The British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) has elected Steven Rohan, Division Engineering Manager at Parker Hannifin Manufacturing (Parker) as the Society’s new Vice President.
Steven has been a member of the BCAS board since 2018 and brings a wealth of engineering and sector knowledge to the role, gained during almost 30 years in the air and gas treatment industry. He will join Mark Ranger, the BCAS President, in ensuring that both members and end-users alike are provided with expert, independent guidance on the issues affecting the compressed air and vacuum sector.
Steven will focus on the new UKCA marking, which is replacing the CE marking, and will continue to lobby government to ensure it is fit for purpose and can meet industry’s changing demands. He will also be encouraging the uptake of energy-efficient technologies alongside effective maintenance regimes, that can help to reduce overall electricity consumption for compressed air and vacuum systems.
Having joined Domnick Hunter in 1995 (prior to its acquisition by Parker) as an Engineering Technician Apprentice, Steven was awarded a Whitworth Scholarship from the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and went on to graduate from Newcastle University as a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering.
Since then, he has held senior roles in engineering, operations and business leadership at Parker, in the UK, Netherlands and in the Asia Pacific region, each with a strong focus on engineering and operational excellence. He is also an active member of the Whitworth Society committee and champions Parker’s EMEA Engineering Graduate Programme to support the development of outstanding young engineering talent.
Commenting on the new appointment, Steven added, “In the wake of Brexit and changing legislation and standards, it is vital that BCAS acts as an independent champion for air users. I will be working with the Board and committees to ensure that the industry’s voice is heard and that any divergence as we transition from the old CE marking to the new UKCA marking, is managed effectively.
“In addition, following the recent COP 26 climate summit, the industry has a renewed focus on installing cleaner, greener technologies. Together with the BCAS Board, I will ensure that we provide timely and accurate information to help end users implement the energy reduction programmes that will drive the sector towards a lower carbon future.
“As an active member of the Whitworth Society committee too, I am looking forward to seeing the Society’s new compressed air and vacuum technician apprenticeship programme progress. I know first-hand the opportunities that an apprenticeship can provide and will be encouraging the industry to get involved in developing our next pool of talented engineers.”
Commenting on Steven’s appointment, Vanda Jones, BCAS Executive Director said:
“We are delighted to welcome Steven as our new Vice President. His passion for the industry and enthusiasm for driving up standards and improving environmental performance will be a welcome addition to our team. He will provide a clear and relevant direction during his term in office and help build a strong basis for the future - on this area that is of critical importance to our manufacturing, distribution and end-user members.”
