4 INDUSTRY NEWS
GLOBAL PUMP REPORT DELAYED TO ASSESS CORONAVIRUS IMPACT
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he coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on the global economy as lockdowns around the world stymie economic activity. To fully assess the impact of the pandemic on economic activity and the pump market, the publication of the Global Pump report has been delayed until the summer. In mid-May, Oxford Economics, the report’s author, was forecasting a 4.8% contraction in world GDP, the steepest decline in living memory. This forecast entails a very weak H1 followed by a rebound in H2 and into 2021 as the spread of the virus slows, and isolation restrictions are eased, leading to the release of pent-up demand as business confidence increases. The sharp contractions in economic
activity this year point to declines in pump consumption. Risks are nonetheless, skewed to the downside. Oxford Economics reports that the economic impact of the pandemic could be much worse than forecast, especially if a resurgence prompts further lockdowns. The extent of the decline will vary across countries, pump type and end-use sector. The Global Pump report, which is available free of charge to BPMA members, is an invaluable source of market intelligence which will help to identify the weakest markets and the worst-hit end-use sectors as well as those that will recover most strongly. It also highlights the main risks to the outlook for key markets, an important feature in these times of increased uncertainty.
A DRIVE TOWARDS THE FUTURE GRUNDFOS HAS ANNOUNCED THAT it plans to replace about 2,600 company vehicles with all-electric versions by the end of 2025. The initiative is part of the company’s ambition to reduce its CO2 emissions by 50% by 2025 and become ‘climate positive’ by 2030. Grundfos company cars emit 14,500 tons CO2e per year, while production in comparison in 2019 emitted 80,068 tons. Although cars are a relatively small part of the overall footprint, Grundfos
believes it is important to make an environmental difference where possible. This complete transition to all-electric vehicles will happen on a rolling basis. By making the transition to electric vehicles, Grundfos also joins EV100, an initiative of the Climate Group, which brings together forward-looking companies committed to accelerating the transition to electric vehicles and making electric transport the new norm.
SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE FOR MAJOR PUMP PROJECT
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PP Pumps has announced that the first of six pumpsets for a large clean water project in the UK has passed the fixed speed test run and will be readied for a full string test with the contract inverter. SPP Pumps has been involved with this major pump project from the very early stage of optioneering, through the feasibility stage, on to the detailed project design and finally producing the pumpsets. The pumpsets are from SPP’s Low Life Cycle (LLC) range of split case pumps. On this particular project, there are four LLC split case 500/79L (BS20AL) pumps fitted with a 1.4mW motor and two LLC split case 350/66L (TT3AL) fitted with a 670kW motor. The maximum design duty for the larger pumps is 1250l/sec @ 102m head with the two smaller pumps operating at 521l/sec @ 102m head. The pumps will operate in parallel in various configurations to ensure the network water demand is met. Quarter 2 2020
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