Water Pump Company Moves North American Headquarters to Downers Grove

Grundfos, one of the world's leading manufacturers of water pumps, will move its North American headquarters to Downers Grove this spring.

The Denmark-based company, which employs 20,000 people in 20 countries, will take over a suite in the Esplanade office building, located at 2001 Butterfield Road.

Five or six employees will make the move this spring, but the office is expected to grow to 40 people over the next four years, according to Crain's Chicago Business.

Jes Munk Hansen, CEO of Grundfos Americas, told Crain's he sees Chicago as stacking up with Singapore, Silicon Valley and Munich as a hub for innovation and technology—especially in the water industry.

“Chicago has the platform to become one of the big water hubs in the world,” Hansen told Crain's.

Grundfos has run its North American headquarters out of Olathe, KS, since 2001. There are currently 150 employees there and at other offices in Allentown, PA; Fresno, CA; Brookshire, TX; Aurora, IL; Canada and Mexico, according to Crain's.

Michael Cassa, president of the Downers Grove Economic Development Corporation, announced the company's move during the Nov. 20 meeting of the Downers Grove Village Council.

Cassa said the EDC hopes to work with more international corporations like Grundfos in the future.

"This is a good example of the opportunity Downers Grove (has) to attract foreign-owned firms to our community," Cassa said.

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