Thirty-three pump manufacturing and leading supplier companies, all members of the Hydraulic Institute (HI), will lead a National Pump Systems Educational and Market Transformation Initiative called “Pump Systems Matter”™ (PSM). The program will place a primary focus on pump systems education and outreach, addressing significant energy savings opportunities, and total cost of pump ownership. The first PSM Organization Meeting will be held in conjunction with the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy's (ACEEE) Summer Study Program in West Point, NY.

“Pump Systems Matter”™ is said to be the first industry-led market transformation initiative in the United States. The following HI member companies have agreed to become Charter Partners of the initiative and will serve on the PSM Steering Committee:

Applied Flow Technology, EagleBurgmann Industries LP, Emerson Motor Co., Flowserve Corp., Flowserve Pump Division, Flowserve Seal Division, Grundfos Pumps, Hamilton Sundstrand Corp., Haskel International, Milton Roy Co., Sundyne Corp, Inpro/Seal Co, Intelliquip, LLC.

Also, ITT Industries - Fluid Technology, Flygt - ITT Industries, ITT Fluid Handling - Bell & Gossett, ITT Industrial Products Group-ITT Industries, Iwaki America, John Crane, KSB, Moyno, Peerless Pump Co., Pentair Pump Division, Aurora Pump, Berkeley Pumps, Fairbanks Morse Pump, F.E. Myers, Hydromatic Pumps, Hypro, Sta-Rite, Rockwell Automation, S.A. Armstrong Ltd., Sulzer Pumps (US), TACO, and WILO-EMU USA LLC.

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) studies indicate that pumping systems account for nearly 20% of the world's electrical energy demand and range from 25% to 50% of the energy usage in certain industrial plant operations. DOE case studies have shown that better system design and more effective application of pumps can usually save 20% or more in energy costs and represent a large, frequently overlooked savings opportunity.

HI began the national educational initiative to support the development and deployment of pump system educational materials and tools, administer related training programs and address outreach and educational efforts to various audiences. HI envisions a close working relationship with a variety of other organizations that are also encouraged to join and support this effort. The primary goal of the educational initiative will be to transform the market for pump systems and services to one based on system life cycle costs rather than equipment first costs.

The “pumps” section of the Hydraulic Institute's Web site (www.pumps.org) already provides considerable energy savings guidance, tips, U.S. DOE case studies and tools, including downloadable versions of PSAT software for the benefit of users and non-government organizations. In support of this effort, HI has already produced globally accepted 200+ page guidelines on “Pump Life Cycle Costs: A Guide to LCC Analysis for Pumping Systems,” and “Variable Speed Pumping: A Guide to Successful Applications.” Free downloadable copies of the Executive Summary of the Pump LCC and Variable Speed Pumping Guides are available from the HI Web site, www.pumps.org. HI also plans to issue “Mechanical Seals for Pumps: Application Guideline” later this year. The Institute has also created an e-Learning portal, www.pumplearning.org, which provides an educational program on “Centrifugal Pumps: Fundamentals, Design & Application.” In addition, HI offers users an extensive body of pump knowledge in its nearly 1,500 page set of pump standards, which provides considerable information and guidance on the proper selection, application, installation, operation and testing of pumps. A number of HI members have qualified PSAT specialists on the staff who can support end-users and others on the use of the tool to identify installed pumps that are candidates for significant energy savings. Additional training programs are planned as part of the PSM initiative.

The Hydraulic Institute, established in 1917, is the largest association of pump producers in North America. To learn about the “Pump Systems Matter”™ program and how to become a Charter Partner of this new pump systems educational initiative, interested organizations and companies are invited to contact HI Executive Director Robert Asdal at 973-267-9700 ext. 13 or via rasdal@pumps.org. Requests may also be faxed to 973-267-9055 or mailed to Hydraulic Institute, 9 Sylvan Way, Parsippany, NJ 07054.