HYDRAULICS From farms and factories to complex industrial plants, hydraulic systems are the quiet workhorses of the UK economy. They keep production lines moving, power essential machinery, and underpin countless critical operations. But as the sector evolves, businesses are recognising the need for greater consistency in quality, testing, and training to keep pace with rising demands on performance and safety. Too often, hoses and fittings are mismatched. Too often, parts are bought on price alone, with little attention paid to certification. And too often, the people assembling and maintaining these systems have learned through trial and error, without formal guidance. It is a combination that can work, until it doesn’t. Failures bring downtime, costly repairs, and in the worst cases, life-changing injuries. That is the backdrop against which Evofluid Hydraulics UK and Oleodinamica & Pneumatica (O&P) have launched a partnership aimed not just at supplying products, but at helping the industry rethink its approach to safety, efficiency, and competence. “It’s about more than supplying parts or machines,” says Stefan Gunter, Business Development Manager at Evofluid Hydraulics UK. “Our industry needs to think in terms of systems, where every component is matched, tested, and supported, and where the people using those systems have the knowledge to do their jobs safely and effectively.” Catastrophic consequences The case for change is stark. Stefan describes a past visit where the fittings being used “looked fine on the bench” but had no testing records, no certification, and no way to prove compatibility. “I’ve seen situations where an operator asks their supplier for documentation and gets nothing,” he says. “That lack of traceability is a real risk. You don’t know what you’re fitting, or what it’s been tested for.” The consequences of that uncertainty are all too real. “If you’ve ever stood next to a hose when it fails under pressure, you’ll know how serious it can be,” says Stefan. “A few years ago, I witnessed the aftermath of a case where the wrong pressure rated adaptor had been used to test a hose. When it failed under full pressure, the bang shook the building - it was like an explosion. The Perspex on the test rig shattered, with shards narrowly missing the operator. “The operator was frozen in shock. He was barely able to speak with the shock for a day or two afterwards. Thankfully, nobody was hurt, but many people haven’t been so lucky. There have been countless serious injuries and even fatalities in the industry from hydraulic failures. “And it’s not just the immediate danger. Think about the indirect consequences. If a hose fails in a lift, on agricultural machinery, or even on a plane, the risk to people and equipment multiplies. It’s simply not worth cutting corners when the stakes are that high.” A system, not a shopping list The partnership between Evofluid and O&P is designed to tackle those issues head-on. Evofluid serves as the UK commercial branch of Hydro Holdings S.p.A., a European manufacturer of carbon steel and stainless-steel hydraulic components. This strategic position gives Evofluid the ability to maintain strict quality control and deliver quickly from extensive UK-based stock. By combining that local manufacturing strength with O&P’s 44 years of expertise in hose and tube processing equipment, the two companies offer something many operators say they need but rarely find: a complete, end-to-end system. O&P’s machines - crimpers, cutters, skivers, flushing rigs, and test rigs - are engineered for reliability and ease of use. The greasefree crimping heads and fixed six o’clock die positions make operations faster and more consistent, while Siemens touchscreens, fully supported in the UK, allow quick backups and cost-effective repairs, reducing downtime. “It’s about giving customers confidence,” Stefan explains. “Confidence that the components they’re using are certified, that the assemblies are matched and tested, and that the equipment they’re working with is dependable and supported locally.” Training as a foundation, not an add-on Evofluid and O&P see training not as an optional extra but as the foundation for safer, more efficient operations. They have committed to a programme to offer subsidised, BFPA-accredited courses designed to embed knowledge and best practice across the sector. Flexibility is key: courses can be delivered onsite, online, or at a training centre, making them accessible whether you are a oneperson workshop or a major industrial operator. The training courses includes: Hose assembly skills – Core techniques for building safe, consistent assemblies. Hose integrity, inspection, and asset management – Identifying wear, preventing failures, and extending service life. Hydrostatic proof pressure testing – Proper testing procedures for certification and quality assurance. Level 2 hydraulics and Level 1 pneumatics – Building deeper technical understanding for technicians and engineers. 18 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS September 2025 www.hpmag.co.uk Putting training and quality at the heart of hydraulics H&P’s Aaron Blutstein speaks to Stefan Gunter, Business Development Manager at Evofluid Hydraulics UK, and Alberto Gogazzi, Area Sales Manager at Oleodinamica & Pneumatica (O&P), about their new partnership. They discuss how the collaboration aims to tackle long-standing challenges in the hydraulics sector, from mismatched assemblies, re-ending, and inconsistent training to the need for locally supported, high-quality solutions that improve safety, reliability, and efficiency across the industry.
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