NEWS
GARY WHARTON, SALES TEAM LEADER,
LANDIA A
nother pump salesman telling you that guess what: “Our pump is better than their pump!”
Hopefully not!
I might also tell you that if you know exactly what you want in the form of a bog- standard, off-the-shelf, cheap pump, then this ‘Ask the Expert’ column probably isn’t for you…. or is it? That’s the trouble though. Many people think they know what they want, and with good reason, but when a company like ours (established 1933) asks lots of questions, and a healthy dialogue begins to take shape, then we often find that it isn’t actually a bog-standard pump that’s required at all; what’s needed is a proper solution to a quite challenging problem, where a pump hasn’t been able to cope with solids. The scenario isn’t just that of a blocked pump. The knock-on
effect is costly downtime, maintenance, and all the hassle that goes with it. Pump or mixer failure can cost £10,000 to £50,000 per day in lost production and compliance exposure. Ever tightening Environment Agency enforcement and discharge standards greatly increase the financial and reputational consequences of disruptive and operational failures. This is all exacerbated by the pressure of shrinking in-house engineering resources across utilities and industry, driving the demand for reliable, external, cost-effective expertise. We recently worked with a customer who had a pretty awful pumping station with a large volume of accumulated solids. It had become one of those ‘oh no, not that again’ tasks as the standard duty pumps became blocked again and again. The frustrated company was close to purchasing a costly grinder, but looking closely at the application, we showed how our Chopper Pump would continuously reduce particle sizes, rather than a grinder’s one, single pass. Later, following the installation of our freestanding system, the existing duty pump, rather than be discarded, has effectively been protected; able to pump wastewater again without blocking. Meanwhile, our simple pump/mixing system gets to grips with the main task of tackling the invading heavy solids, so that the lift/ pumping station can operate as it is meant to. So, do ‘ask an expert’ at a company that has real knowledge, and
proven long-lasting equipment, even in the toughest of applications. Do ask for examples.
If you think you’ve found a recognised, reliability-led pump company that is truly centred on long-term performance and accountability, then………. call them! Do they answer the ‘phone?! How quickly? Are they helpful? Or are they just trying to sell, sell, sell? Are they listening? – really listening? And are they tied to a screen, or are they prepared to drag themselves away from their office and offer to visit your site to see first-hand what problem it is that you need help in solving? Pumping wastewater with high solids will always get the better of standard, conventional equipment, so if your effluent system/ pumping station has become a place of dread, then please don’t waste your time and money with yet another doomed-to-fail pump. Speak directly with a company that has genuine expertise in high solids – as well as the enthusiasm and drive that doesn’t diminish until they’ve helped you solve your problem.
www.landia.co.uk
6 PROCESS & CONTROL ENGINEERING | APRIL 2026
COBOTS COMBINE FLEXIBILITY & PERFORMANCE
A
BB Robotics is combining the flexibility of cobots with higher payloads and performance, with the launch of its new PoWa cobot family into the rapidly expanding global collaborative robot market, which ABB Robotics estimates will grow by 20 percent annually through to 2028.
“Cobots are growing
significantly faster than traditional industrial robots, driven by demands from both small and mid-sized companies starting their automation journey as well as large enterprises,” said Andrea Cassoni, Head of Collaborative Robots at ABB Robotics. “These customers are seeking higher speeds and payloads, but also greater ease of use, and compact designs. Established manufacturers want to automate heavier, fast cycle applications, without the complexity and operational rigidity of traditional industrial robots. We are meeting these needs with the global launch of our high-speed PoWa cobot family – a name that symbolises its powerful, industrial-grade performance in a compact collaborative robot form.”
The new PoWa family addresses a long-standing gap in the market between traditional cobots, that often lack the speed and payload required for industrial applications, and conventional industrial robots, which are designed for highly specialised, large-scale automation environments, going beyond the needs of many collaborative tasks. PoWa offers six different payload categories, from 7kg to 30kg, the longest reach and highest arm load on the market and best-in-class top speed of up to 5.8m/s (speed of PoWa 10 and PoWa 13).
www.abb.com/global/en/areas/robotics
M
SIGN UP FOR NATIONAL MANUFACTURING DAY
anufacturers across the UK are being urged to sign up for National Manufacturing Day (NMD) 2026, as Make UK opens registrations for what promises to be the sector’s biggest
nationwide open-house yet. Taking place later this year on Thursday, 24 September, National Manufacturing Day will for a fifth time see hundreds of companies open their doors to schools, colleges, universities and the wider public – offering a unique, behind-the-scenes look at modern manufacturing and the exciting careers it offers.
Now firmly established as a flagship event in the industry calendar, NMD gives visitors the chance to experience first-hand how manufacturers operate, explore cutting-edge technologies, and discover the diverse opportunities available across the sector – from engineering and aerospace to food, defence and advanced materials. Manufacturers are encouraged to sign up early to take part. Registration is simple and quick – requiring only a company name, logo, a brief description, and a contact email. Detailed event plans can be developed over time, with support and resources provided by the NMD team.
Whether hosting site tours, skills demonstrations, careers talks or hands-on activities, businesses of all sizes can take part and play a vital role in inspiring future talent.
www.makeuk.org nmd@makeuk.org
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