In 1968, out of work engineer Charlie Peer started GPI sister company, ASC, in his basement to manufacture components for the general aviation industry. Within a year, the aviation industry experienced a recession, necessitating the diversification of the company.

Located in a strip center at 5532 W. Central in Wichita, KS, ASC shares this small (400sq. ft.) facility with GPI, a division of ASC. The farm equipment industry was rapidly growing and this created a market for evaporative coolers for combine cabs and fuel transfer pumps to facilitate the transfer of fuel to tractors and other farm equipment.

This marks the official start of the company's journey to where it is today!

Charlie Peer asks recently laid-off former co-worker Ken Rix to join him in his new venture, followed by Lyle Koontz, who was in charge of sales. During the beginning stages of the company, Ken and Lyle worked for IOUs since the brand-new company didn't have the means to pay employees yet. Ken is instrumental in raising the needed capital to qualify for an SBA loan, and Lyle's farming background and expertise in sales helped them break into the industry.

Located at 1620 S. Broadmoor in Wichita, KS, the total space shared between ASC and GPI has now grown to 3,500 square feet.

The Gas Master #1 and Gas Master #2 were followed by the Model 12.

GPI moves across the street to 1711 S. Longfellow, still located in Wichita, KS. In its own facility, GPI has expanded to 20,000 square feet. In the two years that follow, GPI expands their facility twice, an addition of 43,000 square feet which brings total square footage to 63,000. By 1975, the expansion has included the addition of a bonded warehouse and office space.

The newest model, M120, operates on a 12-volt battery, pumps 12 GPM, and is self-priming with automatic bypass and locks for security.

GPI received registration on the trademark "Pla-Cool," dated May 6, 1975. Fun fact: The Pla-Cool evaporative cooler was named by Charlie's wife, Patricia, after a competition between employees.

Although GPI had a parent company almost from its inception, in 1978 the name of the parent company was changed to what it still is today: Great Plains Ventures.

GPI begins selling the M120 pump at Tractor Supply Company. The first order of M120 pumps was for a quantity of over 1,600 and employees gathered around to watch the truck being loaded.

At the time, this area was largely vacant except for Koch Industries. No longer on the outskirts of town, this area is now a busy and developed area of Wichita - a desirable area to live with many options for entertainment, shopping and dining.

The computer component was contracted with Logical Services and cost $5000. Engineer Bob Hall carried in the prototype gingerly, realizing the value in his hands. Much to his horror, when he handed it to one of the original partners, Lyle Koontz, for inspection, he purposely dropped the meter on the ground stating, "If it isn't durable, we don't want it." His philosophy paid off, as the EDM was a largely popular meter, spurring two more iterations shortly after.

GPI lands a deal with Swiss Pharmaceutical and Chemical Company Ciba Geigy, customizing a pump to specifically meet their needs. Those who worked at GPI at the time, regardless of their position, helped build product and spent extra hours completing work for this contract - and were compensated well for it.

VP12 Horizontal High Viscosity Pump, P-Tote a Pump & P-PUP - Plastic Utility Pump.

Beginning his career as a purchasing agent in 1976, Grant took on increasingly responsible roles as Operations Manager and General Manager before being named President and General Manager in 1988.

The first of these motors were manufactured for the M150S fuel pump. While most companies began purchasing DC electric motors from overseas suppliers, GPI determined we could better control the quality, supply, and cost of motor manufacturing by 'doing it ourselves.' DC motor manufacturing is a complex process, requiring many steps.

The 01A series has one button, fewer calibration options and a more affordable price point. This line of meters is still very popular to this day!

Vane pumps are self-compensating and typically set up for higher pressure and flow rates. This expands GPI's pump offering and allows customers a wider variety of choices.

The A2 meters are GPI's foray into the industrial meter market and the precursor to the G2 meter line.

The new facility at 5252 E. 36th St. N. increases size to 170,000 square feet of manufacturing, warehouse and office space, and also locates GPI closer to its parent company.

During this time, most companies were offshoring plastics, getting away from U.S. manufacturing. GPI remained committed to U.S. manufacturing, but also wanted to develop a deeper technical understanding of how to design and manufacture plastic parts, keep control of quality and lead times for parts and reduce inventory costs.

As air conditioning becomes standard in farm equipment, GPI ceases production on Comfort King coolers, and in 2001 the last unit was sold!

The TM meter was initially nixed by the marketing department at GPI due to the conclusion that the marketing research didn't support the demand for it. A few engineers felt strongly about the project and developed the project regardless. It is still a high performing line of meters!

The EZ-8 pump is developed with the typical homeowner in mind, with a flow rate of 8 GPM and a smaller footprint.

“Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve,” - Napoleon Hill. This was Charlie Peer's mantra and how he lived, turning the impossible into reality. A caring and honest businessman, Charlie's legacy continues through his children, Susayn and Marque, and grandson, Joshua. They aim to innovate while fostering a family-like culture and supporting the community, keeping GPI aligned with Charlie's values and while aiming for continued growth for years to come.

Daughter of founder Charlie Peer, Susayn would have made her father proud as she maintained the company’s private status into the second generation. She recruited top board members and management, introduced profit-sharing plans, and enhanced the health insurance with more preventive coverages. In 2011, Susayn transitioned her brother Marque from GPI sales to lead GPV real estate development. Her efforts have driven notable growth in sales, profit, and book value, highlighting her success.

Marque joined the GPI sales team in 1984. He played a key role in developing the TM meter with engineering, and in the strategic decision to market pumps and meters separately. At GPV, he leads the development of the business park, transforming it into the vibrant "District 96" with diverse accommodations, restaurants, retail, and entertainment. His success in this project speaks for itself.

An ISO certification signifies that a company meets internationally recognized standards for quality, safety, and efficiency in its operations. For the company, it means enhanced credibility & improved processes. For the consumer, it assures consistent product or service quality, reliability, and adherence to best practices, leading to greater trust and satisfaction.

Vic comes to GPI with extensive experience in the manufacturing of proprietary products. He has worked in companies of various sizes and in diverse industries from truck bodies to cabinets to pumps. He joined GPI as president in 2012 following the unexpected death of Grant Nutter. Since arriving at GPI, Vic has initiated lean programs, acquired Trimec Industries, assembled an innovation team, and led a rebranding effort.

Trimec is eventually renamed GPI Australia(GPA) and specializes in oval gear meters.

Lean manufacturing streamlines production processes by eliminating waste, reducing costs, and improving efficiency. For the company, this means lower operational expenses. For the customer, it translates to higher-quality products at more competitive prices, delivered faster and with greater reliability. GPI began Lean by implementing day-by-hour boards, total productive maintenance (TPM), one-way flow, heijunka (visual scheduling boxes), and finished goods build to reorder points (instead of forecast).

This line of products is designed for heavy-duty professional grade demands.

GPV donates $250,000 to Wichita State University in honor of founder Charlie Peer. This lab serves as a gathering place for students to apply entrepreneurial principles to engineering problems.

Our rebrand enhances visibility across our diverse product range, making it easier for both customers and professionals to discover everything Great Plains Industries has to offer. While our GPI brand has been a trusted name in the retail pump sector, the GPRO brand brings awareness to our high-quality professional-grade vane pumps. With the acquisition of Trimec, we adopted the Flomec brand for our professional-grade flow meters, solidifying our commitment to excellence in every category!

This machine is purchased to produce the GPI designed, newly patented suction pipe. This plastic molding process was designed and developed by GPI. This machine is dedicated to production of the polypropylene suction pipe. As of July 2024, GPI has produced over 3 million suction pipe sets.

GPI invests in FMS Flexible Manufacturing System for the Machine Shop. In order to obtain better quality and part availability, GPI indrew all vane pump cast iron parts from China. The FMS includes two 4-Axis Okuma horizontal mills with Fastems automated pallet system. Automated casting probing and machining offset adjustments are implemented in order to obtain high precision and lights-out capability.

The company receives this approval for attached power cords on fuel transfer pumps. The cULus Listed mark is an internationally recognized compliance mark. It certifies that a product adheres to certain safety standards and also signifies a high level of credibility in the market.

Six Sigma Greenbelt training is provided for 18 engineering and technical employees to provide the tool set to solve problems, reduce variation in product quality, and perform product testing and research and development experimentation. The Six Sigma initiative also pursues mistake-proofing for manufacturing processes that have repeated defects.

Understanding the challenges and lack of reliable low flow capability of the previous paddle wheel solution in commercial irrigation installations, GPI knew there was a better solution: a no-moving parts ultrasonic meter.

Irrigation Organization: 2018 New Product of the Year Award for the QS200.

Powder-coating pump housings helps to prevent corrosion and rust and extend the product life.

GPI is awarded Tractor Supply company's Divisional Partner of the Year.

This machine was GPI's first six-axis cobot. Housings were indrawn from China to overcome 25% tariff. The raw material is now smelted in Indiana, rolled and formed in Illinois, cut to length in Kansas City and powder coated at sister company, PowderTech. GPI has now machined over one million housings with this system.

The Q9 is the latest version of the popular GPI computer display, incorporating many of the most requested features over the years, including low battery indication and the ability to display custom units with a name label.

The GPRO V25 series is a next-generation modular vane pump used in mobile fueling applications. Its Quick-Fit modular system (4 bolts and an O-ring) allows easy, leak-free attachment of filter, meter, or both.

GPI's refreshed and modern website put greater focus on the ability to control the quality of product listings online, greatly reducing instances of unreliable third-party sellers and bad information. The increased reach allows customers in remote regions to quickly access the information and tools needed. The enhanced platform offers customer resources such as online manuals, installation and troublshooting videos.

A/C Motor Hot Drop system is introduced for assembling stator to housing and rotor to shaft. This is a heat shrink process that employs thermal expansion properties of metals for assembling. This system is utilized for the V20 Series vane pumps.

Just like our products, our packaging is evolving! Check out our transition over time!

Joshua worked at sister company, Powdertech, in college before joining GPI in 2009. He began in purchasing and moved across multiple departments, including scheduling, operations, and sales. A key achievement was his work on the design and production of GPI's injection-molded composite suction pipe. As he transitions to GPV, marking the start of the third generation, Joshua brings valuable qualities and aims to drive the company's growth for future generations.

Designed for 1” – 8” irrigation applications, FLOMEC AQUAsonic Series flow meters use ultrasonic technology for high accuracy, reliability, and convenience in flow measurement. The AQUAsonic meter line has no moving parts meaning less wear and an ability to measure a wide flow range, including very low flow rates.

The GPRO portfolio is enhanced with the introduction of the V20 20 GPM fuel transfer pump. V20 delivers consistent high-pressure performance for stationary applications fueling large equipment. It features the Quick-Fit modular design allowing customers to easily add a filter and/or meter with the simplicity of 4 bolts and an O-ring for leak-free fueling.

Manufactured at our GPI Australia facility in Sydney, the RT40 display is a cost-effective solution for economic operations, seamlessly integrating with FLOMEC oval gear, turbine, and insertion meters equipped with a pulse output.

GPI introduces its DEF Transfer Pump System, engineered for clean, efficient Diesel Exhaust Fluid handling. With mobile and stationary options, an 8 GPM flow rate, and stainless-steel durability, this system sets a new standard for fleet maintenance and fluid transfer.