- 5 December 2007 -

Pump Industry Awards: the 2007 winners

This year's Pump Industry Awards ceremony, which took place on 16 October, brought together the pump industry in a celebration of the companies, innovations and people that are achieving high standards and driving the dynamic industry forward. Designed to promote best practice in key areas of manufacture and supply including, innovation and achievement, energy saving, sales growth, customer care and employee motivation, the Awards recognised five companies and two individuals for excellence in the pump and pump-related industries. Read on for a complete list of the winners.

 

Technical Innovation of the Year - sponsored by Sterling Fluid Systems

Winner: SPP Pumps for easily maintainable vertical suspended bowl pumps

Finalists: Albin Pump AB for Albin Pump AD - Little Giant, Crostek Management Corporation for the Crostek "Intellimax" Pumpjack, ITT Flygt for ITT Flygt 2600 dewatering pumps designed for durability, ITT Jabsco for the SR060 vehicle refuelling pump with intelligent control.

"SPP Pumps are delighted to have won the innovation of the year award at this year's UK Pump Industry awards," said Graham Terry, communications director. "Innovation is not something that comes easy; it requires the right environment and talent to convert embryonic ideas into something with real practical value. We are particularly pleased that the innovation for which we gained the award addresses a traditional business application where innovation is less frequent, and which in this case adds features that make our vertical turbine products more efficient, more durable and easier to maintain and as a consequence delivers to customers the lowest life-cycle cost.

"This award really belongs to our whole 'Water' team whose enthusiasm and skills converted an idea into reality. It is perhaps no accident therefore that at the same event one of our team also gained the title young Engineer of The Year and SPP Pumps were also a finalist for manufacturer of the year."

 

Environmental/Energy Saving Award - sponsored by SPP Pumps

Winner: Wilo for Energy-Saving Pump Installations at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth

Finalists: Dab Pumps for the Aquaprof residential rainwater harvesting system, Grundfos Pumps for the Grundfos Pumps approach to the environment, KSB for Hya-Rain, KSB for the innovative energy-saving system BOA-Systronic for heating circuits.

"I suspect we won the award because we were able to present a real case scenario of significant energy saving, with quantifiable benefits to Derriford Hospital ," says Dan Wild, sales director, Wilo Pumps. "Energy saving is the key factor in pump sales today. Our pump technology development programme has been driven for many years by a desire to reduce energy consumption and reduce CO2 emissions, whilst maximizing on pump performance. This is what our customers want and it's what we deliver to them, consistently. We were delighted to participate in the Pump Industry Awards this year. They were well run and fun to be a part of - winning an award always helps of course!"

Manufacturer of the Year - sponsored by World Pumps

Winner: Sterling Fluid Systems

Finalists: Albin Pump AB, Grundfos Pumps, SPP Pumps.

"This award illustrates Sterling Fluid's recognition throughout industry," said Shaun Hampson, managing director, Sterling Fluid Systems Ltd. "With a global network of manufacturing centres, technical offices and more than 100 service centres, Sterling Fluid Systems is strategically positioned to provide an extensive pump and system support network on a local level."

Distributor of the Year - sponsored by ITT Jabsco

Winner: AMS Pumps

Finalists: AxFlow Group, Pumps UK.

"We have done well to establish ourselves as a market leader in the industrial sectors within just two years and this award is great recognition of that," said AMS national sales manager, Lee Tebbatt. "While we are continually looking at ways in which we can improve our offering to our customers, responding to their needs and providing them with the service they demand, the importance of our reputation amongst our industry peers cannot be underestimated. We are looking forward now to building on our success and hope to be back in the awards line up again next year."

Supplier of the Year - sponsored by SPX Process Equipment

Winner: ABB

Finalists: Greene, Tweed & Co, John Crane.

"We are very happy with the win," said Jukka Tolvanen, product manager at ABB LV drives. "This was second time I participated at the event - I enjoyed both times a lot. Pumps are the single biggest application for ABB drives, and we co-operate a great deal with world class pump manufacturers - this victory shows that we are on the right track. In UK our local team has been very active, and we've focused on an energy-efficiency approach which is very important for ABB drives.

"Awards are one way of showing the technical expertise that we have," he added. "The gala evening is also a good way to meet colleagues and customers at the same time and enjoy the nice evening. The charity part of the gala is also vital, and companies contributed a great deal this year."

"Pumps are the single biggest application for ABB drives and on the night ABB was the only drives manufacturer present and therefore visibly supporting the industry," added Layla Hewitt, marketing manager for ABB drives and motors.

"The event helps us network closely with world class pump manufacturers and this is reflected in the successes that we are having in the pump sector.

"The Pump Industry Awards is one of the best international networking opportunities as many of the world's leading pump manufacturers are in attendance," she added. "It recognises the hard work and often silent work undertaken by the many individuals and enterprises that keep this important sector thriving."

Young Pump Engineer of the Year - sponsored by John Crane

Winner: John Hollins from SPP Pumps

Finalists: Juha Viholainen from ABB, Gaëtan Spude from Milton Roy Europe.

"Although unexpected, it was a great honour to presented with the award of Young Pump Engineer of the year," said Hollins. "The award is a great way for me to recognise the support and training which SPP have invested in me over the last few years."

Judges' Special Award - sponsored by Process & Control magazine

Winner: Chris Fone

"It was a real privilege and honour to win the award particularly because I work in an industry (seals) which supplies and supports the pump industry," said Fone. "I strongly believe the future of our Industries are based on working together and finding solutions that are jointly productive."

Datateam Publishing would like to thank everyone involved in this year's awards ceremony and those who donated generously towards the BPMA's chosen charity - WaterAid. Just over £3,000.00 was raised through the Grand Charity Raffle and auction. For further information about The Pump Industry Awards please contact Tanya Frankel at Datateam Publishing on +44 (0)1622 699121 or pumps@datateam.co.uk.

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