Some projects arrive at Excel Fluid Group (EFG) with pump station designs already completed by the engineer of record, while others benefit from EFG’s in house design services. With experienced engineers on staff, EFG can support projects at any stage, from early concept development through final design. When Excel is engaged to provide design services, the entire packaged pump station is developed under one roof, allowing the team to align the “Five Rights”: the right product, the right budget, the right timeline, the right performance, and the right location.
With EFG assisting with design and working from internally generated drawings, projects move more efficiently through the submittal and manufacturing process, helping reduce overall lead times. This integrated approach results in a pumping solution that delivers reliable performance, reduces long term operational costs, and prioritizes the safety of maintenance personnel, all while maintaining continuity through fabrication, installation, and startup.
As a packaged pump station supplier, Excel Fluid Group designs, builds, and coordinates all major components of a pump station (wet well, pumps, controls, and enclosure) under one roof. That single source approach is a key reason EFG can keep projects on schedule.
When it comes to pump station projects, many suppliers can take more than six weeks to turn around a submittal.
At Excel Fluid Group, submittals typically average two to three weeks, with some submittals moving through in as little as a few days depending on the level of customization. Pump stations built entirely from stocked, standardized components are often submitted in three to four business days. When a station includes custom elements (such as a special control panel components, a non standard wet well size, or unique project specific requirements) additional time is required to complete drawings and engineering reviews before submittals are issued.
A key step in moving a project from design into manufacturing is submittal approval. Once approvals are received, purchasing and fabrication can begin. Prompt review and approval by the customer and engineer helps keep momentum going and allows work to start sooner, supporting shorter overall lead times.
While EFG’s process keeps things moving, the exact lead time depends on the type of project and the materials it requires.
EFG primarily works on sewage lift stations, water booster stations, stormwater stations, and industrial pump stations. In most cases, a complete pump station includes a wet well, control panel, piping, valves, pumps, and in some cases an enclosure or building.
The materials required for each project play a significant role in overall lead times.
Since fiberglass is a standardized material and EFG carries common sizes in stock, these projects can move very quickly.
“Fiberglass stations consistently offer our shortest turnaround times,” says Brenda Wyman, purchasing manager for Excel Fluid Group. “When EFG leads the station design and component selection, we’re able to choose materials that are well suited to the application and readily available, which allows us to return fiberglass pump station submittals in under a week.”
HDPE pump stations are manufactured in house at Excel Fluid Group, giving EFG direct control over the fabrication process. Because these stations are frequently custom designed for the application, additional engineering, drawings, and review are common during submittals. By controlling both design and manufacturing under one roof, EFG is able to manage complexity efficiently while expediting delivery.
Concrete pump stations typically involve a higher level of coordination and engineering and are often customized to meet site specific requirements. Due to the weight, these stations are shipped directly to the jobsite in sections and require detailed drawings and reviews as part of the submittal process. While this added engineering step can extend timelines compared to standardized stations, early coordination helps ensure constructability and minimize delays during installation.
Excel Fluid Group is a UL certified control panel manufacturer, with in house electrical engineers and standard panel designs ready for use. By designing and building control panels internally, EFG is able to reduce reliance on outside vendors and maintain greater control over schedules. Standardized panel designs allow for quicker configuration and review, while in house engineering support ensures panels are properly tailored to the application when customization is required. This approach helps shorten submittal and production timelines while maintaining quality, compliance, and reliability.
To support efficient project execution, Excel Fluid Group maintains a substantial inventory of commonly used piping components, valves, level controls, and related materials. This inventory is reviewed and evaluated on a quarterly basis to ensure it reflects current market demand and typical project requirements. By keeping high use materials readily available, EFG is able to minimize procurement delays, support faster turnaround times, and reduce the risk of material related schedule impacts. This becomes increasingly more important with projects requiring expedited delivery.
If a contractor is working on a public infrastructure project, certain material requirements often apply, and noncompliance can jeopardize federal funding.
As covered in our Build America, Buy America & Domestic Sourcing Compliance blog, American Iron and Steel (AIS) and Build America Buy America (BABA) requirements mandate that iron, steel, construction materials, and manufactured products used in federally funded projects be made in the United States.
As a market leader in pump station projects turnaround times, it's important to understand how some compliance requirements can impact your pump station timeline, and how Excel combats these for your schedule:
AIS applies to water infrastructure and requires 100% American made iron and steel.
BABA applies more broadly to federally funded infrastructure projects and covers steel, iron, manufactured products, and construction materials. For pipes, valves, and piping systems, more than 55% of the total component cost must come from domestically sourced materials.
Under both AIS and BABA requirements, valves and piping must be sourced from U.S. manufacturers that meet domestic content requirements; foreign manufactured products cannot be claimed as compliant. Manufacturers are required to provide job specific certifications verifying that materials and manufacturing processes meet U.S. sourcing requirements.
Excel Fluid Group manages this certification process internally, coordinating directly with manufacturers to secure the required documentation. This streamlined approach reduces back and forth, removes compliance headaches for the customer, and helps prevent lead time delays during project closeout and final documentation turnover.
One challenge across the industry is that domestically manufactured, certified materials often carry longer lead times due to increased demand and limited availability. To help address this, Excel Fluid Group is actively expanding its in stock inventory (particularly for valves, piping, and related components) to include AIS and BABA compliant materials.
By investing in compliant material stock ahead of project demand, EFG is able to reduce procurement delays and support faster turnaround times for federally funded projects. This approach helps contractors meet compliance requirements while minimizing schedule impacts and keeping projects moving forward with confidence.
Lead times can be improved by providing clear, up to date project drawings and specifications and keeping the Excel team informed of any plan changes as early as possible so they can be incorporated efficiently.
Submittal approval also plays an important role in maintaining project schedules.
“Once submittals are approved, we’re able to move directly into purchasing and production,” says Brenda. “Because project details can change late in the review process, we typically wait for final approval before placing orders. Timely approvals help us keep projects moving and begin work sooner.”
“Occasionally, a specified component comes down to brand preference,” Wyman says. “When equivalent products are available that meet project requirements and are already in stock, considering those alternatives can help reduce lead times without impacting performance.”
Meeting project schedules is critical, as delays can create significant downstream impacts.
“Our goal is to help avoid schedule risk whenever possible,” Wyman says. “By working closely with customers early and staying flexible as projects evolve, we can help keep timelines intact."
EFG supports this effort through its project management team, working collaboratively with contractors and engineers to anticipate challenges, adapt when needed, and maintain momentum throughout the project lifecycle.
In many cases, this includes sequencing deliveries to match the contractor’s workflow. For example, EFG may ship the wet well structure along with underground piping and valves ahead of the rest of the station. This allows contractors to continue setting structures, connecting underground utilities, and moving work forward while Excel completes fabrication of the above ground components.
At the same time, EFG continues building the remaining portions of the pump station (such as control panels, no vault enclosures, or building fit outs) with those components delivered separately and timed for installation when the site is ready. By working in parallel rather than in sequence, projects can continue progressing without unnecessary pauses.
Excel Fluid Group’s involvement in a project doesn’t end with its delivery. As part of a complete packaged pump station solution, EFG supports projects through installation and startup to ensure the system is operating as intended from day one.
EFG provides on site startup services performed by certified technicians who verify proper operation of pumps, controls, and electrical systems. This final step helps identify and resolve issues early, supports a smooth transition to operation, and gives owners and operators confidence that the station is performing as designed. This all reduces the risk of delays or troubleshooting after the project is turned over.
In addition to startup support, Excel Fluid Group offers preventive maintenance plans to support long term reliability and simplify ownership. Maintenance programs can be scheduled on an annual, bi annual, or quarterly basis, depending on the needs of the station.
During each visit, EFG’s field service team inspects and services the pump station to help ensure continued performance, reduce unexpected downtime, and extend equipment life. By working with the same team that designed and supplied the packaged pump station, customers benefit from consistent documentation, system familiarity, and a single point of responsibility throughout the life of the station.
Pump station project timelines can be affected by submittal approvals, material availability, fabrication requirements, and construction coordination. Design changes or compliance requirements may also impact lead times depending on the scope of the project.
Pump station submittal timelines vary depending on the level of customization involved. Stations built with standardized components can often move through submittals more quickly, while custom systems may require additional engineering review and drawings.
Providing clear project requirments, communicating changes early, and reviewing submittals promptly can help keep pump station projects moving efficiently. Flexibility around approved materials or equivalent components may also help reduce procurement delays.
Working with a packaged pump station supplier helps streamline coordination across design, fabrication, controls, and startup support. Managing these stages under one roof can help simplify communication and reduce avoidable project delays.