Hydraulic pumps are a $6.3 billion industry in North America. One of the leaders in the industry is Gorman-Rupp, based in Mansfield, Ohio. The business was founded by a pair of engineers in 1933. From those humble, Depression-era beginnings, Gorman-Rupp has become a global company, with sales in 120 countries.

Along with its subsidiaries, Gorman-Rupp offers more than 4,000 models of pumps. And the broad array of applications -- water, wastewater, construction, industrial, agriculture, HVAC, solar heating, fire protection, military, and flood-control – drive home the point that pumps are a ubiquitous part of modern life.

Flood control is one of the noteworthy applications. When the Army Corps of Engineers needed massive-scale pumps after the levies broke in New Orleans, Gorman-Rupp’s Patterson Pumps subsidiary was called upon to play a major role. Pump systems that ordinarily would take 18 to 24 months to plan and manufacture were delivered in just 6 months, winning high praise from the Corps.

Patterson makes advance-engineered pumps that can move one million gallons of water every minute. With that level of power, it is not surprising that in 2014, Patterson Pumps received a $60 million order for large-scale pumps in New Orleans – the largest order in company history.

In 2014, Gorman-Rupp was recognized by Forbes magazine as one of the nation’s most trustworthy companies. The firm has achieved that distinction four times since 2009. Companies are ranked on factors that reflect sound accounting and governance practices. In 2013, Gorman-Rupp was honored with an E Award for its success in exports.

Gorman-Rupp and its subsidiaries are also active members of the Hydraulic Institute, a trade association that has been creating pump standards since 1917.

From its innovative pumps to its trustworthy governance, Gorman-Rupp is another Great Manufacturing Story. For a list of nearly 100 other stories highlighted on this site, click on the "Index" button above.