The Pumps & Systems Editorial Advisory Board is our trusted resource for advice on industry trends and technical guidance. Meet Mark Savage, longtime contributor and board member, and learn about his 30+ years in the industry.
Can you tell us a little bit about your career and what your current position entails?
I started working in this industry at first without really realizing that I was. It started as work experience at a submersible pump OEM in Scandinavia as an undergraduate engineer. That work experience landed me my first post-graduate entry-level engineering job at a mechanical seal manufacturer, EG&G Sealol. That was 31 years ago, and I am still working for the same company, with ownership changes, now in a senior engineering leadership role with John Crane Inc. Over the years, I have worked in application engineering, reliability engineering, product development, sales project management and various leadership roles. Today, I oversee the global engineering activities for approximately half of John Crane’s wet seal portfolio.
Can you tell us about your work with the Fluid Sealing Association and any other industry work outside of your job you think might be of interest to our readers?
I was introduced to the Fluid Sealing Association (FSA) in 2012 and became an active member of the mechanical seals technical committee. What excited me most at the time was a major move was underway to digital content [for] the FSA’s Mechanical Seal Handbook. The move to digital content meant that the wealth of knowledge available from the FSA became much more accessible to the industry. The FSA’s KnowledgeBase continues to grow and get updated, driven by the expertise and experience of the members of these committees representing competing companies coming together to improve the sealing industry. The FSA has also given me the opportunity to participate in various committees, including the government affairs committee, bringing valuable experience and insight into the complexities of regulations to protect our environment.
What excites you most about the current direction of the industry? Concerns?
Efficiency! An increasing trend to get the most out of equipment with the least energy consumed. Where I see the most opportunity for a step change is the adoption of AI into equipment performance monitoring and the ability to detect early warnings of equipment problems.
What is a project or accomplishment you’re most proud of in your career?
I recently was involved in a project to develop a volume compensation device in a submersible electric motor. The purpose of this device is to allow a variation in volume of the dielectric oil resulting from temperature variations and pressure distortion of the motor casing at the bottom of the ocean. I presented an alternative configuration of the device to our customer that was quite different from their original concept, but it featured modularity within the design that offered significant manufacturing advantages, a benefit that our customer immediately saw. John Crane was able to win the bid for this device despite being the most expensive—it was the technical support during the bidding process that differentiated us from our competitors. As the device was refined during the order phase, there was close collaboration with our customer, providing much input from my experience integrating the device into the motor body. Upon completion of the project and delivery of parts, a presentation was delivered to our customer’s senior engineering management and engineering subject matter experts, with a complete overview of the design, manufacturing process manufacturing testing and finite element analysis (FEA) validation. This was very well received, especially when their subject matter experts commented that they were impressed by the work completed. The enjoyment of this project was the process that started as an initial design concept, and through many meetings, design obstacles and manufacturing challenges, resulted in a product that successfully passed all the testing our customer performed on the device, opening up some fantastic opportunities for the future.
What new technologies or trends in pumps and systems have you worked with recently?
Nonfossil fuel energy sources are becoming more common, with engineers pushing the boundaries in process temperature and fluids for the concentrated solar industry and next-generation nuclear industry. The pump design and every sealing component in the fluid circulation loop—including mechanical seals, gaskets and expansion joints—are facing a new set of operating condition requirements, spurring the development of new materials and products suitable for these services.
How do you stay updated on advancements in pump technologies or industry standards?
I find a good peer network and participation in industry associations and trade organizations is one of the best ways to know what is happing with the industry. Together with trade shows, promoting products and concepts to the industry and magazines, including Pumps & Systems magazine, also help keep your fingers on the pulse of the industry.
What do you enjoy most about working in this industry?
This industry is not static! There are new ideas, new materials and new equipment constantly being developed to solve our customers’ problems. It sounds simple to say that the goal is to keep fluids in the machine and prevent them from reaching the atmosphere, but the reality is that it is much more complicated than that. For me personally, it is the learning and teaching experiences that I enjoy the most. Learning from a customer’s problem, an engineer’s idea or a new solution, and to be able to take that learning moment and share it with others to grow the industry as a whole.
What advice would you give to someone new to this field?
This industry covers so many different types of equipment and processes that in the beginning may seem daunting. This industry also contains a lot of subject matter experts. Find a mentor who can help accelerate your growth, and be curious about how things work.
How does that part you are working on fit into the big picture?
Try new things, make mistakes and learn from them. Ask questions and listen carefully. Get involved in trade associations and broaden your view on the sealing industry. What’s something you like to do outside of work? I am an avid outdoorsperson. I love hiking up mountains to enjoy the amazing view Mother Nature gives. I enjoy cycling, both mountain biking as well as road cycling, but if I had to pick only one, it would be mountain biking! I also enjoy building and kayaking in traditional Inuit kayaks from the arctic regions of the world.
