BPMA News

BRINGING THE INDUSTRY TOGETHER – BOTH VIRTUALLY AND PHYSICALLY

IN WHAT WAS A RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BPMA’S members to get together this year the association’s annual golf day went ahead on September 12th, observing social distancing requirements. This year’s event was held at Belton Woods in Grantham and commenting on the event, BPMA CEO, Steve Schofield, said: “It was pleasing to see that even in a pandemic our members were still keen to support this event, fielding 47 players across 12 teams.”

Representatives from the industry also came together before the second national lockdown to attend the first Certified Pump System Auditor (CPSA) Training Course since 2019. Following months of uncertainty due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, the BPMA finally ran its latest course to a small but knowledgeable group of delegates, which included Shane Bates of KSB, who gained his place by being the first person to score a perfect 100% on the BPMA’s Essentials E-Learning Course.

Recognising the need for social distancing, the association’s annual AGM was held virtually this November. As well as looking at the past 12 months activities and how BPMA has responded to the challenges faced by everyone, Terry Boniface, Assistant Director – Electronics and Machinery from UK Government Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), joined the meeting to give a Brexit update.

Also organised as a virtual meeting, the BPMA brought together representatives from the industry to hear from certification, inspection, testing and training specialist, Kiwa Watertec, about its Regulation 4 product approval scheme for manufacturers and distributors of sanitary and plumbing products and components intended for installation in the UK. This alternative approval method will be covered in more depth in a future issue of flow.

BPMA WELCOMES ITS 100TH MEMBER

THE BRITISH PUMP MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (BPMA) has reached the milestone of 100 member companies.

The most recent company to recognise the benefits of membership and achieve the accolade of being the BPMA’s 100th member is Surrey-based repair, service and supply specialist, PumpServ.

Formerly known as London Pumps the business is now part of the Keltic Engineering Group. Currently, the group employs over 75 people and has nationwide coverage with warehouse and offices in Surrey and Hampshire, and regionally based engineers operating throughout the UK.

PumpServ is one of the top three distributors in the UK, supplying major brands such as Armstrong, Dab, Ebara, Grundfos, KSB, Sulzer, Wilo, and Xylem. Its services range from commercial heating pumps and chilled water pressurisation units through to wastewater and drainage pumping stations.

Commenting on its membership of the BPMA, Matt Magee, CEO of PumpServ, said: “Like the 99 members that preceded us, PumpServ have recognised the value offered by BPMA membership. We are excited to capitalise on the first-class training, excellent networking opportunities and improved access to technical standards.”

Another company to appreciate the commercial opportunities afforded by membership is Polypump Ltd. Based in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, the company represents leading professional rotating equipment manufacturers with a bias towards centrifugal and positive displacement pump systems, mixers, chemical dosing systems, larger gear drive systems and speciality motors.

Rapid Solutions (International) Ltd has also signed up to be a full member of the BPMA. Founded in 1996, it provides repair, overhaul, upgrade, installation, and commissioning services for virtually all types and brands of pumps, compressors, heat exchangers, valves, and other rotating equipment.

Commenting on this latest milestone achievement, Steve Schofield, Director and Chief Executive of the BPMA, said: “I am thrilled to welcome these three businesses into our association and provide them with all the support services at our disposal.

“This would have been a significant achievement in any year, but to have secured our 100th member during the challenging times we have all been experiencing throughout 2020 is really quite remarkable.”