Editorial

Following an intensive 5-day survey of its wastewater treatment process, the highly renowned brewery, *Timothy Taylor’s (family-owned since its founding in 1858) has upgraded its aeration process by introducing the AirJet system from Landia.

The survey, which was conducted by leading wastewater treatment provider, Ogden Water, found that the pumps used for the brewery’s 45m³ balance tank were not providing enough agitation to adequately keep solids in suspension.

“Solids had begun to accumulate,” said Dr David Shepherd, Managing Director of Ogden Water. “The existing pumps were insufficient to fully mix and aerate the balance tank, so we set about finding Timothy Taylor’s with a much better, long-lasting solution.”

Nick Berkovits, Second Brewer at Timothy Taylor’s added: “Ogden Water’s rigorous survey showed that an upgrade to superior aeration equipment would eliminate odours caused by solids not being sufficiently suspended, and also provide a much more consistent homogenous feed to our DAF (Dissolved Air Flotation) unit”.

Designed with a venturi nozzle from the Chopper Pump that Landia invented in 1950, the AirJet aeration system was recommended by Ogden Water as the best and long-lasting solution.

“We’d previously used Landia’s pumps and mixers,” continued Ogden Water’s David Shepherd. “They are extremely effective, as well as being easy to maintain – and with a typical lifetime of at least 15-20 years, are a very sound, peace of mind investment for our customers”.

Simultaneously mixing and aerating, the Landia AirJet is an uncomplicated system that introduces air automatically to keep wastewater fresh; economically delivering dissolved oxygen at depths of up to 7.5m, to provide complete aeration

Nick Berkovits from Timothy Taylor’s, commented: “It’s fair to say that before the installation of the Landia AirJet, the performance of our DAF was being compromised. We also had the time and cost of having to use chemicals to address odours. But now, through the expert advice we’ve received from Ogden Water, and the success of what is a first-class aeration system from Landia, our wastewater treatment system is operating very well indeed”.

*In 1858, Timothy Taylor opened his brewery in Cook Lane, Keighley, Yorkshire, England.  A year later, he bought his first pub, The Volunteers Arms.

Today, Timothy Taylor’s brewery sits upon a particularly pure and consistent source of water (the Knowle Spring), that is the unique source for its beers – and key, for example as to why its much-loved ‘Boltmaker’ has been crowned Supreme Champion Beer of Great Britain at the CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Great British Beer Festival.

Water from the Knowle Spring has filtered over time through layers of sandstone and black rock, to create the special mineral qualities that marry perfectly with Timothy Taylor’s Golden Promise barley malt. This unique combination is the foundation of the complex flavour and subtlety of the brewery’s most popular beer, Landlord.

www.landiaworld.com

www.ogdenwater.co.uk

This article can also be found in the issue below.

CFB Boilers by design offer several advantages over conventional boiler designs, including the ability to fire a wide range of fuels and lower combustion temperatures which reduces emissions. However, one of the common problems with CFB boilers is the exposed tubes in the top two-thirds of the boiler which maximise radiant and convective heat transfer but are vulnerable to erosion. 

In this article, we will discuss the damage mechanisms associated with CFB boilers, the solutions available to prevent boiler tube wastage, and look at a case study which highlights these topics in a real-world scenario. 

CFB Boiler Damage Mechanisms

Erosion can be found in most CFB boilers, sootblower lanes (dual mechanism of corrosion-erosion), and backpass areas that experience fly ash erosion. The type of corrosion found will depend on the type of fuel, boiler configuration, and combustion atmosphere. The typical corrosion mechanisms include fireside corrosion and reduced atmosphere high-temperature sulfidation and circumferential cracking (also known as stress corrosion cracking, corrosion-assisted thermal fatigue, quench cracking).

Erosion

Fly ash erosion is the second most common cause for boiler tube failure (DOE, 1998). Tube erosion in a CFB combustor can never be stopped, but there are solutions available to slow the wastage down, which will be discussed further on in this article.

Corrosion Content

The material used in CFBs should also be corrosion resistant, with increased chromium (30%+) content, specifically designed for high-temperature erosion/corrosion environments where sulfur and/or chlorides may be present.

Corrosion due to the presence of sulfur

The presence of sulfur in the fuel paired with the presence of oxygen in the atmosphere aids in the formation of FeO and FeS. Sulfide formation may take place underneath scale and deposits on tubes. Over prolonged service time, iron sulfidegets oxidized, producing sulfur. The incipient sulfur is free to attack metal, resulting in a localized corrosion of substrate and material loss. 

Corrosion products on the surface of the tube consist of iron oxide and iron sulfide. The FeO and FeS formation reaction is as follows:

Corrosion due to chlorides (in cases of burning waste, or waste combination with coal).

The presence of chlorine in the fuel, especially RPF, exacerbates the corrosion of the waterwall substrate. Though corrosion is not the rate-controlling material loss mechanism, the formation of oxide scales lowers the erosion resistance of the waterwalls. However, chlorine-induced attack is a possibility in boilers that burn plastic fuel. In normal combustion with the presence of the correct amount of oxygen (before low-NOx burners), the sulfur present in the fuel will combine with oxygen and remain in gaseous condition and exit the stack. In combustion under reducing conditions (low oxygen), the sulfur will combine with hydrogen and deposit on the tube surface reacting with the iron of the tube material to form a scale of FeS, and repeat the cycle as more H2S deposits on the walls, causing significant tube thinning.

Inspecting CFB Boilers for Damage

Traditionally, CFB boiler inspections are conducted by assembling scaffolding once the boiler has cooled down and performing a visual inspection inside the boiler. However, in recent times, drone inspection services have become increasingly popular, enabling engineering and maintenance teams to identify and fix damage much earlier during a turnaround.

One of these services is Integrated Global Services’ (IGS) SMARTGard® CFB Boiler Inspection Drone Service which uses advanced drone technology alongside expert boiler inspection knowledge. Performed during the cooling down phase, the service offers a comprehensive view of the condition of a boiler to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and detect issues earlier.

A 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 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 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.”

The Solution: Integrated Global Services (IGS) High Velocity Thermal Spray (HVTS)

Extending the life of the tube is possible with the use of added material to the OD surface of the tube, with Inconel Weld Overlay or High Velocity Thermal Spray (HVTS) Cladding. The purpose of adding material to the tube is to extend its useful life, ultimately preventing panel replacement.

HVTS Material Science

IGS material is a High Velocity thermal sprayed metal cladding suited for a broad spectrum of both low and high temperature erosion/corrosion environments. The alloy has been specifically designed for use in high erosive and abrasive boiler environment. NiCr binder composition, with high Cr content makes it particularly resistant to high temperature sulfidation conditions. The alloy also has good high temperature oxidation resistance. A thermal expansion coefficient at the midpoint between carbon and stainless steels makes it well suited to both as substrate materials. The material has good erosion resistance due to effective Boron and Carbon induced hard-phase integration in a ductile binder. 

The IGS cladding has excellent erosion resistance. Although it is a hard cladding system, it has greater ductility and can be repaired and rebuilt easily. It is widely used for erosion/corrosion protection in the CFBs. The erosion/corrosion protection of the waterwalls with IGS cladding system will increase the service life of the boiler, eliminate unplanned downtime, and increase the efficiency of the plant.

Minimum bond strength: > 5000 psi (ASTM D4541)

Microhardness: > 900HV300g (66.5 HRC)

The benefits of HVTS cladding include:

SMARTGard: A Smarter Way to Guarantee CFB Boiler Reliability

SMARTGard is a turnkey service offered by IGS in which its proprietary High Velocity Thermal Spray (HVTS) alloy clad solution is applied. However, the service goes beyond simply applying the cladding. It is a comprehensive maintenance service that starts with a detailed analysis of the boiler including previous maintenance and reliability history. After a full inspection, HVTS is applied which provides long-term protection from high-temperature corrosion and erosion of CFB boiler tubes. Finally, results are measured, documented, and monitored alongside a proactive maintenance schedule. SMARTGard is a complete service that guarantees boiler reliability.

Case Study: Proactive CFB Boiler Maintenance Saves $ Millions and Triples Run Cycles

Introduction

This coal-burning boiler was commissioned in 1998 with an 11,450 sqft (1064 sq.m.) heating surface and 1.2 million pounds per hour (544 t/h) steaming cap. IGS first applied HVTS in 2020 and monitored the condition of the boiler over two years.

The Problem

The annual cost from forced outages, RIK, general maintenance, and electrical cost associated with each unit could reach an average of 8-12 Million dollars.

The Solution

IGS HVTS addressed the problems and increased the run cycles from 4-6 months to 12-14 months with no forced outages and minimal time needed for welding and cladding repair

.

See the bare tube condition prior to the IGS HVTS application. Notice hard edges around discontinuity from erosion damage where ash build-up has deviated material flow into the unprotected substrate.

To prevent further substrate wastage IGS has cladded the area with HVTS as opposed to having to cut and replace tubes. Pictured is the area of low tube thickness now protected by IGS cladding.

It is exactly one year since the British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) announced that its first candidate had been enrolled on the new Compressed Air and Vacuum Technician (CAVT) apprenticeship.

Now, as this year’s National Apprenticeship Week draws to a close, the Society is proud to announce that a further 11 candidates have commenced their training in the past year, with more in the registration process.

The apprenticeship was first launched in 2021 in response to demand from BCAS members for a dedicated, industry-approved course to help develop the skills required for the compressed air and vacuum service sector.  Compressed air is used extensivelyacross multiple sectors, and while there were many general engineering and technical opportunities available, there was no dedicated course designed for the specific needs of the industry.

Working with its members and the Institute for Apprenticeships and Education (IfATE), the BCAS Training and Development Committee was instrumental in the development of the new apprenticeship.  It recognises the vital importance of developing the specific engineering skills required in the compressed air and vacuum industry, helping to release funding to develop the engineers of the future.

During the three-year apprenticeship, candidates will learn how to commission compressed air and/or vacuum equipment and their associated systems, alongside service and maintenance, fault diagnosis, repair and system optimisation.

Members have commented that the application process with Semester Learning and Development (Semester), the first provider in the UK to run the apprenticeship, is very straightforward, with the ability to log in and check their trainee’s progress at any time.

One such apprentice to be benefitting from the scheme is Jack Richardson, from HAC Compressed Air, a BCAS member.  His manager, Martin Garner commented:

“Jack started with us back in June last year. I made the decision to look for an apprentice after finding it hard to recruit engineers. I spoke to the BCAS team about the scheme and was introduced to Scott Margison from Semester, who talked me through the sign-up process.

“Jack has been undertakingtheory and college work side since around October last year,with the ongoing support of myself, the HAC Compressed Air engineer team, mentor Daron Siddall and his tutor.

“All in all, I would truly recommend the course and cannot praise the advice and help from BCAS and Semester enough!”

Vanda Jones, Executive Director at BCAS added:

"Our apprenticeship scheme is now going from strength to strength, and we are delighted to be playing our part in developing the young engineers of the future.  

“I encourage all employersin our industry to consider the recruitment of apprentices into this standard and helping to plug the engineering skills gap, while giving young people the chance to gain valuable qualifications.”

To learn more about the CAVT apprenticeship and to view the full occupational standard, visit https://elearning.bcas.org.uk/compressed-air-and-vacuum-technician-cavt/

Compressed air and fluid power specialist Thorite has launched a campaign to raise awareness about the unseen energy inefficiencies in compressed air systems which can lead to excessive costs.

The ‘Behind Closed Doors’ campaign urges customers to monitor what is happening in compressor houses, where leaks which go unnoticed or ignored can cause inflated energy bills. 

It is calculated that powering a compressor accounts for 86% of the cost of ownership over a five year period, yet almost a third of the energy used is wasted due to inefficient practices.

Carl Davenport, Thorite’s Marketing Manager, said of the campaign: “Previously, it was easy to have an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ approach to compressors. So long as they were working as expected, the only time any attention was paid to them was during a service.

“In some cases, it could be argued that the cost of repairing a small leak in the air system might be higher than the cost of wasted energy.

“However, with energy now costing roughly double what it was a year ago - 25.46p p/kWh as of December 2022 - there’s now no longer an excuse to let leaks and inefficiencies continue to inflate energy consumption.

“We’ve launched the ‘Behind Closed Doors’ campaign to raise awareness of the financial impact compressed air leaks can have and help customers identify how they can make significant savings.”

Thorite launched the campaign at the Southern Manufacturing and Electronics show, where it also showcased new products in its range of energy saving solutions.

This included the MSE6-E2M from Festo, a unique energy efficiency module which delivers smart system monitoring, downtime reporting and leak detection, as well as automated shut-off and start-up of idle machines. 

It can achieve energy cost savings totalling thousands of pounds, and reduce carbon emissions by up to 3.2 tons per year.

Thorite recently created a dedicated team to focus on helping customers reduce energy use and rein in associated costs.

At the show, Duncan McGuire, Thorite’s Business Development Manager for the Southern region said: “Reducing energy use is hugely beneficial to our customers’ bottom line, operational efficiency and sustainability goals, so we’re passionate about offering them a wide range of options to help identify and eliminate waste.

“We’re delighted to be able to offer the MSE6-E2M as a part of our growing range of energy saving solutions.”

Other solutions offered by Thorite include:

• A compressor data logging service, which can accrue significant but often hidden costs.
• Leak testing, reporting and remedial work. 
• Ultra-low consumption electric double diaphragm pumps, such as Graco’s ‘QUANTM’
• Low-cost solenoid operated isolation valves, costing as little as £60, which are wired into the compressor’s start-stop button, controlling the air supply and automatically shutting it down when the machine it is powering stops.
• Air blower sensors which optimise the blowing process to prevent energy waste.
• Customised smart systems control panels to increase productivity and efficiency for process-driven enterprises.
• Cost-efficient software upgrades to master controllers to make air generation more intelligent, dependable and efficient.
• Voltage optimisers to regulate electricity input and eliminate excess energy use.

Thorite’s ongoing commitment to supporting customers with energy reduction has seen them shortlisted for the prestigious Institute of Customer Service’s 2023 Customer Satisfaction Awards, in the category of Customer Focus.

With the support of its majority shareholder Kartesia, Babcock Wanson Group reaffirms its commitment to becoming the pan-European leader in solutions for the energy transition of Europe’s manufacturing industry. The integration of Parat and PBS Power Equipment at the end of the year mean the Group has made three acquisitions in 2022 alone, following the acquisition of Donau Carbon Technologies in October. 

Babcock Wanson welcomes Norwegian company Parat, world leader in high voltage boilers and PBS Power Equipment, a key player in Central Europe for industrial boiler solutions, which have strengthened the Group’s position in the European industrial sector. 

Parat is a long-standing player in industrial and marine boilers and more specifically in the electric segment (electrode technology). Based in Flekkefjord, Norway since 1842, Parat develops, manufactures and distributes electric boilers primarily in Europe but also across various regions in the world, thus assisting industrial players with their decarbonisation strategies. This family-owned company has established its leadership in high-voltage boilers and has experienced strong growth over the past few years. Parat's growth is notably linked to the solutions it can offer for electrical grid regulations and the decarbonisation of industrial processes like food processing, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and paper manufacturing. Electrode boilers enable electrical capacities to be converted into thermal energy (hot water or high-pressure steam) with unmatched reliability and responsiveness. Parat employs about 100 people, all based in Flekkefjord and with extensive experience in the sector. 

Yngve Halvorsen, CEO of Parat and former majority shareholder, says: “We were looking for a sustainable solution to support our strong growth and confirm our position as world leader in this market. The project proposed by Babcock Wanson and its majority shareholder immediately seemed coherent to us as not only do they provide significant capacities to expand our operations further, but we also share the same values.” 

PBS Power Equipment (“PBS”) is a Czech company based in Trebic recognised for its high-quality industrial burners and boilers. PBS is a former subsidiary of PBS INDUSTRY, itself majorly owned by Czech-based private equity firm Jet Investment. It provides customised energy solutions to help manufacturers optimise their energy consumption and limit their environmental impact. The company has operations across Eastern Europe and has strong ties with blue chip customers, addressing their entire scope of requirements in this market. 

Karel Pleha, director at PBS, comments: “Joining Babcock Wanson Group allows us to join a highly relevant organisation, active in the same markets as ours, providing synergies for both businesses. We will be able to strengthen our product and service offering to our customers and share knowledge and skills across the newly-formed organisation to increase our market share.” 

Cyril Fournier-Montgieux, CEO of the Babcock Wanson Group comments: "We are delighted to integrate these companies within our group, all of which have different profiles and geographic reach but are in line with our overall ambition. They allow us to strengthen further our market-leading position in Europe while also aiding our target to become the leader in solutions for the decarbonisation of the industrial sector. Parat offers us a local presence in Northern Europe but above all the leadership in the industrial electrification initiative. In parallel, PBS brings us closer to our customers in Central Europe but also strengthens our offer in high efficiency combustion solutions.” 

This ambitious external growth programme, combined with strong organic growth in its historical markets, has enabled the Babcock Wanson Group to make a great leap forward. All this is made possible by the partnership between Babcock Wanson and its main shareholder Kartesia, which supports the group's growth. 

Julien Rigon, Director at Kartesia: "We have been at Babcock Wanson's side since 2016 and strengthened our collaboration in July 2021 by becoming the group's majority shareholder as we firmly believe in the management team's project and its capacity to deploy it. 2022 has allowed us to accelerate this ambition and add extra capabilities to the group, which represents a major milestone in its history. We are extremely proud of the work that has been done so far with Babcock Wanson to create a leader in Europe’s energy transition and look forward to the next period of growth for the business with Kartesia’s operational and financial support.” 

For information on Babcock Wanson, go to www.babcock-wanson.com

Industrial process heating equipment and solutions specialist Babcock Wanson has launched the FM Pack range of Steam Water Tube Boilers, for steam outputs from 4.5 to 80 t/h. 

Suitable for applications requiring high steam output, high pressure steam or superheated steam, the FM Pack range provides high quality steam, from dry saturated to high temperature superheated and, due to the heat exchanger design, have the ability to provide very high operating pressures, from 10 to 95 barg. 

Babcock Wanson has designed these latest Steam Water Tube Boilers for optimum efficiency, durability and longevity. The casing is pressurised to maintain the flue gas outlet temperature, avoiding corrosion risk due to condensation, plus there is a complete separation between tubes and casing and minimal refractory components. All parts of the boiler have been designed for easy access for maintenance.

For applications where poor types of fuel gases are used, the FM Pack boiler is available in a specially constructed variant, making it suitable for use in locations around the world.

This flexible approach can also be seen in FM Pack’s adaptability to different types of burners to ensure the boiler can work with different fuels in compliance with emissions regulations such as the Medium Combustion Plant Directive.

For maximum efficiency, FM Pack boilers can be connected to an external economiser.

The FM Pack boilers join Babcock Wanson’s existing range of water tube boilers, which includes boilers designed for operation at 150 barg at outputs of up to 150 tonnes per hour, plus Standard Fasel water tube boilers, following the acquisition of this renowned specialist in boiler technology and burner technology. 

Babcock Wanson offers a complete range of products and services for boiler houses and other process heating needs, from steam boilers, thermal fluid heaters, rapid steam generators and hot water boilers to VOC and odour treatment by thermal oxidation, water treatment or process air heating solutions. The company aims to help optimise customer’s energy production with high quality products and efficient service.

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 https://www.babcock-wanson.com/products/steam-boilers/water-tube-boilers/

Leading Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) software provider IFS Ultimo has entered a technology partnership with industrialIntegration Cloud software specialist Reekoh. The partnershipenablesReekohtooptimize industrial data operations and integration around asset management. ForIFS Ultimo customers, the partnership will drive more value and increase the ROI they get from their existing asset data and business processes. 

IFS Ultimo Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) software helpscustomers gain a better grip over their assets, realize higher uptime, control costs,and create a safe and healthy working environment. Reekoh delivers unprecedented data integration capabilities for industrial asset owners and operators. Designed with support for Edge, On-Premise, Cloud, and Hybrid environmentsand powered by a market-leading library of over 250 pre-built integrations across the OT and IT landscape, Reekoh is the most scalable and robust solution for unifying and integrating operational and business systems.

By using the ReekohIntegration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) and integrations with IFS Ultimo EAM, customers can rapidly unlock fragmented data from silos and assets within their OT and IT infrastructure, use data-driven insights to automate business actions, and accelerate digital transformation. 

Patrick Beekman, Partner Solution Manager at IFS Ultimo, said:“Reekoh is growing rapidly in line with market demand for tools that can enhance and simplify digital transformation through an integration approach. At IFS Ultimo, we are also scaling our footprint with other mutual partners such as AVEVA. It makes sense to bring these threads together on the Reekohplatform to generate greater options and outcomes for customers. Reekohdrastically simplifies the ingestion, transformation, and integration of any kind of data into Ultimo EAM to power greater asset management processes and insights, as well as connecting those insights from EAM to other relevant business systems and back down to the asset level.”

Dale Rankine, CEO and Founder at Reekoh, added: “As an industrial integration platform, Reekoh’s purpose is to help customers connect their Edge and Enterprise systems to drive a deeper level of value and ROI from their data and business processes. Partnering with best-of-breed vendors like Ultimo, who serve as a critical system for customer operations, means that Reekoh's out-of-the-box integration capabilities can achieve this purpose more quickly.”

About IFS Ultimo

IFS Ultimo is a SaaS EAM solution from IFS, focused on maintenance & safety and well known for a rapid deployment, ease of use and an unparalleled time to value. Details about IFS Ultimo can be found at Ultimo.com.

About IFS

IFS develops and delivers cloud enterprise software for companies around the world who manufacture and distribute goods, build and maintain assets, and manage service-focused operations. Within our single platform, our industry specific products are innately connected to a single data model and use embedded digital innovation so that our customers can be their best when it really matters to their customers—at the Moment of Service™️. The industry expertise of our people and of our growing ecosystem, together with a commitment to deliver value at every single step, has made IFS a recognized leader and the most recommended supplier in our sector. Our team of 5,000 employees every day live our values of agility, trustworthiness and collaboration in how we support our 10,000+ customers. Learn more about how our enterprise software solutions can help your business today at ifs.com.

About Reekoh
Reekoh is the Industrial Integration Cloud provider; a leading integration platform (iPaaS) and toolkit that removes time, cost and risk from industrial digital transformation. Reekoh delivers agile, low-code data integration between all physical (OT, IoT, IIoT) and digital assets (IT) across a wide range of industry segments (Oil & Gas, Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Energy, Built Environment and more) to accelerate the digital maturity of enterprise customers. With offices across Australia, the US and Asia, and global customers and resellers, Reekoh is the solution that asset owner-operators are turning to for enterprise data integration at scale.

www.reekoh.com

At a London-based snack-food manufacturer, Landia has just supplied its 25th pump in a partnership that is now celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Supplying branded and private-label snack and crisp products for both independent and major retailers within the UK and across Europe, the food manufacturer began using Landia long-shaft chopper pumps two decades ago to transfer effluent from below-ground pits to its wastewater treatment plant.

First supplied as 5.5kW units, but in more recent years as 7.5kW, some of the original smaller chopper pumps are still working, with only a bare minimum of basic wear and tear parts ever required.

Landia’s MPG-I long-shaft vertical chopper pumps are designed with a fan-cooled motor that sits above the liquid surface and is therefore well protected. The pump contains no seals, which makes it extremely robust and tough.

This latest long-term landmark for Landia follows its recent milestone with North Wales-based KK Fine Foods (manufacturers of high-quality meat, fish and vegetarian meals), where its wastewater mixing and aeration system has completed five years of uninterrupted service. Landia has also provided numerous wastewater pumping, mixing and aeration solutions to the food and drink industry, including at Hook Norton Brewery, 2 Sisters Food Group and Aspall Cyder.

Hi-line Industries, a UK-based leader in the design, manufacture and installation of energy-efficient compressed air purification equipment, is reporting continued growth in year-on-year sales, with results for the last quarter well ahead of forecast. This positive news is a reflection of the added value provided by the company’s products and services, which help UK users of compressed air to achieve genuine competitive gain.

To support its growing sales, Hi-line has completed a management reshuffle that will ensure its expanding customer base can take advantage of even higher service levels. Following on from the appointment of Steve Smith as Managing Director in May 2022, Brad Beesley is now General Manager, heading up the Sales Department. In addition, Darren Sims now sits at the helm of the Technical Department as the company’s new Technical Director, while Craig Watson takes up the role of Business Administration Manager to lead Hi-line’s Administration Department. All report directly to Steve Smith.

Everything about Hi-line at present centres on growth, emphasising the success story of this forward-thinking UK manufacturing business. By way of example, spring 2023 will see the start of an extension to the company’s UK headquarters in Burton-upon-Trent. This significant project will provide a huge boon to the in-house manufacturing processes, while simultaneously increasing warehouse space. 

In another notable investment, Hi-line’s Technical Department is looking to implement new software that will further enhance the company’s CRM (Customer Relationship Management) activities. The new software suite, which will be of great benefit to Hi-line’s service contract customers, will integrate with the company’s cloud-based Xero accounting software.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Continued ……

Hi-line also takes its corporate sustainability responsibilities extremely seriously, which is why the company is currently installing a series of electric vehicle chargers at its Burton-upon-Trent facility. This activity precedes a number of electric vehicles currently on order, which will drive down carbon emissions and support Hi-line’s position as an industry flagbearer for environmental issues. Many of the company’s products also underpin this ethos, largely via innovative technologies that help to reduce energy consumption.

In a further environmental project, Hi-line will be self-sufficient with solar energy by 31 March 2023, delivering a huge milestone in the company’s carbon-offset programme. 

As a final positive note, Hi-line reports that recruitment is currently at an all-time high, with the company set to announce more appointments in the near future, likely filling vacancies in the Logistics and Technical Departments. In addition, two local apprentices have just started their BCAS (British Compressed Air Society) Apprenticeship Scheme at Hi-line Industries, facilitating the vitally important succession of industry skills. 

“We’re really happy with our impressive sales performance as it means we can reinvest in our business to deliver even more growth moving forward,” says Managing Director Steve Smith. “Investments in new floor space, staff members and green technologies – alongside our newly conceived management structure – will mean that Hi-line remains on a progressive and secure footing. The future is looking extremely bright for Hi-line and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve in the years ahead.”

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