Founded in 1917 by Roy O. Couch, P.E., the Couch Manufacturing Company became a pioneer in the production of axial flow lineshaft pumps. Originally designing everything from hydroelectric turbines to steel-hulled boats, the company shifted its focus in the 1930s to high-capacity axial flow pumps that would help transform Florida’s sugar cane fields, orange groves, and flood-prone cities.

Couch pumps became known for their durability and innovation, with some models reaching up to 12 feet in diameter and pumping as much as 800,000 gallons per minute. With early deliveries made by Ford Model “A” trucks, Couch earned a reputation for excellence and reliability that would span generations and continents—from flood protection in Texas and Louisiana to aquaculture operations in Central America and cooling systems in Asia.

In 1977, the company was acquired by Allis-Chalmers Corporation, introducing mixed flow pump technology to complement the Couch axial flow product line. Just six years later in 1983, MWI Corporation—an American-owned pump manufacturer founded in 1926—acquired the Grant, Florida division of Allis-Chalmers, which was formerly known as Couch Pump Company.

Recognizing the value of the Couch legacy, MWI reinstated the Couch brand name on all facilities and products in Grant, Florida, proudly continuing the company’s commitment to pump performance, quality, and service. Although the Grant, FL location has since moved to MWI’s Rental and Repair facilities in Vero Beach, FL  MWI continues the repair and maintenance of more than 8,000 Couch pumps that remain in active operation around the world.