IGS today published its first Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report. The report outlines the company’s ESG commitments and the environmental and social impact created by its global operations and innovative products and services.
Rich Crawford, President and CEO at IGS, commented:
“Releasing our first ESG report is a significant milestone for IGS and demonstrates how our operations allow us to not only deliver on our mission to provide innovative and reliable surface solutions for mission-critical equipment but also further our vision to create positive environmental and social impact within our communities around the world.
“In addition to our leading technologies, the IGS Way—our cultural distinctions that have fueled our growth as the global leaders in our industry—resonate well with our ESG vision and will continue to provide a strong foundation to guide our growth and development.”
Highlights from the ESG report includes:
IGS products and services reduce customers’ emissions of NOx by as much as 30% and CO2 by as much as 15%
54% of our global workforce are People of Color (POC)
49% of our employees are located outside of the United States
27% of IGS employees are located in developing countries
75% of career advancement is done from promotions within IGS
Field technicians globally receive an average of 1,000 hours of training in their first year
Maintain ISO 45001:2018 certification and Four-Star safety rating with NOSA
Integrated Global Services (IGS) has recently launched a SMARTGard® CFB Boiler Inspection Drone Service which introduces a blend of advanced drone technology complete with expert boiler inspection knowledge. It offers a comprehensive view of the condition of a boiler, promising enhanced efficiency, reduced costs, and early issue detection.
The service is transforming the landscape of boiler inspections. By leveraging progressive drone technology, the service provides access to every location of the boiler during the cooling-down phase.
A skilled team comprising a certified pilot and a CFB inspection specialist collaborate to operate the drone. Together, they manoeuvre the drone to critical areas of the boiler, offering a detailed examination. Each notable point of interest is meticulously documented with precise location coordinates, along with high-definition images and video footage.
All inspection data and reports are stored in a protected cloud-based portal. This streamlined approach enables easy access, allowing users to review and analyze information at their convenience. Such accessibility facilitates well-informed decisions regarding maintenance, repairs, and overall boiler management.
The SMARTGard® Inspection service provides several advantages, including improved CFB boiler availability. By promptly identifying potential issues and continuously monitoring the boiler's condition, proactive measures can be implemented, minimizing downtime, and maximizing productivity. Additionally, the service significantly reduces costs associated with extensive scaffolding, making SMARTGard® a cost-effective solution for boiler inspections.
Al Geraskin, who developed the SMARTGard® drone program, said: "There are several drone inspection services available on the market, however IGS is currently the only company that has combined its 40-year expertise in boiler reliability with drone technology to not simply fly the drone around the boiler but to focus on critical areas and advise on the best course of action.”
Types of Boilers in the Power Industry and Top Causes of Boiler Corrosion
Why is Boiler Tube Coating Critical? Introduction to HVTS
The Benefits of Boiler Tube Coating
HVTS Boiler Tube Coating Process and Application
Conclusion
Types of Boilers in the Power Industry and Top Causes of Boiler Corrosion
There are several reasons why boilers may suffer from corrosion. The types of boilers that IGS works within the Waste-to-Energy (WtE) and wider power industry, include:
Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) Boilers
Pulverized Coal (PC) Fired Boilers
Bubbling Fluidized Bed (BFB) Boilers
Grate Boilers
The main causes of boiler tube corrosion, include:
Corrosive Flue Gases
Power plants produce flue gases which contain corrosive elements such as sulfur dioxide (SO2), sulfur trioxide (SO3), chlorine (Cl2), and hydrogen chloride (HCl). The flue gases react with the exposed surfaces of the boiler tubes which can cause corrosion. Boilers that burn sulfur-containing fuels such as coal or petroleum coke are more likely to have high concentrations of corrosive gases which can accelerate the corrosion process, making it critical to take mitigative action.
Fireside Corrosion
According to EPRI, fireside corrosion, also known as boiler fireside corrosion, is the most common cause of tube failure. It is a type of corrosion that occurs on the external surfaces of boiler components exposed to high-temperature combustion gases. It refers to the corrosion phenomena happening on the side of the boiler that faces the heat source, such as the furnace or flame.
Fireside corrosion can affect various boiler components, including boiler tubes, walls, refractory materials, and other exposed surfaces. It is typically caused by the combination of factors present in the combustion environment and fuel, such as high temperatures, corrosive gases, ash particles, and chemical reactions.
High Temperatures
Power plant boilers operate at high temperatures and pressures. For example, CFB boilers operate between 850oC – 950oC. These high temperatures accelerate the corrosion process and can increase the reactivity between the metal surface and corrosive elements, leading to faster corrosion rates.
Stress Corrosion Cracking
Stress corrosion cracking occurs when a combination of a corrosive environment, tensile stress, and vulnerable material leads to crack initiation and propagation. It can be a significant concern in power plant boilers, particularly in areas where high stresses are present, such as welds or bends.
Deposit Build-ups and Fouling
The accumulation of deposits, such as ash or soot, on the exposed surfaces of boiler tubes acts as a barrier and reduces heat transfer efficiency. The deposits create a localized environment on the tube surface, which increases the chance of corrosion.
Water Chemistry and Flow Issues
Impurities in the water used in a boiler such as dissolved oxygen, chlorides, and sulfates can cause corrosion when they interact with the inner surface of boiler tubes. High alkalinity or acidity levels in the water can also contribute to corrosion.
Furthermore, uneven flow of water and steam within the boiler can cause localized areas of high temperature or stagnant water. This can encourage corrosion and thermal degradation, especially in areas where protective oxide layers have been disrupted.
Poor Tube Material Selection
In some cases, the material chosen for boiler tubes may not be suitable for the operating environment, especially if the conditions are inherently corrosive or if there is a change to the operation, for example, due to fuel availability or diversification. This can lead to premature failure of the tubes. It is important to work with the OEM to ensure the correct materials are chosen for your requirements, taking into consideration fuel composition, operating conditions, and boiler design.
Why is Boiler Tube Coating Critical?
Boiler tube coatings are important for several reasons. They are frequently used by asset owners and managers to prolong the life of boiler tubes and to protect the tubes from high-temperature environments.
Firstly, coatings act as a protective barrier between the tube material and the corrosive boiler operating environment including flue gases, fuel impurities and ash. By preventing corrosive interactions, coatings can significantly extend the life of boiler tubes and upgrading the surface metallurgy of the tubes enables fuel diversification.
Boiler tubes, especially those in CFB boilers, can also experience erosion due to high-velocity fluid flow or the impact of solid particles. A tube coating acts as an additional, hard-wearing layer of base material protection against erosion and helps to maintain the structural integrity of the tubes.
Boiler tube coatings or claddings help to prevent the build-up of fouling. The smooth coating surface prevents fouling adhesion, making it easier to clean during planned maintenance. This also ensures heat transfer efficiency is maintained and overall performance is improved.
Introduction to HVTS
High Velocity Thermal Spray (HVTS) is a proprietary boiler tube cladding solution developed by Integrated Global Services (IGS). Due to its superior corrosion protection properties, it is referred to as a cladding, rather than a coating. HVTS involves the on-site application of a high-alloy corrosion-resistant cladding which produces a coating that consists of flat and tightly packed micro-sized metallic particles.
HVTS provides excellent value and results for improving boiler system reliability and longevity at a fraction of the cost and time of weld overlay.
The Benefits of Boiler Tube Coating
A boiler tube cladding solution, specifically HVTS, has many benefits for power plants. The benefits include:
Corrosion Resistance
HVTS cladding provides excellent protection against corrosion. The dense and tightly bonded coating acts as a protective barrier. This helps extend the lifespan of the boiler tubes, reduces maintenance requirements, and enhances overall boiler reliability.
No Dilution or Heat Affected Zone (HAZ)
Unlike Weld Metal Overlay (WMO), HVTS does not generate a Heat Affected Zone (HAZ) on the pressure parts and does not place residual stresses on the base metal as the temperature of the base metal remains low even without water in the boiler tubes.
Refurbished or Replaced In-situ
HVTS can be reliably refurbished or even replaced in situ without replacing the underlying component. This contrasts with 625 weld-overlaid components which must be replaced at the end of life.
Fast Application
HVTS cladding can be applied relatively quickly, making the process efficient for large-scale industrial applications. The high-velocity spraying technique enables fast coverage of large surface areas, reducing downtime and production interruptions.
Cost-Effective Solution
HVTS and other boiler tube coatings offer a cost-effective solution for extending the service life of components and equipment. By providing corrosion and wear protection, these coatings/ cladding can reduce the frequency of component replacements and maintenance requirements, resulting in cost savings over time.
Environmental Benefits
HVTS coatings can contribute to achieving environmental targets. By improving the durability and longevity of components, they help reduce the consumption of resources and minimize waste generated from frequent replacements. Additionally, HVTS coatings can enhance the energy efficiency of equipment, leading to reduced energy consumption and lower CO2 and NOx emissions.
HVTS Boiler Tube Coating Process and Application
The application of High Velocity Thermal Spray (HVTS) to boiler tubes is always undertaken by trained IGS boiler tube cladding technicians as training and expertise in HVTS application techniques are crucial to achieving high-quality and reliable coatings on boiler tubes.
The application of HVTS involves the following steps:
Surface Preparation
The surfaces of the boiler tubes need to be properly prepared before the application of HVTS cladding. This typically involves cleaning the surfaces to remove contaminants such as rust, scale, oil, or any other substances that could affect the adhesion of the coating. Mechanical methods like grit blasting or wire brushing are sometimes used for surface preparation if required.
Coating Selection
The appropriate HVTS coating material is selected based on the specific requirements of the boiler tubes, such as corrosion resistance, wear resistance, or thermal insulation.
HVTS Equipment Setup
The HVTS equipment, including the spray gun, gas supply system, and control unit, is set up according to stringent IGS guidelines and specifications. The system is calibrated to ensure accurate and consistent application of the coating.
Application of HVTS Coating
The HVTS cladding is applied using a high-velocity thermal spray gun. The gun atomizes a proprietary wire feedstock in a supersonic gas stream, producing a cladding that consists of flat and tightly packed micro-sized particles.
Post-application and Quality Assurance
Quality control measures, such as visual inspection, thickness measurement, and adhesion testing, are conducted to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of the HVTS cladding. Any necessary touch-ups or rework can be performed if required.
Conclusion
As the frequency of operations and fuel variability increases, boiler tube coatings and claddings are vital to improving boiler reliability and performance. The cost and performance benefits of protecting boiler tubes from a range of corrosion mechanisms far outweigh the initial outlay.
Whilst material selection and technology are important, selecting a reliable service provider with a proven track record of operational excellence will ensure that the project runs smoothly and safely.
At IGS, we offer a full range of surface protection solutions for a range of applications and industries. Our team will work with yours to understand every aspect that affects your boiler’s performance and provide a turnkey service that delivers an effective, economical, and safe boiler tube coating solution.
A rotary lobe pump made by Börger has helped solve a wastewater processing problem at a textile manufacturer.
Taking effluent from the bleaching process into a storage tank, the Börger pump has to contend with significant fibrous material that also contains elements of hydrogen peroxide and caustic soda.
When the defined fill level of the wastewater has been reached in the collection tank, the Börger rotary lobe pump automatically conveys the liquid in measured amounts from the collecting tank into the sewage system.
Made of Duplex stainless steel and equipped with a maintenance-free mechanical seal, the compact Börger rotary lobe pump is very easy to service, requiring only basic tools.
ICS Cool Energy, an international market leader specialising in complete temperature control solutions for manufacturing process and facilities applications, announced today it is increasing investment in its hire fleet and ads close to 150 new “Ready-to-Hire” solutions including i-Chillers and Air Handling Units (AHU). The new units benefit from the close collaboration between the engineering teams of ICS Cool Energy and the original equipment manufacturers MTA and AL-KO Air Technology.
“MTA and AL-KO were recently acquired by Trane Technologies and are part of the organization’s Commercial HVAC portfolio,” said Dave Palmer, general manager for UK at ICS Cool Energy. “As members of the same family, our engineering teams could work closer together to customise the proven equipment and tailor it to the specific requirements of hire projects. These new “Ready-to-Hire” units are now available in ICS Cool Energy rental fleet.”
Ready-to-Hire Air Handling Units
Collaboration with AL-KO Air Technology, a German expert in ventilation and air handling systems that are customized and manufactured for their application, resulted with new AHU solutions in ICS Cool Energy’s hire offering. Quality and reliability are the decisive factors for ventilation technology in the industrial sector and the new 150kW air handling units offer tight temperature control, which directly translates into energy saving potential from the chiller or heaters within the system. Compared with the older constant-speed systems, the new AHUs feature new controls managing the fan speed and a 3-way valve system for more precise supply of hot or cold water, adapting the operations of the AHU to the desired room temperature.
The new AHUs were designed by the ICS Cool Energy and AL-KO teams as a plug-and-play solution to fit any customer application. The units can also be connected to heat pumps, switching it into cooling or heating mode depending on the ambient temperature or the temperature set point for maximised energy savings and with no interaction requirement from the customer.
Ready-to-Hire i-Chillers
The ICS Cool Energy hire fleet will grow this year with close to 150 new i-Chillers, heat pumps and low-temperature units reaching -25°C, all designed to cope with the rigours of manufacturing and critical processes. These units are suitable for all types of process applications including Food & Beverage, Plastics, Chemical & Pharmaceutical, Metal Works and other demanding.
Unlike other units on the market, the i-Chiller range has been designed with process applications in mind from the ground up. As such they can operate faultlessly and maintain accurate temperature control 24/7 under highly differing, and abruptly fluctuating operating conditions.
Now, together with MTA, an Italian-based manufacturer and distributor of sustainable solutions in industrial process cooling, air conditioning and air treatment, ICS Cool Energy customised the “Ready-to-Hire” units to be even more robust and flexible in transport and customer installation.
“We worked closely with the MTA team, exploring the pain points of hire-destined units and have come up with installation features and solutions so our customers can benefit from the technology quicker and with improved efficiency,” said Jason Lamley, technical manager at ICS Cool Energy. “These 150 new hire chillers are manufactured specifically for ICS Cool Energy, are specified and finalised directly in the factory and can be shipped straight to the customer for installation, significantly speeding up the entire process.”
ICS Cool Energy solutions are available for short or long-term hire, as well as part of the FLEX Membership, long-term exchange programme. FLEX Membership subscription offering gives customers access to the latest process heating and cooling equipment with the flexibility of an operating expense. As part of the flexible package customers receive the equipment, preventive and 24/7 emergency maintenance, replacements and upgrades for an all-inclusive monthly rate. This allows them to transform their process temperature control system from a fixed asset into a dynamic solution that will be up-to-date with their changing business and process needs.
For more information on ICS Cool Energy complete process temperature control solutions, please visit www.icscoolenergy.com.
Industrial process heating equipment and solutions specialist Babcock Wanson has completed a turnkey project to supply steam, via its BWD30 fire tube boiler, to cookers at IRC Cucina’s new Trafford Park centralised kitchen.
Working within the Iceland Foods umbrella, IRC Cucina supplies product into a diverse restaurant group. Its newly-established site at Trafford Park, which has benefited from a major investment, is now the UK’s largest centralised kitchen and will enable the company to not only produce high quality, consistent food, but will also allow for future growth.
Babcock Wanson was brought in to the project at an early stage, as IRC Cucina’s General Manager, Robert Lishman explains: “This was a relocation of a complex dual site operation into a larger single site operation, post build. We moved at a pace with this project and started it without an end to end system. Consequently, as we were building the kitchen, our plans changed. With each change Babcock Wanson risk assessed, consulted with the various parties, and adapted to our plans. They were very accommodating. They are our go to supplier. In fact, they are more than a supplier as their specialist knowledge and expertise extends beyond just the equipment and into the legal implications of the processes involved, so we rely heavily on them for compliance.”
The focus of Babcock Wanson’s work at IRC Cucina’s Trafford Park site has been on the sous vide and sauce cooking equipment, which requires large volumes of steam supplied instantaneously. Babcock Wanson’s BWD30 fire tube steam boiler, with its three pass design, readily meets this need, providing high quality dry steam with availability higher than 97%. As you would expect from a Babcock Wanson boiler, it is compliant with all relevant environmental standards and is reliable and robust.
The BWD30 fire tube steam boiler comes with Babcock Wanson’s BW7DAYS unattended boiler operating system, which automatic Total Dissolved Solids Control. It features the unique and innovative NAVinergy remote monitoring system which integrates all the components necessary for the supervision and management of the boiler room. It enables organisations to monitor their boiler room from any device, anywhere in the world. For IRC Cucina, BW7DAYS has proven both cost-effective and reassuring: “with remote monitoring and alerts sent direct to wherever you are, you don’t have to worry about how the boiler is performing” states Robert. “The safety systems in place give you the confidence it is running as it should. It’s really user friendly. It also avoids the need for constant labour of centralised plant, which is a full time resource.”
Babcock Wanson not only provided the BWD30 fire tube steam boiler, but also undertook the full mechanical installation works, completing initial studies, detailed engineering, design appraisal, installation and commissioning. An important part of the system was energy recovery, with Babcock Wanson incorporating a heat exchange plate into the system. The recovered heat is used for office space heating and for hygiene hot water. “Essentially it’s free energy!” states Robert. “Babcock Wanson has saved us tens of thousands of pounds.”
IRC Cucina’s Trafford Park centralised kitchen is now up and running, and to keep everything functioning as it should, a maintenance contract is in place with Babcock Wanson. This was awarded to the company as “no one knows the system better than them! They have the specialist skill set required, plus lots of engineers and a good response time”.
For more information, please contact Babcock Wanson on 020 8953 7111 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or go to www.babcock-wanson.com
This article can also be found in the issue below.
One City Global have just launched their Predictive Maintenance Solution which with its machine learning capabilities brings far more efficiency and accuracy to your maintenance systems.
This cutting-edge solution is set to revolutionize industrial maintenance practices, enabling businesses to optimize their operations, reduce costs, and enhance overall equipment reliability.
Traditional maintenance practices have often relied on reactive or scheduled maintenance, leading to potential downtime, unplanned expenses, and inefficiencies. One City Global's Predictive Maintenance technology takes a proactive approach, harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to forecast and prevent equipment failures before they occur.
Using a combination of machine learning algorithms and data analysis techniques, One City Global's Predictive Maintenance solution continuously monitors the performance of critical machinery and systems. By analysing historical and real-time data, the technology can identify patterns, anomalies, and indicators of potential issues that may lead to failures or breakdowns.
The system includes a number of configurable dashboards that allow users a quick overview of the data to help make informed decisions or act quickly if a situation requiring rapid intervention occurs.
Key Features and Benefits of One City Global's Predictive Maintenance Solution:
Early Fault Detection: identify subtle changes in equipment behaviour and detect potential faults or anomalies at an early stage, allowing for timely interventions to prevent failures.
Optimal Maintenance Planning: accurately predict equipment maintenance requirements, to plan and schedule maintenance activities more efficiently, minimizing disruptions to operations and reducing unnecessary maintenance costs.
Increased Equipment Reliability: proactive maintenance measures can maximize the lifespan and reliability of machinery, avoiding costly downtime and improving overall operational efficiency.
Cost Reduction: help eliminate unnecessary maintenance tasks, optimize resource allocation, and reduce overall maintenance costs.
Data-Driven Decision Making: leverage the power of data analytics and machine learning, to gain valuable insights into equipment performance, to enable informed decision-making for maintenance strategies and resource allocation.
One City Global's Predictive Maintenance technology is designed to be adaptable and customizable to various industries, including manufacturing, energy, transportation, and more. The solution integrates seamlessly with existing systems, making it accessible and practical for businesses of all sizes.
“Significant savings of around 10-30% reduction in inventory levels, and around 5-15 % reduction in downtime can be realised through minimising equipment maintenance time and lost production hours. In addition to this a reduction of around 3-5% in new equipment costs are achievable.” (source Deloitte Development LLC)
To maximise the life expectancy of your bearings, you need to ensure the correct models are used, and that they are correctly fitted, lubricated and maintained; failure to do so may result in early bearing failure. Here, with SKF, we identify the most common causes of bearing failure, along with the symptoms to look out for and tips on how you can prevent premature failure.
Contamination
One of the most common causes of premature bearing failure is contamination, such as airborne dust or dirt. Contamination can occur during improper storage and handling prior to or during mounting, as well as during operation, so store bearings in their packaging in a clean environment.
The choice of bearings for heavily contaminated environments, or where contamination of the process is also an issue, is key. In these instances, focus on the design of the housing and the seals/sealing system. Bearing seals will prevent contaminants from entering the bearing unit, whilst keeping lubricants from leaking out. Specialist sealing solutions have also been developed for very heavily contaminated environments, such as SKF’s Three-Barrier Solution which consists of a sealed spherical roller bearing, bearing housing with seals and a biodegradable grease to act as a contamination barrier.
Excessive Load
Failure of this sort can look similar to normal bearing fatigue with the main tell-tale signs including the deterioration of running surfaces of the inner ring, outer ring or rolling elements. To function in applications where heavy loads are the norm, you want a bearing that is both hard and tough. New heat treatment processes have made hardened steel suitable for use.
Also, consider both axial and radial loads when choosing your bearings. Bearings are available that accommodate both.
Overheating
One of the more obvious symptoms of overheating includes the discolouration of the rings, rolling elements and cages. Overheating results in a loss in hardness, reducing the bearing capacity and leading to premature failure.
Main causes of overheating include insufficient cooling, incorrect radial internal clearance or inadequate or too much lubrication. Overheating can also be caused by the bearing being overloaded. Where possible, consider installing adequate thermal controls and reassess the bearings being used are adequate to accommodate the application, lubricant, and load requirements.
Inadequate Lubricant
Up to 36% of bearings fail prematurely due to inadequate lubrication.
One of the main signs of lubricant failure begins with the discoloured (blue/brown) raceway and rolling elements. This will often be followed by excessive wear of rolling elements, ring and cages resulting in overheating. This type of failure is typically caused by excessive or too little of the correct lubrication, possible restricted lubricant flow and/or excessive temperatures. To combat this consider investing in a bearing that has built-in lubrication as part of its design.
Corrosion
Corrosion can result from exposing a bearing to a corrosive fluid or atmosphere, with symptoms including discolouration on raceways, cages and rolling elements. To ensure best practice, divert corrosive fluids away from any bearing area if possible and/or consider using a sealed or housed bearing. SKF for example can offer various corrosion resistant bearings, such as stainless steel or with special coatings along the housings made from polypropylene composites.
Misalignment
Misalignment can result in unnecessary forces being applied to machinery leading to increased wear and vibration causing premature bearing failure and costly machine downtime. Sometimes caused by a loose-fitting bearing, misalignment can be typically observed by its uneven running paths. Whilst it is important to have the bearings as accurately aligned as possible, there are several products that will accommodate some degree of misalignment: Spherical roller bearings, SKF CARB Toroidal roller bearings, self-aligning roller bearings, SKF Cooper bearing and housed bearing units.
Incorrect fitting
Approximately 16% of bearings fail prematurely due to damage caused by the incorrect mounting technique for the application and bearing type so correct fitting and removal of bearings is vital to achieve best performance. Firstly, it is important not to fit bearings to seatings which have been damaged by previous bearing failure. It is equally as important to ensure seatings are of the correct specification, as this is a common cause of bearing failure.
Rubix is Europe’s leading authorised bearings distributor.
Riventa’s expertise in optimising the performance of pumps and blowers has seen it win important new contracts in Brazil through its partner in São Paulo, Toraqua Technologies.
A total so far of five public and private water companies are now benefitting from Riventa’s SAS (Software as a Service) model, where the customer no longer has to concern itself with the maintenance of hardware.
André Vizioli Gomes, General Manager of Toraqua Technologies, commented: “The market here is pleasantly surprised and excited about just how quickly they get instant information about how their pumps and blowers are performing. In addition to the real-time data, management reports showing, for example, where to make energy savings, can be produced. The sensors provided by Riventa are also far more accurate than what has been in use previously.”
Testing and monitoring as a service has been key to Riventa’s worldwide growth, but with Software as a Service (SAS) also now available, water companies in Brazil can identify savings quicker and plan maintenance significantly better from the data that is gathered on measured flow, efficiency, head and power.
“Everything is faster, yet much simpler for our customers,” added André Vizioli Gomes. “SAS is the way forward for us. It provides an excellent insight that enables the water companies to make quicker yet better decisions – with advice and recommendations on hand as we and Riventa also view the readings from the software to analyse the data as it happens.”
The British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) has appointed Cliff Warne as Executive Director.
Cliff, who joins the Society with a wealth of engineering and commercial experience gained in manufacturing and process roles, will work alongside Vanda Jones, during an initial transition period.
Starting his career as an engineering trainee at Mars Confectionary, Cliff is a well-respected figure in the pump and process market, having worked for over 20 years at AxFlow. This included 15 years in leadership roles as well as engineering and product management roles. It is this proven track record of engineering sales and building strong commercial relationships that Cliff will take into his new role with BCAS.
Says Cliff:
“I have supported customers in a diverse range of industrial sectors, from chemical to oil and gas, food and beverage to nuclear industries and understand the challenges they face. Whether it’s the rising cost of energy, managing raw materials and costs or compliance with legislation, end-customers are looking for the best advice from their suppliers to mitigate for these risks.
"This is where BCAS has an important role to play - acting as an independent, trusted source of advice and I very much look forward to working with end-users to help improve the efficiency of their compressed air systems.
"Our BCAS members are equally important, and I am keen to build on the excellent achievements of Vanda and the team and to continue to work closely with our distributor, manufacturer and end-use members. This includes our important lobbying work to ensure the best outcomes for end-users as new legislation and regulations are introduced, as well as continuing to develop our training portfolio."
Commenting on Cliff's appointment, Mark Ranger, BCAS President added:
"We are delighted to welcome Cliff to the BCAS team and send him a very warm welcome from all of the BCAS board members. His wealth of experience in the industrial sector, combined with his proven leadership skills will be a great asset to the Society.
"Vanda and Cliff will work together during this transition period to continue to deliver best value for our members and to ensure the Society remains a source of independent and trusted advice to compressed air end-users.”