Abstract
Low Capacity Utilization Restricts Profitability of Pump Manufacturing Companies
Saddled with excess manufacturing capacity as a result of end users moving production bases to cheaper locations such as China and India, pump manufacturers in North America today are finding it difficult to generate profits. This, in turn, negatively impacts R&D activities that are critical to success. Having enjoyed healthy growth till around 2000, the centrifugal and turbine pumps market has since been hit hard by a combination of factors that affected consumer confidence and reined in spending. However, the market is expected to start recovering during the latter part of 2003. Key end-user industries identified for future growth are: water and wastewater, pharmaceutical processing, biotech, food and beverages, and oil and gas.
This Frost & Sullivan research studies the North American centrifugal and turbine pumps market, which it segments by product type as follows: single stage, multistage, axial and mixed-flow, submersible, sealless, and turbine pumps. In-depth analysis of key end-user segments helps identify new market opportunities for future growth. This research also compares product, technological, distribution, and pricing trends and forecasts revenues for each segment.
Water Industry Emerging as Key Driver of Pumps Market
The water and wastewater industry - an important end user of pumps - continues to demonstrate healthy growth rates largely due to stringent environmental and other regulations governing most municipal and industrial water plants. Mounting concerns about safe drinking and industrial water as well as the need to control and prevent pollution ensure continued demand from the water industry for centrifugal and turbine pumps.
Increased attention being paid to better management of depleting water resources is resulting in a whole host of activities including water recycling, water harvesting and storage, and intra- and inter-basin transfers. The municipal wastewater treatment sector is seeing substantial growth as new plants are constructed and existing ones are upgraded. "This growing trend toward water management expenditure in North America will translate into increased demand for centrifugal and turbine pumps, which is expected to drive the industry," notes the analyst.
Greater Price Pressures Compel Companies to Find Ways to Stay Competitive
In this mature and intensely competitive market, companies that have been able to lower costs or introduce new products have achieved some measure of success. "Driving costs down is the key, particularly in this market where economies of scale are often very important to get an edge over the competitor," says the analyst. Companies are now looking at either relocating manufacturing facilities to Asia, South America or China - all of which offer lower production overheads - or sourcing components from these regions. Companies will also have to explore ways to address the problem of excess manufacturing capacity in their quest to improve profitability. | 
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