160 Years of Sykes Pumps

When Henry Sykes traded Sheffield for London to found a small engineering business on Upper Thames Street, few could have envisaged the company’s status today.

By 1900, Sykes’ organisation had already worked on some of the city’s highest profile pumping schemes. Business headquarters were transferred to Southwark, coinciding with the introduction of several new innovations that became synonymous with the name Henry Sykes.

Prior to the 20th century, his prospering firm was registered as a Private Limited Company under the stewardship of Henry Sykes Jr.

The First World War unsurprisingly had the potential to be a destabilising time for the company – particularly as many employees had been conscripted. Amazingly, some of the remaining workmen helped design and construct special rolling-friction winches which allowed Allied forces to pinpoint enemy locations!

The interwar period saw the acquisition of 51 acres of Greenwich marshland, adjoining the Woolwich Road at Charlton. Even now – 90 years on – Sykes retain an extremely strong presence in the area, which is where our flagship depot is based.

Stakeholder and long-term staff member Edmond Jackson died the year the Second World War broke out, but was recognised as the inventor of several revolutionary machines during an association that exceeded four decades.

Once again, Sykes played a significant role during the ensuing six years of international conflict – this time by assisting the construction of steel masts that would house radar installations for British Army intelligence.

Even more remarkably, however, was the rapidity with which pumps were supplied after MOD units failed. Without them, the Mulberry Harbours (widely considered one of the World War II’s greatest engineering accomplishments) would undoubtedly have sunk.

1957 marked the company’s centenary year and it was also around this time that another major development – the ‘Univac’ pump – was introduced to market. Many generations of the Univac product have since been developed with the current adaptation still prominently available.

Fifteen years on, and with the company still going from strength to strength, Sykes unveiled our first submersible pumps.

Domestic growth prompted expansion overseas, with Sykes venturing to the Middle East by the mid-1970s. Following two unconnected procurements, the Braithwaite Group merged Henry Sykes Ltd with the well-established Andrews Heat for Hire to form what we know today as Andrews Sykes.

The company’s reputation has continued to flourish, and in the last twenty years Sykes Pumps have been responsible for an incredible number of huge developments both in the UK and abroad.

It remains to be seen exactly what the future may hold for the organisation but maintaining a steady level of progress and expanding our international presence remain two constant targets.

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Heavy rain is not a problem for Sykes Pumps

Heavy rain is not a problem for Sykes Pumps

Sykes Pumps recently executed a highly effective dewatering operation in Essex. The operation aimed to manage the rapid influx of groundwater into a lagoon after heavy rainfall. The location’s lagoon posed a significant challenge to the customer due to its tendency to accumulate substantial amounts of nuisance water during intense rainfalls. This rapid accumulation not ...

Don’t forget! Our comprehensive fuel management packages ensure you don’t miss a beat!

Don’t forget! Our comprehensive fuel management packages ensure you don’t miss a beat!

As the country’s leading specialist hire company, we understand that running a successful business means paying attention to the smaller details. However, when it comes to fuel management, you can leave all the intricacies to us! We’ll handle every aspect with meticulous care, ensuring a seamless and trouble-free experience every time you deal with us. ...

Rising to the challenge: adapting to overcome market obstacles

Rising to the challenge: adapting to overcome market obstacles

At Sykes Pumps, we take pride in our ability to overcome challenges and provide innovative solutions for our clients. Recently, in Macclesfield, North Cheshire, we undertook a challenging project for the local council. They required a new headwall to be installed on a concrete culvert, necessitating the removal of water from site to create a ...

Water management legislation: Sink or swim for UK businesses

Water management legislation: Sink or swim for UK businesses

With the need for sustainable environmental practice at heightened levels, Jonathan King, Technical Manager at Sykes Pumps, outlines the importance of customers staying on the right side of current water treatment laws. Water treatment processes play a crucial role in preserving our planet and promoting greener ways of working. It is essential for companies to ...

Next stop, Rail Live: We’re looking forward to seeing you!

Next stop, Rail Live: We’re looking forward to seeing you!

Attention all rail professionals! Mark your diaries for the Rail Live trade show, which is taking place this Wednesday and Thursday (21st and 22nd June). Andrews Sykes is delighted to announce that we’ll be attending the exhibition, which is hosted at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre in Warwickshire. Our expert team will be stationed ...

Andrews Sykes: powering development at Hinkley Point C

Andrews Sykes: powering development at Hinkley Point C

When it comes to building and working on nuclear power stations like Hinkley Point C, strict regulations and precise requirements must be met at all times. The use of specialised concrete (known as ‘nuclear concrete’) is one of several heavily scrutinised processes undertaken on site, with protocols set by the Office for Nuclear Regulation expected ...

Draining the obstacles: Sykes Pumps clears the way following underpass flood

Draining the obstacles: Sykes Pumps clears the way following underpass flood

Following a period of heavy rainfall, Network Rail requested our intervention after a site in Cumbria became inaccessible due to a build-up of water. Flooding beneath a railway bridge was preventing the passing of road traffic, prompting the installation of a temporary pumping solution. Our client reported that this was a recurring issue and requested ...

Product of the month – May

Product of the month – May

PX 12 submersible drainer pump   Our Product of the Month for May is the ever-popular PX12 submersible drainer – a pump that is consistently required all year round and largely unaffected by seasonal changes! In fact, given that they are designed to address excessive water accumulation, we often find the increased risk of flooding ...

Working towards a more sustainable Sykes

Working towards a more sustainable Sykes

As we celebrate Earth Week, it’s important to consider sustainable solutions when enquiring about a pump from our customer service team. At Andrews Sykes, we offer a range of eco-friendly options to help protect our planet and your budget. Consider telemetry systems As industry leaders, we have been using telemetry systems for years – and ...

Bigger, better, and beneficial for the environment: Introducing our newest drip tray

Bigger, better, and beneficial for the environment: Introducing our newest drip tray

As a household name in our industry, the Sykes brand is exceptionally well-known for the vast range of pumps readily available in our hire fleet. In addition to this, we also pride ourselves on offering customers an unbeatable selection of accessories, which enable turnkey solutions to be adapted to the precise requirements of just about ...

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