The British Valve and Actuator Association (BVAA) recently organized a Regional Dinner and Supplier Day. At this event, the general consensus was that the industry is set to enjoy significant progress in 2019, with business growth and product innovation on the agenda.
Nearly 100 people attended the event hosted by the BVAA, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year. Time allocated for one-to-one sessions between customers and suppliers reached full capacity, with 126 meetings facilitated. The full quota of desktop exhibition space was also filled.
Noteworthy attendees at the event held in Brighouse included engineering services company Worley Parsons, which sent a representative to meet with valve companies. New BVAA members such as Rollstud and Buxton Special Alloys were in attendance, as was returning member Score. Exhibitors ranged from MSP, a leading manufacturer of springs and stampings in exotic materials, to bolting product specialist SFC Europe.
The BVAA’s CEO, Rob Bartlett, says the number and caliber of attendees, coupled with the nature and quantity of the one-to-one sessions, is a positive sign. “This is our biggest member’s event of the year, and the vibe was very upbeat,” Bartlett explained. “There was lots of interest in new and improved components and materials which could help valve and actuator companies stretch the performance of their products. The general consensus was that the future is looking very bright for our industry. Several attendees commented on the quality of opportunities generated and called for similar events to be held in other parts of the UK.”
