Have a yarn with Aussie Pumps founder and Managing Director Warwick Lorenz for just a short while and it’s hard not to get caught up in his enthusiasm – and not just for Yanmar power or his own well-built pumps. Lorenz doesn’t dream big, he delivers big! Having recently moved his business to a brand-new facility around 30 kilometres north of Sydney’s CBD, Lorenz and Aussie Pumps are doing their thing – albeit in a modest way – to fight Australia’s bushfires, floods and drought.
“30 years ago, when Australian Pump Industries, (now Aussie Pumps), was founded in a shed in my backyard, the little team of four people had no understanding that we were heading for major changes in the weather,” says Warwick Lorenz of Aussie Pumps. “Even when we did hear about it, years later, we didn’t believe it!”
“Australia’s always been used to periodic droughts, floods and bushfires. What we didn’t forecast back then was the progressive temperature increases and the rising prevalence of dramatic weather events.”
Lorenz is acutely aware of what many businesses, farmers and other operators deal with on a daily and seasonal basis as users of small-engine equipment. He’s passionate about delivering a pumping product that works – and Australian manufacturing in the big picture.
“It’s easy to get depressed when you see headlines about bushfire devastation or flooding disasters, both here and overseas,” says Lorenz. “But here at Aussie Pumps our R&D Department and the inspiration of the people we work with are a big part of how we guide product development.”
He is talking about the kind of gear Aussie Pumps teams up with Yanmar L-series engines where safe, reliable, efficient diesel power gets the job done.
New Aussie Pumps factory pumping hard!
Aussie Pumps recently moved production to a new 3.5 acre warehouse and factory facility in Sydney’s boutique Norwest Business District. Here they developed significantly faster production build programs and a few other exciting improvements.
“We spent more than $2 million on a new test rig alone at our new facility – it’s state of the art,” says Lorenz proudly. “Our newer building isn’t just a better, lighter and more airy manufacturing space, it’s a facility that allows us to develop products that leave our competitors behind.”
Beating competitors is a game Aussie Pumps already has impressive runs on the board with – including with their super-reliable firefighting pumps and a range of transfer, spray and high-pressure pumps which can be coupled with Yanmar engines where required.
Aussie Pumps proudly provide Yanmar-driven pumps to customers like the Australian Navy, who have employed the recovery pumping power of the Aussie Pumps Sea Master model coupled with a Yanmar L48 diesel engine to move up to 700 litres per minute through a 2-inch hose with a head up to 35 metres. It is ideal as a light-weight marine damage control pump.
Big new facility – but bigger hopes for Australia
It’s little wonder Aussie Pumps goes from strength-to-strength. They’re a company that’s passionate about pumping!
Lorenz ensures his team delivers the best quality pumping equipment at a fair price, but that’s only a small part he can play in Australia’s bigger issues. The Aussie Pumps team has a passionate belief that Australia needs large scale infrastructure projects. One application of this effort could be drought-proofing regional Australia.
“Imagine bringing regional Australia to life, relieving country folk from the fear of drought and providing farmers with true water security!” Lorenz says. “We believe Australian manufacturers could gear up to help Australia’s food and fibre businesses prosper – double and even triple with enough water security,” he says.
Aussie Pumps work hard to design a range of machines designed specifically for Australian conditions. They work directly with farmers, dealers, local government bodies and mine and quarry operators as well. “The Yanmar-powered Aussie Mine Boss range are popular now, not just with the Australian mining industry, but have made their mark overseas,” Lorenz says.
“We believe Aussie manufacturers can be competitive; we prove it every day!”
“The Aussie Pumps team also know that Yanmar L Series engines have a reliability that’s unmatched and supported right around the world for both Australia and our export distribution network,” said Lorenz.
Helping power Aussie manufacturers – Yanmar’s L series
In the world of small diesel engines, few names command the same respect as Yanmar — and their L Series engines have long been the gold standard. Aussie Pumps chooses this Yanmar option because it is compact, reliable, and designed to perform under pressure. These engines are found powering everything from pumps to concrete saws, construction equipment and agricultural machinery across the globe.
At the heart of the L Series’ appeal is its legendary reliability. Built with precision Japanese engineering, these air-cooled, single-cylinder diesel engines are renowned for their long service life, low fuel consumption, and minimal vibration — all essential traits for demanding job sites where downtime isn’t an option. Models like the L48, L70, and L100 offer a broad output range from 4.7 to over 10 horsepower, making them adaptable to virtually any application.
One of the L Series’ standout features is its direct injection system, which boosts fuel efficiency and allows for faster, cleaner combustion. Combined with a recoil or optional electric start, low noise operation, and easy maintenance access, the engines are as user-friendly as they are durable.
But it’s not just performance that keeps the L Series on top — it’s reputation. OEMs like Aussie Pumps, contractors and farmers alike trust these engines because they just keep running. Even in extreme heat, cold, dust, or humidity, Yanmar L Series engines prove their worth time and again.
With a Power Equipment dealer support network second to none, readily available spare parts, and emissions compliance that meets tough international standards, the Yanmar L Series continues to set the benchmark in small diesel power. In a market flooded with imitators, it’s clear why Yanmar remains the engine of choice — built not just to start, but to last.
Check out Aussie Pump’s range of products at aussiepumps.com.au
