Latest news from our members

28 Apr 2017

 

New FTUK catalogue now available

FlowtechnologyUK have launched their latest catalogue. The 2017/18 issue is packed full of the innovations that you have come to expect including over 57000 products lines from globally recognised brands, 2800 new product lines and more than 140 brands.

New products ranges include:

  • Kee Connections Pneumatic QRC
  • Sanha® Nirosan® Stainless Steel Press Fit Pipe Systems
  • RIDGID® Tools
  • Parker® Triple-Lok® Tube Fittings & Adaptors
  • BVA high pressure hydraulic lifting equipment
  • Professional Intelligence FR@s
  • Stopflex Hose Retention Systems
  • Nordvales monoblock and sectional control valves

But it’s not only new products that are being launched with the new catalogue. The new ‘Out of Hours’, 24/7 Ordering, Delivery & Collection service you can even order stock items and ship direct or collect them 24 hours per day, 7 days a week – ideal for when you need to service customers who operate around the clock. This service is being introduced in response to customer demand and further demonstrates FTUK’s commitment to providing the best possible service.

For more details visit www.flowtechnologyuk.com

To order your catalogue email sales@flowtechnologyuk.com

 

FTUK shortlisted for Distributor of the Year Award

Flowtechnology UK have been shortlisted as a finalist in the Distributor of the Year category in the 2017 Motion Control Industry Awards. These awards recognise the organisations and individuals operating within this industry and celebrates high quality service, personal endeavour, technical innovation and engineering advancement.

The Distributor of the Year accolade is awarded to the business who has demonstrated their services to industry in areas such as technical ability and advice, customisation of special needs, market penetration and growth and on time delivery and service.

Keith Dickinson, FTUK Business Development Director commented: “We’re delighted to be shortlisted for this award, it recognises the hard work and dedication of our staff who provide the best service in the industry and the technical support that we offer our customers, including end user site visits and free training courses which can be delivered in house, on site or even during evenings for customers who cannot attend during the day.”

The winner will be announced at the MCI Awards Dinner on Tuesday 9th May.

 

HydraForce signs agreement to acquire Hydraulic Designers Ltda.

HydraForce continues to expand its global hydraulics manufacturing capabilities with a key acquisition in Brazil according to a company announcement on 21 April 2017. The leading independent manufacturer of hydraulic cartridge valves, manifolds and electro-hydraulic controls recently signed an agreement to acquire its current distributor and global systems integrator, Hydraulic Designers Ltda. This acquisition will give HydraForce a greater presence in the burgeoning South American off-highway equipment market.

“We’ve been strategic partners with Hydraulic Designers for several years now, and this acquisition is the natural progression of our successful business relationship,” said Jim Brizzolara, President of HydraForce. “For 15 years, Hydraulic Designers has been providing advanced technical solutions to equipment builders in Brazil, and HydraForce is very fortunate to be able to expand upon that partnership,” he added. “We’ll be leveraging the talents of both companies to bring greater value and capability to customers not only in Brazil but throughout South America.”

The Hydraulic Designers Ltda. plant in Taboão da Serra, State of São Paulo employs over 100 people who design and build custom hydraulic manifolds, primarily for original equipment manufacturers in the agricultural and construction industries. The newly acquired company will continue to use all HydraForce design tools, including i-Design hydraulic schematic software, Automation Studios simulation software, ANSYS FEA for finite element analysis, and Pro-E for drafting. The application engineering team will maintain its local field work in prototype design. Manufacturing capabilities will continue to include machining, assembly and testing, automated quality inspection, a wash-down lab for cleanliness testing, and local sourcing of extrusions.

“This will be a seamless transition,” said Aldo Bisson, General Manager of the acquired company. “Our operation will continue to directly support all sales, engineering and manufacturing activities in Brazil. Having local capabilities and engineering support can streamline the sourcing process for the HydraForce global customers who are building equipment here in Brazil and throughout South America.”

For more information about HydraForce please visit their website www.hydraforce.com

 

Oilgear’s new service centre manager pitches for customer delight

BFPA member and hydraulics specialist, Oilgear, has appointed Dave Atkinson to the new role of new service centre manager, giving him the brief of bringing a service industry ethos to both production and after-market functions within the company.

New Oilgear Service Centre Manager, Dave Atkinson

Previously a project co-ordinator in the oil and gas industry and service engineer and manager before that, Dave has all the experienced needed for his challenging new role.

“Throughout my career I have been an engineer in a customer facing role, and I delight in interacting with them to find solutions and ways forward. Even better is innovating with customers, coming up with new ways to do existing things or completely new ideas to develop together. For instance, I have designed and delivered several customer training programmes and encouraged my engineering teams to broaden their horizons and expertise.”

Oilgear was founded in America in 1921 and now has operations around the world. Oilgear is renowned for the cutting-edge technology and the outstanding quality of its hydraulics equipment and systems engineering.

Dave joined Oilgear in early 2017 with the remit of enhancing the service centre’s capabilities so that it addresses both production and after-market functions. His stated aim now is to build a customer-first mentality into the production operations so that they provide almost instant response to requests and deliver this with an “as new” quality.

His passion for customer service is based on the levels of excellence that can be achieved in the consumer markets. “At home, some service companies are a delight to work with. They deliver on their promises, meet schedules, follow up to make sure everything is OK and generally go that extra mile. This contrasts markedly with what consumers had to put up with 20 years ago – and still do from some companies. I am aiming to make Oilgear’s level of service exceptional at all times and to ensure we are always in meaningful communication with our customers.”

For more information about Oilgear please visit their website www.oilgear.com

 

BFPDA member Plant Hoses Ltd based in County Antrim, have recently been awarded a 3 year hydraulic hose contract by the Northern Ireland Electricity Works.

For more information about Plant Hoses Ltd please visit their website http://www.planthoses.com/

 

 

Aventics announces acquisiton of Vector Horizon Technology

Aventics have aannounced the acquisttion of Vector Horiszon Tehnoclog LLC (VHtek), based in Kentucky, USA. This technology company is leading innovation in advanced mechatronics focssing on such topics as engine emissions. To read the full news article please visit the Aventics website: http://www.aventics.co.uk/en/news/news-detail-page/?tx_cynewssystem_detail[news]=1539&tx_cynewssystem_detail[action]=show&tx_cynewssystem_detail[controller]=News

 

Passing the test

For over 25 years, BFPA member Hydrotechnik has been a leading UK distributor of hydraulic testing and analysis components and equipment. Approximately three years ago, while reviewing the business’s strategic direction, managing director Richard Price had a lightbulb moment that led to the company taking a bold, but ultimately profitable, move in its quest for further growth. “I was considering our areas of expertise,” explained Price, “when I realised we have all these parts and sell them to people who make rigs, so asked myself the question ‘why don’t we design, build and commission test rigs ourselves?’”

Previously, Hydrotechnik had typically supplied components to either systems integrators or end users within design engineering departments, who would use them to build rigs and systems to perform a broad range of hydraulic and hydrostatic tests. While the business was successful simply selling components, its potential to add value was limited. At the same time, across the various markets that Hydrotechnik served, in-house engineering departments were disappearing amid efficiency drives and the company’s end user customers were increasingly outsourcing the design and build of test rigs to systems integrators.

The move wasn’t without its challenges and risks, however. A significant amount of new skills and knowledge was needed to manufacture turnkey systems. But it wasn’t long before the company started to develop a reputation for its work and enquiries began to grow; quickly turning in to orders.

Rail project

Price reflects that some of these test rig projects can create enormous challenges; the biggest of which so far has been for a company in the rail sector. The business in question overhauls rolling stock and part of that process requires large cylinders used in braking systems to be pressure-tested to ensure their integrity. It is a safety-critical part of the process, which results in certification for the component.

Before Hydrotechnik even got to the stage of designing the system, the size of the company presented challenges that had to be overcome. Identifying the right people and departments to communicate with wasn’t easy. Then, the health & safety requirements for getting on site were far from straightforward too.

Plumbing, heating & engineering

Another case study example saw Hydrotechnik design, built and commission an advanced burst testing rig for a UK-based plumbing, heating & engineering product manufacturer that distributes its products worldwide.

Regular and rigorous burst testing ensures that their products are developed to meet the demanding standards within hydraulic applications. The custom-built test rig is installed within a sophisticated workshop and is an integral part of their development testing. The test rig main capabilities are:

  • Manual pressure build up with course, fine & super fine pressure adjustments.
  • Real time accurate reading and logging of pressure.
  • Complete logging and archiving of all results for future reference.

Hydraulic motors

Another case study example saw Hydrotechnik design and custom-build a hydraulic testing rig for KPEC capable of testing the efficiency of a wide range of hydraulic motors commonly fitted onto forklifts and other hydraulic machinery. Having built up a loyal customer base over the past 20 years repairing and re-selling motors, KPEC wanted to improve its testing facilities. The company required its motors to go through extensive testing under specific conditions to understand the performance of the refurbished motor.

KPEC wanted a user-operated testing system with variable flows up to 100 litres per minute at a maximum settable pressure of 300 bar with a torque load of up to 1100Nm. During the test the user needs to be able to control the direction (both clockwise or anti-clockwise) flow rate, loading pressure, temperature and system pressure. On top of this, the user need to be able to read displays on the control panel in real time.

A variety of pump accessories were supplied from UK Flowtechnik such as bellhousings, damping elements, foot brackets to improve the noise levels, oil cooler to keep systems running smoothly and spider couplings all helping to sustain the life of the pump and test piece.

So, Hydrotechnik is an excellent example of a UK business that has diversified, not in its product offering, but in its reach across its value chain.

For more information about Hydrotechnik please visit www.hydrotechnik.co.uk

 

 

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