Hydraulics & Pneumatics January/February 2023

BOARDROOM REPORT back in 2019 but because of COVID the outcome has been delayed. However, potentially we could be looking at saving 35 to 40 TW of electricity by introducing this. We’ve been part of it for such a long time and we want the UK to do what Europe is doing.” As Schofield explains, BPMA members supply pumps for all sectors that require the movement of liquids from A to B, which means that something that is a trend in one sector might not be in another. “However, one trend, or rather issue, that we are dealing with in the domestic sector, and which has been accentuated by the global shortage of semiconductors, is the supply of non- compliant circulator pumps,” he points out. “Manufacturers across Europe are struggling to hit their usual production quotas, with lead times becoming increasingly longer, and, as a result, wholesalers are turning to cheap non- compliant circulators supplied from the far east to meet the market demands. The BPMA is working hard to try and stop this through its relationship with the Market Surveillance authorities.” Changing requirements Have end users’ or OEMs’ requirements for systems and equipment changed over the past year or two? Chris Butcher, many BPMA members with increased costs and bureaucracy. “On the horizon is the change from CE Marking to UKCA Marking, but eventually we see the UK Government diverging all regulation relating to our industry in order to have their own set of UK-centric safety and technical regulations,” he says. “If this does happen, pumps that are sold to the UK market will need to meet different regulation, testing and safety standards to those of the European market. Quite simply, this will add another level of business complexity to an already heavily regulated sector, the benefits or which are hard to fathom.” One of the ongoing issues in Brussels concerns water pumps. “This is legislation that we’ve been pushing for many years,” says Schofield. “The Consultation Forum on water pumps was managing director, the British Fluid Power Association (BFPA), considers that from a technology aspect, requirements haven’t changed a great deal over that timeframe. However, he believes a focus on carbon footprint and energy reduction, the increase in hydrogen application and a further integration of electronics, mechatronics and robotics will drive the years ahead. With regard to air compressors, Jones makes the point that the energy consumption of a compressed air system has always been an area where operators have been looking to make savings. “But now, with the current energy crisis and escalating cost of ownership, companies are looking for more ways to save energy – outside of new capital equipment investment alone,” she says. As part of its new 10% Taskforce Klaus Loeffler, Jubilee Clips. Colin Mander, Ingersoll Rand. Discover more: www.mpfiltri.co.uk +44 (0) 1451 822522 A POWER TRANSMISSION RANGE TO DRIVE YOUR BUSINESS FORWARD! • SIMPLE SOFTWARE - Find the perfect product quickly and easily • SERVICE - Talk to an expert • SUPPLY - Large UK stock available now