BFPA update Jan/Feb 2012
BFPA meets with British Bankers’ Association
On 7December 2011 over 40 senior executives from the fluid power industry were joined for dinner by Irene Graham, a director at the BBA and Stephen Welton, chief executive of the Business Growth Fund. As part of the evening both spoke giving a fascinating insight into the relationship between industry and the financial world, not looking just at the current situation but also looking ahead at what can be achieved by working together.
The Business Growth Fund has been specifically set up to create novel funding methods for industrial enterprises not just in the multimillion pound market but looking directly at smaller companies. Although the two presentations prompted much in the way of lively questions, the evening settled down into a very constructive discussion, undoing many of the myths created by the less responsible press which of late have only wanted to print bad news about our economy.
Welcome new member
The British Fluid Power Distributors’ Association (BFPDA) is delighted to welcome the following new member:
Pirtek Belfast (2005) Ltd.
Unit 8 Abbey Business Park
Mill Road
Newtownabbey
County Antrim
BT36 7EE
Mill Road
Newtownabbey
County Antrim
BT36 7EE
For further information contact:
David Adams – managing director
Tel: 028 90 36 9522
Email: info@pirtekbelfast.co.uk
Website: www.pirtekbelfast.com
Call for Papers
Call for Papers for the 17th ISC – International Sealing Conference, Stuttgart 2012, 13th - 14th September.
The BFPA would be very pleased if you are interested in presenting a paper to one of the proposed topics on the occasion of the 17th ISC.
For more information please visit www.sealing-conference.com
Joseph Bramah Medal nominations request
The Bramah Medal is an annual award given for outstanding achievements which advance the science of Mechanical Engineering, particularly in the field of Hydraulics. Looking back at records back to the 1960s BFPA members have done consistently well at collecting this prestigious award, some of those names which will be known by many are:
· Roy Cuthbert (2003).
· John Bentley (2002).
· Norman Way (1996).
· Peter J Wilson (1994).
· Prof Cliff Burrows (1993).
· Dr Kevin Edge (1996).
· Frank Levetus (1986).
This it must be noted is always against strong competition from overseas where Germany, USA, Austria and others have featured well over the years.
As it has clearly been far too long since the BFPA has had a member picking up the prized medal; the last being Roy Cuthbert, founder of Webtec, The BFPA is asking for nominations. Those nominated will be submitted to a committee at the IMechE, which will look for evidence of technical achievement in our industry. A biography of Joseph Bramah can be found on this link http://www.robinsonlibrary.com/technology/engineering/biography/bramah.htm
Nominations or further questions should be sent to ian@bfpa.co.uk
Star Hydraulics drive for export sales moves to outer space
The successful launch of the Space X – Falcon 9 Rocket on 10December 2010 from Cape Canaveral in the USA, fitted with 20 Star High Performance Servo Valves, notches up yet another success for the company supplying high performance servo valves where the front line requisite for this on-going multi-billion dollar contract is ‘high quality and reliability’.
Star gained this formidable contract after extensive trials therefore demonstrating the capability of its engineers and staff meeting ‘new technological frontiers and beyond’, driving export sales to new levels for the benefit of the business and UK manufacturing.
For Star, Aerospace is a key market sector both home and abroad. Many case studies will no doubt again receive attention at the PTC Asia exhibition in Shanghai where Star initially launched its drive for exports to the Asian market back in 2007 for Star’s Sapphire Technology Servos.
Dates for your diary
Forthcoming meeting and event dates (at the BFPA unless otherwise stated):
TC 6 ‘Contamination Control’
Thursday 2 February
BFPA Dinner and Ball
Friday 10 February (Dorchester, London)
TC 4 ‘Connectors and Associated Components’
Tuesday 14 February
TC 5 ‘Control Components’
Tuesday 21 February
Publicity Committee
Wednesday 22 February
BFPA Consultants Meeting
Tuesday 28 February
Events
-
LAMMA Show 2025
15 January, 2025, 8:30 - 16 January, 2025, 16:30
NEC, Birmingham UK -
SOUTHERN MANUFACTURING & ELECTRONICS SHOW 2025
04 February, 2025, 9:30 - 06 February, 2025, 15:30
Farnborough International Exhibition Centre, off Aerospace Boulevard, Farnborough GU14 6TQ -
SMART Manufacturing & Engineering Week
04 - 05 June, 2025
NEC, Birmingham UK -
PPMA 2025
23 September, 2025, 9:30 - 25 September, 2025, 16:00
NEC, Birmingham UK
