewater that is produced by a community of people. It is typically transported through a sewer system. Sewage consists of wastewater discharged from residenc ...

applications.

Global expansion

The Grundfos Group is represented by companies in all parts of the world. In addition, Grundfos products are merchandised by distributors in more than 50 countries. In 2006 Hilge, a producer for pumps in sterile applications, was acquired by the group and sold to GEA in 2015. Alldos, a German manufacturer of dosing pumps and disinfection equipment, was acquired in early 2005. Alldos employed around 250 people and had a strong presence in Europe and the Middle East and Australia. Alldos were the only competitor to Grundfos's 'digital dosing' technology. Grundfos dosing products now include Alldos's corporate colour green with Grundfos black. On December 1, 2007, Grundfos announced that it had purchased US pump manufacturer Peerless Pump Company. ''"Effective December 1st 2007, the Grundfos Group has acquired Peerless Pump Company. Peerless is a U.S. based (

Indianapolis Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...

and five other North American facilities) manufacturer of pumps and fire protection systems. With more than 400

employees Employment is a relationship between two parties regulating the provision of paid labour services. Usually based on a contract, one party, the employer, which might be a corporation, a not-for-profit organization, a co-operative, or any othe ...

and annual sales of USD 110 million, Peerless is Grundfos’ largest acquisition to date. Grundfos continues its aggressive growth strategy in North America."''

Research and development

DKK 543m was used for research and development expenses in the 2004 financial year. In 1985, Grundfos established its own electronics production and in 1991, Grundfos Electronics was inaugurated, including a hybrid factory with clean room production. In May 1990, the Grundfos Technology Centre was inaugurated. The centre is used for research into new materials, development of process technology and construction of advanced production equipment and machines. In 1993, development, design and product management moved into a newly built "innovation centre".

Advertising

Grundfos is a long-standing Official Partner of the Men's & Women's EHF EURO competition.

References

External links

Poul Due Jensen Foundation website