Domestic Pump Reaches Century Mile

Chicago, IL-November 1, 1999-Domestic Pump, a leading producer of condensate handling equipment, celebrated its 100th year of operations in 1999 with a gala celebration at its corporate headquarters in Morton Grove, Illinois this past July.
The company, a unit of ITT Industries, was originally established as the Domestic Engine Company in Hagerstown, Maryland, in 1899 by brothers Charles and Harry Segner. Since its inception, Domestic has been a pioneer in providing high-quality mechanical equipment for a variety of consumer and industrial needs.
The Segners created the firm to produce gasoline engines. In 1904, the company changed its name to Domestic Engine and Pump Company after adding Howard L. Etter’s hand pump to its product line.
Over the years, the company expanded its offerings to include a wide range of pumps, including diaphragm, sludge, cassion, sump, sewage, and high-pressure pumps and hoists. In 1936, Domestic purchased the Ames line of vacuum and condensate pumps. The company began phasing engines out of its product line, although during World War II, it designed and produced centrifugal pumps driven by gasoline engines for the Marine Corps.
In 1951, the company was acquired by Hoffman Specialty and renamed Domestic Pump and Manufacturing Corp. The product line included condensate transfer and vacuum pumps for steam heating systems, plumbing equipment, and ferrous and non-ferrous castings from the firm’s own foundry.
By 1970, when ITT Industries acquired both Hoffman and Domestic, the Domestic product line had been extensively overhauled and expanded to include clinical and industrial vacuum units, single-stage and multi-stage low NPSH centrifugal pumps, and boiler feed de-aerators with preheat units. The vacuum heating pumps were redesigned to their present multi-jet vacuum producer configuration.
Domestic Pump moved its operations in 1983 to its present location in the Bell & Gossett manufacturing plant Morton Grove, Illinois. The product line now includes condensate handling equipment with capacities ranging to 550,000 square feet of equivalent direct radiation and temperatures up to 350° F. Boiler feed systems have been similarly expanded and a line of pumpless condensate units has been added. Electrical control panels were completely redesigned and improved in 1993.
Also in 1993, the manufacturing plant received the coveted International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 Certification. Heralded by more than 50 countries, ISO certification indicates that a company meets worldwide standards for uniform measures of quality procedures in manufacturing and service organizations.
“Domestic Pump has a proud and long history of supplying a wide range of condensate handling equipment,” says Pat DePalma, President, Fluid Handling Division and General Manager Bell & Gossett. “We are trusted by our commercial and residential users because our units are all custom-engineered and factory-tested to ensure proper, dependable performance.”
As it celebrates its 100th anniversary, Domestic Pump continues its tradition of innovation and adaptation. Today, the company is a vital part of ITT Industries Fluid Handling Division, which also includes McDonnell & Miller, Bell & Gossett, Hoffman Pump, and Hoffman Specialty. “A strong legacy of quality and customer service is the foundation on which Domestic Pump was built and from which it will continue to grow,” DePalma emphasized. This is the second company in the Fluid Handling Division that celebrates a major anniversary in 1999. Earlier this year, McDonnell & Miller celebrated its 75th Anniversary.

Domestic Pump, a unit of ITT Industries, is a leading manufacturer of condensate handling equipment. ITT Industries is the largest North American manufacturer of products, systems and services for the movement, measurement and control of fluids. The company’s broad line of pumps, valves, heat exchangers, mixers, instruments, and controls are used by government and private industry worldwide.

For more information, contact Domestic Pump, 8200 N. Austin Avenue, Morton Grove, IL 60053; phone 847/966-3700; fax 847/966-8408. Or visit the Domestic Pump Website at http://fhs.ittind.com.