The winners of the 26th Pump Industry Awards’ ten categories were announced last night (19 March) to guests at the Hilton at St George’s Park in Burton Upon Trent. Chris Callander reports.
As is now traditional, the celebration of the Pump Industry Awards began with a pre-dinner drinks reception, sponsored by Brook Crompton, as the finalists and guests gathered ahead of the gala dinner, and it was clear from the outset that there was a strong sense of anticipation building.
The guests then enjoyed a delicious meal before Steve Davis OBE, six-time world snooker champion, celebrated broadcaster, accomplished author, and all-round sporting icon, gave an amusing, engaging, and above all, interesting speech to an enthralled audience.
And then the business of the evening began.
The first award to be announced was the Product of the Year, sponsored by DFA Media. Hotly contested by nine exceptional finalists, the winner was Selwood and its SelTank
The Project of the Year Award, sponsored by World Pumps, came next, with Baker Hughes coming out on top of the six finalists for its reliable pumping solution for combined cycle plants.
The third award to be handed out, sponsored by SPP Pumps, saw ABB win the Environmental Contribution of the Year award for its IE5 synchronous reluctance (SynRM) Motor range.
Of the six finalists in the Manufacturer of the Year category, sponsored by WEG, SPP Pumps took home the accolade before the evening moved on to its next category, Distributor of the Year, which was awarded to Metcor Pumps
Supplier of the Year, sponsored by Wilo, was the next category to be awarded, with WEG UK beating the other five finalists to the title.
The evening then moved on to the Contribution to Skills & Training award, sponsored by ABB. This important category was contested by three finalists, with the winner announced as John Crane for its partnership with the University of Sheffield.
The Rising Star award, sponsored by Innomotics, was the penultimate category. An important award for its role in showcasing the pump sector’s future talent saw Luke Norris from John Crane declared the winner from an incredibly strong collection of six finalists.
The final award of the evening, back for the second year, was for a Sustainable Contribution for a Better World and sponsored by AESSEAL. There were three finalists in this category, with Apex Pumps taking the title.
With the award winners announced and the celebratory photographs taken, the evening moved on to a wheel of fortune fundraiser in aid of WaterAid, the British Pump Manufacturers Association’s nominated charity. The audience, all in with a chance of winning, were on the edge of their seats as the game raised £2127 from the collected guests in support of this important initiative.
Live musical entertainment then accompanied more networking and, no doubt, some bragging, before the Survivor’s Breakfast, sponsored by Apex Pumps, rewarded those die-hard guests who had made it through to 1.30am.
As it has been for 26 years now, the Pump Industry Awards 2025 was an amazing showcase of the innovation and talent that stretches across the pump industry, and long may it continue to do so.
Further details of the evening and the winners and finalists will be shared in the next issue of Flow magazine. To make sure you don’t miss it, subscribe for your free copy at flowmag.co.uk/about/#subscribe
