BFPA (Jan/Feb 09)
Notwithstanding terrorist threats following the Mumbai massacre in November, BFPA and exhibitors, FPE and Webtec Products proudly displayed the UK flag on the British Fluid Power Pavilion at the Motion Drive & Automation (MDA) Exhibition in Bangalore in December. The show had predictably increased in size since the inaugural exhibition in 2007, running in parallel with Industrial Automation India; CeMAT India (Materials Handling) and Energy India (Renewable and conventional Power Generation.
The exhibitors reported a successful show, with positive leads and at least one very significant order. Continuing evidence that face-to-face dialogue is important. Products usually require explanation; the more complex a solution, the greater the need for dialogue. British engineering is revered and respected in Asia.
Links were also forged between BFPA and the Fluid Power Society of India. International exhibitions provide an ideal opportunity for BFPA to communicate with the many global Fluid Power Associations represented there.
The date for the 2009 exhibition is 8 to 11 December. For further information, please contact veronica@bfpa.co.uk.
BFPA – International Forum
The British Fluid Power Association hosted 115 Engineers from all corners of the world at the BSI offices in London for five days in November, this being the all important ISO Cluster meeting for the Fluid Power Industry. Countries represented were: China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Sweden, USA and, of course, the UK. In total, over 18 separate ISO sub committees/working groups met, covering subjects as wide ranging as pneumatic cylinders, pneumatic controls, hydraulic controls, tube and hose connectors, O-rings, seals and so on.
It is by means of meetings such as these that our industry controls and maintains worldwide product standardisation which gives our industry its global acceptance and thus usage in a wide range of products and machinery. It is worth mentioning here that the Electrical/Electronic people are unable to achieve standard supply voltages around the world.
The BFPA plays an influential role in the world of Fluid Power Standards with its position as external secretariat on behalf of BSI and is currently tracking more than 650 separate FP standards. This work is only possible because of our strong company membership and is part of the portfolio of ‘back room’ functions performed by the Association on behalf of the membership.
Watching the 109 engineers working together for the greater good of an industry I wished that I could drag in a few politicians and show them what really is meant by the phrase ‘Global Economy’. This was not a room full of million dollar bankers just honest Engineers doing what they saw to be their job.
Ian Morris, director BFPA.
Coals to Newcastle?
I appears that in 2007 this country imported something over 43 million tons of coal, 85 per cent of which was to burn in our power stations. This is all very good for those countries selling coal to us and will possibly make our charitable hearts swell with pride, or not. I seem to remember hearing that a good mine produced around one million tons of coal per year (happy to be corrected on that figure). Just imagine the jobs that could be created if we started to replace imports with home dug stuff.
The Fluid Power Industry alone would see a massive increase in demand and at the high technology end of the market, engineering in general would receive an enormous and well needed lift and so on. In fact, we might even be able to sell a little bit overseas, if we felt so inclined. Rather than relying on people like the Russian Mr Putin to secure our flow of energy, we could start to reverse the current suicidal trend and stop dreaming that a few windmills or bobbing floating devices will be a cure all.
It seems very sad that billions can be found to prop up a failing banking system, and so it should have been, but that real wealth building decisions are side stepped.
Ian Morris, director BFPA.
Welcome new members
The BFPA is delighted to welcome the following new BFPDA members:
Bibus (UK) Ltd of High Wycombe
Website: www.bibus.co.uk
Duchy Hose & Hydraulics Ltd of Falmouth
Website: www.duchyhydraulics.co.uk
Redline Hydraulics Ltd of Worcester
Website: www.redlinehydraulics.co.uk
Please contact membership manager Martin Kingsbury to enquire how membership of BFPA/BFPDA can help you. Tel: 01608 647900. E-mail: martin@bfpa.co.uk
Events
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Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week
05 - 06 June, 2024
NEC, Birmingham -
HILLHEAD 2024
25 June, 2024, 9:00 - 27 June, 2024, 16:00
Hillhead Quarry, Buxton, Derbyshire UK
