Pentair
Encyclopedia
Pentair, Inc. is a Golden Valley, Minnesota
based company focused on water technologies and enclosures for electronic products
. Its Water Technologies Group provides products and systems used worldwide in the movement, treatment, storage and enjoyment of water. Its Technical Products Group designs and manufactures standard, modified, and custom enclosures that house and protect sensitive electronics and electrical components. Pentair has approximately 15,000 employees worldwide. Pentair has grown from $100 million in sales in 1995 to $2.95 billion in 2005 and revenues from continuing operations in 2006 were $3.15 billion.
s, and valves for water softeners
, as well as pool and spa equipment (pool cleaners, heaters, spa fittings, filters, and thermometers). The Pentair Water Spa and Bath division manufactures pumps, fittings, and related components for the hot tub
, and whirlpool bath industries.
Some other namebrands now owned by the Pentair water unit include: Sta-Rite (acquired in 2004 with WICOR acquisition), Kreepy-Krauly (acquired in 1999), and Onga.
. WICOR made water pumps, filters, and pool equipment components under the Sta-Rite, SHURflo, and Hypro brands and was bought for $850 million.
2005: Some of the assets of APW were bought for $144 million. Which included McLean Thermal Management, Aspen Motion Technologies, and Electronic Solutions, all of which provide thermal management products and integration services to the telecom, medical, and security industries. This broadened Pentair's technical products line to include markets outside of the traditional electrical and electronics businesses.
In 2006 Pentair purchased Germany-based Jung Pumpen GmbH, which makes pumps and other products for wastewater processing
. The deal was completed in early 2007 for $227 million.
Other acquisitions in 2005 and 2006 included Acu-Trol, Inc., Delta Environmental Products, selected assets of Krystal Klear, and a 70% stake in Beijing Jieming Tiandi Environmental Equipment. Which was later renamed to Beijing Pentair Water Jieming, and produces fiberglass
-reinforced pressure tanks and filters.
The company has announced an agreement to acquire water filtration
and separation firm Porous Media for approximately $225 million and has said that it plans to continue an active course of acquisitions, especially to grow its business outside the US.
Pentair is also the holding company
of several divisions, including Sta-Rite, the manufacturer of the product involved in the death of Abigail Taylor
. Her accident led to the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, which was approved by the United States Congress and imposed a ban on the manufacture, sale or distribution of drain covers that don't meet anti-entrapment safety standards
.
s group (which had previously accounted for 40% of sales) in October 2004 to Black & Decker
for nearly $800 million . Pentair then used that money to pay off much of the WICOR acquisition.
Golden Valley, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,281 people, 8,449 households, and 5,508 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,982.3 people per square mile . There were 8,589 housing units at an average density of 839.5 per square mile...
based company focused on water technologies and enclosures for electronic products
Electronic products
Electronic Products is an electronic component and technology trade magazine published by Hearst Business Media serving the electronic design community...
. Its Water Technologies Group provides products and systems used worldwide in the movement, treatment, storage and enjoyment of water. Its Technical Products Group designs and manufactures standard, modified, and custom enclosures that house and protect sensitive electronics and electrical components. Pentair has approximately 15,000 employees worldwide. Pentair has grown from $100 million in sales in 1995 to $2.95 billion in 2005 and revenues from continuing operations in 2006 were $3.15 billion.
Water Technologies Group
Pentair's water unit makes well pumps, sump pumpSump pump
A sump pump is a pump used to remove water that has accumulated in a water collecting sump basin, commonly found in the basement of homes. The water may enter via the perimeter drains of a basement waterproofing system, funneling into the basin or because of rain or natural ground water, if the...
s, and valves for water softeners
Water softening
Water softening is the reduction of the concentration of calcium, magnesium, and certain other metal cations in hard water. These "hardness ions" can cause a variety of undesired effects including interfering with the action of soaps, the build up of limescale, which can foul plumbing, and...
, as well as pool and spa equipment (pool cleaners, heaters, spa fittings, filters, and thermometers). The Pentair Water Spa and Bath division manufactures pumps, fittings, and related components for the hot tub
Hot tub
A hot tub is a large tub or small pool full of heated water and used for soaking, relaxation, massage, or hydrotherapy. In most cases, they have jets for massage purposes. Hot tubs are usually located outdoors, and are often sheltered for protection from the elements, as well as for privacy....
, and whirlpool bath industries.
Some other namebrands now owned by the Pentair water unit include: Sta-Rite (acquired in 2004 with WICOR acquisition), Kreepy-Krauly (acquired in 1999), and Onga.
Technical Products Group
Its technical products (formerly enclosures) division makes Hoffman and Schroff protective housings and accessories for electronic controls and instruments.Acquisitions
2004: WICOR Industries, the former water systems subsidiary of Wisconsin EnergyWisconsin Energy Corporation
Wisconsin Energy Corporation , based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin serves more than 1.1 million electric customers in Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula and more than 1 million natural gas customers in Wisconsin through its utility subsidiary, We Energies...
. WICOR made water pumps, filters, and pool equipment components under the Sta-Rite, SHURflo, and Hypro brands and was bought for $850 million.
2005: Some of the assets of APW were bought for $144 million. Which included McLean Thermal Management, Aspen Motion Technologies, and Electronic Solutions, all of which provide thermal management products and integration services to the telecom, medical, and security industries. This broadened Pentair's technical products line to include markets outside of the traditional electrical and electronics businesses.
In 2006 Pentair purchased Germany-based Jung Pumpen GmbH, which makes pumps and other products for wastewater processing
Industrial wastewater treatment
Industrial wastewater treatment covers the mechanisms and processes used to treat waters that have been contaminated in some way by anthropogenic industrial or commercial activities prior to its release into the environment or its re-use....
. The deal was completed in early 2007 for $227 million.
Other acquisitions in 2005 and 2006 included Acu-Trol, Inc., Delta Environmental Products, selected assets of Krystal Klear, and a 70% stake in Beijing Jieming Tiandi Environmental Equipment. Which was later renamed to Beijing Pentair Water Jieming, and produces fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
-reinforced pressure tanks and filters.
The company has announced an agreement to acquire water filtration
Water purification
Water purification is the process of removing undesirable chemicals, materials, and biological contaminants from contaminated water. The goal is to produce water fit for a specific purpose...
and separation firm Porous Media for approximately $225 million and has said that it plans to continue an active course of acquisitions, especially to grow its business outside the US.
Pentair is also the holding company
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
of several divisions, including Sta-Rite, the manufacturer of the product involved in the death of Abigail Taylor
Abigail Taylor
Abigail Rose Taylor was a young girl from Edina, Minnesota, whose accidental injury and eventual death led to new federal legislation in the United States to improve the safety of swimming pools.- Description of the incident :...
. Her accident led to the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, which was approved by the United States Congress and imposed a ban on the manufacture, sale or distribution of drain covers that don't meet anti-entrapment safety standards
Safety standards
Safety standards are standards designed to ensure the safety of products, activities or processes, etc. They may be advisory or compulsory and are normally laid down by an advisory or regulatory body that may be either voluntary or statutory...
.
Discontinued operations
Pentair has discontinued its Century/Lincoln and Lincoln Industrial service equipment operations. It also exited the tools business with the sale of its power toolPower tool
A power tool is a tool that is actuated by an additional power source and mechanism other than the solely manual labour used with hand tools. The most common types of power tools use electric motors. Internal combustion engines and compressed air are also commonly used...
s group (which had previously accounted for 40% of sales) in October 2004 to Black & Decker
Black & Decker
Black & Decker Corporation is a corporation based in Towson, Maryland, United States, that designs and imports power tools and accessories, hardware and home improvement products, and technology based fastening systems...
for nearly $800 million . Pentair then used that money to pay off much of the WICOR acquisition.