Smart, sustainable solutions for the water world

From family business to global player in pumping technology

Pumps have been made at Pentair in Winterswijk for 115 years. By responding well to customer needs and market developments, the company has many innovations to its name. Incidentally, the pump specialist does not stop at supplying the pump 'an sich'. No, the service goes much further. Pentair is increasingly being called in as a partner to devise and create a total solution.

The smart and sustainable pump solutions developed by Pentair in Winterswijk are used in many industries. "We provide both standard and customized solutions," begins Edwin Wolterink, project manager at Pentair. "Especially in the latter, we are lord and master and able to think along as a partner at an early stage, also in the system before and after the pump. The focus here is on R&D and engineering." His colleague Raymond Meijnen, R&D engineer adds: "Based on the client's individual requirements and preconditions, the most optimal pump is selected for each project. If we think we can do better, we develop a new pump. That makes for a slightly higher initial investment, but a better return is more than recouped in the operating phase. That is the strength of Pentair."

For the AWP project, Pentair is supplying ten sewage pumps for the various pumping stations and an effluent pumping station. In addition, they concluded a 15-year maintenance contract.

Fish-friendly pump

Because of this far-reaching focus on R&D, Pentair has several patents to its name. "We have been a global trendsetter with our fish-friendly pumps since 2009," says Wolterink. "Among other things, we have supplied four pumps for pumping station C. Mantel in Schardam, the largest fish-friendly pumping station in the Netherlands. A special feature is that the pumps are interchangeable. In addition, one of the pumps is reversible, so that in dry periods it can be used to pump water back to the polder. An idea that won us a lot of praise in the tender phase." The fish-friendly nature of these pumps is determined by the specially developed shape of the impeller blades, Meijnen explains. "It creates a favorable current in the water that helps fish migrate safely through the pump. Also, there is more space between the vanes. Despite the fish-friendly modifications, the pump achieves comparable efficiency to that of a conventional pump." Pentair's fish-friendly solutions are now used not only in the Netherlands, but also in Belgium, Germany and England. For example, Pentair recently supplied fish-friendly pumps for the renovation of the ninety-year-old Keadby pumping station in England.

Pumping station Lely near Medemblik is currently being renovated. In the process, the old pumps are being equipped with new, fish-friendly impellers.

Clog-free impeller

In the field of sewage, Pentair is involved as a pump supplier in the renovation and renewal of the wastewater pressure line of the Brabantse Delta Water Board. In addition, last year they developed a clog-free impeller for sewage pumps. "The increase in non-soluble fiber-rich wipes is an increasing problem in the sewer world," Wolterink knows. "Incorrect impeller geometry is causing a lot of trouble." Meijnen: "We have developed an eccentric impeller that prevents wipes from jamming on the impellers. The clog-free pumps have proven their added value during pilot projects in Rotterdam and Amsterdam, among other places. Here they have been running clog-free for over a year. It saves the municipality many tens of thousands of euros annually in maintenance. Moreover, because the pumps do not become clogged, they run with much better efficiency. A win-win situation."

"For us, it is important to be involved in a project as early as possible," Wolterink summarizes. "With all the knowledge we have here, we can develop an optimal system with the highest possible efficiency and the lowest possible management and maintenance costs throughout the life of the pump. In the long run, our solution is often the most advantageous."