Show Preview: Pump Centre Conference & Exhibition

There’s never been a better time to attend one of the UK’s largest conference and exhibitions for the pumping industry at Telford’s International Centre on 11 May.

Organised by The Pump Centre and featuring 100 key manufacturers and firms across the entire supply chain, the event is expected to attract more than 80% of the organisation’s members.

Last year saw 1,100 attendees through the door in a single day. Pump Centre manager John Howarth is clear about its appeal – a unique combination of networking, business opportunities, knowledge sharing and skills development all under one roof and in the space of a single day.

“It’s a good opportunity for people to come along and meet a lot of good contacts, learn about the industry, get snippets of quality training, get fed, watered – and it’s all free of charge,” he says.

With a total of up to 25 technical sessions on hand – five in the main hall and as many as 20 breakouts – the event provides the sort of return on investment that cost-conscious employers demand today.

It’s a good opportunity for people to come along and meet a lot of good contacts, learn about the industry, get snippets of quality training, get fed, watered – and it’s all free of charge

John Howarth, Pump Centre manager

Everything, however, is provided access-all-areas and at no additional charge – and that includes even the parking and refreshments.

“It’s important when people attend that they can justify it to their companies. We’ve had plenty of good comments from the big utility companies that attend about the importance of training opportunities and that’s what we provide,” adds Howarth.

But as well as addressing the practical day to day matters such as skills development and demonstrating new products, The Pump Centre prides itself on setting the agenda rather than simply following it.

That’s reflected in the conference theme: ‘TOTEX: Pumping System Efficiency, Reliability & Optimisation’. It’s a chance to address Ofwat’s focus for the AMP6 period on total expenditure investment – making the best of the assets companies have rather than replacing them.

Moving with the times

That’s a game changer that requires an agile approach from the industry built around sustainability and long-term solutions.

“It’s about extending the life of equipment and getting things to last longer. Where capital expenditure was once the focus, now it’s spread over the operating and maintenance side as well.”

With an impressive range of speakers and sessions, there will be ample time to deal with a wide range of issues affecting everyone across the sector.

Topics will combine a mix of end users, suppliers and manufacturers. In addition to the main sessions throughout the day there will be parallel breakout seminars to reflect all areas of concern. Four side rooms will accommodate these, with sessions in two rooms at a time running simultaneously.

With between 16-20 breakouts planned, the challenge won’t be finding something to attend, but seeing as much as possible within the day.

The technical sessions are expected to cover topics such as:

• New approaches to system/station design
• Advances in system control and optimisation
• Use of SMART technology to improve efficiency and reliability
• Renewable energy generation
• Better data collection and analysis
• Application of Building Information Modelling (BIM) to pumping systems
• Reducing costs using innovative products and/or solutions
• Innovative ways of reducing planned and reactive maintenance
• New standards/changes to existing rules that impact pumps/system design and/or operation.

“Because you can choose your own agenda, the event is ideal for those who are new to the industry and the more experienced members of the team,” explains Howarth.

Themes will include sessions focused on pumps, another with a TOTEX/maintenance angle, another probably electrical based, and of course the ever-useful case histories.

With an eye on newcomers to the water industry, the afternoon section looks set to focus on specific engineering projects.

When it comes to those recent recruits, Howarth emphasises the need to address not only the younger entrants but also those with experience who are making a lateral move.

“What we’re finding is that the water industry has recruited a lot of people recently from outside the industry who could benefit from specific industry training, support and knowledge.”

With respect

A glance at the exhibitor list reveals an abundance of respected names and, tellingly, of the 100 or so stands, one in five is also a main sponsor for the event.

In terms of attendees to look out for, expect representatives from the likes of Thames, Southern and Scottish Water, plus United Utilities; contractors such as MWH and Black & Veatch; plus the main pump manufacturers in the water sector, including Grundfos, Xylem and Hydrostat.