Diesel-driven pumps
- High head & high flowAvailable in versions built for maximum vertical lift or maximum volume.
- Fully self-poweredIdeal for remote sites with no mains power infrastructure.
- Brands we runGodwin, Selwood, Sykes & BBA.
Turnkey industrial pump hire & pipeline installation.
We deliver comprehensive dewatering packages for the UK's most demanding sites. As self-sufficient asset owners, we use our own heavy haulage and 100%-owned pump fleet to haul, position and install complete pipework systems across any terrain — regularly pumping over distances of more than 1,000 metres. Whatever the application, if the contract is viable, we'll tackle it — and you're never left waiting on a third party.
The Davis difference
The “turnkey” advantage
We're not a “gate-drop” hire shop. We operate as a systems-led engineering partner — owning the design, the layout and the uptime — backed by a family business that's owned its own plant for generations.
| Feature | The “gate-drop” competitor model | The S.E. Davis turnkey model |
|---|---|---|
| Transport & positioning | Equipment is left at the site entrance; you coordinate third-party transport to the pit or lagoon. | Integrated logistics: our own heavy haulage and low-loaders deliver and position pumps exactly at the point of need. |
| Pipeline installation | You're responsible for sourcing labour, fittings and plant to lay long-distance discharge lines. | Full assembly: our hydraulic reeling system lays long runs of pipework quickly, with our own excavators and all-terrain plant installing across brutal topographies. |
| Accountability | Fragmented; multiple vendors lead to finger-pointing when something fails. | Single point of contact: total accountability for fluid management and uptime, on one invoice, backed by 90+ years of heritage. |
Specialised application
Slurry & lagoon management
The material consistency problem
Slurry is a highly abrasive, viscous liquid full of fibrous material. In tailing lagoons it separates — heavy solids settle at the base. Standard clean-water pumps clog or burn out within minutes.
We provide purpose-built abrasion-resistant slurry pumps from the likes of Warman, Linatex and Slurrypro, fitted with pump-end attachments such as cutter baskets, agitators and weed cutters to break down the crust and return it to a pumpable liquid.
Find out more about our dredging servicesOur pump fleet
Pumps for every duty
From high-head diesel sets to abrasion-resistant slurry pumps, we run a deep, varied fleet of branded plant. Every pump is owned outright — and if a contract calls for equipment we don't yet hold, we source and buy it in rather than sub-hire.
Electric submersible pumps
- Multiple configurationsSet up for dredging, high-head, thick-slurry and abrasion-resistant duties.
- Efficient & submergedSuited to deep pits, shafts and confined excavations.
- Brands we runDragflow, Flygt & Audex.
Slurry & abrasion pumps
- Built for abrasive slurriesHardened wear parts for the most punishing, gritty materials.
- High-wear longevityEngineered to keep pumping where standard units fail.
- Brands we runWarman, Linatex & Slurrypro.
Specialist pumping
- Booster setsWith automatic load control for long-distance and multi-stage pumping.
- Process & transfer pumpsPeristaltic, mono and air diaphragm pumps to move all manner of liquids.
- Pump-end attachmentsCutter baskets, agitators, liner protection equipment, weed cutters and screen baskets.
Pipework & capability
Whatever the distance, whatever the duty
Every application is different — flow rate, lift and solids all change site to site — so rather than quote fixed numbers, we scope each job to its exact duty. We regularly pump over distances of more than 1,000 metres, made possible by our hydraulic reeling system which enables us to lay long distances of pipework. There's very little we won't tackle when the contract is viable.
| Hose type | Material | Couplings | Sizes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flanged high-pressure hose | Rubber & polyethylene | Flanged | 6″, 8″, 10″, 12″ |
| Bauer-coupled hose | Rubber & polyethylene | Bauer | 2″, 3″, 4″, 6″, 8″ |
| Heavy-duty drag hose | Polyurethane | Storz & Shug | 4″, 6″, 8″ |
Need a precise duty calculation? Tell us the discharge distance, lift and material when you request a quote and we'll scope the correct pump set and pipework configuration.
Monitoring & control
Remote monitoring & control
Control from the shore — or from anywhere
We offer a wide range of control options. As standard we run shore-based remote control of our pumps, and for projects that demand closer oversight we deploy remote systems that monitor pH, turbidity and flow in real time.
These systems can be accessed from any location, giving you continuous visibility of how the pumps are performing without needing a permanent presence on site.
Automatic trip-level protection
Configurable trip levels can be built into the system to automatically shut pumps down the moment pH, turbidity or flow thresholds are exceeded.
That protects the surrounding environment, keeps you compliant with discharge consents, and prevents costly incidents — all without manual intervention.
Sectors & partners
Who we work with
From emergency flood response to long-term dewatering programmes, you get the same engineering-led model: owned plant, integrated haulage and a single point of accountability.
Quarries & aggregates
Rapid pit dewatering, face pumping and long-distance discharge lines to restore production after flooding or high water tables.
Civil engineering
Excavation dewatering, bypass pumping and temporary pipeline infrastructure for major groundworks projects.
Farming & slurry lagoons
Abrasion-resistant slurry pumps with agitators and cutter attachments for lagoon evacuation and SSAFO compliance.
Internal Drainage Boards
Bypass pumping during station maintenance, flood surge support and statutory watercourse management.
Councils & authorities
Emergency and planned flood relief when extreme weather overwhelms drainage, highways or public land.
Water & wastewater
High-volume mobile pumping and long-distance pipework for network outages, treatment bypass and contingency capacity.
Water where it shouldn't be? Let's fix it.
From a planned dewatering programme to a 3am emergency, our owned fleet is ready to mobilise.