Affordable, Yet Innovative Pumps Are The Key To Success In The European Centrifugal Pumps Market

Like most other markets, the European centrifugal pumps market was buffeted by the global financial downturn of 2008-09 but bounced back in 2010-2011, at a cautious pace. The deferment of many projects in end-user industries such as oil and gas, building services, and chemical process as well as the austerity measures in countries like Italy, Spain, and Greece had pegged back the market. However, moderate growth in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe and higher investments in the water and wastewater, food and beverage, and power generation industries could cause a revival of sorts.

Energy conservation and efficiency are the twin buzzwords in the centrifugal pumps market. Owing to the energy gap in Europe and the differential pricing of energy among the European countries, energy efficiency has become the primary purchase criterion. Further, the escalating concern for the environment and prices of traditional sources of energy are making a robust case for pumps that consume less energy.

“The Eastern European market is particularly active in countries such as the Czech Republic and Poland,” said Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Niranjan Paul. “Recent European Union entrants such as Romania and Bulgaria are also expected to be dynamic markets, as they have to adhere to the EU standards of hygiene and water and wastewater.”

Meanwhile, end users are expected to shift their manufacturing bases to Eastern Europe due to the lower labour costs in this region. Major end users are moving out of Europe to Asian countries such as China and India for their high growth potential and relatively inexpensive labour, taking business away from European pump suppliers.

Further, the volatile financial climate in Europe has made customers conservative spenders. Pump manufacturers now realise that they need to offer more than just their products to attract investments and have begun to offer value-added services such as on-site consultation.

As all end users are eager to avoid downtime in their plants, there is considerable pressure on manufacturers to focus on the design and quality of pumps.

“However, due to the straitened circumstances in the region, manufacturers have to make do with slimmer R&D and marketing budgets,” noted Paul. “Companies that can find the optimum balance between innovation and affordable pricing will be the most likely to succeed.”