Sarum Hydraulics has launched its new range of ATEX 316 stainless steel hand pumps. Having been approached for help by a long-standing customer in the oil & gas sector, the team at Sarum Hydraulics developed a single-speed hydraulic hand pump to meet their hazardous area requirements. Sarum Hydraulics' managing director, John Foster commented: "We can see a significant market for applications where the equipment may be used in potentially explosive atmospheres. Manual hydraulic power is a more attractive proposition than electrically operated equipment in such applications, since protection against explosion is greatly simplified and therefore much cheaper. The ATEX Directive and associated legislation requires that mechanical equipment used in such atmospheres must meet the relevant design requirements (BS EN 13463), and Sarum Hydraulics has now tailored a number of their standard hydraulic hand operated pumps to meet these requirements. All pumps have undergone an ignition hazard assessment. Constructed to category 3 standard, they are suitable for Group II applications, with a hazardous area classification of zone 2G or zone 22D." Bespoke applications Sarum Hydraulics has been a British manufacturer of hydraulic hand pumps for over 30 years. As well as offering a standard range of pressure test equipment for a wide range of liquids, the company specialises in bespoke applications. Offering a ground-up design and manufacturing service, products are supplied to OEM, distributor and end user customers across the complete industrial spectrum. The pumps are available as conventional standalone or reservoir-mounted hydraulic hand pumps, compact cartridge hand pumps for manifold systems and large displacement stainless ATEX drum pumps. For further information on the Sarum Hydraulics ATEX hand pumps or other units in the Micropac range, visit the company website. www.sarum-hydraulics.co.uk