75 years of Flux drum pumps - Flux celebrates its anniversary
The first electrically operated drum pump was developed by students in Karlsruhe when Phyag KG was founded in 1950. Today, Flux drum pumps are in use all over the world.
In 1950, students in Karlsruhe founded Phyag KG and developed the first electrically powered drum pump - an answer to the cumbersome hand pumps that were common at the time. Their innovation, presented as "Flux", quickly attracted attention at trade fairs. At the same time, Ludwig Hahn from Progress Verkauf GmbH was looking for a new industrial product that would complement his product range, which had previously focused on household appliances. He immediately recognized the market potential of the invention and took over the Phyag shares. Just three years after the invention of the electric drum pump, an explosion-proof version followed in 1953 - a significant step for many branches of industry. The introduction of the Flux 500 thick matter pump based on the progressive cavity principle was another milestone. Thanks to it, viscous liquids could also be pumped for the first time. This was particularly important in the post-war period, when the demand for a wide variety of chemical raw materials and their further processing increased rapidly. Over the years, variants were developed for a wide range of applications, such as pumps with two-stroke motors for mains-independent operation and laboratory pumps for small containers. Customer requirements were also the reason for the development of flow meters, initially with an analog pointer display, later of course digital. At the same time, the range of materials was expanded. The selection was always based on industry-specific requirements, whether in the chemical, pharmaceutical, food or surface technology sectors. Materials such as polypropylene, PVDF, aluminum, stainless steel or Hastelloy C were used to handle a wide variety of chemicals. On this basis, drum and container pumps have been developed for numerous media - from low-viscosity to viscous and for a wide variety of drums, containers, IBCs and other receptacles.
New pump technologies are added at Flux
New pump technologies such as air-operated diaphragm pumps, magnetic drive centrifugal pumps, submersible centrifugal pumps and - most recently - a new peristaltic pump series have been gradually added. With the introduction of battery-powered motors - such as the 300 series - Flux also responded to the trend towards mobile energy supply. These products have won several design and technology awards for their innovative strength. Complex applications such as the hygienic and ergonomic emptying of highly viscous, no longer flowable media from 200-liter drums were also addressed. Drum emptying systems such as ViscoFlux lite (Ex) and ViscoFlux mobile S illustrate the change from product manufacturer to provider of integrated solutions - tailored to the respective customer application. The focus is always on practicality: simple operation, tool-free disassembly and quick cleaning are now standard. Production also developed dynamically: the site was relocated from Stuttgart-Botnang to Maulbronn, where the administration is also based today. All core components are still produced there today - a clear commitment to quality and vertical integration "made in Germany". At the same time, the company pushed ahead with its internationalization. Subsidiaries in France, the USA, Benelux, Great Britain, India and Thailand as well as over 70 sales partners worldwide make Flux a global supplier of industrial pump technology today. Thousands of Flux pumps are in reliable daily use around the world in the most challenging applications. After 75 years, Flux drum pumps are more popular than ever.