What Powerwise does

Powerwise is a privately held industrial manufacturer founded in 1989 and headquartered in Erie, Pennsylvania, specializing in industrial ink pumps for flexographic and gravure printing operations. The company's core product portfolio comprises centrifugal pumps (featuring a patented lube-free air system), peristaltic pumps, and double diaphragm pumps, supported by an accessories line and consumables for printing applications. Select products carry ATEX certification for use in explosive or hazardous industrial atmospheres.

The company sells directly to industrial printing converters via a quote-based B2B sales model, with no disclosed third-party reseller program beyond a distribution arrangement with KELVA for printing accessories. Commercial outreach is documented across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Pricing is transactional and quote-driven, consistent with capital-equipment sales into a specialized industrial buyer base.

Powerwise is a sub-scale, founder-era industrial business (11–50 employees) operating in a structurally mature end market. There are no disclosed funding rounds, acquisitions, partnerships beyond KELVA, or M&A activity. The business model is fundamentally industrial-equipment manufacturing — design, build, and sell pumps into a narrow fluid-handling niche — with revenue mechanics driven by unit shipments and replacement/upgrade cycles at existing print customers rather than recurring software or service revenue.

Name

Powerwise

Legal name

Powerwise Corporation

Website

https://powerwise.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Powerwise is a privately held Erie, Pennsylvania-based manufacturer (founded 1989) of centrifugal, peristaltic, and double diaphragm industrial ink pumps serving flexographic and gravure printing operations across the US, Canada, and the UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Ink Pumps

NAICS

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

SIC

Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty & Metering Pumps (IMAHANAC)

Keywords

• Industrial ink pumps
• Flexographic printing equipment
• Gravure printing systems
• Ink circulation systems
• Printing press accessories

Headquarters

HQ city

Erie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Ink Pump Sales: Sale of industrial ink pumps including centrifugal, peristaltic, and double diaphragm pumps along with accessories for industrial printing operations

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Powerwise Corporation manufactures and sells industrial ink pumps and circulation systems for flexographic and gravure printing operations. The product range includes three core pump types—centrifugal, peristaltic (tube), and double diaphragm pumps—along with supporting accessories such as ink filters, mixers, control panels, inverters, hoses, fittings, and viscosity measurement tools. Products serve printing operations producing corrugated boxes, plastic bags, cellophane wrappers, wallpapers, and paper bags.

Product overview

Powerwise is a manufacturer of industrial ink pumps and circulation systems for printing operations. The product portfolio consists of three core pump types—Centrifugal, Peristaltic (tube), and Double Diaphragm pumps—along with supporting accessories including filters, mixers, and control panels/inverters. These products serve industrial flexographic and gravure printing applications for corrugated boxes, plastic bags, cellophane wrappers, wallpapers, and paper bags. The centrifugal pumps handle lower viscosities while peristaltic and diaphragm pumps accommodate higher viscosity inks. Accessories complement the pump range by providing filtration, ink mixing, viscosity measurement, and pump control capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Centrifugal Ink Pumps Impeller-style centrifugal pumps designed for industrial flexographic and gravure printing operations. Available in air-powered, non-explosion proof electric, and explosion-proof electric models for narrow and wide web presses. Handle viscosities up to 20 Seconds #3 Zahn cup. Normal operating viscosity is approximately 22 seconds on a Zahn cup #2.
• Peristaltic Tube Pumps Tube pumps that squeeze tubing to produce flow, designed for handling viscous inks, adhesives, coatings, and shear-sensitive liquids. Feature easy hose replacement for minimal downtime. Available with air gear motors (intrinsically explosion proof), inverter drive models, and electric explosion-proof mechanical gear units. Variable speed with reversible feature to drain ink stations and programmable inverters for controlled ink flow.
• Double Diaphragm Ink Pumps Versatile pumps suitable for inks, varnishes, coatings, adhesives, and laminates. Feature a patented lube-free air system that will not stall at slow speeds and runs dry without damage, self-priming capability, and variable flow rate. Available in 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", and 1" sizes with ATEX approval (Category 2/M2) for potentially explosive atmospheres. Can be converted to assisted gravity return.
• Ink Filters Filtration units including nylon-coated 3/4" inline filters, Y-type strainers, return line filters, and intake strainers. Feature recleanable stainless steel baskets in various mesh sizes with convoluted mesh allowing greater surface area for filtration. Options include Grade 38 MGO rare earth magnets for ferrous particle removal.
• Mixers Drum mixers for 5-gallon containers and 55-gallon drums. Includes Model 7005 and Powermix! Model 7003 with variable speed air or electric motors. Feature stainless steel shafts, collapsible propellers, and adjustable clamps for angled mixing.
• Accessories Supporting equipment including quick disconnects, filter regulator lubricators, pump repair kits, hose fittings, tubing, rare earth magnet assemblies for ferrous particle removal, grounding straps, and Zahn Cup viscosity measurement tools.
• Control Panels and Inverters Programmable control panels and inverters for non-explosion proof variable speed control of peristaltic and centrifugal pumps. Allow operators to control speed and direction via simple switch mechanism.

Quantifiable outcome

• Centrifugal pump handles viscosities up to 20 Seconds #3; normal operating viscosity approximately 22 seconds on Zahn Cup #2
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• KELVAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPowerwise is an official distributor for the KELVA pump range, offering KELVA liquid flow and single diaphragm air pumps alongside their own product lines

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Verder Group: European manufacturer of specialty industrial pumps including peristaltic, diaphragm, and centrifugal pumps for printing, chemical, and packaging applications. Direct competitor in the same pump categories and end markets as Powerwise, with strong European distribution.
• Wilden (PSG, a Dover company): Specialist air-operated double diaphragm (AODD) pump manufacturer serving chemical, ink, coating, and adhesives markets. Direct competitor in the diaphragm pump category where Powerwise's lube-free air system competes.
• Tapflo Group: Manufacturer of diaphragm, centrifugal, and other industrial pumps used in ink, paint, coating, and chemical processing. Overlaps directly with Powerwise's diaphragm and centrifugal pump offerings for printing and coatings.
• Watson-Marlow (Spirax Group): Specialist manufacturer of peristaltic and tube pumps for industrial fluid handling, with a strong presence in printing, packaging, and coating applications. Closest direct peer to Powerwise's peristaltic pump line and shares the printing-ink circulation customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Ingersoll Rand: Large diversified industrial equipment manufacturer including a broad pump portfolio (ARO diaphragm pumps, centrifugal pumps). ARO specifically competes with Powerwise in diaphragm pumps for industrial fluid applications.
• Flowserve Corporation: Global industrial pump and valve manufacturer serving chemical, power, water, and general industrial markets. Overlaps with Powerwise in centrifugal and specialty pumping, but operates as a broad-line incumbent across many verticals rather than focused on printing.
• Xylem Inc. Global water and fluid technology company producing a wide range of industrial pumps. While primarily focused on water and wastewater, Xylem's industrial pump portfolio competes in adjacent fluid handling segments where Powerwise's centrifugal pumps operate.
• SPX Flow (Flow Technology segment): Industrial flow control and pump manufacturer with products used in chemical processing, paints/coatings/inks, and general industry. Competes with Powerwise in centrifugal and specialty pumps for ink and coating circulation applications.
• Graco Inc. Large US fluid handling manufacturer offering a broad range of industrial pumps (including diaphragm and peristaltic) across multiple end markets. Overlaps with Powerwise in fluid transfer pumps used in industrial applications, but Graco is a broad-line industrial incumbent rather than a printing-circulation specialist.

Emerging players

• KELVA (BIBUS): Swedish manufacturer of liquid flow pumps and single-diaphragm air pumps already distributed by Powerwise. A potential partner-turned-competitor in narrow pump niches where KELVA's specialty air-operated pumps overlap with Powerwise's diaphragm range.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Powerwise