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Providing essential aeration in a settlement pits, Landia Chopper Pumps have completed a decade of service at one of the UK’s leading producers of carrots.

At a site in the North of England, where around 30,000 tonnes of carrots are processed each year across 900 acres of prime sandy land, the 11kW Landia units have, without any breakdowns or rebuilds, managed the important job of handling effluent from the carrot washing process that uses recirculated lagoon water.

The design of the world’s first ever Chopper Pump, invented by Landia in 1950, has changed very little in more than 75 years, with its external knife system continuously reducing particle sizes to prevent important wastewater systems from blocking.

Tamas Rieder, Landia’s Service and Aftersales Manager, commented: “We are very proud of the performance of these pumps and our service engineers who carry out such a consistently high level of work. Ten years of operation with no major problems is quite a record, but we have numerous pumps that are still working just fine after 15 and 20-years-plus service.

He added: “We work as closely as possible with our customers, gaining an increasing number of service contracts, but even if we don’t regularly carry out the maintenance ourselves, we are always ready to help at the end of ‘phone, and then get to site promptly, if required.”

In addition to this application for handling effluent from a carrot washing process, Landia’s large portfolio of similar projects also includes work with HAYLEY DEXIS at a company that makes machines for the post-harvest processing of vegetables.

Landia Chopper Pumps with special external shredders, replaced units from another manufacturer, whose equipment could not cope with the fibrous and gritty material that is an inevitable part of the wastewater process with vegetables

.

Originally developed to deal with difficult wastewater solids in the fish processing industry, the Landia shredder-propeller design has now proved its capability in handling troublesome stringy material such as carrot tops, that typically cause problems for standard pumps.

Gary Wharton, Sales Team Leader for Landia, added:

“Our pre-cutting shredder-propeller brings another important chopping stage for certain effluents with difficult solids, as it continuously reduces particle size to keep process lines running efficiently.”

www.landiaworld.com

Computerised Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) play a vital role in keeping energy infrastructure reliable and efficient. In a sector where downtime can have major operational, financial and environmental impacts, organisations must balance continuous production with strict safety and regulatory requirements. This is often made more complex by a mix of ageing and modern assets.

Moving from Reactive to Proactive Maintenance

A CMMS provides a centralised platform to manage maintenance activities and asset data. This allows organisations to shift from reactive fixes to a proactive approach. By scheduling preventative maintenance, teams can reduce unplanned downtime and improve asset performance.

Pemac CMMS supports this with automated work orders and structured maintenance planning, helping ensure issues are addressed before they become failures.

Improving Asset Visibility and Decision-Making

A key benefit of CMMS is improved asset visibility. By consolidating maintenance histories, documentation and performance data, organisations gain a clearer view of asset condition and criticality.

With Pemac CMMS, teams can track performance, identify high-risk assets and analyse recurring faults, enabling more informed decisions around maintenance and investment.

Enabling Predictive Maintenance with IIoT

Modern CMMS platforms can integrate with Industrial Internet of Things technologies. Sensors monitor equipment in real time, tracking factors such as temperature, pressure and vibration. This supports predictive maintenance, allowing teams to address issues early.

Pemac CMMS integrates with these technologies to enable condition-based monitoring, helping reduce costs and extend asset life.

Supporting Compliance and Reducing Risk

The energy sector is highly regulated, making compliance essential. A CMMS ensures maintenance activities are documented and aligned with safety standards, reducing risk and simplifying audits.

Pemac CMMS includes features such as permit-to-work controls and contractor management, giving organisations greater oversight of safety and compliance.

Driving Efficiency Across Maintenance Teams

CMMS solutions improve efficiency by streamlining workflows, automating tasks and improving labour allocation. Teams can ensure the right resources are available when needed.

With mobile access and digital work management, Pemac CMMS enables engineers to manage tasks and capture data in real time, even in remote environments.

Supporting the Energy Transition

As energy systems evolve, organisations must manage both legacy infrastructure and new renewable assets. A CMMS supports this by helping optimise performance across a diverse asset base.

Pemac CMMS offers a modular approach, allowing organisations to scale capabilities such as inventory, reporting and analytics as requirements grow.

Keep Your Critical Assets Running

A CMMS helps energy organisations increase uptime, extend asset life and maintain safe, compliant operations. By making maintenance more data-driven, it becomes a strategic function that supports long-term reliability.

To learn how you can optimise your maintenance strategy, explore Pemac CMMS and discover how to keep your critical assets running efficiently.

www.pemac.com

At Maintec 2026, taking place on 3–4 June at the NEC Birmingham, ShireSystem will be showcasing a practical and straightforward approach to asset management. The focus is simple. Help organisations take control today while preparing for what comes next.

There is a lot of noise in the market around AI and future technology. It is easy to get caught up in big promises. ShireSystem takes a more grounded approach. Instead of leading with hype, we focus on what actually drives results. Reliable data, clear processes, and a structured path to improvement.

Because the truth is, you cannot automate what you do not trust.

For many maintenance teams, the real challenge starts with data. When information is incomplete or inconsistent, decisions become reactive. That leads to more downtime, higher costs, and less confidence in the systems meant to support you. Without a strong data foundation, advanced technologies simply cannot deliver value.

This is where ShireSystem makes a difference.

Our approach is built around helping organisations move from reactive maintenance to a more proactive and controlled way of working. It starts with understanding where you are today. By assessing your current level of maintenance maturity, you can clearly see what needs to improve and where to focus.

From there, it is about putting a practical plan in place. A roadmap that reflects your priorities and your resources. Implementation is supported by experienced teams who understand how to configure systems to match real operational needs.

But this is not a one-off project. Ongoing optimisation is key. As your business evolves, your asset management approach should evolve with it. That is how you continue to unlock value over time.

The outcome is greater control across the areas that matter most. Reduced downtime, lower costs, and stronger compliance. At the same time, you are building cleaner, more reliable data that supports better decisions every day.

This also lays the groundwork for the future. Becoming ready for AI is not about jumping straight to automation. It is about putting the right foundations in place so that when the time comes, the technology actually works for you.

Visitors to the ShireSystem stand at Maintec will be able to see this approach in action. Not just through messaging, but through real examples and demonstrations of how modern asset management systems support day-to-day operations.

Whether you are replacing a legacy system, looking to improve efficiency, or planning for the future, ShireSystem offers a flexible solution built around your needs.

Join us on 3–4 June at the NEC Birmingham to see how you can take control of your assets today and be ready for what comes next.

www.elecosoft.com

The UK food and beverage manufacturing sector is currently navigating a complex landscape of uncertain input costs and a clear need for decarbonisation. Against this backdrop, achieving operational certainty is no longer just a goal - it is a business imperative. Addressing these challenges head-on, Food+Beverage Engineering 2026 will return to Derby Arena on 16 June. Following its successful launch last year, this dedicated event - organised by Curious Heads Media - is tailored specifically for engineering, production and operations professionals. The event is a vital resource for those in plant, process, production, maintenance, operations and continuous improvement roles, offering a unique space to explore how innovation can drive operational improvements on the factory floor.

Bridging the Gap Between Engineering and Sustainability

A defining feature of this year’s event is its continued co-location with Sustainable Food Factory.

This partnership acknowledges a critical industry reality: sustainability and engineering efficiency are two sides of the same coin.

By attending both events in a single, focused day, industry professionals can bridge the gap between ESG strategy and the practical, engineering-driven solutions required to implement them.

A Seminar Programme Built for Action

The seminar programme goes beyond theory, featuring expert presentations and interactive panel debates to address real-world manufacturing challenges.

Key sessions will tackle:

• Energy Management: Deep dives into heating, cooling, and refrigeration - the most energy-intensive areas of any facility.

• Resource Management: Best practice on water management and waste reduction.

• Asset Reliability: A heavy focus on production line optimisation through predictive maintenance and smart asset management strategies.

• Machine Safety & Compliance: Addressing the importance of viewing safety and compliance as strategic engineering decisions which form part of an integrated system design.

Innovation on Display

The exhibition hall offers visitors an opportunity to engage directly with leading suppliers of engineering, energy, and automation solutions. 

From sensors that mitigate downtime to high-efficiency motors, exhibitors will showcase the technologies essential for reducing operational costs and enhancing capacity.

Whether an SME or a multinational, the day delivers actionable insights and peer-to-peer learning. It is a strategic opportunity to step away from daily production pressures to focus on asset management, plant performance, and line optimisation.

Food+Beverage Engineering 2026 is free to attend for professionals in food and beverage manufacturing and processing.

Join the conversation and secure your visitor pass at: www.foodandbeverageengineering.live

The barcode has been a fixture on consumer packaging for over 50 years, streamlining checkout and enabling the rise of self‑service. But the traditional barcode is limited: it identifies a product, and that’s about it. Today’s consumers and retailers want far more information, and the industry is now preparing for a major shift. By the end of 2027, 2D QR‑style codes will be scannable at point of sale worldwide, marking the biggest change to product identification in decades.

2D codes can hold much more data while still fitting neatly onto packaging. They give consumers instant access to details that influence buying decisions, and they give retailers richer, more accurate information. For manufacturers, this means the transition to QR codes must begin now. With that comes the responsibility to ensure every code is accurate, consistent, and fully readable before products leave the factory.

WMH has spent years developing and integrating QR code scanning systems designed specifically for this challenge. As the industry moves toward universal adoption, our technology is ready to adapt; checking every code for data accuracy and print quality to prevent errors that could lead to fines, chargebacks, or, more seriously, consumer risk if allergen or expiry information is wrong or unreadable.

Our inline scanner uses multiple cameras within a single compact unit, combining their images to create a full 360º view of each product. This guarantees the code is captured and verified from every angle. The system can automatically reject faulty items or stop the line when more serious issues arise, allowing operators to correct problems quickly.

With labelling errors still the leading cause of product recalls, investing in robust code integrity checking is a practical, forward‑looking step. The shift to 2D codes brings new opportunities, but also new responsibilities and manufacturers who act now will stay ahead of regulations, avoid costly recalls, and deliver the accuracy and transparency today’s market expects.

For more information please visit www.wmh-uk-ltd.com

Advanced combustion control from ETC

Energy Technology & Control (ETC) delivers advanced combustion control systems, supporting industrial operations with efficient, compliant solutions you can rely on. With decades of engineering expertise behind them, ETC systems are designed to perform consistently in demanding environments where performance and reliability are critical.

A proven approach to combustion control

Founded in 1983, ETC has become a global leader in advanced electronic burner controls. All ETC systems are designed to optimise combustion processes across a range of industries, from manufacturing and food processing to energy and heavy industrial environments.

ETC’s technology focuses on practical results. Improved fuel efficiency, reduced emissions and lower operating costs all sit at the core of every single solution. This makes the systems a reliable choice for organisations wanting to balance performance with compliance, but also long-term cost control.

With a strong track record across global installations, ETC is known for providing customers with strong, well-engineered systems that add smoothly into existing operations.

Designed for real-world performance

ETC solutions are built to handle the day-to-day demands of industrial environments. All controls are designed to maintain stable combustion across varying loads and operating conditions, helping reduce risk and improve consistency. 

By improving how combustion is monitored and managed, ETC helps reduce fuel waste, support compliance with emissions standards and extend the lifespan of critical equipment. The result is a more efficient and dependable operation over time.

Clear system visibility and responsive control also allow engineers to identify issues early, which reduces unplanned downtime and supports more proactive maintenance strategies.

Strengthened by Fireye

ETC is now part of Fireye, a global manufacturer of flame safeguard controls and burner management systems. This brings together ETC’s combustion control expertise with Fireye’s long-standing experience in flame monitoring, safety and system protection.

The two product ranges complement each other. ETC’s advanced control technologies work alongside Fireye’s flame safeguard and monitoring systems to deliver a more complete and integrated burner management solution.

Customers benefit from improved system insight, enhanced diagnostics and greater confidence in both performance and safety. The combined expertise also supports a broader range of applications, from standard industrial systems to more complex, high-demand environments.

ETC continues to operate with the same team, products and customer support. What changes is the level of backing behind it, with Fireye’s global reach and technical capability adding further strength to an already established, trusted expertise.

A reliable choice for industrial operations

ETC combustion control systems are designed to support efficient, compliant and reliable operation across a wide range of industrial environments. With proven performance in demanding conditions, the ETC systems offer a practical solution for organisations looking to improve control, reduce emissions and manage operating costs more effectively.

As requirements around efficiency and emissions continue to evolve, ETC provides a future-ready approach to combustion control that supports both operational performance as well as regulatory demands.

Speak to our team to find the right solution for your operation

http://www.energytechnologycontrol.com/

Integrated Global Services (IGS) today announced the acquisition of Flamsprutarna AB, a global provider of turbine maintenance and thermal spray services. The acquisition strengthens IGS’s ability to support power plant operators worldwide with integrated maintenance solutions across gas turbines, steam turbines, and nuclear assets.

Flamsprutarna brings more than 40 years of experience in turbine maintenance, thermal spray coatings, and nuclear power plant services, with an established track record of supporting customers globally. Its expertise complements IGS’s existing capabilities in large-frame gas turbine maintenance, enabling a more comprehensive, multi-technology service offering across combined-cycle and nuclear fleets.

The acquisition reflects growing global demand for reliable power generation, extended asset life, and reduced outage durations. By expanding its technical capabilities and service capacity, IGS is positioned to support operators in meeting increasing performance and reliability requirements across critical energy infrastructure.

Flamsprutarna AB will continue to operate from its headquarters in Sweden, maintaining its existing team, technical expertise, and customer relationships. As part of IGS, the company is expected to expand its delivery capacity and support a greater volume of projects worldwide.

Customers are expected to benefit from a more integrated, single-source service model, improved coordination across turbine technologies, and enhanced outage execution. The combined organization will leverage IGS’s global footprint alongside Flamsprutarna’s specialized capabilities to deliver responsive, high-quality support for mission-critical equipment.

Rich Crawford, Chief Executive Officer of IGS, commented: “Power generators are under increasing pressure to deliver higher output with fewer outages and greater reliability. The addition of Flamsprutarna strengthens IGS’s ability to support these requirements by expanding our capabilities in steam turbine and nuclear services, while increasing our capacity to serve customers globally.”

Victor Aaroe-Holm, Chief Executive Officer of Flamsprutarna, said: “Flamsprutarna has built a strong reputation for quality and safety in demanding operating environments. As part of IGS, we will be able to extend our reach and take on more projects globally, while continuing to deliver the high standards our customers expect.”

The combined organization will continue to operate in accordance with established quality and safety standards, with a shared focus on supporting reliable plant operations and long-term asset performance.

. Learn more at https://integratedglobal.com/ or follow us on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, or Facebook.

When Iain McLean asked me to present the Keynote Address for Food+Beverage Engineering in 2025 it was a no brainer to support this important F&B and Sustainability event at Derby Arena. I’m looking forward to returning again on the 16th June. This year the co-located shows come closer together as Engineering and Sustainability in the Food and Beverage sector are so closely linked, many opportunities exist at the front line where Maintenance, Engineering, and Operators can help deliver on all of the Sustainability KPIs.

With this in mind my keynote in 2026 shares this opportunity along with a case study of the largest snack food site in the UK moving from a totally reactive state to one of a world class operational standard. In these uncertain times all inputs have extreme pressure on price and availability, every improvement in yield and reduction in power use have raised the importance of availability of production at the lowest possible pence per kilo.

Improved outcomes and sustainability of businesses is going to be difficult in F&B for the foreseeable future, by coming together at shows like Food+Beverage Engineering and Sustainable Food Factory it can often be the the first step towards achieving the operations in control we seek. One way to achieve these upticks in your performance is by coming together this June at Derby Arena in the centre of the Velodrome to start your journey towards a World Class Maintenance and Operational standard, delivering outstanding Sustainability metrics in your Food or Beverage Factory. Looking forward to meeting in Derby at my keynote address or afterwards on the UPTIME Consultant Ltd stand.

Andy Gailey Managing Director UPTIME Consultant Ltd

A Borger Multicrusher has solved a long-standing headache at a Wastewater Treatment Plant’s (WWTP) septage facility, which was experiencing all too frequent blockages in its grid system.

The WWTP, which receives large volumes of septage, brought in by tankers from areas that are not connected to the main sewer system, had seen maintenance costs rise dramatically for its grid separation system. Likewise, the final disposal cost for solids and fibres had also increased to an untenable point.

With the new Borger Multicrusher, the WWTP has been able to chop solids as soon as the wastewater enters the system. And by chopping the solids, a higher gas yield has been achieved in the site’s anaerobic digesters, as well as having an overall positive biological impact.

Due to space restrictions at the facility, the Multicrusher had to be very compact. It was deemed best for easy maintenance to run the Borger unit with a helical bevel geared motor (with direct coupling). The Multicrusher was also fitted with a stone trap, and to avoid any heavy solids from blocking the chopper, the Multicrusher has reversing control.

Börger UK Limited

Stadium Point Business Park

Oteley Road

Shrewsbury

England

SY2 6NE

01902 798 977

www.boerger.com

• Be the first to experience Ultimo’s new instant EAM maturity model assessment - identify your current stage and your next steps in under five minutes
• Hear from manufacturing industry leaders in a panel discussion and discover Ultimo’s latest innovations, including a new generation of AI-embedded digital workers automating key maintenance and safety workflows
• Stand J50, 3-4 June 2026, NEC, Birmingham

Ultimo will exhibit at Maintec 2026, the UK’s premier maintenance, reliability, and asset management event, held at the NEC Birmingham in June. Visitors can meet the team to explore how Ultimo is helping industrial organizations move faster and more confidently along the maintenance maturity curve – now with instant benchmarking, hands-on AI demonstrations, and a live panel debate.

At the heart of the Maintec 2026 stand is the debut of Ultimo’s new instant maturity model assessment – a streamlined tool that enables organizations to identify, in real time, exactly where they sit across Ultimo’s five recognized maturity stages: Reactive, In Control, Proactive, Smart, and Ultimate.

Mark Harris, Sales Director, UK & Ireland, Ultimo, explains: “Understanding your current position on the maintenance maturity model is the first step towards optimizing performance and maximizing asset value. The challenge is that perception very often differs from reality. Organizations typically believe they are further along the maturity curve than they are. Our instant assessment cuts through that ambiguity and gives people an honest, evidence-based picture of where they are today – and, critically, what it takes to move forward.”

Ultimo is also giving visitors the opportunity to explore how to benchmark their business against hundreds of peer implementations and help translate strategic ambition into a concrete, prioritized roadmap.

Maintec 2026 will also play host to a panel discussion bringing together prominent voices from across the asset management community for a candid conversation on the realities of EAM in industrial environments.

Ultimo is using Maintec 2026 to showcase its latest AI announcements – intelligent agents designed to autonomously carry out time-consuming maintenance and safety workflows, freeing teams to focus on higher-value work.

This wave of digital workers from Ultimo will target three high-impact use cases:

• Asset registration acceleration: automatically extracting equipment information from photographs to populate the asset register, eliminating manual data entry
• • Daily maintenance briefing: delivering an automated morning briefing via mobile and communication tools such as Microsoft Teams and Slack to key people, summarizing key priorities and outstanding actions
  • Maintenance Planner Agent: autonomously preparing work orders based on asset data and failure history, reducing planning time and improving consistency.

  The Company will also preview its plans to extend AI capabilities into planning and safety:

  • Maintenance Planner Agent (extended): searching equipment manuals to surface relevant maintenance guidance and support planners with more informed scheduling decisions
  • HSE Manager Agent: evaluating incoming work requests against Management of Change criteria to flag potential safety considerations before work begins
  • HSE Manager Agent (shift log review): scanning shift logs for safety-relevant content and automatically raising EHS incidents where required.

  Ultimo works with industrial organizations such as Bristol Port Company, London Gatwick Airport, Freiberger, Renewi, and Recticel in the UK. Maintec attendees will be able to see digital workers in action on the Ultimo stand and speak directly with its team about how agentic AI fits into their own maintenance strategy.

  To register interest in meeting the team at Maintec 2026, visit ultimo.com/contact.