What Herborner Pumpentechnik does

Herborner Pumpentechnik GmbH & Co KG is a German family-owned manufacturer of centrifugal pumps founded in 1874 and headquartered in Herborn, Hesse, operating across two German production sites (Herborn and Landsberg/Saale) and a US subsidiary in Plano, Texas established in 2016 with own assembly capabilities since 2022. The company designs, manufactures, and services pumps across four primary verticals: swimming pool and clean water technology, ship and maritime applications, municipal wastewater and sewage, and industrial process engineering. Its technology stack centers on proprietary HPC (High-Performance Coating) for 100% corrosion protection, IE5 permanent magnet motors achieving up to 13% efficiency improvement, water-cooled heat exchanger motors recovering up to 95% of motor losses, and a digital platform ecosystem branded HP.INTELLIGENCE that includes AI-assisted pump selection (PahnAI), facility management (HP.OBJECT), cloud connectivity (HP.IOT), smart control (HP.MIND), and digital maintenance (HP.SERVICES 4.0). Key product families include the herborner series with HPC coating, herborner.neo energy-efficient pool pumps, the UNIVERS modular wastewater series, and Centurio, complemented by motor and accessory lines (PM Motors, Heat Exchanger Motors, Frequency Converters, SCC self-cleaning filters, ETS Pro dry-run protection).

The company generates revenue through five streams: pump hardware sales (the core), spare parts via an online shop, professional service and maintenance through 36 authorized service points and dedicated internal teams, subscription/recurring digital software (HP.INTELLIGENCE components), and consulting/training. Go-to-market combines enterprise field sales organized by German postal code regions with export managers covering defined international territories, supported by an authorized service point network and online self-service for spare parts. The company self-identifies as market leader in public swimming pool pumps in Europe and North America and as one of the market leaders globally in ship pumps. Customers include municipalities and government entities (public pools, wastewater utilities), enterprise shipbuilders and maritime operators, and industrial plant manufacturers. Ownership remains with the founding family across five generations, with no disclosed private equity, venture capital, or public market participation; the company is ISO 9001 certified for over two decades and recently received a Climate Handler certification from the Hessian state government for sustainability measures.

Name

Herborner Pumpentechnik

Legal name

Herborner Pumpentechnik GmbH & Co KG

Website

https://herborner-pumpen.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1874

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Herborner Pumpentechnik is a family-owned German manufacturer of centrifugal pumps founded in 1874, serving public swimming pools, maritime, municipal wastewater, and industrial customers across 30+ countries with proprietary HPC coating, IE5 PM motors, and a digital pump management ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Pumps

NAICS

Pump and Compressor Manufacturing (33391), Measuring, Dispensing, and Other Pumping Equipment Manufacturing (333914)

SIC

Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561)

akta.pro primary industry

Centrifugal Pumps (IMAHANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pump Systems & Pumping Stations (Surface, Submersible, Booster) (AFAAACAC), Irrigation Design, Installation & Maintenance Services (Engineering, Retrofit, Repair) (AFAAACAL)

Keywords

• Industrial pump manufacturing
• Swimming pool pumps
• Sewage water pumps
• Shipbuilding pumps
• Pump monitoring systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Herborn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Pump Sales: Core revenue from manufacturing and selling centrifugal pumps for swimming pool, sewage, ship, and industrial applications. Products include self-priming pumps, circulation pumps, block pumps, submersible motor pumps, and vertical pumps. Modular system design allows customization.
2. Spare Parts: Replacement parts and components for HP pumps available through online shop. Dedicated spare parts sales team.
3. Service and Maintenance: Maintenance, repairs, troubleshooting, and technical support. 24-hour service availability. Provided through own service teams and authorized service points network.
4. Digital Tools and Software: Software solutions including PahnAI pump selection, HP.OBJECT facility management, and eThemis operations logbook. May include subscription or licensing components.
5. Consulting and Training: Advisory services and training programs for customers on pump optimization, energy efficiency, and system management.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Herborner Pumpentechnik manufactures centrifugal pumps for swimming pool, shipbuilding, sewage/wastewater, and industrial applications, with a portfolio that includes dry-installed and submersible pump series. The company complements its hardware with HP.INTELLIGENCE, a digital platform for pump monitoring and lifecycle management, and offers services such as pump efficiency checks and a digital logbook (eThemis).

Product overview

Herborner Pumpentechnik is a pump technology company offering a comprehensive portfolio of centrifugal pumps across five core categories: swimming pool/pool pumps, ship/marine pumps, sewage/wastewater pumps, and industrial pumps. The product architecture combines hardware (pumps with various motor technologies) with a digital platform ecosystem (HP.INTELLIGENCE). Key hardware products include the herborner series (with proprietary 100% HPC coating), herborner.neo (energy-efficient flagship), Centurio, and UNIVERS series (modular sewage pumps). Motor technology offerings range from standard IE3 to premium IE5 PM (permanent magnet) motors, with heat exchanger motors for heat recovery applications. The HP.INTELLIGENCE digital platform integrates pump selection (PahnAI with AI capabilities), pump management (HP.OBJECT), smart control (HP.MIND), cloud connectivity (HP.IOT), and digital maintenance (HP.SERVICES 4.0). Additional services include LCC Calculator, Pump Efficiency Check, and eThemis digital operating logbook. Accessories include SCC self-cleaning filters and ETS Pro dry running protection. The company operates from two German manufacturing locations (Herborn headquarters and Landsberg) with a US subsidiary.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• herborner: Main product brand featuring innovative pumps with 100%-HPC coating technology
• UNIBAD
• UNIPUMP
• UNIVERS
• UNIBLOCK
• herborner.neo
• herborner.X
• WATERblue
• HP.INTELLIGENCE
• HP.OBJECT
• PahnAI
• eThemis

Products and services

• Swimming Pool Pumps Centrifugal pumps designed for public and commercial swimming pool water circulation, serving operators of public pools, leisure facilities, and aquatic centers.
• Ship Pumps Marine-grade pumps for shipbuilding applications, built for maritime and vessel operations requiring robust fluid handling.
• Sewage Pumps Pumps engineered for sewage and wastewater handling, targeted at municipal utilities and wastewater treatment operators.
• Industrial Pumps General-purpose centrifugal pumps serving diverse industrial fluid handling applications across commercial and industrial customers.
• Centurio High-efficiency water-cooled motor centrifugal pump with HPC coating, designed for high-efficiency water circulation in demanding applications.
• herborner.neo Modern dry-installed centrifugal pump series with HPC coating, targeted at commercial pool operators and industrial water circulation.
• herborner Series (with HPC coating) Block centrifugal pump series featuring the proprietary HPC protective coating, delivering corrosion resistance and durability for water and industrial applications.
• UNIVERS Series Universal pump series designed for a wide range of water and industrial applications, used in pool, sewage, and industrial environments.
• herborner.X / herborner.F / herborner.Xneo Family of compact dry-installed centrifugal pumps with HPC coating, engineered for swimming pool, shipbuilding, sewage, and industrial fluid handling.
• WATERblue-K Submersible pump model from the WATERblue family, designed for water handling in industrial, pool, and wastewater contexts.
• HP.INTELLIGENCE Digital pump monitoring and lifecycle management platform combining IoT, data analytics, and service tools to optimize pump operations.
• eThemis Digital logbook service for documenting and managing pump operations and maintenance records, supporting compliance and lifecycle management.
• Pump Efficiency Check On-site or remote service that evaluates the operating efficiency of installed pumps and identifies potential savings.
• PahnAI Standalone AI-based monitoring service for Herborner pumps, providing automated pump observation and performance insights.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 13% efficiency improvement with PM motors
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature12 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Supplier NetworkcoreOthersRegional supplier network with focus on local partnerships. Many suppliers have production facilities in Germany, enabling reduced carbon footprint and flexible response to requirements. Suppliers evaluated for sustainability practices including ISO certifications (ISO 9001, ISO 45001, ISO 14001, ISO 50001, ISO 27001).
• Authorized Service PointscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner36 authorized service point partners across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, and other countries. Partners provide maintenance, repairs, troubleshooting, and technical support for Herborner pumps. Identified by Service Point quality mark.
• International Representative NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorldwide representative network covering multiple countries and territories. Representatives include H.I. Fraser (Australia), WDA Pompen (Netherlands/Belgium), Hans Buch (Denmark), Cathelco/Transvac Systems (UK), and others. Each representative responsible for specific geographic territories and industry segments.
• Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA)minorOthersGerman federal authority providing funding opportunities for municipalities and industry for energy efficiency projects. Herborner assists customers with BAFA funding applications for Pump Efficiency Check services.
• State of HesseminorOthersState government funding through PIUS-Invest program (Part of Integrated Climate Protection Plan) covering nearly one-fifth of investment costs for sustainability measures including new melting furnaces and thermal sand processing.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Xylem Inc. US-listed global water technology company offering pumps, treatment, and metering across municipal and industrial water. Overlaps with Herborner in wastewater pumps and digital water services, with much larger scale and a US listing advantage.
• Grundfos Holding A/S: Danish global leader in advanced pump solutions and water technology, with deep presence in commercial building, industrial, and water utility markets. A direct technology and channel competitor to Herborner in commercial and municipal pumping.
• KSB SE & Co. KGaA: Major German industrial pump and valve manufacturer with a broad portfolio spanning water/wastewater, energy, and industry. Overlaps directly with Herborner in sewage/wastewater pumps and ship pumps, but operates at vastly greater scale and product breadth.
• Sulzer Ltd: Swiss industrial pump and rotating equipment manufacturer serving water, energy, and general industry. Comparable in centrifugal pump technology and European industrial customer base, but with significantly broader end-market exposure.
• Wilo SE: German-based global pump manufacturer specializing in building services, water management, and industrial pumps, with strong European direct-sales coverage. Comparable on centrifugal pump technology and a European mid-market orientation, though much larger and more diversified.
• Franklin Electric Co., Inc. US-based manufacturer of water and fueling systems including submersible pumps, motors, and controls. Comparable on IE-class motor and pumping systems, especially in water and wastewater duty, with a North American platform relevant to Herborner's US expansion.
• Tsurumi Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Japanese specialist in submersible and dewatering pumps with a strong wastewater and construction-dewatering franchise. Comparable technology overlap with Herborner's UNIVERS submersible sewage pumps and broader municipal wastewater focus.

Direct peers

• DAB Pumps: Italian-headquartered pump manufacturer with strong presence in residential, commercial building, and water management. Closely comparable in size, family-influenced ownership history, and product mix around water circulation and pressurization.
• Calpeda S.p.A. Italian centrifugal pump manufacturer with broad industrial, domestic, and clean-water product lines. Comparable mid-sized European competitor with overlapping applications in water supply, pools, and light industrial.
• Speck Pumpen: German manufacturer of centrifugal pumps, most prominently for swimming pools and industrial applications, with comparable product positioning and a similar mid-sized, family-influenced profile. Head-to-head competitor in Herborner's core pool and clean-water segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/herborner-pumpen-gmbh-co-kg
• Facebookfacebook.com/HerbornerPumpen

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Herborner Pumpentechnik