Our History

Quality centrifugal pumps have been manufactured by Buffalo Pumps and its predecessors for more than a century. Commercial use dates back to 1887 and marine applications predate World War I.

Our company`s plant in North Tonawanda, New York, sits on the ground where it was originally built. Over the years, the 94,300 square-foot facility has undergone several renovations and received a major addition. All facets of operations, including engineering, manufacturing and sales, are contained under one roof - making Buffalo Pumps a "single source" supplier for any pump customer. We have overhaul capabilities to reproduce parts that were originally manufactured 40-50 years ago. Because of advances in technology, replacement parts are often superior to the originals.

Although we at Buffalo Pumps have a proud general history, it was in times of national emergency when our operations excelled. The Liberty ships of World War I were equipped with Buffalo pumps, constructed under high speed, emergency conditions. After the war, the aircraft carrier Lexington was outfitted with a Buffalo pump that, to this day, remains the largest marine pump ever built. The pump on the ill-fated carrier, which went down fighting in World War II, was hailed by the industrial world as an engineering masterpiece. During World War II, Buffalo Pumps received the Army-Navy "E" banner from the U.S. Armed Forces - the highest honor a manufacturer could receive for quality production of defense materials. More recently, Buffalo Pumps was awarded the Defense Supply Center Certificate of Appreciation for outstanding supply support during Operation Desert Storm.

While the defense market has been a significant segment of our business, commercial pumps have been the mainstay of our operation. We have been a key supplier in the refrigeration, paper and lube oil markets for all the major OEMs for over two decades. In addition, our canned pump technology has long been recognized as the most advanced in the industry. Today, we hold ISO 9001-2008 certification as a pump supplier of the highest quality and dependability.

Buffalo - Navy and Marine Duty Pumps Brochure