“Not that many years ago, the drilling contractors were satisfied with a basic, hard-working and dependable pump hoist,” notes Virgil Hunke, president of Smeal Manufacturing Co. “Today, they're more like parade vehicles. They're getting bigger and fancier with more bells and whistles.” That being said, Hunke reports that the T5 is Smeal's most popular model. He calls the T5 their “Ford Taurus of pump hoists.”
Asked about current trends in the industry, Hunke points to the well rehabilitation market as having a strong impact on the pump hoist business. “With the plastic casing and stainless screen, the wells can last almost forever,” he explains.