Members’ News
25 Nov 2021
Fortress Safety wins BSI award in Safety Category
BSI Standards Users Awards recognize how organisations have used a voluntary standard(s) to achieve a particular outcome(s) for a specific project, product or service1. Our congratulations go to BFPA member Fortress Safety who were one of the winners of the 2021 BSI Standards Users Awards in the category “Safety”. The winners were announced at the BSI Standards Conference and Awards at the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane on 18 November, with the announcement also published in a recent BSI newsletter as follows:
“Fortress Safety used BS EN ISO 14119 Safety of machinery – Interlocking devices associated with guards and BS EN ISO 13849-1 Safety of machinery – Safety related parts of control systems during the creation of a new product range which contributes to safe access to and control of industrial machinery in explosive and hazardous environments. Their use of the standard enabled them to provide exceptionally safe products and extend their use to even more applications and industries.”
1The awards do not constitute any form of certification or kitemark but simply offer a means of recognizing the benefits of using voluntary standards.
Handling Truck Services – New Name for Hose and Tubular Services
BFPDA member Hose and Tubular Services have merged with their sister company and will be called Handling Truck Services Limited from November 2021. The company specialises in the supply of hydraulic, pneumatic and industrial hose, tube and connector products and are steel tube manipulation specialists and the company also offers Power Pack design and installation. Handling Truck Services offer service and preventative maintenance packages for 24 hours-a-day operation, as well as for those who have a lower utilisation.
Triple Award Winners HydraForce Ltd triumph at the Greater Birmingham Apprentice Awards 2021
BFPA member HydraForce Hydraulics Ltd were winners of three award categories at the recent Greater Birmingham Apprenticeship Award ceremony held at Edgbaston Cricket Ground.
The event, held on Thursday 11th November, saw HydraForce crowned Large Employer of the Year for the second time, with apprentice, Ahmad Ford, also winning Apprentice of the Year in Engineering & Manufacturing, as well as overall Apprentice of the Year for Greater Birmingham.
Ahmad Ford, 29, is in the fourth year of his Advanced Engineering apprenticeship with HydraForce, and is soon due to start his Foundation Degree in Engineering:
“I am completely humbled and honoured, to not only be shortlisted, but to go on and win in these two categories, and I’ve had a smile on my face since the winner was unveiled” said Ahmad, upon winning the two awards. “It has reinforced why I wanted to become an apprentice and shows how hard work and dedication pays off. I wouldn’t be here today without the belief and support from HydraForce, and I will continue to do my best to succeed in all aspects of engineering in the future.”
This is the second time a HydraForce employee has succeeded at these awards, with Ritik Sharma being crowned Apprentice of the Year in Engineering & Manufacturing in 2019, and HydraForce’s Joshua Lambden winning Runner-up in the same category.
The company, which produces hydraulic valves and manifold systems, also won the award for Large Employer of the Year for apprenticeships. This again follows the company’s success in this category in 2019.
Sam Wilcox-Wright, Learning & Development Manager accepted the award on behalf of the company, alongside MD Jon Bradley: “HydraForce is delighted to be recognised by Greater Birmingham for its Apprenticeship Scheme, for the second time. We firmly believe that apprenticeship programmes add great value to businesses and they are pivotal in bridging skills gaps in sectors, such as Engineering” said Sam, upon receiving the award.
HydraForce launched its Engineering Apprenticeship scheme in 2004, and in 2020 introduced Business Apprenticeships, with two existing employees starting their Level 5 Institute of Leadership & Management apprentices, last year. The Greater Birmingham Apprenticeship Awards is run by BirminghamLive, in partnership with the Ladder for Greater Birmingham campaign launched in 2018, which continues to create new apprenticeships across the region.
Photos courtesy of BirminghamLive & Reach PLC
HOS to attend prestigious offshore wind conference & exhibition
Sunderland based Hydraulic & Offshore Supplies (HOS) and BFPDA member are confirming their supply chain credentials within the renewables sector with their attendance at the Offshore Wind North East conference and exhibition in December 2021.
Having been based on Sunderland’s riverside for over 30 years, HOS has established itself as the go to hydraulic and fluid power supplier to marine, subsea and ship management businesses across the globe, they are now looking to expand further into the renewables sector with the north east conference being a perfect opportunity for them.
The conference, held at Sunderland’s Beacon of Light on the 1st and 2nd of December is only a stone’s throw from the HOS workshop and offices and is a leading event within the renewables sector, exploring themes and opportunities in the offshore wind sector. It brings together an impressive line-up of speakers to update delegates on business activities and how to engage moving forward, with the lack of face to face events due to the pandemic, there will be an optimism to return to normality with the organisers anticipating over 100 exhibitors and 500 attendees.
HOS’ managing director, Don Fenwick, commented, “We’re delighted to be exhibiting at such a prestigious conference, not only will it give us the opportunity to share our knowledge, expertise and capabilities with the attendees but to also be able to support a local event is great for us.
With several ambitious renewables projects already in the development stage, the high growth rate of wind energy makes the UK one of the renewable market leaders, with our vast experience within the fluid power and hydraulic sectors we’re looking forward to being able to support businesses and play our part towards a green future.”
To chat with HOS, visit their stand, D20 on the 1st and 2nd of December.
NFPC to offer a range of free courses
As part of the Government’s initiative, “Skills for Jobs” – Lifelong Learning for Opportunity and Growth, the National Fluid Power Centre Ltd based at Worksop in Nottinghamshire, through the Department of Education “Skills Accelerator Programme” plan to offer a range of free courses.
These will be primarily available to SMEs (less than 250 employees and under 50 Million Euro annual turnover) in the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire Area and will relate to:
- hydraulics
- pneumatics and
- applied electronics.
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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!