On the occasion of Tapflo’s 45th anniversary, the founder and owner of the company, Börje Johansson, shares with World Pumps magazine the key to the Swedish company’s success. How did a simple idea turn into a global success? It’s a story of passion, perseverance, and the courage to innovate.
Tapflo celebrates 45 years of activity. How did this journey begin?
BJ: My passion for technical matters started early. As a young boy, I spent many hours in my father’s garage, repairing his SAAB car, dismantling the motor, and learning how everything fit together. When I grew up and started working in the pump industry, I quickly realized there was a demand for industrial pumps, especially high-quality diaphragm pumps for chemicals. When I couldn’t find one that met my standards, I came up with the idea to develop it myself. After finishing a normal workday, I attended evening CAD courses and created the first prototypes of a plastic diaphragm pump. Today, we have grown from a small company into an international group. Our production, equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, allows us full control over the entire process from start to finish, and I am very proud to see continuous development.
Börje Johansson, founder and owner of Tapflo.
How is Tapflo expanding its portfolio?
BJ: Over the years, the Tapflo portfolio has significantly expanded. Today, our offering includes much more than just diaphragm pumps. We have added centrifugal pumps, which are an excellent complement to our existing products, as well as peristaltic pumps. We always look ahead to meet our customers’ needs. For example, in 2019, due to growing demand and inquiries, we introduced electric motor-driven diaphragm pumps. Each year, we offer dozens of variants and tailored solutions to specific requirements.
What is the key to Tapflo’s success?
BJ: What makes Tapflo unique? It’s hard to pinpoint one factor, but our Swedish origin and design philosophy provide a strong foundation. Sweden is renowned for innovation and quality focus. Swedish design is synonymous with simplicity, functionality, and elegance – principles that Tapflo has followed since the very beginning. Another important factor is our customer focus. We solve their problems and want to help them. We tailor products to their needs and develop them further, which has resulted in a broad and versatile product portfolio.
Moreover, we offer pump testing capabilities, which is highly valued by many customers. We have an impressive list of references and maintain over 3,000 pumps in stock warehouses worldwide, allowing us to deliver quickly and efficiently. Short delivery times are a priority to support our customers’ operations. Speed matters just as much as safety on the customer’s site.
An essential part of our success is, of course, our dedicated teams worldwide. Attracting the best talent in the industry has a significant impact on our growth. Today, Tapflo operates in over 75 countries, and in Europe—our home market—we have offices in nearly every country. We couldn’t have made this journey without our skilled team!
Tapflo factory
You mentioned valuing simplicity. What does that mean to you?
BJ: I often say, “Simplicity is an art.” In the pump industry, simplicity is often overlooked. Many companies tend to complicate things, whereas true innovation lies in simplicity. Streamlining processes is an art, and our product reflects this philosophy. We focus on what’s essential by designing pumps with fewer parts without compromising quality or performance.
How would you describe the Tapflo culture?
BJ: It’s more than just collaboration and teamwork—it’s about a sense of unity. We are the Tapflo family and truly enjoy exchanging ideas and sparking creativity together. True innovation thrives when individuals feel comfortable experimenting without fear of making mistakes. This openness to new ideas drives our progress.
What does the future hold for Tapflo?
BJ: The future of Tapflo is bright and full of potential! As a family business, we are guided by a shared vision and pursuit of excellence. My daughter Emelie, who has been an integral part of our journey for over a decade, now leads Tapflo Sweden as Managing Director and sits on the Tapflo Group board. Her path from intern to leader exemplifies our commitment to nurturing and supporting growth.
Looking ahead, we embrace new opportunities with excitement and approach challenges with confidence. Building on solid foundations and a long-term vision, we consistently strive to grow and make a lasting impact on the world of industrial pumps.
This interview appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of World Pumps magazine. To read the full issue, click here.
