In 2015, Wilden® will be celebrating 60 years in business as the global leader in air-operated double-diaphragm (AODD) pump technology. Conceived out of necessity, born in the arms of innovation and inspired by sheer will and determination, Wilden began in a walnut grove in San Bernardino County, CA, USA, through the genius of Jim Wilden. And if the legend is true, the company all started with a busted water pipe and a simple tongue-in-cheek exclamation.

It all started in 1955 when a large water pipe ruptured several feet below ground, flooding a shop at the steel factory where Jim Wilden was employed. Amid the chaos, a cool-headed foreman surveyed the inundated workshop and drenched workmen and yelled out to “Slim,” Jim’s nickname, “Hey, Slim, you would make a million dollars if you could invent a pump to get this stuff out of here.” From these timely words an entire industry would blossom, as Jim went on to invent the AODD pump.

Jim’s AODD pump invention was based solely on the need to create a pump tough and reliable enough to handle the harsh demands of the mining and heavy-construction industries, where the need to pump water, slurry and other finely divided substances such as cement is an ongoing requirement. His engineering prowess developed a new type of pump that featured the right air valve and diaphragms needed to perform in these types of applications. After a few years of trial and error, Jim began successfully manufacturing and selling M16 and M14 model AODD pumps.

Jim’s innovative spirit did not end with the invention of the first AODD pump. He continued to even further refine his manufacturing processes, and eventually hired a salesman so he could focus on his strengths: engineering, design and production. By 1964, the air valve, which once took six hours to produce, could now be made in 60 minutes; the entire pump, once a 40-hour project, was reduced to less than four hours. These manufacturing improvements and the hydraulic-fluid efficiencies his pumps delivered allowed Jim to innovate and develop new products, including the M8, which are the basis for the current models available today.

Not only was Jim an innovator and visionary, but he was also very compassionate and concerned about the well-being of his employees. During the 1974 recession, Jim was faced with poor economic times and tough decisions. As the country was implementing mass layoffs, his main concern was for the welfare of his employees, and he ultimately decided against any layoffs. He creatively reallocated resources and used the workforce to make internal improvements such as refurbishing and repairing the Wilden plant. Then as the U.S. slowly crawled out of the recession, Jim began to expand the operation and product lines, improving business and adding to the legend of Jim Wilden.

It wasn’t long after that Jim was at it again, expanding operations globally, pioneering lean manufacturing principles and introducing new air distribution systems (ADS) to extend the Wilden product line. Sadly, Jim passed away in 1989, right before he could see the full stride of the new product line take hold in the chemical, sanitary and pharmaceutical industries.

Even though Jim Wilden is no longer at the helm of the company, his tradition of innovation and product development still lives on within Wilden. The new millennium has turned out to be just as innovative and productive as the past few decades. With a global shift towards energy-efficient pumps and best production practices, Wilden’s focus has evolved to address these concerns while still maintaining the high performance, quality and customer satisfaction for which the company is known. With the advent of the revolutionary Pro-Flo X™ and energy-efficient Pro-Flo® SHIFT ADS, Wilden promises to keep alive the innovative spirit and customer-focused culture that Jim left behind.