Activities Report

BVAA AGM
A lively and well-attended 2015 AGM at Crewe Hall saw a continuation of the miniconference theme, with four speakers on topics as diverse as Export Finance, Biogas, Nuclear and UKCS Efficiency – each in their own way very thought provoking.

While members worked, their partners were hosted with a champagne lunch and fashion-themed partners’ programme. A special presentation was also made later to outgoing Marketing Chair Laurence Kettle, who has completed 30 years’ service on BVAA committees.

The evening Dinner and Ball was captivating, with a more ‘atmospheric’ stage set and cabaret provided by the amazing ‘Out of the Blue’ a Capella band – who kept the bar rocking until the early hours - and the equally indefatigable Star Band.

BVAA Spring Conference
The BVAA Dinner Dance is subsidised via member sponsorship – our grateful thanks once again go to Asco Numatics, KKI, Saco, Rotork and Zoedale who gave so generously.

Again generously sponsored by members HSP, Saco and Taylor Forgings, the BVAA Spring Conference was our best yet according to the feedback. Conference papers covered the use of CFD in the valve industry, development of subsea HIPPS valves, valve condition monitoring, API standards affecting the industry, the global oil and gas market outlook and more specifically the EIF world valve and actuator valve market forecast.

An extended Conference feature this year was the well-attended mini exhibition, which attracted 18 stands, mainly from our supplier members.

Golf
Again held in May at sun-blessed Celtic Manor, Wales, the Conference was followed by the usual members’ dinner, and then the Annual Golf Day. As keenly fought as ever, and supervised superbly by honorary Golf Director Rob Boycott (Cameron) the eventual winners were the defending Champions Valvestock with an impressive 85 points.

Our customer golf day in Scotland – also generously sponsored by GPEC/ATV and Schoolhill Hydraulics - was held this year at Inverurie at the recommendation of our Scots Golf Director, Peter Robertshaw (BEL Valves). And what a day it was! Again blessed with the most fantastic weather, despite the late September date, the tournament was won by 2013 winners HSP with a whopping 97 points!

A smaller golf day was also held at Cleckheaton at the kind invitation of Control Valve course lecturer Dave Martin (Valve Solutions) after the Brighouse Supplier Day - local knowledge obviously paying off as Dave’s team won again!

CEIR & VMA
BVAA’s Director Rob Bartlett and Technical Consultant Martin Greenhalgh participated in the CEIR Congress in Yorkshire in June. Although not members of this European body for some years, and with limited industrial valve activity of relevance to the UK, some of the sessions did prove useful with Rob participating in one of the panel sessions. BVAA has offered to participate in ongoing European Directives work to assist CEIR, as and when we can.

Rob Bartlett and Chairman David Millar attended the Valve Manufacturers of America Association (VMA) event in Naples, USA in October. The two Associations share many members and with ever-closer co-operation, such as at Valve World, find they have the same challenges and much in common.

Published: 17th February 2016