Members’ News
23 Mar 2023
Emerson roadshow tours the UK
The biggest roadshow yet from the global technology and software leader, Emerson will bring the latest fluid control and pneumatics solutions directly to customer sites.
Emerson will take its newest fluid control and pneumatics solutions and team of experts directly to customers via their mobile, interactive service center over the next year. Covering more kilometers than tours past, the Emerson Mobile Roadshow will visit customers in 19 European countries, including new destinations in Lithuania, Romania and Turkey. With a personal trade show at their doorstep, customers can meet with Emerson experts and receive meaningful answers to their most demanding challenges related to digital transformation, sustainability, machine automation and more.
Emerson’s Interactive Mobile Roadshow will visit the United Kingdom from 29th March to 6th April 2023 at the following locations: Leeds – Glasgow – Liverpool – Leicester – Telford – Rushdon
Find tour stops, see highlights, view featured solutions and access resources at the online Emerson Mobile Roadshow hub.
During the Roadshow, visitors will have an interactive digital experience. On the truck, visitors can see an embedded ultra high definition (UHD) screen that shows detailed product information and online engineering tools designed for their specific needs.
Flowtech – Building Hose Assembly Skills with the BFPA
BFPA member Flowtech have been working with the BFPA to build and develop its team’s Hose Assembly Skills.
The BFPA’s Hose Assembly Skills course is designed to ensure that trainees have a sound theoretical and practical understanding of safe and suitable assembly methods of hydraulic hoses, taking delegates through the many techniques and considerations essential for the safe production of a quality hose assembly and ultimately leading to installation.
In total, over the last few months, 15 members of Flowtech’s staff have received this hose assembly training, ensuring that whenever you need a hose assembly, you can be sure that, with Flowtech, you are in safe hands.
Hallite Appoints Flavia Richards as Global Marketing Director
Hallite, the global fluid power industry’s specialist partner in hydraulic cylinder sealing solutions, has promoted Flavia Richards to global marketing director to support the company’s robust business and technical strategy. Flavia, previously the company’s global marketing manager, brings several achievements within the company and more than a decade of international marketing experience to her expanded responsibility for global marketing strategy and implementation. Before joining Hallite, Flavia was a marketing manager at Phillips Healthcare.
John Curtis, global managing director, said: “Since joining us in January 2019, Flavia has added significant value to Hallite. She has developed the marketing department into a value-adding entity that supports the business globally by managing its marketing operations, overseeing the marketing discipline, providing direction and leadership to the marketing team, identifying growth opportunities for our organisation, and finding the right resources to pursue these.”
Flavia says, “I am extremely proud to be working alongside an international team of talented and entrepreneurial colleagues, and I am humbled to have been part of the ground-breaking initiatives we have driven to completion together over the last few years. I look forward to helping drive the growth of our brand by building on our differentiating strengths with a particular focus on fluid power education, new product testing and development, and industry partnerships.”
Hedley Hydraulics announced as Parker Certified Accumulator Service Centre
BFPA distributor member Hedley Hydraulics is pleased to announce it is certified as a Parker Accumulator Service Centre (ASC).
Hedley Hydraulics Ltd is the only certified Parker ASC in the North of the UK. Hedley Hydraulics have a proven track record supporting customers with accumulators including:
- Accumulator repair, testing and re-certification and pre-charging
- Planned accumulator maintenance
- Audits
- Scheduled inspections and replacements
With over 47 years in the industry Hedley Hydraulics have the knowledge, expertise and capabilities to support our accumulator customers. The benefits to customers are:
- Regulatory compliance
- Safety improvements
- Reduced down-time
- Asset management unique tracking
- System design and improvement
Here are some of Hedley’s benefits on offer:
- Entry into a prize draw for some wireless headphones for accumulator customers
- 25% off accumulator repairs in February and March 2023
- An on-site survey and review of existing accumulator set up, with report on recommendations
Hydrasun Acquires Fuel Cell Systems, a Leading Provider of Hydrogen Systems and Applications
BFPA member Hydrasun announced recently that it has acquired Fuel Cell Systems (“FCS”), a leading provider of a range of hydrogen systems and applications including fuel cells, modular electrolyser systems, compression and storage, and mobile and static refuelling systems, along with a range of complimentary design consultancy services. The FCS acquisition builds on Hydrasun’s existing footprint and position as a systems builder and integrator in the emerging hydrogen sector and adds proprietary technology and further expands the range of overall hydrogen systems capabilities to its offerings.
FCS’s core business involves working with major fuel cell manufacturers and then designing and recommending the most suitable solution for each customers requirements and how best to integrate these within their energy systems. In addition to this, the company has developed a series of hydrogen refuelling systems for a range of end user applications in the transport sectors and integrated modular electrolyser systems for hydrogen generation.
Key priorities for the initial “post-acquisition” phase include a significant recruitment drive, a significant scaling up of the manufacture of the FCS range of mobile hydrogen refuelling systems and a significant increase in investment to accelerate ongoing R&D and new technology and product development. “We are delighted to have completed this transaction and are very excited at the prospect of working closely with Tom and the team at FCS and to achieving the full potential for our combined organisations in the rapidly emerging and growing Hydrogen Sector.” said Bob Drummond, CEO of Hydrasun
“Hydrasun have been a key supplier to FCSL for many years and have been critical in the manufacturing and deployment of our hydrogen systems. This exciting new announcement will now mean the companies working together in this rapidly growing sector to help develop the green hydrogen infrastructure required for net zero” said Tom Chicken, CEO of Fuel Cell Systems.
About Fuel Cell Systems
Fuel Cell Systems Ltd. (“FCS”) has been applying fuel cell technology to real-life applications since 2010. In that time, the company has accumulated expertise across a range of fuel cell technologies and applications. FCS is now applying that expertise to the wider emerging hydrogen sector, where they design, build, and supply refuelling systems for hydrogen mobility applications and integrated modular electrolyser systems for hydrogen generation.
To learn more, go to www.fuelcellsystems.co.uk
Hydroscand UK is Proud to Announce ISO 14001 & 45001 Certification
Certification marks the culmination of many months of preparation and hard work and demonstrates our commitment to Environmental and Health & Safety management to our team and our customers.
For several years, Hydroscand UK has held ISO 9001:2015 certification and the management team recognised the importance of working towards the standards ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018. These internationally agreed standards set out the requirements for an environmental and health & safety management system respectively.
There are several reasons why achieving these standards is important. Firstly, there is increasing demand from our customers. Secondly, we want to demonstrate to our teams that we take their health & safety seriously and that we are committed to conducting our business in a responsible and sustainable way. Furthermore, we believe it’s the right thing to do! Having these management systems in place will benefit us and our customers for years to come.
A lot of hard work has been done to get us ready for our certification audits by our teams internally and by our expert partners at JBES Engineering Services and JAMES Learning & Development. A lot of what needed to be done was already in place. So we formalised existing processes and where necessary developed and implemented new ways of working to meet the standards.
The whole company is now involved in making changes that benefit everyone. For example, Oliver Roberts, Senior Hose Technician said: “The van has been rearranged because when you cut a hose, you get the fumes of the rubber cutting and the metal. But obviously now, the van has been placed in a specific place where the extraction for it will go straight out the door instead of up into the van.”
Assistant Manager, Deb Wardle said: “There’s a lot more awareness amongst the team now. Everybody seems to be more aware and is actually reporting things back to us now. There’s an awareness of things that potentially could be an issue or perhaps we could do this in a different way.
We believe that achieving this certification will reinforce our core business value to be trustworthy and create a safe working environment and secure and sustainable future for the society, our customers, and our employees. It will also give our teams and our customers confidence in us.
Industrial and Marine Hydraulics (IMH) welcomes Liam Burnes as its 25th Apprentice
IMH, based in Middlesbrough, UK is an innovative hydraulics company which operates across industries, worldwide. Delivering a range of services including design, manufacture, installation, service and maintenance. Liam Burns is the 25th apprentice to be appointed to the company since it set up its training academy in 1995. He is also the first to be appointed into a multi-skilled role where he will be trained across the company’s speciality skills in hydraulic manufacturing and pipefitting.
Having previously completed courses covering basic engineering knowledge and motor vehicle mechanical maintenance, Liam starts his apprenticeship in the second year of his four-year, level 3 apprenticeship. He will be splitting his time between his role at IMH and attendance at Hartlepool College of Further Education. As part of his apprenticeship Liam will benefit from the decades of expertise of the IMH team in manufacturing and engineering principles as well as practical training in manual handling, welding and hydraulics.
The IMH training academy was initiated by company founder, Paul Griffiths MBE, in 1995. The initial intention was to average one apprentice every two years. Now in its 28th year, the company is looking to add a further two apprentices alongside Liam: another second-year multi-skilled level 3 apprentice and a degree level apprentice in engineering and design. This will bring the average apprentice appointment to one every year.
Liam Burns, multi-skilled apprentice – manufacturing at IMH, commented: “I’m excited to join IMH to complete my apprenticeship because I’m well aware of the work IMH does and the fantastic learning environment it has. Over the years, both my parents have worked here, as well as cousins and uncles. My Dad has actually been employed now for 31 years with the company. To have had so many family members work here I think it shows the great working environment and family feel of the company. And for me, it’s nice that a lot of the employees have seen me grow up and have really taken me under their wing. It’s also really good for me to get to know newer members of the team and benefit from the wide and specialist skills they have. In my spare time, I really enjoy working on cars, so I hope the skills I have from that I can bring to this role, and likewise the welding I will learn here I can apply to my hobby.”
James Griffiths, managing director, IMH added: “It’s a delight to welcome Liam to the team. He comes from a long line of the Burns family who have worked, and some continue to work, here. And, having gone through the apprenticeship route myself, I can see in Liam the right qualities needed to succeed. He’s inquisitive, positive and enjoys practical work.
“In the past, we’ve often welcomed apprentices into specific routes such as mechanical or pipefitting. But we’re excited that Liam will be our first multi-skilled apprentice where he will be trained across several disciplines. I look forward to seeing and supporting his journey with us.”
IMH has extensive experience of providing hydraulic engineering expertise and solutions to sectors including oil and gas, marine, subsea, energy (including renewables), nuclear, infrastructure, mining, manufacturing and automotive. By closely engaging with IMH, companies can tap into a deep source of hydraulic engineering talent from consultation and initial specification through to design and delivery, providing customers with peace of mind through the provision of expert advice and support.
NFPC Approved to deliver New CETOP Competence Based Qualification
Following a rigorous Centre Approval process by the BFPA appointed External Verifier, the NFPC becomes the first Centre in both the UK and Europe to become a CETOP Approved Education Centre for the CETOP FPE1 Competence Based Qualification relating to FLUID POWER ELECTRONICS
Rotec Hydraulics named Double Award Finalist
BFPA distributor member Rotec Hydraulics Ltd is celebrating after being named finalists in two categories at the Somerset Business Awards 2023. The well-respected provider of hydraulics, pneumatics and electrical systems is still in the running for both the ‘Large Business of the Year’ and ‘Somerset Manufacturer and Producer’ Award categories.
Rotec’s business ethos and their proven ability to thrive despite challenges including the pandemic and the volatility of the marketplace, has earned them a place at the grand final in the ‘Large Business of the Year’ award category.
Named finalist for the ‘Somerset Manufacturer and Producer of the year’ category at this years’ awards is testament to Rotec’s innovative use of technology and ability to produce bespoke solutions for their clients, who year on year provide outstanding customer feedback. Rotec is proud to have a team with diverse skill sets and capabilities including specialist design engineers, allowing them to be able to deliver on such challenging projects. This year is the 18th anniversary of the awards, which are organised by Somerset Chamber of Commerce. The grand final was hosted by BBC Somerset presenter and journalist Claire Carter at the Winter Gardens Pavilion, in Weston-super-Mare, on 24th March 2023.
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Do you have a company news story we could feature?
BFPA would like to help publicise our BFPA and BFPDA members’ company news (free of charge to members) in our newsletter and / or on our website news page and want to feature more news stories from our BFPA members. Each news item will be set alongside a photo / logo / image (which you would ideally supply) and archived by date. We may also be able to publish on our news pages or send out to a wider media list as well on your behalf.
We would love to hear from you if you have any suitable UK fluid power industry news stories such as:
- Senior staff appointments
- New buildings being opened
- Awards being won / presented
- New industry sales partners announced
- New acquisitions / alliances etc.
- Innovative or unusual projects or case studies
Please send any news items to Sarah Gardner sarah@bfpa.co.uk – we look forward to hearing from you soon!