Pleuger Industries GmbH
German manufacturer of submersible pumps, water-filled motors, thrusters, and plunger pumps.
Last updated October 14, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Pleuger Industries GmbH is a Hamburg-based German industrial manufacturer whose name is closely associated with water-filled submersible motors and multistage pump systems. The company was founded in 1929 by Friedrich Wilhelm Pleuger after he developed a glandless, or wet-rotor, motor intended to replace borehole shaft and piston-pump arrangements. In the design, water lubricates and cools the motor bearings, avoiding the oil-filled construction used by many earlier submersible motors. This made the technology particularly suitable for applications in which leakage or contamination could not be tolerated, including drinking-water supply. Pleuger’s technology gained broad acceptance during the 1930s. One early major installation took place during the expansion of the Berlin subway system in 1930, when directly coupled water-filled submersible motors were used to lower groundwater during construction. The company’s Berlin and Greitz facilities were damaged or destroyed during the Second World War. Friedrich Wilhelm Pleuger subsequently restarted operations in a small repair workshop in Hamburg-Altona. A new plant was established in Hamburg-Wandsbek in 1951, and the company’s headquarters were later associated with that site. The business expanded through a series of industrial partnerships and ownership changes. In the 1970s, Pleuger worked with the American technology company TRW to extend its geographic reach and exchange product and engineering capabilities. Dresser Industries acquired Pleuger from TRW in 1987, creating Dresser Pleuger GmbH and strengthening the company’s presence in drainage, irrigation, and offshore pumping. In 1989, Dresser Pleuger and Deutsch Worthington were combined to form Pleuger Worthington. The business later became part of Ingersoll-Dresser Pump in 1992. Flowserve acquired Pleuger in 2000, after which the business operated under the Flowserve Pleuger name. During this period, Pleuger continued developing high-efficiency submersible systems. The PMM6 permanent-magnet submersible pump, introduced in 2013, was presented as more efficient than its predecessor. In 2016, the company introduced the PMM8 submersible electric motor for use with variable-frequency drives, supporting more flexible control of pumping installations. Flacks Group acquired Pleuger from Flowserve in 2018. Since then, Pleuger has operated as an independent company within the Flacks Group portfolio. The company expanded its international footprint with a Moscow subsidiary in 2019 and a Singapore subsidiary in 2020. It also redeveloped its Aldrich subsidiary brand in 2021. The Russian subsidiary was closed in 2022, while the group established headquarters in Miami in the same year. Hamburg remains the company’s historic German base and principal identity. Pleuger products serve water supply and infrastructure, mining, energy, oil and gas, offshore, and renewable-energy applications. Product and project references include groundwater control, industrial pumping, mine dewatering, offshore systems, fountain installations, and other demanding environments. The company’s equipment has been used at locations and projects including the Moutoa Floodway, the Collahuasi mine, Montpellier, and Hamburg’s Alster fountain. At the Alsterfontäne, Pleuger pumping equipment has been associated with a 70-kilowatt fountain installation capable of moving approximately 180,000 litres of water per hour to a height of up to 60 metres. Permanent-magnet drive technology was installed there in 2018, and Pleuger provides ongoing maintenance in cooperation with the Binnenalster Foundation. The Pleuger name is also used generically in some industry contexts for water-filled motors combined with multistage pumps, reflecting the historical influence of the company’s technology. Its positioning is therefore based on specialist engineering heritage, submersible-drive expertise, energy efficiency, and suitability for critical water, industrial, and resource-sector applications.
History
Pleuger Industries traces its origins to 1929, when Friedrich Wilhelm Pleuger founded the business around his invention of a glandless water-filled motor. The motor used water rather than oil to cool and lubricate its bearings and was designed to replace borehole shaft and piston pumps. This architecture reduced the risk of oil contamination and made the equipment suitable for sensitive applications such as drinking-water supply. During the 1930s, Pleuger’s submersible motor and pump concept became widely accepted. In 1930, directly coupled water-filled motors were used to lower groundwater during construction associated with the expansion of the Berlin subway system. The company suffered major wartime disruption. Its plants in Berlin and Greitz were damaged or destroyed in 1945. After the war, Pleuger restarted in a small repair workshop in Hamburg-Altona. In 1951, it established a new plant in Hamburg-Wandsbek, which became the basis of its postwar industrial operations and helped anchor the company’s identity in Hamburg. During the 1970s, Pleuger cooperated with the American company TRW to enter additional regions and exchange products and technologies. Dresser Industries acquired Pleuger from TRW in 1987, creating Dresser Pleuger GmbH. Under Dresser ownership, the business expanded applications for its submersible pumps in drainage, irrigation, and offshore operations. In 1989, Dresser Pleuger merged with Deutsch Worthington to form Pleuger Worthington. The combined operation became part of Ingersoll-Dresser Pump in 1992. Flowserve acquired Pleuger in 2000, and the business subsequently operated as Flowserve Pleuger. Product development continued under this ownership. The company introduced the PMM6 permanent-magnet submersible pump in 2013 and the PMM8 submersible electric motor in 2016. These developments extended Pleuger’s emphasis on efficient electric drives and compatibility with variable-frequency control. In 2018, Flacks Group acquired Pleuger from Flowserve. Pleuger thereafter operated as an independent company within the Flacks Group structure. The company expanded its international organization with a Moscow subsidiary in 2019 and a Singapore subsidiary in 2020. In 2021, it redeveloped the Aldrich subsidiary brand. In 2022, Pleuger closed its Russian subsidiary and established group headquarters in Miami. Pleuger’s products are used across water infrastructure, mining, energy, oil and gas, offshore, and renewable-energy applications. Its equipment has been associated with groundwater management, mine dewatering, industrial fluid handling, and public fountain systems. A notable reference is Hamburg’s Alster fountain, where Pleuger equipment has supported a 70-kilowatt installation capable of pumping about 180,000 litres per hour to a height of up to 60 metres. Permanent-magnet drive technology was installed at the fountain in 2018, and Pleuger continues to provide annual maintenance in cooperation with the Binnenalster Foundation. The company’s historical influence extends beyond its product portfolio. In some markets, the Pleuger name is used as a generic term for water-filled motors paired with multistage pumps. This reflects the company’s pioneering role in submersible turbine pump motors and its long association with water-lubricated motor technology.
- 2022
Russian subsidiary closed and Miami headquarters established
[1]Pleuger closed its Russian subsidiary and established group headquarters in Miami.
- 2021
Aldrich brand redevelopment
[1]Pleuger redeveloped its Aldrich subsidiary brand.
- 2020
Singapore subsidiary established
[1]Pleuger opened a subsidiary in Singapore.
- 2019
Moscow subsidiary established
[1]Pleuger established a subsidiary in Moscow.
- 2018
Flacks Group acquisition
[1]Flacks Group acquired Pleuger from Flowserve, after which the business operated independently within the group.
- 2016
PMM8 motor launched
[1]Pleuger launched the PMM8 submersible electric motor for variable-frequency-drive applications.
- 2013
PMM6 introduced
[1]Pleuger introduced the PMM6 permanent-magnet submersible pump, described as more efficient than its predecessor.
- 2000
Flowserve acquisition
[1]Flowserve acquired Pleuger, creating the Flowserve Pleuger operating identity.
- 1992
Integration into Ingersoll-Dresser Pump
[1]Pleuger Worthington became part of Ingersoll-Dresser Pump.
- 1989
Pleuger Worthington formed
[1]Dresser Pleuger GmbH merged with Deutsch Worthington to form Pleuger Worthington.
Products and positioning
Specialist industrial engineering brand focused on submersible pumping, water-filled motor technology, permanent-magnet drives, and engineered fluid-handling systems for water, mining, energy, offshore, oil and gas, and renewable-energy applications.
Industrial pumps
Submersible pumps
Pleuger’s core product family consists of submersible pumping systems for water supply, groundwater control, drainage, irrigation, mining, offshore, energy, and other industrial applications. The systems combine electric motors and pump stages in submerged configurations, allowing them to operate in wells, reservoirs, and other installations where conventional surface-driven arrangements may be less suitable.
Electric motors · 1929
Water-filled submersible motors
Pleuger pioneered glandless water-filled motors in which water cools and lubricates the motor components. Compared with oil-filled submersible designs, the technology was developed to reduce contamination concerns and support sensitive applications such as drinking-water delivery. These motors remain central to the company’s historical and technical positioning.
Permanent-magnet submersible pumps · 2013
Pleuger PMM6
Introduced in 2013, the PMM6 is a permanent-magnet submersible pump developed to improve drive efficiency compared with an earlier generation. Permanent-magnet technology supports efficient electric-machine operation and is relevant to installations where energy consumption and controllability are important operating considerations.
Submersible electric motors · 2016
Pleuger PMM8
The PMM8 submersible electric motor was introduced in 2016 for use with variable-frequency drives. Its intended role is to provide controllable motor operation in engineered pumping systems, enabling operators to adapt pump performance to changing flow, pressure, and process requirements.
Marine propulsion equipment
Thrusters
Pleuger manufactures thrusters as part of its wider submersible electric-drive and fluid-handling portfolio. These systems serve marine and offshore applications where compact, submerged propulsion or maneuvering equipment is required.
Positive-displacement pumps
Plunger pumps
Plunger pumps form another part of Pleuger’s industrial pump offering. They are intended for applications requiring controlled fluid displacement and engineered pumping performance, although the available reference material does not specify individual models or sectors for this line.
Brand decisions
2022
International organization changesStrategyBackground
Pleuger had established international subsidiaries in Moscow and Singapore during the preceding years.
Action taken
The company closed its Russian subsidiary and established group headquarters in Miami.
Aftermath
The move changed Pleuger’s international organizational footprint while preserving its German industrial identity.
2018
Flacks Group acquisitionM&ABackground
Pleuger was operating as part of Flowserve.
Action taken
Flacks Group acquired Pleuger from Flowserve.
Aftermath
Pleuger began operating as an independent company within the Flacks Group portfolio.
2016
Launch of PMM8 motorProduct launchBackground
Variable-frequency drives were increasingly relevant to controllable industrial pumping systems.
Action taken
Pleuger launched the PMM8 submersible electric motor for variable-frequency-drive operation.
Aftermath
The product expanded Pleuger’s permanent-magnet and controllable-drive portfolio.
2013
Launch of PMM6 permanent-magnet pumpProduct launchBackground
Pleuger was developing more efficient submersible electric-drive technology.
Action taken
The company introduced the PMM6 permanent-magnet submersible pump.
Aftermath
The PMM6 was described as approximately 10 percent more efficient than its predecessor.
2000
Flowserve acquisitionM&ABackground
Pleuger was operating within the Ingersoll-Dresser Pump lineage.
Action taken
Flowserve acquired Pleuger and created the Flowserve Pleuger operating identity.
Aftermath
Pleuger continued as part of Flowserve until its later sale to Flacks Group.
1989
Formation of Pleuger WorthingtonM&ABackground
Dresser Pleuger GmbH and Deutsch Worthington were combined.
Action taken
The companies merged to form Pleuger Worthington.
Aftermath
The combined business later became part of Ingersoll-Dresser Pump.
1987
Dresser Industries acquisitionM&ABackground
Pleuger was owned by TRW before Dresser Industries acquired the business.
Action taken
Dresser acquired Pleuger and operated it as Dresser Pleuger GmbH.
Aftermath
The acquisition supported expansion into drainage, irrigation, and offshore pumping applications.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/pleuger-industries-gmbh · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled