What Franklin Electric does

Franklin Electric Co., Inc. is a global manufacturer and marketer of systems and components for the movement of water and energy, headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and publicly traded on NASDAQ under ticker FELE. Founded in 1944, the company serves five primary end markets — Residential, Commercial, Agricultural, Industrial, and Municipal (plus Mining) — through a portfolio centered on submersible well pumps, vertical lineshaft turbines, surface and centrifugal pumps, submersible motors, water pressure booster systems, and a full line of drives, starters, and protection devices including the SubDrive family of variable frequency drives (VFDs) and Cerus X-Drive industrial VFDs and pump panels.

The company's product portfolio is anchored by proprietary VFD and constant-pressure technology (SubDrive Utility, SubDrive Connect, SubDrive Connect Plus, Cerus X-Drive) complemented by motor protection devices (Pumptec, SubMonitor Connect), soft starters (IPS-RV, SMS-RV, SSP SmartStart), and building automation starters (BAS, EMS). Supporting these are digital platforms including the FE Connect mobile application (iOS/Android, Bluetooth-enabled for remote monitoring and one-to-one technical support), FE Select (online configuration and quoting tool), FE Direct (digital ordering platform), FranklinTECH (training and certification for installation professionals), and Franklin AIM (project and system design management). Pioneer Pump serves as the subsidiary brand for large surface pumping systems in dewatering, mining, and construction applications.

Franklin Electric's revenue model is hardware-centric, generated through configured-to-order and standard catalog product sales priced via quote-based transactions rather than public list pricing. Distribution is multi-channel: water well professionals, certified build centers, a direct enterprise field sales force, OEM integration partnerships, and a digital ordering platform. The company augments hardware sales with professional services including field service engineering, technical support, FFS PRO University installer certification, and FranklinTECH training. FY2025 revenue was approximately $2.13B with Q1 2026 sales of $500.4M (up 10% year-over-year) and FY2026 guidance of $2.17B–$2.24B. Recent inorganic activity includes the May 2026 acquisition of Wood Bros. (a water treatment distributor operating across Nebraska, Arizona, and Indiana), extending distribution reach into adjacent water treatment retail and wholesale channels.

Name

Franklin Electric

Legal name

Franklin Electric Co., Inc.

Website

https://franklinwater.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Franklin Electric is a global manufacturer of water and fuel pumping systems serving residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, and municipal markets. It produces submersible pumps, VFDs, motors, and protection devices, complemented by digital platforms like FE Connect and FE Select.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Pumping Systems

NAICS

Pump and Compressor Manufacturing (33391), Measuring, Dispensing, and Other Pumping Equipment Manufacturing (333914)

SIC

Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561), Motors & Generators (3621)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Source Development & Intake Systems (Wells, Boreholes, Intakes) (AFAAACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Treated Water Storage & Pressure Management (Reservoirs, Tanks, Booster Stations) (EUANAAAD), Pump, Well & Booster System Service for Irrigation (HSAIAEAI)

Keywords

• Water pumping systems
• Submersible well pumps
• Variable frequency drives
• Motor protection devices
• Pressure boosting systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Wayne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Water Pumping Systems and Components: Designs, manufactures, and distributes comprehensive water pumping systems including submersible well pumps, vertical lineshaft turbines, surface pumps, water pressure booster pumps, sump and effluent pumps, grinder pumps, and solids handling pumps for residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, and municipal applications.
2. Motors and Control Systems: Produces submersible motors, control boxes, variable frequency drives, soft starters, and protective devices. Full range of drives, starters, and protection equipment for pump systems.
3. Technical Support and Services: Industry-leading technical support, field service engineers, training programs through FranklinTECH Online, and certification through FFS PRO University for installation professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Franklin Electric designs, manufactures, and distributes comprehensive water and fuel pumping systems, including submersible well pumps, vertical lineshaft turbines, surface pumps, motors, variable frequency drives, and motor protection devices. The portfolio serves residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, and municipal water applications, complemented by digital platforms (FE Connect, FE Select, FE Direct) and OEM integration services.

Product overview

Franklin Electric is a global manufacturer of water and fuel pumping systems serving residential, agricultural, commercial, industrial, and municipal markets. The product portfolio centers on submersible well pumps, surface pumps, and vertical turbine pumps complemented by a comprehensive range of variable frequency drives (VFDs) including the SubDrive family and Cerus X-Drive series, motor protection devices (Pumptec, SubMonitor Connect), soft starters, and building automation starters. Supporting these core products are digital platforms including FE Connect (mobile app for remote monitoring), FE Select (online sizing and configuration tool), FE Direct (ordering platform), and FranklinTECH (training and certification). The company also offers Pioneer Pump branded surface pumping systems for heavy industrial applications including mining and construction dewatering. Recent additions include VersaBoost Pro pressure boosting systems and an expanded FPS Residential Wastewater Pumps line. Products integrate with building automation systems via Modbus and BACnet protocols and connect to the FE Connect mobile app via Bluetooth for setup, monitoring, and troubleshooting.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pioneer Pump: Large surface pumping systems and industrial pump solutions under Franklin Electric's subsidiary brand
• FE Connect
• FE Select
• FranklinTECH
• FFS PRO
• Cerus X-Drive
• SubDrive
• VersaBoost
• SpecPAK

Products and services

• Submersible Well Pumps Deep well pumps designed for groundwater extraction in residential, agricultural, and commercial applications.
• Submersible & Vertical Lineshaft Turbines Custom-configurable turbine pumps for demanding water supply applications, paired with submersible motors or surface motors.
• Submersible Motors & Control Boxes Electric motors designed for submerged operation in wells, paired with control boxes for starting and protection.
• Surface, Centrifugal & Packages Surface-level pumps for wastewater disposal, dewatering, and general liquid transfer applications in industrial and municipal settings.
• Water Pressure Multi-Stage Pumps & Packages Booster pump systems for maintaining consistent water pressure in residential, commercial, and municipal water distribution.
• Sump & Effluent Pumps & Systems Pumps for removing groundwater and wastewater from basements, crawl spaces, and effluent applications.
• Grinder Pumps & Systems High-pressure pumps that grind solids for pressurized sewage transport in low-pressure sewer systems.
• Solids Handling Pumps & Systems Heavy-duty pumps designed to handle water containing solid materials and debris.
• Drives, Starters, & Protection Complete range of motor protection devices, soft starters, and control starters for water pump systems.
• VersaBoost Pro Smart compact pressure boosting system engineered for simplicity and performance in residential and multi-unit applications.
• SubDrive Family Variable Frequency Drives Variable frequency drives providing constant pressure solutions with built-in protection for residential and agricultural pumping applications, including SubDrive Utility, SubDrive Connect, SubDrive/MonoDrive NEMA 4, and SubDrive Connect Plus models.
• Cerus X-Drive Variable Frequency Drives Industrial-grade variable frequency drives and pump panels for centrifugal and submersible pump applications with advanced control features including standalone VFDs, pump panels, low harmonic panels, and HVAC panels.
• Cerus X-Drive Low Harmonic Panels VFD panels with built-in harmonic filter engineered to IEEE-519 standards, minimizing total harmonic distortion (THD) to extend motor and drive life.
• Pumptec Single-Phase Pump Protection Single-phase motor protection devices monitoring load and power conditions to prevent dry well, waterlogged tanks, and voltage issues. Includes Pumptec, Pumptec-Plus, and QD Pumptec models.
• SubMonitor Connect Three-Phase Protection Three-phase motor protection device with real-time performance monitoring via FE Connect app, featuring plug-and-play design, arc flash protection, NEMA 4X rated display, and date-stamped fault logging.
• EMS Energy Management Starter Energy management starter combining power metering with motor protection and optional BACnet/Modbus communications for building automation integration.
• FPS Residential Wastewater Pumps Expanded line of wastewater pumps including sump, effluent and sewage grinding solutions for residential and light commercial applications.
• Pioneer Pump Brand of large surface pumping systems including electric and diesel-driven packages for dewatering, construction, mining, and industrial applications.
• FE Connect Mobile App Mobile application (iOS/Android) enabling remote monitoring and control of compatible Franklin Electric products via Bluetooth, with One-to-One feature for real-time technical support collaboration.
• FE Select Online product selection and configuration tool allowing users to size, configure, and quote Franklin Electric pumping systems based on performance specifications.
• FE Direct Digital platform for ordering and managing Franklin Electric products and parts.
• FranklinTECH Online training and certification platform for installation professionals and water system technicians.
• Franklin AIM Application and Installation Management platform for system design and project management.
• Water Well Maintenance Services Aftermarket support and maintenance services for installed water well systems and equipment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 24% year-over-year EPS growth in Q1 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability5 records

Feature7 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pentair plc: Water treatment and flow products company serving residential, commercial, and industrial markets with pumps and filtration. Directly competes with Franklin Electric in residential pressure boosting and water systems.
• KSB SE & Co. KGaA: German global pump and valve manufacturer serving building services, water transport, waste water, energy, and industrial processes. Comparable across municipal, industrial, and commercial pump applications.
• Sulzer Ltd: Swiss pump and rotating equipment manufacturer serving water, oil & gas, power, and industrial customers. Overlaps with Franklin Electric's industrial dewatering, mining, and municipal water segments.
• Wilo SE: European pump manufacturer specializing in building services, water management, and industrial pumps with strong VFD/digital product offerings. Closely matches Franklin Electric's SubDrive and Cerus X-Drive VFD-integrated portfolio.
• Xylem Inc. Global water technology leader producing pumps, treatment, and metering for municipal, industrial, agricultural, and residential applications. Directly comparable to Franklin Electric across submersible well pumps, booster systems, and smart water controls.
• ITT Inc. Highly engineered components and custom technology including industrial pumps, valves, and motion control. Comparable to Franklin Electric's industrial and engineered pump business.
• Watts Water Technologies: Manufacturer of water products for residential, commercial, and industrial applications including pressure boosting and water treatment. Directly comparable to Franklin Electric's residential and commercial pressure booster portfolios.
• Grundfos: Largest global pump manufacturer specializing in circulator, submersible, and dosing pumps for HVAC, water utility, and industrial applications. Directly comparable across submersible well pumps, VFD-integrated booster systems, and OEM channels.
• Flowserve Corporation: Manufacturer of pumps, valves, seals, and flow control automation for power, oil & gas, chemical, and water industries. Comparable in industrial and municipal pump systems including large surface pumping.

Broad incumbents

• Roper Technologies: Diversified technology conglomerate owning asset-light software and engineered products businesses including water and industrial instrumentation. Broader incumbent operating in adjacent water/instrumentation markets rather than as a direct pump competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/franklinwater
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/franklin-electric-australia-pty-ltd

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Franklin Electric