Franklin Electric signs agreement to acquire Barnes de Colombia
Franklin Electric has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Barnes de Colombia S.A., a manufacturer and distributor of industrial and commercial pumps based in Cota, Cundinamarca, Colombia. This acquisition aligns with Franklin Electric’s long-term growth and diversification goals, providing opportunities for expansion in Latin America. Barnes de Colombia, also operating under the WDM brand in certain countries including the U.S., is headquartered near Bogotá, Colombia. It has two manufacturing facilities and over eight stocking locations in Colombia, as well as assembly facilities in Mexico, Brazil and Argentina, and local warehouses in Guatemala, Panama, Ecuador, Peru and Chile.
Rausch and John Doheny announce partnership
Rausch USA and John Doheny announced a new partnership. Northville, Michigan-based JDC, founded in 1973, offers specialty equipment rentals, sales and service solutions across 16 branch locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. The collaboration strengthens Rausch’s ability to offer sewer inspection equipment to deliver the best solutions for its customers.
Central Florida’s RO water treatment plant breaks ground
The Polk Regional Water Cooperative broke ground on its Southeast Water Production Facility in Lake Wales, Florida. The construction of this reverse osmosis water treatment plant will utilize brackish water from the Lower Floridan Aquifer to produce up to 12.5 million gallons per day of drinking water for distribution to 10 PRWC member utilities.
ClearWater Solutions names Paul Quentel as CEO
ClearWater Solutions, a provider of water and wastewater management services, announced the appointment of Paul Quentel as chief executive officer. Quentel has more than 27 years of executive leadership experience helping companies drive growth, standardize processes and scale effectively. Prior to joining CWS, Quentel served as the managing partner for Q Management Advisors, providing strategic guidance to businesses across multiple industries. Before that, he was the CEO of Envirowaste Services Group, one of the largest providers of storm and wastewater system maintenance, repair and rehabilitation in the Southeast, as well as other CEO positions in diverse industries.
502 Equipment named new dealer for Harben
502 Equipment, based in La Grange, Kentucky, announced its new partnership with Harben. As part of this agreement, 502 Equipment is now the exclusive dealer of Harben jetters in Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee, further expanding its offering to municipalities, contractors and utility professionals.
Construction of Chandler’s RWIF complete
General contractor McCarthy Building Companies completed the $44.6 million Reclaimed Water Interconnect Facility for the city of Chandler, Arizona. The facility treats water from the Salt, Verde and Colorado rivers and utilizes Chandler’s reclaimed water distribution system for delivery to several aquifer recharge sites owned by the city. The public-private partnership represents an innovative way to utilize existing infrastructure to deliver surface water supplies to the city’s recharge facilities, while also providing water supplies to Intel, which is building two new fabs on its Chandler-based campus to manufacture semiconductor chips. The city of Chandler and Intel split the cost of the project.
Seal For Life Industries appoints new sales director
Houston, Texas-based Seal For Life Industries has appointed Brian Cheshire as its new sales director for its water/wastewater markets. With over 20 years’ experience in the coatings industry, he has held key positions at Sherwin-Williams, Carboline and Tnemec. In this new position, Cheshire will oversee the newly established water/wastewater commercial division, driving growth in the steel water pipeline sector across North America, including Mexico.
Trimble collaborates with Xona Space Systems
Trimble has begun a collaboration with Xona Space Systems, a provider of advanced commercial satellite navigation solutions, through the integration of Trimble correction services with Xona’s PULSAR navigation service. Initial satellite launches are expected in late 2026 with service starting in 2027, enabling secure, high-precision positioning for applications ranging from geospatial to civil construction, automotive and low-power mass mobile and IoT. In support of this new and developing collaboration, Xona has received an investment from Trimble Ventures.
Aries Industries celebrates 40 years
Waukesha, Wisconsin-based Aries Industries is marking its 40th anniversary with a renewed commitment to the strong partnership culture that has fueled the company’s longevity. In addition to its headquarters in Waukesha, the company has service centers in three states and Ontario, Canada. Known for its four products: the Voyager HD Mainline Inspection System, Wolverine® 2.0 Electric Cutting System, LETS 6.0 Lateral Inspection System and Pathfinder Mainline Inspection System, all have provided access inside buried pipelines, with mobility, control and camera features.
