The process of creating an ion exchange system usually involves a resin supplier, an equipment supplier, a consultant or design engineering firm, a contractor (both mechanical and electrical), and an end user or operator of the finished plant. Except for relatively small systems, it is unlikely that the role of these various suppliers and users will be handled by a single company. These roles will almost always be handled by various companies who must all work together and cooperate to have a successful ion exchange plant. The end user must begin the process of creating the plant by collecting information about needed water quality and quantity. The end user must determine that the plant will be built, must economically justify it, and must secure capital for its construction. The end user will then generally contract with a design engineering consultant to create a specification for the finished ion exchange plant. The consultant will then work with equipment suppliers and resin suppliers to determine the size and shape of the plant necessary to meet a certain objective. The finished design is generally put out to bid, and the consultant and end user will select an equipment supplier.

The equipment supplier builds the equipment, the installation contractor installs the equipment, the end user and the equipment supplier commission the plant, and the end user then takes over the operation of the finished exchange plant. The traditional roles played by the various companies involved can lead...