BFPA’s 60th Anniversary 1959 – 2019

30 Jan 2019

BFPA celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2019 and we have picked out some key dates throughout our 60 years in the form of a timeline (below) and plan to share some history with you from each of the steps along the way through our monthly newsletters and on social media so watch this space!

1959   Association of Hydraulic Equipment Manufacturers (AHEM) formed

The first time a group of hydraulic manufacturers met to discuss forming a trade association was on 7 April 1959 and the first recorded meeting was held a month later on 8 May 1959 at The George Hotel in Solihull. Companies present at the first recorded meeting were: Stein Atkinson Vickers Hydraulics Limited, Keelavite Hydraulics Limited, Automotive Products Limited, Turner Manufacturing Company, Weston Works Limited, Fawcett Preston & Co. Limited, Super Oil Seals & Gaskets Limited and Hydraulic Power Transmission. At this meeting it was agreed that the annual membership fee would be £50 per annum company!

The name of the new association was agreed at a Committee Meeting on 19 August 1959 as: The Association of Hydraulic Equipment Manufacturers (AHEM) and the aims and objects of the association would be (to quote):

  1. To further the commercial interests of its members
  2. To advise members on the suitability of exhibitions, and to obtain at these exhibitions better facilities for hydraulic manufacturers as whole
  3. To advise members on publicity in general and to create a panel to advise on advertising media suitable for the industry, both in this country and overseas
  4. To advise on British standards affecting hydraulics
  5. Overseas promotion
  6. To obtain information on foreign technical developments patents and products and to institute a library covering these subjects
  7. To be in a position to disseminate information of sources of supply within the industry
  8. Liaison with other technical and trade associations and government departments etc.
  9. To further the interests of members in every way.

The Founder Chairman of AHEM was Johnny Johnston of Stein Atkinson Vickers Hydraulics Limited, who served between 1959 and 1961.

Johnny Johnston, AHEM’s Founder Chairman

1960   BFPA Public Relations Committee formed

The first Director of AHEM (Richard Lane) was “authorised to co-opt a Committee of Publicity, Promotion and Exhibitions from the experts of member firms to advise him on such matters” at an Executive meeting on 15 March 1960 thus forming the first Public Relations Committee (now known as the Publicity Committee under the Chairmanship of Paul Newnham).

Author