A distributor gives you parts and choices. A dealer program gives you a business to stand behind: finished systems from one manufacturer, a written warranty that manufacturer backs, and a brand your customers cannot buy from the manufacturer online.
That is the core difference between Wood Bros. Industries (WBI), a wholesale supplier that has been part of Franklin Electric since May 1, 2026 [9], and Aquonyx, which designs its systems and sells them exclusively to approved independent dealers, never directly to homeowners [12]. A new dealer can use both — a distributor for parts, a manufacturer program for complete, warrantied systems — and this page shows where each one is stronger.
Competitor information checked October 1, 2026. Sources listed at the end. Rechecked quarterly. Corrections: hi@aquonyx.com.
Key takeaways
- Aquonyx is a dealer-only brand: it never sells directly to homeowners [12]. Franklin Electric, which acquired WBI on May 1, 2026, also acquired Reverse Osmosis Superstore, which sells to homeowners online [9][11].
- Wood Bros. Industries is a 50-year wholesale distributor headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, with no minimum order, net 30 terms on approved credit, and a wide choice of component brands [1][2][6]. Franklin Electric acquired it on May 1, 2026 [9].
- Aquonyx is a manufacturer with a complete dealer program: no joining or monthly fees, a one-pallet first order, and homeowner financing you can apply for once the dealer agreement is complete [3][4]. You can keep selling other brands [3].
- Warranty: Aquonyx backs its systems with a written Lifetime Limited Warranty [5]. WBI states that most of its products carry a limited warranty, and some carry only the original manufacturer's [2].
- You can use both: a distributor account for parts and a manufacturer program for complete, warrantied systems.
Who are Wood Bros. Industries and Aquonyx?
Wood Bros. Industries (WBI)
Wood Bros. Industries is a family-founded wholesale supplier headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, with more than 50 years in water treatment and distribution centers in Phoenix and Indianapolis [6]. It stocks major valve and component brands including Clack, Fleck and Pentair, and offers custom assembly and drop shipping [1]. It also sells its own assembled system lines, Encore and Premier [7][8].
On May 1, 2026, Franklin Electric Co., Inc. completed the acquisition of WBI (Piertek, Inc.), Reverse Osmosis Superstore (Piertek III, LLC) and Vistar Water Technologies for a combined $50 million [9]. Franklin's water treatment group already includes brands such as Puronics and Hellenbrand [10]. Reverse Osmosis Superstore sells systems and filters to homeowners online [11].
Aquonyx
Aquonyx designs water treatment systems and sells them exclusively to approved independent dealers, never directly to homeowners [12]. Its softeners, whole-home filtration and reverse osmosis (RO) systems are made in America — built, filled with media, tested and packed at Aquonyx’s U.S. facility [13]. Dealers run their own businesses under a written dealer agreement and handle their own sales, installation, service, licensing and insurance [4].
Wood Bros. Industries vs. Aquonyx side by side
Use the filter to see only the rows where one supplier is stronger, or where the answer depends on your business. "Not published" means we could not find the figure on a public page; we do not estimate it.
| What a new dealer needs | Wood Bros. Industries | Aquonyx | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Startup cash | Not published. Accounts open with a credit application [2]. | Your first order is one pallet, bought at the wholesale price assigned after approval [4]. No program fees. | Depends |
| Online sales to homeowners | WBI sells wholesale to dealers [6]. Its sister company under Franklin, Reverse Osmosis Superstore, sells systems and filters to homeowners online [9][11]. | None. Aquonyx never sells directly to homeowners [12]. | Aquonyx |
| Minimum order | "No Minimum Order" on its website; the credit terms list a $25 net minimum or a $10 processing fee [1][2]. | One pallet for the opening order [4]. | WBI |
| Fees | No dealer program fees published. Restocking charge of 15% or $25, whichever is higher, on non-warranty returns [2]. | No application, enrollment, franchise or monthly fees [4]. Website, CRM and card processing are optional add-ons [3]. | Aquonyx |
| Exclusivity | None stated. Stocks many brands under one account [1]. | You can keep selling other brands [3]. Territory and channel rules are set in the written dealer agreement and confirmed during review [4]. | Depends |
| Dealer credit terms | Net 30 on an approved credit application [2]. | Payment and credit terms are set in the dealer agreement [4]. | WBI |
| Homeowner financing | Not published. | Available to apply for upon completion of the dealer agreement [3]. | Aquonyx |
| Warranty and who backs it | "Most WBI products have a limited warranty"; some have none or carry the original maker's terms [2]. | Written Lifetime Limited Warranty on Aquonyx systems, backed by Aquonyx as the manufacturer [5]. | Aquonyx |
| Product range | Components from Clack, Fleck, Pentair and others, plus Encore and Premier systems including iron filtration and twin-tank continuous softening [1][7][8]. | A finished line of softeners, whole-home filtration and RO. No iron filter or twin-tank softener in the current lineup [12]. | WBI |
| Private label | Custom screen-printed jackets, laser-engraved brine tanks, labeling and programming [1]. | Dealer-branded stickers come with your second order; request them before placing it to allow time for design and printing [3]. | WBI |
| Support | Custom assembly, programming and drop shipping [1]. | Product and installation training, technical resources, a dealer portal for quotes and ordering, a warranty claim workflow, and marketing materials where available [4]. | Aquonyx |
Sources are numbered to the list at the end of this article. Aquonyx figures marked [3] come from the written dealer program terms; ask for a copy before you sign.
Where Wood Bros. Industries is stronger
WBI does several things very well, and a new dealer should weigh them honestly.
- More than 50 years as a wholesale supplier, now with Franklin Electric behind it [6][9].
- No minimum order and drop shipping, useful when you need one part fast [1].
- Net 30 terms on approved credit [2].
- Brand choice: Clack, Fleck, Pentair and more under one account [1].
- Deeper private label: screen-printed jackets and engraved brine tanks go further than stickers [1].
- Iron filtration and continuous softening: both the Encore and Premier lines include an air-injection iron filter, and each offers a twin-tank continuous softener (Encore Continuum, Premier Advanced Series Twin) [7][8]. Aquonyx's current lineup includes neither.
Why Aquonyx fits a new dealer
WBI sells parts and systems to the trade. Aquonyx is built around one question: what does a new dealer need to sell, install and stand behind complete systems from the first job?
A dealer-only brand
Aquonyx never sells directly to homeowners [12], so the conversation stays on sizing, installation and service rather than on a manufacturer's web price. Its softeners, whole-home filtration and RO systems are made in America — built, filled, tested and packed at Aquonyx’s U.S. facility and arrive ready to install [13].
A small, clear start
No joining or monthly fees. Aquonyx charges no application, enrollment or franchise fee [4][13]. Your first order is one pallet — equipment you install and sell — so your startup cash goes into inventory rather than a membership. Homeowner financing is available to apply for upon completion of the dealer agreement [3]. The program lets you keep selling brands you already carry [3]. Territory and channel rules are spelled out in the written dealer agreement, so read it before you sign [4].
A warranty the manufacturer backs
Aquonyx backs its systems with a written Lifetime Limited Warranty [5]. The system must be installed by an authorized Aquonyx dealer; ask for the full written terms before you sign.
Support you can use from day one
Approved dealers get product and installation training, technical resources, and a dealer portal for quotes, ordering and order tracking, along with a warranty claim workflow and dealer marketing materials where available [4]. A free water softener sizing calculator helps with quotes [12].
Optional add-ons, if you want them
A dealer website ($500 setup plus $20 a month), a CRM ($97 a month) and card processing (interchange plus 0.65%) [3]. None is required to become or stay a dealer.
Which should you choose?
5 quick questions
Which supplier fits your business?
Answer five questions. The result is a tally of your own answers — not advice, and not a substitute for reading the written terms.
Answered 0 of 5
Answer the questions to see a fit.
Each answer counts once. The result is a tally of your own answers, not a recommendation.
Your result counts your own answers once each. It is not a recommendation. Program terms, credit terms and warranties are set by the written documents from each company — read them before you order.
Choose Wood Bros. Industries if
You already have your own system designs, want to buy parts with no minimum and pay on net 30, need iron filtration or continuous softening, or want deeper private-label options such as engraved brine tanks.
Choose Aquonyx if
You want a finished line of softeners, filtration and RO from one manufacturer, a written Lifetime Limited Warranty that the manufacturer backs, homeowner financing you can apply for once the dealer agreement is complete, and a small, defined start. You can keep a distributor account for parts alongside it.
Frequently asked questions
Can homeowners buy Aquonyx systems online?
No. Aquonyx sells exclusively to approved independent dealers, never directly to homeowners [12].
Can I buy from Wood Bros. and still be an Aquonyx dealer?
Is Wood Bros. Industries a manufacturer or a distributor?
Who owns Wood Bros. Industries?
Franklin Electric Co., Inc., since May 1, 2026. The same transaction included Reverse Osmosis Superstore and Vistar Water Technologies, for a combined purchase price of $50 million [9].
Does WBI have a minimum order?
Does Aquonyx charge a fee to become a dealer?
No. There is no application, enrollment, franchise or monthly fee [4]. Your first order is one pallet. Homeowner financing is available to apply for upon completion of the dealer agreement [3], you can keep selling other brands [3], and the written dealer agreement sets territory and payment terms [4].
Does either company sell to homeowners?
Become a dealer
Applying is free and approval is not automatic. Tell us about your business, your market and the systems you install today, and we will walk you through the written dealer agreement before you order. Questions first? Call or text (888) 295-3339 or email hi@aquonyx.com.
Apply to become an Aquonyx dealer →
Sources
- Wood Bros. Industries homepage, wbi72.com (checked 10/1/2026)
- WBI Credit Application and terms of sale, wbi72.com/pdf/Credit-Application-fillable.pdf (checked 10/1/2026)
- Aquonyx written dealer program terms (dealer agreement and program sheet). Available on request from hi@aquonyx.com
- Aquonyx, Become a Dealer (checked 10/1/2026)
- Aquonyx Lifetime Limited Warranty, document 3LLW-AQUONYX (9/26). Copy provided to prospective dealers on request from hi@aquonyx.com
- Wood Bros. Industries, About Us, wbi72.com/about-us/ (checked 10/1/2026)
- WBI, Encore Line water systems, wbi72.com/encore-line-water-systems/ (checked 10/1/2026)
- WBI, Premier Line water systems, wbi72.com/premier-line-water-systems/ (checked 10/1/2026)
- Franklin Electric Co., Inc., Form 8-K filed May 4, 2026, sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/38725/000003872526000028/fele-20260504.htm (checked 10/1/2026)
- Franklin Water Treatment, Brands, franklinwatertreatment.com/brands (checked 10/1/2026)
- Reverse Osmosis Superstore, reverseosmosis.com (checked 10/1/2026)
- Aquonyx homepage (checked 10/1/2026)
- Aquonyx, Manufacturing (checked 10/1/2026)
Wood Bros. Industries, Encore, Premier, Clack, Fleck, Pentair, Franklin Electric, Puronics and Hellenbrand are trademarks of their respective owners. Aquonyx is not affiliated with any of them. Competitor information is taken from the public pages listed above on the date shown; if something has changed, email hi@aquonyx.com and we will correct it.