SP4/6/2

Press release from Stone-Platt re 'Luton engineering firm celebrates a century and a half with exports at record levels'.

10 December 1965

From: 1815 To: 1965

Hayward Tyler & Co Ltd of Luton and East Kilbride is 150 years old this month. With an international reputation for its pumps and turbines and particularly for the glandless motor pumps which have gone into many of the world's nuclear reactors and power stations, Hayward Tyler is at present exporting over half of its total output. As with many successful enterprises it began in a small way. The company was founded in London in 1815 for the manufacture of hydraulic presses and carbonating machinery for the mineral water trade. As pumps are basic to both these products the company quickly established a reputation as one of the principal pump manufacturers in the United Kingdom. All the early pumps were of the reciprocating piston or plunger type, but, by the year 1867, centrifugal pumps were listed in the company's catalogue. These pumps were illustrated with belt drive from Hayward Tyler steam engines, but towards the end of the century steam was being superseded by electric motor drive. Electrical contracting became an important part of the company's business when it introduced the conduit system of electric wiring into Europe. The Edison type wiring on Holborn Viaduct was one of its important installations. The company also installed the first electric lighting system on an oil tanker in 1888. A large proportion of the world's oil tankers were originally fitted with Hayward Tyler reciprocating steam duplex cargo pumps. Since World War II the company has manufactured many hundreds of centrifugal oil cargo and ballast pumps, and also the steam turbines to drive them. Experience in the design both of pumps and electric motors led to the development of the first submersible electric pumps which were extensively used for salvage operations during World War I. Subsequently the design was adapted for use in boreholes, and the submersible borehole pump is now standard equipment for municipal and industrial water supply. Submersible electric pumping units of up to 500hp are also widely used for mine dewatering, river extraction, and irrigation duties. In 1945 the company designed a totally enclosed pumping unit powered by a wet stator induction motor, for circulating water in a Lamont water tube boiler. This pump became the forerunner of a wide range of glandless motor pump units for high pressure boilers in electricity generating stations in the United Kingdom and throughout the world. Similar pumping units built in stainless steel are used for reactor coolant systems where the liquids cannot be allowed to leak. Hayward Tyler also market a wide range of pumps for the chemical and petroleum industries. These include horizontal and vertical close-coupled pumps for high temperatures and pressures, and the designs allow for wide interchangeability of component parts. Pumps are also manufactured for service on oil pipelines and for handling liquids under conditions of low nett positive suction head. The company, a member of the Stone-Platt group, is now exporting over half its total output. As a momento of the Sesqui-century each male member will shortly receive a specially designed silk tie. For the ladies there is a silk scarf, also designed for the occasion.

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Scotland, LUTON, pumps, electricity, mineral water manufacturer, nuclear power, power stations, steam turbine