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Our Timeline of History

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Williamson Brothers

1819 - 1853

AGRICULTURAL ERA WILLIAMSON BROTHERS

Williamson Brothers founded 1853.

AGRICULTURAL ERA WILLIAMSON BROTHERS

1819

KENDAL TO LANCASTER CANAL OPENS

KENDAL TO LANCASTER CANAL OPENS

Creating an ideal foundry location.

1853

WILLIAMSON BROTHERS MOVE TO CANAL HEAD

WILLIAMSON BROTHERS MOVE TO CANAL HEAD

1856

VORTEX TURBINE DESIGNED BY PROF. THOMSON

VORTEX TURBINE DESIGNED BY PROF. THOMSON

Williamson Brothers acquire the rights to Professor Thomson's Patent Vortex turbine. The first Vortex turbine is installed at James Cropper's paper mill, at Cowan Head near Kendal.

1860's

WILLIAMSON BROTHERS START MAKING PUMPS

Some are used in building the Suez Canal.

WILLIAMSON BROTHERS START MAKING PUMPS

1878

FIRST HOUSE IN THE WORLD LIT BY HYDROPOWER

FIRST HOUSE IN THE WORLD LIT BY HYDROPOWER

Cragside, Northumberland. Now a National Trust Property. Lord Armstrong ordered a Williamson Brothers Vortex Turbine.

Gilbert Gilkes

1881

GILBERT GILKES ACQUIRES WILLIAMSON BROTHERS

Gilbert Gilkes & Co is formed.

GILBERT GILKES ACQUIRES WILLIAMSON BROTHERS

1897

FIRST TURBINE INSTALLED AT BALMORAL

FIRST TURBINE INSTALLED AT BALMORAL

The entry in Gilkes original ledger for Queen Victoria's order for Balmoral highlighted in red.

1919

THE TURGO IMPULSE TURBINE IS INVENTED BY ERIC CREWDSON

A patent for the Turgo Turbine was granted in the same year.

THE TURGO IMPULSE TURBINE IS INVENTED BY ERIC CREWDSON

Gilbert Gilkes & Gordon

1928

GILKES ACQUIRES JAMES GORDON & CO

GILKES ACQUIRES JAMES GORDON & CO

1932

SELF PRIMING PUMP, INVENTED BY ERIC CREWDSON

A patent for the pump was granted in the same year.

SELF PRIMING PUMP, INVENTED BY ERIC CREWDSON

1935

Gilkes install new water turbine test facility

Gilkes install new water turbine test facility

Allowing turbines to be tested at the factory for the first time.

1940

GILKES PUMPS SUPPLIED TO GARDNER DIESELS

Gardner were the first diesel engine builders to use Gilkes self priming cooling pumps for marine applications.

GILKES PUMPS SUPPLIED TO GARDNER DIESELS

1948

NEW FACTORY

NEW FACTORY

A major investment including purchase of the disused canal basin enabled the building of the new factory.

1952

PELTON TURBINES FOR ENGLISH ELECTRIC

In 1952 Gilkes stretched their manufacturing technology to build two 18.5MW Pelton Turbines for English Electric to be exported to Australia.

PELTON TURBINES FOR ENGLISH ELECTRIC

1969

THE QUEEN'S AWARD FOR EXPORT

THE QUEEN'S AWARD FOR EXPORT

1972

PUMPS SUPPLIED TO CATERPILLAR

The "M" (metric) Series marine cooling pump was introduced in 1972 and adopted by Caterpillar thereafter.

PUMPS SUPPLIED TO CATERPILLAR

1978

GILKES INC BEGINS OPERATION IN TEXAS, USA

GILKES INC BEGINS OPERATION IN TEXAS, USA

Gilkes begin supporting the refinery industry in Texas, from a small space in the unair-conditioned building!

1981

HRH PRINCESS ALEXANDRA OF KENT VISITS - 125 YEARS OF THE COMPANY

HRH PRINCESS ALEXANDRA OF KENT VISITS - 125 YEARS OF THE COMPANY

1983

TWIN JET TURGO INTRODUCED

TWIN JET TURGO INTRODUCED

The first twin jet Turgo turbine was designed and delivered to Peru in 1983. The 20” machine was built and delivered to Compania Minera Atacocha with a power output of 1260kW.

1985

FIRST VERTICAL 4 JET PELTON

The first 4-jet Pelton turbine was manufactured for the Hatchet Creek project in the USA, with a power output of 7.3MW.

FIRST VERTICAL 4 JET PELTON

1988

ISO 9001 QUALITY MANAGEMENT STANDARD ACHIEVED

ISO 9001 QUALITY MANAGEMENT STANDARD ACHIEVED

1995 - 1999

THREE NEW TURBINES INSTALLED AT KINLOCHLEVEN (10.2MW), THE FORMER ALUMINIUM SMELTER IN SCOTLAND

Three 10.2MW Francis turbines are installed at Kinlochleven, the former aluminium smelter site where Gilkes had previously supplied a 1.2MW Turgo turbine [1968 ].

THREE NEW TURBINES INSTALLED AT KINLOCHLEVEN (10.2MW), THE FORMER ALUMINIUM SMELTER IN SCOTLAND

1998

HRH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH VISITS TO OPEN NEW RECEPTION

HRH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH VISITS TO OPEN NEW RECEPTION

2003

ISO / TS16949 QUALITY MANAGEMENT STANDARD ACHIEVED

ISO / TS16949 QUALITY MANAGEMENT STANDARD ACHIEVED

2005

GILKES PUMPS USED ON LOCOMOTIVES

GILKES PUMPS USED ON LOCOMOTIVES

2009

GILKES INC NEW FACTORY OPENED IN TEXAS

Within a few miles of the 1978 premises.

GILKES INC NEW FACTORY OPENED IN TEXAS

2010

THE QUEEN'S AWARD FOR EXPORT (INTERNATIONAL TRADE CATEGORY)

THE QUEEN'S AWARD FOR EXPORT (INTERNATIONAL TRADE CATEGORY)

2010

GILKES ENERGY FOUNDED

Gilkes Energy Subsidiary founded to develop, design, build & operate hydroelectric schemes.

GILKES ENERGY FOUNDED

2014

INSTALLATION STARTS ON GILKES' LARGEST OVERSEAS HYDRO PROJECT

INSTALLATION STARTS ON GILKES' LARGEST OVERSEAS HYDRO PROJECT

21MW Expansion of Blue Lake Hydropower Plant at City Of Sitka, Alaska.

2015

GILKES DELIVERS ITS 150,000TH ENGINE COOLING PUMP

GILKES DELIVERS ITS 150,000TH ENGINE COOLING PUMP

2016

COMPANY MOVES INTO NEW OFFICES AND OPENS TECHNICAL CENTRE

COMPANY MOVES INTO NEW OFFICES AND OPENS TECHNICAL CENTRE

Expansion & Refurbishment of Offices, Factory & Test Facility at the Canal Head Site.

2018

OVER 6800 TURBINES EXPORTED WORLDWIDE

OVER 6800 TURBINES EXPORTED WORLDWIDE

2018

OLIVER WIGHT CLASS A AWARD

OLIVER WIGHT CLASS A AWARD

Gilkes successfully achieve Class A performance in Planning & Control and continues to establish itself as a leader in its field.

2019

100 YEARS OF THE TURGO

Gilkes Original Design Turgo Turbine makes its Centenary Year! 100 years later and the Turgo maintains its place as one of the most popular hydropower turbine designs, testament to the longevity of the original design and technology.

100 YEARS OF THE TURGO
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