Water Well Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/643500
M ark Reeder has seen quite a bit in his more than 20 years in the groundwater industry. From his vantage point as director of innovation and field marketing for Franklin Electric, he has pinpointed seven trends emerging over the last few years. None will surprise anyone, and many are surprisingly interrelated, but Reeder believes most people haven't had a chance to think about how these trends affect the industry. The majority are external to the industry, meaning there isn't much control over them. However, they offer an opportu- nity for the contractor base. "The good news is our industry is well positioned based on these trends," he says. "What I've tried to do is build on these trends a bit by presenting how to leverage these opportunities in your business." Reeder presented his findings at the 2015 NGWA Ground- water Expo and Annual Meeting and also at the 2015 South Atlantic Jubilee. "It was good insight into the future on the use of water," says Alan Burgess, CWD/PI, president of Burgess Water Wells Inc. in Mayfield, Kentucky, who heard the presentation at the Jubilee. "It was good someone took the time to look into the future to see where we're going. It gives whomever an outlook on what is coming up. Things change so rapidly anymore that's an asset to the people to let us know what's going on." Here are the seven trends: 1. Product complexity/technology There have been huge changes in the industry with respect to this topic. Reeder cites the development of variable fre- quency drives (VFDs) as just one example. Looking at a 1972 Franklin Electric Quick Disconnect (QD) Control Box shows only two components: a relay and a capacitor. Troubleshooting it means simply replacing it with a new one. There are hundreds of components within a VFD. Both the QD and VFD essentially do the same job, starting the motor and pump, but the difference in complexity is huge. The VFD does it much more efficiently and can vary the speed of the motor and pump. (Above photo) Downey Drilling Inc.'s 2013 SS-135 GEFCO/ SpeedStar mud rotary rig drills a 540-foot test hole for a replacement irrigation well in early December 2015 in Grant County, Kansas. SEVEN TRENDS continues on page 22 Franklin Electric's Mark Reeder pinpoints these trends as an opportunity for the industry and contractor base. By Mike Price Twitter @WaterWellJournl WWJ March 2016 21 "Our industry is well positioned based on these trends ." Seven Seven Trends Affecting the Groundwater Industry (COVER STORY)