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At first glance, the wall in the Barnsley office of Egger Turo Pumps UK Ltd at The Business Village looks like a large picture of the company’s logo. Look closer, though, and you’ll find thousands of smaller photographs of its products and people, from the factory in Switzerland to the team in Barnsley.
Egger Turo is a Swiss pump manufacturer founded by Emile Egger in 1947. Its early pumps were developed to handle potato waste, and the company has since become known for pumps that can move liquids containing solids.
There’s plenty of evidence that Egger Turo’s pumps are built to last. The UK office still receives orders for spare parts for pumps supplied in the 1960s and has records going back that far.
“We like to think we’re still engineers that develop products to solve problems,” says Tom Burrows, General Manager of Egger Turo Pumps UK Ltd.
Today, its pumps are used in a range of industries, from wastewater treatment and food processing to chemical production. The UK business also works with customers in growing areas such as energy from waste plants and the circular economy, where many of the processes need pumps to move solid laden fluids.
The UK office opened in 1985 and now handles enquiries, sales and servicing for customers across the country. It’s the sales and support arm of the Swiss manufacturer, helping customers find the right pump and supporting them once it’s installed. Tom has been with the business for 20 years and, when he joined in 2006, one of his first tasks was to move the UK office from Leatherhead in Surrey to Barnsley.
Barnsley made practical sense for a business serving customers across the UK. With pumps installed from Scotland to the south coast, a central location made it easier to support customers nationwide. The UK operation settled in Barnsley, where it continued to adapt as the business changed over the years.
At one point, the office included a store holding a substantial amount of stock. When spare parts operations became more centralised in Switzerland, the UK business became smaller and its needs changed. After spending time in other Barnsley premises, the team moved to The Business Village in 2024. Tom admits he initially wondered whether the new office would be big enough, but in hindsight, it’s proved to be just right.
The move has also made day-to-day life easier. Tom no longer needs to worry about broadband or building maintenance, and if any problems come up, there’s someone on hand in the building to help. Reception helps with post and visitors, while the parking and central location are useful for both the business and its customers.
There’s also a livelier atmosphere at The Business Village. With people coming and going throughout the day, the office feels more connected to the wider business community than their previous one. The Bistro is a useful place to meet visiting reps over a drink, while events and seminars offer other opportunities to get involved, including a live hacking event. Kevin Steel, The Business Village’s Business Development Manager, also checks in from time to time to see how things are going. “It just feels more positive here,” says Tom.
The mosaic is a distinctive feature of the office. Tom had a large, bare wall and wanted to create something different. Local photographer Gavin Joynt, who produces commercial photography for the business, put together a couple of designs, one featuring pumps. Tom chose the version incorporating the Egger logo.
To bring the design to life, Tom supplied around 1,000 photographs – some recently shot by Gavin and many from the archives, which were used to create a mosaic of around 1,700 smaller images. Some show products and installations, while others capture factory sites, meetings, vans and everyday moments from the business. There are also images of Emile Egger in his office and of the original factory in Switzerland.
“From a distance, you can only see the big picture. But as you get closer, you see all the detail of the smaller ones,” Tom explains.
When you look closely, there are some interesting details to discover. One photograph of the founder includes an ashtray and a lit cigarette, a snapshot of a different era. And somewhere in the mosaic is a picture of The Business Village entrance, tucked away for visitors to find.
The wall is more than decoration. It brings together the people, places and products behind a business that has been operating for almost 80 years. Tom is pleased with how it turned out and loves seeing the company’s story told in pictures.
While the mosaic celebrates the company’s history, the UK business is looking ahead. After a period of limited growth, the company is keen to build its presence again. A new salesperson joined in August 2026, the first in nearly a decade, and the business aims to grow significantly over the coming year.
For Tom, the move to The Business Village has been part of a welcome change. As he puts it,
“We’re in a more positive mood than we’ve been for 10 years and we’re looking forward to the future.”
