Members’ News
18 Dec 2018
HydraForce’s Daniel Millington wins 2018 UK Advanced Apprentice of the Year
HydraForce’s Daniel Millington wins 2018 UK Advanced Apprentice of the Year
Daniel Millington of BFPA member HydraForce Ltd, the Birmingham-based manufacturer of hydraulic valves and manifold systems, has won the Rolls-Royce sponsored award for Advanced Apprentice of the Year for the UK. The National Apprenticeship award ceremony took place at the Old Billingsgate in London at the end of November, and saw Daniel compete against eight other competitors in his field, including apprentices from companies such as BT and Royal Mail. Daniel, who graduated from his advanced engineering apprenticeship this July, a year earlier than expected, won the Birmingham hosted Regional Advanced Apprenticeship Awards for the Midlands in September, which led him to be shortlisted for the Nationals.
Daniel is also an ambassador for young apprentices throughout the Midlands, as part of the West Midlands Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (WMAAN), which helps young people to start their careers and mentors the company’s younger apprentices.
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Team BRIT and MME Motorsport use Festo automation to put disabled drivers in control
Team BRIT and MME Motorsport have developed a new hand control technology that enables disabled and able-bodied drivers to use the same car. Described as the world’s most technologically advanced hand controls, the system uses pneumatic technology donated by industrial automation specialist and BFPA member Festo to enable the steering, brakes, clutch, throttle and gears to be controlled using hands alone.
Steve Sands says “Festo GB is very happy to support Team BRIT in the development of their ground-breaking hand control system, aimed at making motorsport more inclusive for people with disabilities. The team has worked wonders integrating proportional pneumatic controls to put disabled drivers in total control of the car.”
Team BRIT is a competitive racing team, not a charity, which races against teams of able-bodied drivers on a totally level playing field — something that no other sport can offer. Team BRIT has already achieved a lot. Now they are ready to make history by becoming the first all-disabled team to participate in the Le Mans 24-hour race – and the evolution of the special hand controls will go a long way towards making this ambition achievable. Team BRIT is currently seeking formal safety approval and homologation for the controls from the Motor Sports Association (MSA), motorsport’s governing body.
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Webtec launches industry guide to educate technicians and engineers new to hydraulic fluid power
BFPA member Webtec has launched a new guide for all fluid power technicians: ‘An Introduction to Practical Hydraulic System Maintenance’. Co-authored by industry experts Steve Skinner and Webtec’s Managing Director Martin Cuthbert, this invaluable tool is aimed to help educate technicians and engineers new to hydraulic fluid power maintenance and hydraulic engineers embarking on a career in this industry.
The book costing £34.99 is available now from Amazon. Featuring over 240 pages and over 200 colour illustrations this introductory guide is an excellent starting place to learn about hydraulics. Written in an easy-to-read style with clear concise text, it also suggests where readers can go to learn more about a particular subject.
‘An Introduction to Practical Hydraulic System Maintenance’ has been reviewed and endorsed by several organisations including the British Fluid Power Association, Institution of Mechanical Engineers, National Fluid Power Centre, British Valve and Actuator Association and the Construction Equipment Association.
All profits made from the book will be donated to support STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programmes such as the ‘Fluid Power Challenge’ run by the charity Primary Engineer in the UK and set up to help encourage the next generation of engineers in schools.
Steve Skinner, one of the two co-authors commented, “despite hydraulic fluid power being a technology with more than 200 years of history, it remains a highly effective means of transmitting power, well-suited to interface with modern electronic controls. Like any technology however, it needs to be well understood by engineers and technicians responsible for its efficient operation. Hopefully this book will encourage maintenance personnel to acquire further training and experience and become fully competent in this important technology with its vast range of applications.”
Explaining the importance of the guide and why Webtec chose to sponsor the project, Martin Cuthbert, Webtec’s Managing Director the other author added, “we recognised that many highly experienced hydraulic engineers are retiring, while few people are studying hydraulics today as a profession and yet the need for qualified hydraulic technicians continues to grow. This book is a small step towards addressing this skills shortage”.
“We are excited to launch this guide and encouraged by the support and recognition that the book has received from the many trade organisations and educational establishments globally’, he continued.
In addition to the guide, readers will also receive free access to a host of complimentary fault-finding tools, calculation apps and white papers by Webtec.
National Oilwell Varco launches new CETOP Level 1 course in hydraulics
Following their recent accreditation to deliver CETOP Level 1 courses, BFPA Training member National Oilwell Varco Training Centre, based in Scotland are pleased to announce they have held their first CETOP Level 1 course.
Jordan Routledge of Ensco Drilling recently attended training at the NOV facility in Montrose UK, gaining CETOP Level 1 accreditation. The course, which was carried out in NOV’s state-of-the-art hydraulics lab, was designed to ensure attendees could work safely with hydraulic systems. The Level 1 qualification is recognised worldwide, and provides successful participants a platform to complete further hydraulic training.
“I enjoyed the course, and think it was extremely valuable,” Jordan said. “Knowing the course was approved by CETOP really made a difference; when you undertake such training, you want to be sure you’re receiving the best of the best. Marc and the team gave me that confidence from the very beginning.”
Jordan has also expressed an interest in completing NOV’s more advanced courses, which include Accumulator Competence training and CETOP Level 2. Both will be available next year.
This latest award follows on from NOV’s other recent achievement in which the company’s Foundation Course – Hydraulics Fundamentals was assessed and successfully met the BFPA’s Minimum Educational Recommendations for Hydraulics.
For more information about NOV training courses please visit their website http://training.nov.com/?sf193540508=1