14 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS April/May 2024 www.hpmag.co.uk NEWS The British Pump Manufacturers Association (BPMA) recently hosted its annual Pump Industry Awards presentation at St George’s Park in Staffordshire. With a notable increase in submissions across eight categories, this year’s event showcased outstanding entries from various sectors within pump manufacturing and distribution. The evening underscored achievements in business and professional standards within the industry. Martin Bayfield, former England and British & Irish Lions rugby player, provided entertainment, underscoring the return to in-person gatherings. The event fostered networking opportunities, reinforcing the significance of personal connections within the sector. Dale Croker, Managing Director of KSB in the UK and BPMA President, opened the ceremony by commending finalists for their contributions to innovation, skills development, and service delivery. He highlighted BPMA’s role in advocating for regulatory frameworks conducive to operational efficiency and environmental sustainability. Wayne Rose, BPMA Director and CEO, expressed satisfaction with the event’s engagement, emphasising its role in recognising industry achievements. He praised the quality of submissions and reiterated the importance of the awards in supporting the pump sector. Bob Tichband, Chief Operating Officer at SPP Pumps, a long-standing supporter of BPMA, echoed this sentiment, emphasising the association’s support for UK pump manufacturers. SPP Pumps received the prestigious ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ award for the second consecutive year and the ‘Rising Star’ accolade for employee Ben Warren. The winners of the eight categories, recognising achievements up to December 2023, were announced as follows: Product of the Year: CREST PUMPS – Assoma AVF-C Pump Project of the Year: KSB and Cornish Metals – South Crofty Tin Mine Environmental Contribution of the Year: BEDFORD PUMPS – Indonesia Flood Mitigation Project Manufacturer of the Year: SPP Pumps Distributor of the Year: Anglo Pumps Supplier of the Year: EMiR Software Contribution to Skills & Training: JOHN CRANE – DISCOVER Graduate Engineers Programme Rising Star Award: Ben Warren – SPP PUMPS Additionally, a charitable donation was made to WaterAid, reflecting the industry’s commitment to social responsibility. across industries. By providing access to cutting-edge technologies, reducing the costs associated with producing digital twins, and fostering the development of necessary skills, the Centre seeks to drive industry’s embrace of digital twins. Additionally, it will serve as a collaborative space for industry, academia, and the public sector. The Centre’s industrial partners will lead the charge by delivering six initial use cases to showcase the transformative potential of digital twins in the maritime, aerospace, and defense sectors. Deborah Colville, appointed as the Centre’s director, hailed the announcement as a pivotal moment in unlocking the realworld value of digital twins for the UK. She emphasised the Centre’s role in providing businesses nationwide with the expertise, technology, and resources needed to leverage digital twins, ultimately driving down design and manufacturing costs, facilitating the achievement of net-zero targets, and enhancing global competitiveness. A substantial portion of the Centre’s funding, £15 million, will be provided by the Belfast Region City Deal to support core research and capacity building efforts. This investment aligns with the region’s objectives of fostering innovation and digital capabilities, boosting productivity, advancing net-zero goals, and creating high-quality jobs. Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, hailed the ambitious project as an opportunity for collaboration and acceleration of Belfast’s burgeoning digital sector. He underscored the UK Government’s commitment to supporting the project through its £350 million investment in the Belfast Region City Deal, aimed at driving prosperity in Northern Ireland and solidifying its status as a premier investment destination. Digital twins, virtual models of physical objects or systems using real-world data, offer businesses the ability to prototype rapidly and make informed decisions. They have the potential to streamline processes, reduce time-to-market, cut costs, and minimise emissions, making them a powerful tool for driving innovation and sustainability in industry. The UK is set to establish a digital twin centre of excellence with an investment of £37.6 million, aimed at revolutionising how industries develop products, services, and systems. Spearheaded by the Digital Catapult and supported by Innovate UK, Belfast Region City Deal, and industrial partners Thales UK, Spirit AeroSystems, and Artemis Technologies, the UK Digital Twin Centre will be located in Belfast and is scheduled to open later this year. The Centre is poised to make a significant impact on the manufacturing sector across the UK, with an expected contribution of 230 new jobs and a projected £61 million boost to the local economy in Northern Ireland by 2033. Programmes at the Centre will cater to businesses of all sizes, from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to large enterprises, aiming to accelerate the adoption of digital twins Pump industry excellence acknowledged at 2024 awards ceremony UK launches £37.6m Digital Twin Centre of Excellence to transform industry
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