Bauma Report: Godwin Pumps Celebrates 40 Years in the Dri-Prime Pump Industry
Well, Stavros has taken a turn for the worse after the gelato incident (as it’s now referred to by many industry professionals). While I took him to shady Munich doctor who chain smoked cigarettes and could only say, “Yes are the one!” in English, I sent CE documentarian and biographer Janeen McGilicutty to the Godwin Pumps booth, where the company was celebrating 40 years in the dri-prime pump business.
Cocktails and beers flowed to press and attendees alike, as Godwin Marketing Manager Bryan Gassler rattled off the impressive list of Godwin Pumps milestones over the past 40 years. Even more impressive was his accurate memory, especially after he just rolled onto the show floor this morning after a crazy planes, trains and automobiles journey through Chicago, Roam and over the Alps — let it be known that this year’s trip to Bauma was treacherous at best.
What began as a simplistic venturi air priming system — popular because it had no moving parts and required very little maintenance — has remained at the forefront of the pumping industry through engineering expertise and market-leading performance.
Since its inception, the Dri-Prime pump has advanced through many stages. The first generation rolled off the production line in 1970 and included the DPC and MC models. In 1980, the original designs were reengineered and a second generation was produced that carried the model names CD for “Contractors Dewatering” and HL for “High Lift.”
The second generation was touted as an “up-market” machine featuring better materials of construction and a new “close coupled” design. The close coupling allowed the pump shaft to directly mount to the engine flywheel. This new design eliminated shaft misalignment previously associated with rental units being abused in the field, and provided more reliability for portable pumps.
The third and current generation was released in 1985 as the CD-M and HL-M models. The M, which stands for “oil bath mechanical seal,” was yet another advancement in pump technology. These pumps feature an oil bath mechanical seal mounted behind the impeller. This design limits abrasion by protecting the seal’s working parts from coming into contact with the liquid being pumped, and allows for dry-running without overheating or failure. Since 1985, the CD-M and HL-M design improvements have stood the test of time.
“Over the past 25 years, more than 20 models were introduced. Our development team is constantly embracing technology and engineering larger volume and higher head pumps,” said Godwin Pumps President, John M. Paz. “Since becoming one company, our US rental business has allowed us to be the biggest user of our own equipment. We are truly vertically integrated. We design, manufacture, service, sell, and rent our own equipment. Our field engineers communicate directly to our design engineers, allowing us to consistently refine our pump designs and materials of construction. This relationship keeps us at the forefront of the portable pump industry.”
