Wilo
German manufacturer of pumps, pump systems, and intelligent fluid-management technologies for buildings, water infrastructure, and industry.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Wilo is a German manufacturer of pumps, pumping systems, and related control technologies. The company is headquartered in Dortmund and serves three broad application areas: building services, water management, and industrial systems. Its portfolio ranges from small electronically controlled circulation pumps used in heating and cooling installations to large centrifugal, submersible, vertical-turbine, sewage, booster, and packaged pumping systems. Wilo also supplies submersible mixers, controls, monitoring technologies, and complete engineered installations. The business began in Dortmund in 1872, when Louis Opländer established a copper and brassware factory. It subsequently moved into mechanical engineering and pumping equipment. A major early technical milestone was the development of a circulation accelerator in 1928, an innovation associated with the company’s later specialization in heating and building-service circulation. Wilo’s international expansion accelerated during the second half of the twentieth century. It established subsidiaries outside Germany, acquired the French pump manufacturer Pompes Salmson in 1984, and developed manufacturing and sales operations in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas. Wilo’s modern corporate structure emerged from the combination of Wilo-Salmson AG and Wilo GmbH in 2002. The group later adopted the legal form of a European company, WILO SE, in 2008. The company has expanded both organically and through acquisitions, including EMU in Germany, Mather and Platt Pumps in India, Weil Pump and Scot Pump in the United States, and American-Marsh Pumps. These additions broadened Wilo’s presence in engineered water, wastewater, industrial, agricultural, marine, and fire-protection applications. Technology and energy efficiency are central to Wilo’s market positioning. The company is particularly associated with electronically regulated circulation pumps, intelligent pump controls, digitally connected equipment, and systems intended to reduce energy and operating costs. Its products are sold through subsidiaries, distributors, engineering channels, and project businesses rather than primarily through consumer retail. Wilo operates production and engineering facilities in multiple countries and reports a global manufacturing and sales footprint spanning more than 50 countries. The group has also invested in regional production capacity, including facilities in Russia, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, China, India, Korea, France, Germany, Italy, Turkey, and other markets. The company remains controlled by the Opländer family through the Caspar Ludwig Opländer Foundation, established in 2011. Wilo’s activities include product design, manufacturing, project engineering, service, and lifecycle support. Its customers include building owners and contractors, heating and ventilation specialists, utilities, municipalities, industrial companies, agricultural operators, and infrastructure developers. The Wilo brand therefore occupies a premium, engineering-led position in the global pump market, with emphasis on reliability, energy efficiency, system integration, and digital control.
History
Wilo traces its origins to 1872, when Louis Opländer founded a copper and brassware factory in Dortmund under the name Messingwarenfabrik Louis Opländer Maschinenbau. The company’s early industrial base in metalworking provided a foundation for its later move into mechanical engineering and pump manufacture. Over time, Wilo developed from a regional manufacturer into a specialist supplier of equipment for heating, water supply, wastewater, and industrial fluid handling. An important step in the company’s technical development came in 1928 with the invention of a circulation accelerator. This innovation helped establish Wilo’s long-term relationship with heating and building-services applications. The company later became associated with compact circulation pumps, a category in which efficient motor control and reliable operation are important for residential, commercial, and institutional heating systems. Wilo’s product development increasingly combined hydraulic engineering with electric motors, sensors, controls, and automation. The company began building an international organization in the 1960s through the establishment of subsidiaries outside Germany. In 1984 it acquired the French manufacturer Pompes Salmson, giving the group a stronger position in France and expanding its range of pump technologies. Wilo opened or developed production operations in several international markets, including Korea, where a production plant was established in 1994. In 1988, it introduced the Wilo-Star, described by the company as the first electronically regulated circulation pump, reinforcing its emphasis on energy-saving and electronically controlled equipment. During the early 2000s, Wilo broadened its water and wastewater capabilities. It acquired EMU Unterwasserpumpen and EMU Anlagenbau in 2003, adding expertise in submersible pumps and engineered systems. The combination of Wilo-Salmson AG and Wilo GmbH in 2002 created the managerial structure associated with the contemporary Wilo Group. In 2008, the company changed its legal form from WILO AG to WILO SE, reflecting its organization as a European company. The Opländer family established the Caspar Ludwig Opländer Foundation in 2011; the foundation became the majority shareholder and helped preserve long-term family control. Acquisitions and regional investment continued. Mather and Platt Pumps in India joined the group in 2005, extending Wilo’s position in large engineered centrifugal pumps for water and sewage projects. Circulating Pumps in the United Kingdom was acquired in 2006. Wilo combined its French operations with Pompes Salmson in 2014 to form Wilo Salmson France SAS. In 2016, it acquired GVA Gesellschaft für Verfahren der Abwassertechnik, adding wastewater-technology capabilities, and opened a new production plant in Moscow. In North America, Wilo USA acquired Weil Pump and Scot Pump in 2017. These brands contributed wastewater, industrial, agricultural, OEM, and marine pump expertise. In 2019, Wilo USA acquired American-Marsh Pumps, a long-established US pump manufacturer, and Wilo opened a regional headquarters and production facility in Dubai serving the Middle East and North Africa region. Wilo’s headquarters campus, Wilopark in Dortmund, opened in 2021. The site consolidated important corporate, research, development, and operational functions and represented the company’s continuing investment in its home base. In 2022, Wilo opened a new US headquarters and production facility designed to bring several American operations together. The group’s manufacturing network includes facilities in Germany, France, the United States, China, India, Korea, Italy, Turkey, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates, among other locations. Today, Wilo operates across building technology, water management, and industry. Its products include circulation, inline, multistage, submersible, end-suction, split-case, and vertical-turbine pumps, as well as booster systems, pumping stations, wastewater equipment, mixers, and intelligent controls. The group has reported more than 90 production facilities or operating sites in over 50 countries and annual production of approximately 10 million pumps. Wilo’s strategic identity is based on combining hydraulic equipment with efficient drives, automation, connectivity, and complete project solutions. The business remains family-controlled through the Caspar Ludwig Opländer Foundation and is managed by an executive board and supervisory board.
- 2022
New Wilo USA headquarters and production facility opened
[1]Wilo opened a new US headquarters and production site intended to consolidate several North American operations.
- 2021
Wilopark headquarters opened
[1]Wilo opened its new headquarters campus in Dortmund.
- 2019
American-Marsh acquired
[1]Wilo USA acquired American-Marsh Pumps and expanded its US portfolio in pumps, motors, seals, and fire protection.
- 2017
Weil Pump and Scot Pump acquired
[1]Wilo USA acquired Weil Pump and Scot Pump, strengthening its North American wastewater and industrial offering.
- 2016
GVA wastewater-technology business acquired
[1]Wilo acquired GVA Gesellschaft für Verfahren der Abwassertechnik and expanded wastewater-system expertise.
- 2014
French operations combined
[1]Wilo France and Pompes Salmson were merged into Wilo Salmson France SAS.
- 2011
Caspar Ludwig Opländer Foundation established
[1]The Opländer family created the foundation that became WILO SE’s majority shareholder.
- 2008
WILO AG becomes WILO SE
[1]The company changed its legal form to a European company.
- 2005
Mather and Platt Pumps acquired
[1]Wilo acquired the Indian pump manufacturer Mather and Platt Pumps.
- 2003
EMU businesses acquired
[1]Wilo acquired EMU Unterwasserpumpen and EMU Anlagenbau, adding submersible-pump and engineered-system capabilities.
Products and positioning
Premium, engineering-led pump and fluid-management supplier focused on energy efficiency, reliability, digital controls, and complete system solutions.
Electronically regulated circulation pumps · 1988
Wilo-Star
The Wilo-Star family is associated with electronically regulated circulation pumps for heating and hot-water systems. Its significance lies in using electronic control to adjust pump performance more efficiently than fixed-speed circulation equipment. The range is aimed at residential and light commercial building services, where compact dimensions, dependable operation, and reduced electricity consumption are important.
High-efficiency circulation pumps
Wilo-Stratos
Wilo-Stratos pumps are high-efficiency circulators designed for heating, air-conditioning, and other building-service applications. They combine electronically commutated motors, variable-speed operation, and control functions intended to match hydraulic output to system demand. The family represents Wilo’s focus on lowering energy use while providing installation, monitoring, and system-integration features for commercial and residential projects.
Submersible pumps and systems
Wilo-EMU
Wilo-EMU covers submersible pump equipment and engineered systems for water, wastewater, drainage, and infrastructure applications. The range is used where pumps operate below the fluid level and may be paired with controls, guide systems, lifting stations, and complete project engineering. The EMU businesses became part of Wilo through acquisitions in 2003.
Vertical multistage centrifugal pumps
Wilo-Helix
Wilo-Helix is a family of vertical multistage centrifugal pumps used for pressure boosting, water supply, HVAC, industrial processes, and other applications requiring relatively high pressure. The family is positioned as a modular and efficient solution that can be configured for different flow, pressure, material, and control requirements.
Centrifugal pumps
Wilo-Atmos
Wilo-Atmos includes centrifugal pump solutions for building technology, water management, and industrial duties. Depending on the model, the range covers inline, end-suction, and related configurations. These products are intended for circulation, transfer, heating, cooling, water supply, and general fluid-handling systems in commercial and industrial environments.
Water-supply and pressure-boosting systems
Booster and packaged pumping systems
Wilo supplies packaged pressure-boosting systems and pumping stations for buildings, municipal infrastructure, and industrial facilities. These systems can integrate multiple pumps, pressure vessels, control panels, sensors, and automation. Rather than selling only individual hydraulic units, Wilo uses these offerings to provide engineered systems designed around required flow, pressure, redundancy, and operating conditions.
Engineered centrifugal pumps · 2005
Mather and Platt
Mather and Platt is a Wilo brand and Indian operating business associated with large engineered centrifugal pumps. Its products include multistage, vertical-turbine, non-clog, and axial-split-case pumps for water-supply, sewage, irrigation, and infrastructure applications. The business became part of Wilo in 2005 and was subsequently presented in India under the Wilo name.
Wastewater and industrial pumps · 2017
Weil Pump
Weil Pump specializes in wastewater pumps, end-suction centrifugal pumps, and cast-stainless-steel submersible pumps for demanding chemical and industrial applications. The Cedarburg, Wisconsin business joined Wilo in 2017 and broadened the group’s North American offering for wastewater contractors, industrial users, and engineered projects.
Industrial and OEM centrifugal pumps · 2017
Scot Pump
Scot Pump manufactures end-suction, single-stage centrifugal pumps for OEM, plastics, agriculture, chemical, and related industrial markets. Its US operations also included special-purpose marine pump activity. Scot became part of Wilo USA in 2017 and complements Wilo’s broader industrial and water-management portfolio.
Industrial, fire-protection, and pumping equipment · 2019
American-Marsh Pumps
American-Marsh Pumps supplies centrifugal and positive-displacement pumps, electric motors, mechanical seals, fire-protection fittings, couplings, and related pumping equipment. Wilo USA acquired the business in 2019. Its capabilities supported Wilo’s expansion in North American industrial, municipal, and fire-protection applications.
Brand decisions
2021
Open the Wilopark headquarters campusStrategyBackground
Wilo sought to modernize and consolidate its headquarters, development, and corporate infrastructure in Dortmund.
Action taken
The company opened Wilopark, a new headquarters campus in Dortmund.
Aftermath
The campus became a visible symbol of Wilo’s continued investment in its German base and long-term corporate identity.
2019
Acquire American-Marsh PumpsM&ABackground
Wilo was expanding its US portfolio across industrial pumping, motors, seals, fire protection, and related equipment.
Action taken
Wilo USA acquired American-Marsh Pumps.
Aftermath
Wilo planned to consolidate American-Marsh operations with other US businesses at its newer regional production platform.
2017
Expand North American wastewater and industrial capabilitiesM&ABackground
Wilo sought to broaden its North American product range and local manufacturing capabilities.
Action taken
Wilo USA acquired Weil Pump and Scot Pump.
Aftermath
The acquisitions added wastewater, OEM, agricultural, chemical, and marine pump capabilities to the regional business.
2008
Adopt the WILO SE legal formStrategyBackground
Wilo was operating as an increasingly international European group.
Action taken
The company changed from WILO AG to WILO SE, the European Company legal form.
Aftermath
The change aligned the company’s legal identity with its cross-border corporate organization.
2002
Unify Wilo-Salmson and Wilo GmbH under a group structureM&ABackground
Wilo’s German and French-related businesses had expanded through organic development and the acquisition of Pompes Salmson.
Action taken
Wilo-Salmson AG and Wilo GmbH were combined into the managerial holding structure of the Wilo Group.
Aftermath
The combination created a more integrated European platform for pumps and pump systems.
1988
Introduce the Wilo-Star electronically regulated circulation pumpProduct launchBackground
Building-service customers were seeking more efficient and controllable circulation equipment than conventional fixed-speed pumps.
Action taken
Wilo launched the Wilo-Star, described in reference material as the first electronically regulated circulation pump of its kind.
Aftermath
The launch reinforced Wilo’s long-term positioning around efficient circulation, electronic control, and building-technology innovation.
Recent events
- 2022
Wilo opens new headquarters and production facility in the United States[1]
Other
The new US facility was intended to consolidate operations associated with Wilo USA, Weil, Scot, and American-Marsh.
- 2019
Wilo acquires American-Marsh Pumps[1]
M&A
American-Marsh added centrifugal and positive-displacement pumps, motors, mechanical seals, fire-protection fittings, and related equipment to Wilo’s United States business.
- 2017
Wilo acquires Weil Pump and Scot Pump through Wilo USA[1]
M&A
The transactions strengthened Wilo’s North American portfolio in wastewater, end-suction, industrial, agricultural, and marine pump applications.
- 2005
Wilo acquires Mather and Platt Pumps in India[1]
M&A
The acquisition expanded Wilo’s Indian operations and its offering of engineered centrifugal pumps for water and sewage applications.
- 2002
Wilo-Salmson AG and Wilo GmbH combine to form the modern Wilo group structure[1]
M&A
The combination brought the principal Wilo and Salmson activities under a unified managerial structure.
Sources2 sources
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