content@managingwater.co.uk Water Level Management
Bedford Pumps Ltd, manufacturers of large submersible and conventional pumps to the water and waste water industry, are celebrating as they reach a landmark 25 years in business.
A company that rose phoenix like from the ashes of Allen Gwynnes, Bedford Pumps have gone from strength to strength. They carry with them the engineering expertise that was associated with W H Allen but have infused this philosophy with a dynamic problem solving approach that ensures each and every pump application is offered as an engineered solution.
Bedford Pumps Ltd was formed in 1988 by former members of the pump department at NEI (W H Allen) after the company closed their pump manufacturing facility within the town.
Since then Bedford Pumps have established themselves as the UK’s leading manufacturer of pumping plant for the Land Drainage and Flood Defence industries and have in addition gained an enviable reputation for M & E project management in this field.
The trials and tribulations of Land Drainage and protecting the land from inundation have been ongoing for centuries, but it was not until the Land Drainage Act of 1930 was passed that Drainage Boards and Catchment Boards were given power to carry out land drainage works and ensure that drainage could be managed effectively. Prior to this Land Drainage in the UK was regulated by the Statute of Sewers, passed by King Henry VIII in 1531. Today the functions of Flood Protection and Land Drainage are the responsibility of Drainage Boards and the Environment Agency.
Bedford Pumps can trace their involvement in the Land Drainage industry back through lineage to 1849 when their predecessor John Gwynne with his son James, started making pumps at Essex Street Wharf in London. Gwynnes later became a member of Amalgamated Power Engineering Ltd and traded as Allen Gwynne Pumps in Bedford taking a specialised interest in land drainage and irrigation pumping problems and developing a range of rotodynamic pumps for land drainage applications. Prior to this, the first pumps took the form of paddle or scoop wheels driven by windmills, although these were quickly converted for Steam Engine drive when the limitations of insufficient wind were realised!
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The earliest rotodynamic pumps were of a centrifugal design with a low specific speed. These would typically be installed at ground level and operate on a suction lift.
Power was provided by horizontal or vertical direct-coupled steam engines. The pumps ran at typically 150 to 350rpm which suited the speed of the steam engines of the day.
The next stage of development utilised the gas and early oil engines. These were installed in many stations between 1920 and 1940 and many are still in use today.
The third stage of development for the rotodynamic pump came with the introduction of the axial-flow pump, allowing much higher rotational speeds. This type of pump was submerged, thereby eliminating the need for priming
equipment. The impeller was shaft driven by a motor positioned high above potential flood level. Having established a reputation for reliability and longevity, this pump type is still in use today and is a speciality of Bedford Pumps.
Bedford Pumps Celebrates 25 Years in Business
Bedford Pumps offer a range of specialist
conventional and bespoke pumps that are ideally suited to the Land Drainage industry. Their Direct Drive Axial (DA Range) and Direct Drive Bowl (DB Range) pumps are an established and well-proven reliable design. In addition they offer the axial flow pump as a unique submersible variant. The Submersible Axial (SA Range) and higher head Submersible Mixed Flow Bowl (SB Range) pumps are designed as an efficient alternative to
conventional shaft driven units. Their latest innovation, the SAF Range, incorporates a
Submersible Axial Flow Pump which is also “Fish Friendly”.
www.fadsdirectory.com
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