BFPA Directory 2019

BFPDA Foreword As I put pen to paper and reflect the events over the past year, it seems amazing that my term as Chairman is almost at an end and that I will relinquish my post and hand over the mantle to my successor within a few months. For me personally, it has been a very interesting and enjoyable couple of years and working with and alongside other members of the fluid power industry has been a fascinating experience. As I have previously stated, one of the driving forces behind my term as Chairman was not only to raise the profile of our association but in doing so increase the number of members on the council. The Council, as many of you now know, is the committee that determines the strategic direction of the BFPDA, together with the support and advice from the Executive staff of the BFPA. There are 20 seats on the Council and my aspiration and goal was to not only encourage but ensure that as many as possible, if not all of these were occupied by members of the Association by the end of my term. I don’t believe I will attain that magic number, but I have almost achieved it and there is still time. Another one of my objectives was to encourage and convene our BFPDA Council Meetings at different member premises up and down the country, alternating between the North, the Midlands and the South. This we have achieved and as a result of this initiative, I’m extremely pleased to report that this move has made a positive difference in attendance rising, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all that have participated in realising this goal. Moving forward, if any BFPDA member would consider and indeed be able to host a future meeting, please do contact either me, Chris Buxton or Sarah Gardener on 01608 647900 in order that we may continue this positive momentum. During many of our meetings over the last 12 months there have been lengthy discussions around the D8 Document which is the BFPDA Hose Scheme initiative unifying the manufacture of hoses. A first draft has been completed and will shortly be circulated to the whole working group for comment, following which it will then put to the BFPDA Council and as necessary, the BFPA Board for final ratification. The major changes within the initiative are to the process of calibration and maintenance of hose swaging equipment. As I write this foreword, we are fast approaching Brexit. Who knows what will happen after 29 March or indeed what the state of trade will be within Europe. The majority of members associated with the BFPDA are genuine SMEs, and as manufacturers have diversified their locations the products that our members distribute and sell are sourced from all around the world, not just the UK. Increasingly products for use in Europe and the UK are centrally stocked in a European country and then distributed centrally from there. As consumers we are and have been for some time now become used to ‘Amazon Style’ deliveries where everything is ‘next-day’ and it is a trend that most of our customers now expect ‘Just-in-Time’ or ‘JIT’ deliveries. Whatever the outcome, there will be a need to change. Our industry will have to adapt its processes in order to survive and there is, more than ever, a very strong requirement for trade associations to support and help their members. This is a primary objective for the BFPDA and is an incentive for joining us in ‘fighting the corner’ for our industry. In finishing, I would like to wish you a very successful 2019. It remains my belief we are stronger together. Peter Willson, Chairman, BFPDA, and Managing Director, Hopespare. ‘Fighting the corner’ for our industry www.bfpa.co.uk 3