Members’ News
25 Feb 2020
Still time to register… BHR Group Fluid Sealing Conference 2020 4-5 March 2020 in Manchester
The 25th International Conference on Fluid Sealing 2020 will take place in Manchester on 4th – 5th March. The conference offers the opportunity for Systems and Process Engineers, Materials Technologists, equipment operators and end users to update themselves on developing technologies, to meet world experts on sealing systems, to learn from applications, case studies and practices and to discuss opportunities with service and product suppliers.
BFPA members will receive a 10% discount on conference delegate bookings, the discount code to use when registering is BFPA. In addition, BFPA members who are interested in exhibiting at the event can qualify for a discount.
For more information or to register please visit: BHR Sealing Conference 2020
Moog Industrial Group supports Tewkesbury half marathon – calling all runners!
Sunday 10th May 2020
Calling all BFPA joggers and runners !
Moog is the Headline Sponsor of the Tewkesbury Half Marathon
Members of the BFPA can receive a £5 discount.
To register your interest and receive the discount code please go to https://mooginc.wufoo.com/forms/tewkesbury-half-marathon/
Webtec Proud to Support Next Generation of Young Engineers With National Scholarship Award
This year’s recipient of the Roy Cuthbert Scholarship is Ethan Green. This award was named after Webtec’s founder, a passionate engineer and entrepreneur who passed away in 2013 and is part of the wider UK Arkwright Engineering Scholarship Scheme. Webtec is proud to be a supporter of this prestigious national programme which has been providing scholarships to students since 1991.
The Arkwright Engineering Scholarships act as a beacon to the most talented STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) students in the UK schools and help to ensure that high-potential young people stay engaged in the engineering careers pipeline, in the critical 16 to 18 age range.
Scholars are selected for their potential as future engineering leaders by assessing their academic, practical and leadership skills in engineering disciplines. These are gauged through a selection process comprising of an assessed application form including a teacher’s reference; a two-hour, problem-solving aptitude exam; and a university-based interview.
The Scholarships support students through their sixth form studies and encourage them into top universities or higher apprenticeships while offering access to a range of enrichment experiences such as industry conferences, Connect Days, mentoring, residential courses and university VIP days.
The Arkwright Engineering Scholarship awards are supported by more than 122 different sponsoring organisations including commercial and industrial companies, Universities, Government and trade organisations. The successful scholars receive their awards at the annual ceremony which takes place at the Institution of Engineering and Technology, London.
Webtec recognises the importance of encouraging young talent in engineering and in addition to the Arkwright Scholarships the company also actively supports other programmes including the Secondary Engineer® Fluid Power Challenge and the Engineering Education Scheme (EES).
Manuli Rubber Industries and RYCO combination to result in a new market leader
Manuli Rubber Industries SpA (MRI), headquartered in Milan, and RYCO Hydraulics Pty Ltd (RYCO), headquartered in Melbourne, jointly announced on 3 February 2020, that MRI has completed the acquisition of a majority shareholding in RYCO.
MRI will merge its wholly owned Manuli Hydraulics and Fluiconnecto divisions with RYCO to provide an enhanced product range and full global supply and service offering to customers of both companies.
The combined business, with total sales approaching €500 million / $AUD820 million, will be a leader in the global hydraulic hose and fittings industry, servicing a broad range of market sectors. MRI, founded in 1935, and RYCO founded in 1946, together have over 4,500 employees.
MRI Chief Executive Officer, Dardanio Manuli, said “This transaction captures the full benefit of combining complementary product ranges, engineering and innovation capabilities, a strategically located manufacturing footprint and a truly global market reach. We are excited about the potential benefits and growth opportunities that will result from the best of what both MRI and RYCO bring to the market.”
RYCO Chief Executive Officer, Leigh Morrison, said “Both MRI and RYCO are family owned and run private companies with similar cultures and a shared commitment to remaining agile, responsive and customer-focused. This merger creates benefits greater than either company could achieve alone.”
MRI operates through two divisions: Manuli Hydraulics (design and manufacture) and Fluiconnecto (distribution and service). The Manuli, Fluiconnecto and RYCO, RYCO24•7 brands will be retained, and each company will continue to operate through existing channels to market, with the ability to access both product and distribution synergies.
Leigh Morrison will continue in his role of RYCO CEO and will be invited to join the MRI Board. A new RYCO Board has been constituted with MRI representation.
Details of the transaction were not disclosed. MRI received funding support from Banca Intesa Sanpaolo and Mediobanca. In addition, some consulting services were provided by William Blair & Company. RYCO was advised by Deloitte Financial Advisory.
HydraForce apprentice wins Best Vocational Student at British Education Awards 2020
HydraForce Hydraulics Ltd, BFPA member and Birmingham based manufacturer of hydraulic valves and manifolds, is delighted to announce that former apprentice, Joshua Lambden, won the Vocational Student of the Year award at British Education Awards (BEA) ceremony in Manchester in January.
The event, which took place at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate hotel on Thursday 31st January 2020, saw Joshua compete against two other candidates in his category for the winner of England Zone 1 Region:
“Winning this award has proven to me that hard work really does pay off” said Joshua, after accepting the award.
“I really struggled academically in Secondary School and since then I have put more effort and hours into my work than I ever thought I could. When starting my apprenticeship I never thought I could’ve achieved what I have and I’m so grateful for all the support and opportunities provided to me by my team and by HydraForce.”
Joshua achieved a Double Distinction* in his studies for his BTEC Level 3 Diploma, attending Birmingham Metropolitan (BMet) College to complete his Electrical Engineering Apprenticeship, in conjunction with his full-time role at HydraForce. He is now studying towards his Foundation Degree in Electrical & Electronic Control Engineering.
Joshua successfully completed his apprenticeship one year earlier than predicted, and has since been promoted to Maintenance Technician at HydraForce, in September last year:
“Once again, we are immensely proud of Joshua’s achievement; not only has he won yet another award, having previously been successful at the Made in the Midlands and Ladder for Birmingham awards, but he has continued from last year where another of our employees won this award for the first time” said Christine Tolley, Head of Human Resources at HydraForce.
“Joshua’s success is testament to his hard work and commitment; it is a reward for him personally in winning this accolade but also extremely satisfying for HydraForce that the investment we make in supporting our employees in their lifelong learning journey pays off. He has set a fantastic example to his colleagues and young people who are looking for role models”
Joshua was winner of the BEA Region England Zone 1, which covers students from the North West, North East, Humberside & Yorkshire and West Midlands. He has also been successful at previous awards including Made in the Midlands Regional Apprentice of the Year Award 2019 and he received the Runner-up award for Ladder for Birmingham: Outstanding Apprentice of the Year, last July.
This is the second time a HydraForce Apprentice has been successful at the BEA award ceremony, with the same category having been won by one of Joshua’s colleagues in 2019.
Bath University ASME symposium on fluid power and motion control 9-11 September 2020
BFPA Education & Training member Bath University would also like to make you aware of the FPMC, the annual Bath/ASME symposium on fluid power and motion control. This year it will be held at the University of Bath from September 9 – 11, 2020. They very much welcome industrial participation, both as presenters and attendees. You can find more details and the call for papers (abstract submission by February 3rd) on their dedicated web page:
https://www.bath.ac.uk/campaigns/fpmc-bath-asme-symposium-on-fluid-power-and-motion-control/
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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 and BFPDA 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!