Singer Valve's Mark Gimson Looks at 2017 Trends in the Pump-Related Market

Pumps & Systems staff spoke with Mark Gimson, Business Development and Marketing Manager for Singer Valve Inc., about the major trends to anticipate in 2017 that will affect the pump-related industry.

How is the skills gap affecting your company, and what steps are you taking to fill the gap?

We are hiring some younger engineers which involves a bit more coaching, but we are getting the benefit of a new and fresh perspective with solutions that push the engineering boundaries.

What are the most important innovations for 2017 in instrumentation, controls and monitoring?

Most innovation, including that of instrumentation, control and monitoring, will be on ways to prevent water loss and find ways to use precisely what we need.

How do you see governmental regulations impacting the market in the coming year?

Domestically, we may see tougher regulations on infrastructure management and leakage control. This will force utilities to focus on water management following more of a European model. Water quality is also another big concern as water supplies get more scarce.

What kind of year will this be for water/wastewater—both in existing and emerging markets?

As water becomes more scarce we will see more demand for better stewardship which means increased attention on water loss and pressure management along with infrastructure upgrades.

What general trends/challenges do you foresee for the future?

We are seeing moves in the emerging world to supply 24/7 water, i.e. water that is available all the time as opposed to time restricted supply. This is opening opportunities for innovative solutions in new distribution systems, where historically everything had been a manual operation.

What can end users expect to see in 2017, and what should they do to prepare?

Move from mechanical to automated controls. Also expect to see upgrades and maintenance to aging infrastructure for developed countries and rapid expansion of water distribution systems in fast-growing developing nations. To read more Q&As from industry leaders, click here.