At the 20th International Fair of Innovations, Economy, and Technical Creativity, held from April 16–17, 2026, in Ilok, TURBINE WORKS Ltd. won a gold medal for its high-power, high-efficiency vertical semi-axial pumps. Innovators: Dražen Furač, Tomo Lucijanić i Branka Stepić-Župančić.
Turbine Works designed and manufactured four new vertical pumps according to the requirements of the new project for fresh water pumping station Dolac (Zadar) with demand on increasing efficiency, and delivered three pumps with a capacity of 480l/s, delivery head of 200m and an installed power of 1400kW, which makes them the largest pumps of this type in terms of power in the Republic of Croatia, and one pump with a capacity of 210l/s, delivery head of 200m and an installed power of 630kW.
VPPm pumps are multistage radially split pumps with semi-axial impellers installed in pump bowls. The length of the pumps from the foundation to the suction strainer is 7m, while the total length of the pump including the pump parts above the foundation and the electric motor is about 11m.
The pumps were designed and manufactured according to rigorous design requirements with an accent on the construction of a completely new impeller and diffuser hydraulics. High efficiency of the new pumps was achieved as a project requirement with the aim of reducing power consumption. Considering that it is a high power consumption and 24-hour operation, the annual energy savings are significant.
