Bedford Pumps
Bedford Pumps is a British engineered-to-order manufacturer of large submersible, vertical turbine, and volute pumps for UK water utilities, the Environment Agency, Internal Drainage Boards, and overseas flood defence and industrial clients, with flagship Fish Friendly technology certified for EU Eel Regulations compliance.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersKempston, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Bedford Pumps does
Bedford Pumps Ltd is a British engineered-to-order manufacturer of large rotodynamic pumps for the water, wastewater, and flood defence industries, founded in 1987 by former members of the NEI (W H Allen) pump department and headquartered in Kempston, Bedford. The company designs, manufactures, tests, and commissions high-capacity centrifugal, axial, and mixed flow pumpsets — submersible/immersible units (SA/SB, SAF/DAF ranges), vertical turbine pumps (DA/DB ranges), and volute pumps (DV/SV ranges) — with flow capacities up to 20,000 l/s and a flagship Fish Friendly range independently verified by VisAdvies BV as 'Excellent' for EU Eel Regulations compliance. Customers include major UK water utilities (Thames Water, Severn Trent, Yorkshire Water, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water), the Environment Agency, Internal Drainage Boards, and overseas government and industrial clients across 30+ countries.
Revenue is generated through bespoke project contracts (one-time equipment sales) supplemented by recurring service, spare parts, maintenance, and full Mechanical & Electrical project management packages. Pricing is per-project via competitive tendering or framework agreements (e.g., JN Bentley EA frameworks, Tamesis JV, Skanska/Arcadis partnerships), with no public price list. The company is privately held as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hidrostal GB Ltd within the Swiss-headquartered Hidrostal Group, accessing a global distribution network spanning the UK, Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, and Oceania. Headcount stands at 38 employees, and the company has flagged plans to double in size and move into a purpose-built factory following a record £10M order intake in 2017 (a 100% increase year-on-year).
Bedford Pumps firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bedford Pumps
- Legal name
- Bedford Pumps Ltd
- Website
- https://bedfordpumps.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bedford Pumps is a British engineered-to-order manufacturer of large submersible, vertical turbine, and volute pumps for UK water utilities, the Environment Agency, Internal Drainage Boards, and overseas flood defence and industrial clients, with flagship Fish Friendly technology certified for EU Eel Regulations compliance.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bedford Pumps industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Pumps & Pumping Plant
- NAICS
- Pump and Compressor Manufacturing (33391)
- SIC
- Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pumps & Plumbing Pump Accessories (Sump, Sewage, Booster) (IMADALAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Pump Stations, Lift Stations & Booster Stations Construction (IMAFAGAD), Pump & Compressor Packages (Skids, Booster Sets) (IMAHANAG), Pumps & Pumping Accessories (Surface/Submersible, Impellers, Seals) (AFABAHAH)
Keywords
Where Bedford Pumps is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kempston
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bedford Pumps business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Pump Equipment Sales: Bedford Pumps is a bespoke engineered-to-order pump manufacturer. Revenue is generated from the design, manufacture, testing, and supply of large centrifugal pumps for water, wastewater, land drainage, flood defence, and industrial applications. Pumps are sold as complete pumpsets including motors, canisters, gearboxes, and associated mechanical and electrical equipment. Order intake was £10M for 2017, a 100% increase from £5M the prior year. The company targets large capital projects with multi-million pound contracts (e.g., Crossness multi-million pound contract, Altmouth £4.0m+ M&E package).
- Service, Maintenance & Spare Parts: Bedford Pumps offers comprehensive post-installation support including genuine OEM spare parts, routine and breakdown servicing, emergency response contracts, extended warranties, removal/re-installation and commissioning. Also offers site surveys (pumping station surveys, fault finding, energy audits, asset upgrade and renewal), pump testing in their in-house test bed (up to 3 m3/sec), hydraulic sump model testing, and condition-based monitoring services (vibration analysis, infrared thermography, motion amplification). Service contracts are offered as standard or tailored agreements.
- Project Management & M&E Services: Bedford Pumps offers full Mechanical and Electrical packages providing clients a one-stop solution for the design, manufacture, testing, installation and commissioning of pumping station plant. Scope includes Motor Control Centres, Telemetry and Instrumentation, Site Cabling, Transformers, Generating Sets, Pipework, Valves, Steelwork, Screens and Cranes. Staff are trained in HSE site regulations, confined space entry, mechanical handling, method statements and risk assessments.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom engineered pump solutions — no standard pricing tiers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Bedford Pumps product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bedford Pumps designs, manufactures, tests, and supplies bespoke engineered-to-order large-capacity submersible, dry well immersible, vertical turbine, and volute pumps (100 to 20,000+ l/s) for water utilities, government flood defence agencies, contractors, and industrial clients. The portfolio includes specialised Fish Friendly pump variants compliant with EU Eel Regulations 2007, ATEX-compliant options for hazardous areas, and the BPL Pump Condition Monitor II. Full mechanical and electrical (M&E) project packages are delivered from design and manufacture through installation and commissioning.
Product overview
Bedford Pumps is a British manufacturer of robust pumping plant for the water and wastewater industry. The product portfolio centers on three main pump categories: Axial & Bowl Pumps (submersible and dry well immersible configurations), Vertical Turbine Pumps, and Volute Pumps, all designed for high-capacity water and wastewater applications. Specialized variants include Fish Friendly Pumps designed for EU eel legislation compliance, with sub-ranges covering SAF/SBF and DAF/DBF configurations. The portfolio also includes the BPL Pump Condition Monitor II for pump protection and condition-based monitoring, plus Siphon Breaker Valves. The products serve applications across land drainage, flood defence, water supply, wastewater, desalination, dock dewatering, and fish-friendly pumping solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Submersible & Dry Well Immersible Pumps (SA/SB & SAF/DAF Range) Low, medium or high voltage submersible/immersible axial and mixed flow pumpsets designed as an efficient alternative to conventional shaft driven units, suitable for both wet well and dry well installation with benefits of low noise levels, space-saving footprint and high efficiency. Available in direct drive and close coupled configurations for water utilities, flood defence and land drainage.
- Vertical Turbine Pumps (DA & DB Range) World-leading high capacity vertical turbine pumps for raw, treated and salt water applications. Single and multistage units with radial, mixed or axial flow hydraulics; branch sizes up to 2200mm; flow rates up to 15,000 l/s; heads up to 250m. ATEX-compliant options available for hazardous area applications.
- Volute Pumps (DV & SV Range) Versatile volute pumps ideally suited to handling raw and foul water containing solids. Available in shaft driven (DV Range) or submersible configurations (SV Range) with solid passing capabilities of 90-200mm, flowrates of 200 to 5,000 l/s and head up to 95m. Special swept diffuser vanes allow passage of large solids and fibrous materials, with high efficiency design for low running costs and easy non-intrusive maintenance.
- Fish Friendly Pumps (SAF/SBF & DAF/DBF Range) Specialised variants of submersible axial, bowl, and vertical turbine pumps designed to comply with EU legislation for eel protection (Eel Regulations 2007). Stringently tested by independent research consultants VisAdvies BV and awarded an 'Excellent' rating for passing fish and eels without direct mortality. Available as submersible, mixed bowl, or direct drive variants covering duties of 400 to 9,000 l/s at 2m to 14m head.
- Monolithic Concrete Casing Pumps (CAF/CBF Range) Monolithic concrete casing pumps designed for specific applications requiring monolithic construction, including large flood defence and land drainage schemes. Concrete casing pump intakes have been scale-model tested at Hydrotec Consultants Ltd's laboratory operating at up to 20,000 l/s total station capacity, proving uniform flow patterns free from vortices and air entrainment.
- Service, Maintenance & Spare Parts Comprehensive post-installation support offering genuine OEM spare parts, routine and breakdown servicing, emergency response contracts, extended warranties, removal/re-installation and commissioning. Includes site surveys (pumping station surveys, fault finding, energy audits, asset upgrade and renewal), pump testing in the in-house test bed (up to 3 m³/sec), hydraulic sump model testing, and condition-based monitoring services (vibration analysis, infrared thermography, motion amplification). Service contracts offered as standard or tailored agreements.
- Project Management & M&E Services Full Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) packages providing clients a one-stop solution for the design, manufacture, testing, installation and commissioning of pumping station plant. Scope includes Motor Control Centres, Telemetry and Instrumentation, Site Cabling, Transformers, Generating Sets, Pipework, Valves, Steelwork, Screens and Cranes. Staff are trained in HSE site regulations, confined space entry, mechanical handling, method statements and risk assessments.
Quantifiable outcome
- One pump alone can empty an Olympic sized swimming pool in under two minutes (discharge up to 20,000 l/s)
- +11 more outcomes
Companies that use Bedford Pumps
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Bedford Pumps technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Bedford Pumps partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- JN Bentley LtdcoreJN Bentley Ltd is a civil engineering contractor and framework partner for the Environment Agency. Bedford Pumps was awarded an outstanding ranking from JN Bentley — rated top 25% of all JN Bentley subcontractors for 2017. Bedford Pumps works within JN Bentley's subcontractor frameworks for EA projects.
- Hidrostal GroupcoreBedford Pumps is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hidrostal GB Ltd, which is part of the Hidrostal Group — a global pump manufacturing business founded in Switzerland in 1967. The Hidrostal Group includes three UK divisions: Hidrostal Ltd, Hidrostal Engineering UK, and Bedford Pumps Ltd. Together the group can provide a pumping solution, system or service for virtually any stage of the water and wastewater treatment process. Hidrostal remains an independent family-run business on a global scale.
- Avonmouth Engineering ServicescoreSister company within the Hidrostal GB Ltd group. Bedford Pumps, Avonmouth Engineering Services and Hidrostal Ltd together form the UK Hidrostal Group, offering comprehensive pumping solutions across the entire water and wastewater treatment process.
- Hidrostal LtdcoreSister company within the Hidrostal GB Ltd group, offering pumps for the full water and wastewater treatment process including digester pumps for recirculation.
- Stantec UK / Peter Brett Associates (PBA)coreStantec UK (formerly Peter Brett Associates) serves as design consultants on multiple Bedford Pumps projects including Islington Pumping Station, Wolferton pumping station, North Lynn P.S., and Battersea Shaft Pumping Station. Bedford Pumps worked with Stantec on £220M Crossness Thames Water project and designed concrete casing pump intakes with scale model testing at Hydrotec Consultants Ltd.'s laboratory.
- Hannah ReedminorConsulting engineers who specified Bedford Pumps' Fish Friendly Direct Drive Axial Flow pumps for Cam Pumping Station upgrade for Waterbeach Level IDB.
- Hydrotec Consultants LtdcoreBedford Pumps works with Hydrotec Consultants Ltd for physical hydraulic model testing and sump optimisation. Hydrotec conducted scale model testing at their laboratory operating at 20,000 l/s total station capacity for Islington Pumping Station, proving the intake design with uniform flow patterns free from vortices and air entrainment. Also conducted model testing for Thames Water's Hampton and Kempton WTW projects.
- Skanska (Arcadis / Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water Capital Delivery Partners)coreBedford Pumps was selected by Skanska in partnership with Arcadis as Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water Capital Delivery Partners to supply six high energy suspended bowl pumps for Prioress Mill River Water Extraction Pumping Station. The contract is for design, manufacture and testing of pumps sized for maximum licenced abstraction rates from River Usk.
- Hidrostal BeneluxminorHidrostal Benelux is the local sales and support partner for Bedford Pumps products in Belgium, working together with electrical mechanical contractors Electro Goeminne Dikkelvenne to supply Fish Friendly pumps for Engelendelft Pumping Station owned by VMM.
- Electro Goeminne DikkelvenneminorElectrical mechanical contractors for the Engelendelft Pumping Station project in Houthulst, Belgium, working with Bedford Pumps and Hidrostal Benelux to deliver the most reliable and efficient Fish Friendly pump solution.
- Tamesis (Laing O'Rourke and Imtech Process JV)coreBedford Pumps is working in partnership with Tamesis (integrated joint venture between Laing O'Rourke and Imtech Process) for the multi-million pound Crossness Intake Pumping Station refurbishment project for Thames Water. Imtech Process worked closely with Bedford Pumps during tendering to provide a bespoke solution.
- Balfour BeattycoreBalfour Beatty is the main contractor for Islington Pumping Station project — King Lynn's largest pumping station. Bedford Pumps' scope includes pumps, installation, commissioning and site verification testing. Project start date June 2019, completion March 2021.
- Eight20 – SMB JVminorContractors alongside Design Consultants Stantec UK for Thames Water's Battersea Shaft Pumping Station project where Bedford Pumps supplied a large vertical turbine pump achieving 85-87% hydraulic efficiency.
- Keppel Offshore and Marine Ltd (KOM)minorKeppel Offshore and Marine Ltd (KOM) recommended Bedford Pumps for the Baku shipyard project. KOM owns 10% of the Azerbaijan shipyard (in JV with State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic and Azerbaijan Investment Company). Bedford Pumps' predecessor company Allens Engineering previously supplied pumping plant to the Keppel Shipyard in Singapore over 30 years ago.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bedford Pumps competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Xylem (Flygt): Global water technology major whose Flygt brand is a market leader in submersible pumps for wastewater and stormwater. Direct competitor to Bedford Pumps' submersible and volute pump ranges in municipal water and flood defence markets.
- Wilo: German pump manufacturer with strong European water utility presence, including submersible and large circulating pumps. Overlaps with Bedford Pumps in the UK and European water infrastructure market.
- Andritz: Austrian industrial group with a pumps business serving water and wastewater applications including submersible and large centrifugal pumps for utilities and flood control infrastructure.
- Pentair (Fairbanks Nijhuis): Pentair's Fairbanks Nijhuis brand manufactures large vertical turbine, axial flow, and submersible pumps for municipal water, wastewater, and flood control — directly comparable product portfolio to Bedford Pumps' DA/DB, SA/SB, and DV ranges.
- Sulzer: Swiss global pump and rotating equipment manufacturer with extensive large submersible, mixed flow, and vertical turbine pump lines serving water utilities, flood control, and industrial applications. Competes with Bedford Pumps on large water infrastructure tenders globally.
- Flowserve: US-headquartered flow control and pump manufacturer with a portfolio including large industrial and water pumps serving utilities and infrastructure. Overlaps with Bedford Pumps on engineered pump solutions for water infrastructure.
- Grundfos: Danish global pump manufacturer with significant water utility and wastewater exposure, though traditionally stronger in smaller pumps; competes with Bedford Pumps on selected larger municipal and industrial water projects.
- KSB: German global pump and valve manufacturer with significant presence in water transport, wastewater, and flood defence applications. Competes with Bedford Pumps on large submersible and vertical turbine pump tenders for utilities and government agencies.
Direct peers
- Hidrostal: Swiss parent group of Bedford Pumps and sister UK entities Hidrostal Ltd and Hidrostal Engineering UK. Directly comparable as a rotodynamic pump manufacturer serving water and wastewater applications globally, with overlapping product ranges and shared engineering heritage.
Emerging players
- Tsurumi Pump: Japanese manufacturer specializing in submersible pumps for construction dewatering, wastewater, and flood control — a comparable specialty manufacturer with strong product overlap on submersible pump technology.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bedford Pumps social profiles
Digital presenceBedford Pumps compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Bedford Pumps financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bedford Pumps leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Bedford Pumps funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bedford Pumps M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bedford Pumps
What does Bedford Pumps do?
Bedford Pumps designs, manufactures, tests, and supplies bespoke engineered-to-order large-capacity submersible, dry well immersible, vertical turbine, and volute pumps (100 to 20,000+ l/s) for water utilities, government flood defence agencies, contractors, and industrial clients. The portfolio includes specialised Fish Friendly pump variants compliant with EU Eel Regulations 2007, ATEX-compliant options for hazardous areas, and the BPL Pump Condition Monitor II. Full mechanical and electrical (M&E) project packages are delivered from design and manufacture through installation and commissioning.
Is Bedford Pumps a public or private company?
Bedford Pumps is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Bedford Pumps founded?
Bedford Pumps was founded in 1987. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bedford Pumps based?
Bedford Pumps is headquartered in Kempston, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Bedford Pumps make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Pump Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are service, Maintenance & Spare Parts and project Management & M&E Services.
Who are Bedford Pumps's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Xylem (Flygt), Wilo, Andritz, Pentair (Fairbanks Nijhuis), Sulzer, Flowserve, Grundfos and KSB. Hidrostal is listed as a direct peer. Tsurumi Pump is listed as an emerging player.
Does Bedford Pumps have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bedford Pumps.
What industry is Bedford Pumps in?
Bedford Pumps's product category is Industrial Pumps & Pumping Plant. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADALAL, Pumps & Plumbing Pump Accessories (Sump, Sewage, Booster), with a secondary code of IMAFAGAD, Pump Stations, Lift Stations & Booster Stations Construction. Its NAICS code is 33391 and its SIC code is 3561.