Mueller Water Products
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Water infrastructure products |
| Predecessor | Mueller Co., Providence Steam and Gas Pipe, Grinnell Co., Anvil International, United States Cast Iron Pipe and Foundry Company (U.S. Pipe) |
| Founded | September 22, 2005 |
| Headquarters | Atlanta , United States |
Area served | North America |
Key people | Shirley Franklin (board member) |
| Products | Fire hydrants, gate valves, water infrastructure components, leak detection technologies, metering technologies |
Mueller Water Products, Inc. (MWP), a publicly listed corporation based in Atlanta, Georgia, is recognized as one of the foremost producers and distributors of fire hydrants, gate valves, and water infrastructure components across North America. The company functions through two principal divisions—Mueller Co. and Mueller Technologies—and manages a portfolio exceeding a dozen brands, including Echologics and Mueller Systems.
History
Mueller Water Products was established as an independent company on September 22, 2005, with its roots dating back to 1857 when Hieronymus Mueller founded the predecessor of Mueller Co. in Decatur, Illinois. Its heritage also encompasses entities such as Providence Steam and Gas Pipe (which evolved into Grinnell Co. and later Anvil International) and the United States Cast Iron Pipe and Foundry Company (subsequently known as U.S. Pipe).
In 1969, Jim Walter Corporation acquired U.S. Pipe and subsequently purchased Mueller Co. and Anvil International in 2005, consolidating these businesses to create Mueller Water Products. The firm became publicly traded in 2006, simultaneously shifting its headquarters from Decatur to Atlanta.
Initially comprising three divisions—Mueller Co., Anvil International, and U.S. Pipe—MWP sold U.S. Pipe to Wynnchurch Capital in 2012, maintaining the valve and hydrant operations under Mueller Co. In early 2017, the company divested Anvil International to One Equity Partners while acquiring Singer Valve to broaden its range of automatic control valve products.
Structure
Mueller Water Products operates as a publicly traded entity overseen by a board of ten directors, which includes former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. The company’s operations are divided into two Reporting Segments—Infrastructure Products and Technologies Products—each responsible for managing multiple brands and subsidiaries.
Mueller Co.
As a prominent North American manufacturer of valves and fire hydrants, Mueller Co. supervises various brands that specialize in valves, fittings, utility metering, water infrastructure solutions, leak detection technologies, and pipe condition evaluation.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Echologics | Echologics specializes in acoustic leak detection and non-invasive pipe condition assessment services worldwide, having successfully reduced millions of gallons of water loss. In 2012, Mueller Service Co. was integrated into Echologics to strengthen service capabilities. |
| Henry Pratt Company | Founded in 1901 with headquarters in Aurora, Illinois, Henry Pratt produces valves, actuators, and control systems serving potable water, wastewater treatment, power generation, industrial processes, and nuclear industries. |
| Hydro Gate | Hydro Gate supplies water control gates utilized in flood management, water treatment facilities, irrigation systems, dams, and hydroelectric projects; its product line includes slide gates, butterfly gates, stop logs, and related accessories. |
| James Jones Company | Established during the 1890s and based in Ontario, California, James Jones manufactures bronze wet barrel fire hydrants along with water service valves designed for potable water networks. |
| Milliken Valve Co. | Milliken Valve designs and produces plug valves, check valves, butterfly valves as well as associated controls and actuators for applications in water distribution, wastewater management, and industrial sectors. |
| Mueller Systems | Mueller Systems offers advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), automatic meter reading (AMR) technologies alongside a variety of residential, commercial, and fire-line meters. Originally founded as Hawes and Hersey Company in 1859, it holds the distinction of being the oldest water meter manufacturer in the United States. |
| U.S. Pipe Valve & Hydrant Division | USPVH manufactures fire hydrants, gate valves, and potable water flow control products at ISO9001-certified manufacturing facilities located within the United States. |
Sustainability
MWP stands out as the sole producer of valves and hydrants utilizing the lost-foam casting technique, a method that significantly decreases material consumption while lowering waste and emissions. Mueller Co. provides its waterworks brass components in low-lead options. The organization tracks sustainability efforts through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) focused on Energy, Water Conservation, Gas, and Solid Waste management. Additionally, MWP holds membership in the U.S. Green Building Council and actively engages in the EPA's Energy Star initiative.