ACE specialty pumps play a crucial role in the efficiency of machinery and equipment for manufacturers around the globe. Simply put, manufacturers and customers lose a lot of time and money without reliable and quality pumps to power equipment.
Ace Pumps was founded by Roy Bell in the 1940s and has been led by three generations of the Bell family until 2018. The company’s breakthrough came in 1969 when they developed the first hydraulic-driven pump for John Deere, a milestone that catapulted Ace Pumps to global recognition. Today, their iconic Ace green, which was introduced with that specific pump, remains a symbol of their legacy.
The AEM Manufacturing Express rolled onto President’s Island, a man-made island just outside of Memphis, TN, today for a visit and celebration with a local company and a thriving equipment manufacturer that has been a leader of specialty pumping solutions since 1945.
Over the decades, Ace Pumps has consistently demonstrated their commitment to providing custom solutions, developing more than 40 models and variations across 170 OEMs worldwide. In fact, 75% of their pumps are destined for U.S. manufacturers, and 25% are sent globally to countries with significant manufacturing presence, like Germany, Argentina, Ukraine, and Australia. In 2018, Ace became part of the AR Group, a 3rd generation family company. The new alliance continues to fuel Ace’s export business and growth. In 2024, the company achieved a milestone distinction—becoming one of only five companies to receive a second “E-Star” Award as part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s President’s “E” Award for Export Achievements. This prestigious recognition underscores Ace Pumps’ significant contribution to U.S. exports, which in turn strengthens communities and generates American jobs.
Many manufacturers are increasing their investments in the U.S. manufacturing sector, and the Memphis area is at the forefront. Due to recent investments, Memphis will need to fill at least 22,000 new manufacturing jobs in the next five years. To meet demand, the city has renewed its dedication to workforce development and training across Tennessee and northern Mississippi. This commitment is bolstered by significant grant funding and the creation of job training programs and facilities directly supported by local manufacturers.
Ace Pumps plays a pivotal role in this effort through partnerships with the Memphis Chamber of Commerce and other manufacturers to strengthen and advance the local manufacturing workforce. “Memphis is pulling up its bootstraps to meet the need for manufacturing jobs in the next five years, which requires our community to be intentional about investments that create a strong manufacturing workforce,” said Ace Pumps CEO Andy Randle.
Looking ahead, Ace Pumps is poised for significant growth and expansion. With a target to surpass $20 million in annual sales by the end of 2027, Ace Pumps is planning to grow in Memphis. As the company prepares to add new warehouses and offices, it’s clear that this multi-generational, family-owned business values its most essential asset: “At the end of the day, the growth our company has made and is expected to make in the years to come would not be possible without our most valuable resource: our employees,” said Randle. “We are excited about the future and the opportunities it holds for us and our employees.”
