NEWS
THE BENEFITS OF ON- SITE MODULARITY
delivery and increase flexibility. AUMA actuators have modules that can remain separate right up to the installation stage, potentially cutting weeks from both the delivery schedule and time spent on site.
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An AUMA actuator has three basic components: the electrical connector, which takes the form of a large plug and socket; the control unit; and the main body, incorporating the valve mounting, gearbox, motor and handwheel.
On-site modularity allows each of these components to be routed to the appropriate subcontractor. The valve mounting, motor and gearbox can go straight to the valve supplier or pipework contractor as soon as they are ready, without waiting for the control specialists. The control unit can go to the control subcontractor, and the electrical connector to the electrical subcontractor. Allowing the wiring, programming and commissioning to overlap can save many weeks on tight project timescales.
Modular assembly also keeps other site work to a minimum, saving time and improving safety especially when working in confined spaces or at heights. Modular design eases installations in confined spaces because each of the major components can be installed in any of four rotational positions, giving a total of 64 configurations.
Where space is really tight or where harsh environmental conditions such as high levels of heat or vibration exist, a pre- wired umbilical cable allows the control unit to be
positioned up to 100m from the valve, which also means that a
single operator can attend to them, even if the actuators themselves are
mounted in a hazardous or confined area.
www.auma.co.uk
odular design of products is a powerful way to cut costs, speed
INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY SET TO BRING INVESTMENT BOOST T
he announcement of a long term industrial strategy is set to bring immediate benefits to the UK economy, with more than a third of companies saying they will now accelerate investment projects as a direct result of the announcement, according to a major annual survey on investment priorities published by Make UK and RSM UK.
However, both Make UK and RSM UK are urging the Government to use the forthcoming Budget to not just safeguard vital investment incentives which the survey shows are key drivers of manufacturers’ investment decisions but, to extend them further. According to the survey, almost four in ten companies (37%) make their investment decisions based on the availability of tax reliefs. This call coincides with findings that investment intensity in manufacturing dropped to its lowest level last year since the immediate aftermath of the EU Referendum in 2016.
Fhaheen Khan, Senior Economist at Make UK, said: “The forthcoming Budget must not only safeguard current incentives but, refine them with a set of carefully targeted measures to focus on boosting the take up of accelerating technologies and innovation.”
Mike Thornton, head of manufacturing at RSM UK, added: “Despite headwinds, UK manufacturers remain optimistic, but to allow them to transform, invest and drive future prosperity they need a helping hand from the government, not more taxes.” Key findings of the survey include:
37% of companies will increase investment in
response to the Industrial Strategy Decarbonisation, AI and digital technologies to be
main focus of investments Almost 4 in 10 companies make investment
decisions based on the availability of incentives But, investment intensity is the lowest since the EU
Referendum Confidence in domestic demand the biggest
driver of investment, while frequent changes to tax policy cited as one of the biggest barriers The announcement of an industrial strategy is being specifically used to drive investment in decarbonisation by more than 4 in 10 companies (43.%). Investment in data analytics and AI (35.4%) and increased manufacturing capacity (34.2%) are a priority for around a third of companies. Skills has overtaken plant and machinery as the leading general investment priority in the next twelve months (47.6% and 44.1% respectively). Amid the ongoing debate about the investment performance of UK industry compared to international competitors, almost two thirds of companies (68%) invest up to 10% of their turnover in plant and machinery, with a further fifth (18%) investing between 10% and 50%.
However, investment intensity (investment as a percentage of turnover) is now the lowest since 2017 at 6.8%, down significantly from last year when it reached a ten-year high of 8.1%.
Furthermore, more than two thirds of companies (68%) invest up to 10% of turnover in R&D, while almost one in five (18%) invest between 10% and 50%. R&D intensity has also fallen slightly to 6.2% from 6.5% last year. The survey of 170 companies was conducted between 23 July and 21 August.
www.makeuk.org/insights/reports/investment- monitor-2025
HELPING BUSINESSES UNDERSTAND NON-COMMODITY COSTS
power Business Solutions (nBS) has launched a new Energy Cost Calculator to help organisations understand how rising non- commodity costs – the policy, network and system charges that fund the UK’s electricity infrastructure – could affect their energy invoices. nBS designed the industry-first digital tool amid concerns revealed in its Business Energy Tracker 2025, which explored how energy costs and policy developments are affecting large UK businesses. The report found that energy remains the top business risk for the fourth consecutive year, with 79% of organisations expecting their energy invoices to rise over the next 12 months. With non-commodity costs set to increase significantly over the next five years to support the government’s Clean Power 2030 mission, nBS’s Energy Cost Calculator will provide organisations with a snapshot of the rises they could be facing, based on their business sector and annual energy consumption.
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Developed using data from nBS’s Optimisation Desk, the tool is supported by a team of experts who help organisations manage costs through energy efficiency, demand management and on-site generation. The Optimisation Desk also produces regular
resources explaining non-commodity costs and the factors that are driving their increase. Anthony Ainsworth, Chief Operating Officer at nBS, said: “Rising non-commodity costs are one of the most considerable pressures facing UK businesses. These charges already account for a significant share of most energy invoices, and nBS estimates they could rise to as much as 75% of a customer’s total bill by the start of the next decade.
“These costs simply can’t be ignored. They’re growing faster than the cost of energy itself and will play a major role in shaping business budgets over the coming years. Figures from our latest Business Energy Tracker revealed that, while many businesses support the government’s clean power plans and understand the benefits it can bring, 97% of organisations are concerned about the cost impact of the low-carbon transition. “In 60 seconds, our new Energy Cost Calculator gives organisations a clear, data-driven picture of how these changes could affect them, to help them take control and manage the impact. I would encourage all energy leaders to use it, as it can also help support net zero strategies now and in the future.”
The Energy Cost Calculator is available now at:
https://npowerbusinesssolutions.com/businessco nfidence/energycostcalculator
6 OCTOBER 2025 | PROCESS & CONTROL
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