Home
/ Company


Vaughan Company has a long history of innovation and
quality. Jim Vaughan, the founder of Vaughan Company, invented the
world's first chopper pump in 1960. The business started in the garage
of Jim's gas station in Elma, Washington. Jim repaired the local
dairymen's manure pumps, which experienced constant maintenance
problems caused by clogging on bedding and twine. After spending many a
wasted hour repairing pumps, Jim developed a unique design that
effectively became the original chopper pump. Immediately, Jim realized
he had invented something worthy of a patent.
In 1961, Vaughan
Company purchased a 5,000 square foot building located
in Montesano, Washington, This facility was previously used by the
Schafer Brothers Logging Company as an engine repair facility for the
railroad. Vaughan Company's current facility still incorporates the
original building, but with over 35,000 square feet of additional
manufacturing space.
In 1964, Vaughan Company's first patent was issued. Since
then, over 40 worldwide patents have been issued or are pending. New
design developments have almost exclusively centered on product
improvements in efficiency and reliability in the most severe
environments.
Improvements in the late 1970's included the development of a
seal-and-bearing system for vertical wet well pumps to eliminate sleeve
and grease packed bearings. In the 1980's, Vaughan developed the "LCC
Series" of higher efficiency 3" through 6" chopper pumps. These designs
were further refined with the "HP Series" and also expanded to include
8" through 12" pumps in the 1990's. The "E-Series" chopper pumps were
introduced in early 2000, and included further improvements in
efficiency, and back pull-out design was introduced.
Stepping into the 21st Century,
Vaughan continues this pursuit of
dependability using modern technology. In-house 3-dimensional computer
solid modeling design allows Vaughan to create exacting fits and
precision castings for all components. Computational Fluid Dynamics
(CFD) analysis allows Vaughan to look closely at flow patterns and
velocities within the pump, and develop premium efficiency design
upgrades. Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) automated machining
creates exacting parts repetition and dependable fits with every pump.