June 2021

NEWS HydraForce Hydraulics Ltd, Birmingham based hydraulic manufacturer, has been shortlisted for both the Apprentice of the Year and Export Award at this year’s Made in the Midlands Awards. The company, which produces hydraulic valves and manifold systems, has been nominated for the Export Award of 2021, alongside six other local businesses. Despite the challenges of the pandemic over the past year, HydraForce has continued to grow its new product portfolio and strengthen its distributor network: Christine Tolley, head of human resources at HydraForce, says: “Like all other businesses, we faced a challenging year in 2020, working with our UK and European partners to meet our customer demands. We could not have achieved what we did without the loyal support and dedication of our employees. We are currently seeing unprecedented growth in our market and are working tirelessly to fulfil customer orders. Being shortlisted once again for this award, is testament to the success of the business and collaboration between all stakeholders.” The company’s second nomination at this year’s Made in the Midlands Awards goes to HydraForce’s third year engineering apprentice, Ahmad Ford, who HydraForce shortlisted for Regional Export & Apprenticeship Awards 2021 10 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS June 2021 www.hpmag.co.uk has been shortlisted for Apprentice of the Year 2021. A more challenging and rewarding future Ford comments: “When initially joining Hydraforce I was looking for a new career path to develop a more challenging and rewarding future. The opportunities I have been given by HydraForce, to not only work on but to lead business critical projects, only reinforces my belief that pursuing an apprenticeship with Hydraforce was the right decision. “At the start of this process, it was not my intention to search for any kind of critical acclaim and I feel greatly honoured and humbled to have not only been nominated but also shortlisted for the Made in the Midlands Apprentice of the Year award. Whether I am successful or not, I can only say that my desire to pursue a career in engineering has never been stronger and I look forward to continuing my development with HydraForce and progress to a foundation degree, then onto my full honours degree.” Ford is one of six nominees who will be competing for the award in July; with the other contenders shortlisted from other companies in the region including Gardner Denver High Pressure Solutions (HPS), the solutions provider for the drilling, well servicing and frac pumps market, has achieved a top rating in total satisfaction in the 2021 Oilfield Products Customer Satisfaction Survey, conducted by EnergyPoint Research. The survey, which has been conducted annually since 2007, is one of several EnergyPoint studies focused on the oil & gas industry’s satisfaction with the products and services it utilises and depends upon. More than 50 major product suppliers were listed in this year’s global survey. A total of 34 companies received the minimum number of evaluations to be included in the final rankings. Overall, Gardner Denver was placed in the top five performing companies in the survey, garnering the top rating in five product categories: mud pumps; performance & reliability; horizontal & directional applications; HPHT applications; and harsh-environment applications. Driving satisfaction The survey, which was global in nature and included more than 50 questions, was concluded on 31 December 2020. Questions focused on features and attributes shown to drive satisfaction among customers of oilfield product suppliers. These include pricing and contract terms, performance and reliability, engineering and design, availability and delivery, personnel, post-sale support, digital oilfield, and corporate capabilities. Respondents also evaluated companies across multiple product categories, applications and well types. Survey respondents were asked to rate providers of oilfield products with which they have had significant experience as customers within the past 24 months. Edward Bayhi, vice president and general manager, Gardner Denver HPS, says: “We are proud to have been rated so highly in this survey in multiple categories for the tenth consecutive year. Our top ranking this year in such key categories underlines our ongoing commitment to customer service and technical expertise. As always, customer satisfaction is at the heart of everything we do at Gardner Denver.” Gardner Denver scores top ratings in 2021 Oilfield Products Customer Satisfaction Survey AE Aerospace and Sertec. HydraForce has seen success at the Made in the Midlands awards in previous years, after being shortlisted for the Export Award in 2019, winning the Apprentice of the Year Award 2019, and achieving Manufacturer of the Year in 2016. This year’s award ceremony will take place on 15 July at The Burlington Hotel in Birmingham, where the winner of the award categories will be announced. Ahmad Ford, who has been shortlisted for Apprentice of the Year 2021.