AUMA Actuators Limited - part of the AUMA Group, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of modular electric actuators - generates electricity from 178 photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roof of its Clevedon office and warehouse, whilst heating and cooling is generated using electric air-source heat pumps. The building’s lighting uses energy efficient LEDs. The company also operates a fleet of electric and hybrid vehicles.

Paul Hopkins, Managing Director, AUMA Actuators Limited, says:

“We believe that every business has a responsibility to reduce its carbon footprint. We are using the guidance provided by the Carbon Trust to accelerate our journey to Net Zero.

“At AUMA, we’ve been on the front foot since 2010, investing in the installation of 178 PV panels that make best use of the roof of our building. That investment alone has removed the equivalent of 50 cars off the roads over the last 13 years. That may sound underwhelming, but it’s these small savings that together accrue into major benefits".

Paul continued:

“Alongside PVs and our electric air-source heat pump, we encourage our team to cycle to work, taking advantage of the Government’s scheme that provides tax incentives to enable employees to buy bikes at a reduced cost. We have also taken steps to reduce our water consumption. And we have made significant progress in transitioning our company fleet to environmentally friendly vehicles, with over 50% now being hybrid or fully electric.

“But our commitment doesn’t end there. We continue to identify opportunities to reduce waste, removing the requirement for plastic packaging by introducing innovations such as reusable wooden crates for the delivery of actuators to site.”

The UK Government's Net Zero strategy sets out policies and proposals for decarbonising all sectors of the UK economy to meet net zero target by 2050.

AUMA’s broader sustainability agenda has developed from energy efficiency in its operations, to carbon, renewable energy, water and waste reduction, through to supply chain goals.

AUMA Actuators Limited is a major supplier of electric actuators to the water, gas and manufacturing industries. Customers include Anglian Water, Thames Water, and National Gas.

For further information visit www.auma.co.uk

The original AUMA SA6 B electric actuator was installed on a filter drain valve at Anglian Water’s North Walsham Water Treatment Works, just south of Cromer in north Norfolk. The actuator was replaced as part of AUMA Actuators Limited’s Service Level Agreement with Anglian Water.

Paul Hopkins, managing director of AUMA Actuator Limited commented:

“It’s extraordinary to think of the changes that have occurred during the service lifetime of this actuator. When it was first installed the internet as we know it didn’t exist and mobile phone communications were in their infancy.

“This clearly demonstrates the longevity and reliability of AUMA electric actuators, which prevents service downtime and maximises return on capital investment for water companies. Just think how many mobile phones we have all upgraded during the operational lifetime of this brilliant piece of equipment.”

The replacement pair of AUMA SA07.6 electric actuators with AC01.2 controls, were supplied along with two machined drive nuts. The new actuators were supplied to site packed in bespoke, reusable wooden packaging in just seven days from order.

AUMA's current range of SA actuators is used for open-close duty and positioning duty, and can be combined with various controls from simple OPEN-CLOSE control to the micro-controlled version with logging of operating data or fieldbus interface. Design features include torque range from 10 Nm to 32,000 Nm; output speeds from 4 to 180 rpm; limit and torque sensing; available with 3-ph AC, 1-ph AC and DC motors. Handwheel for manual operation.

North Walsham became a centre for weaving in the Anglo-Saxon era. The wealth generated enabled the local people to build St. Nicholas Church which dates back to 1330. Its tall tower is the second tallest in Norfolk after Norwich Cathedral.

For further information visit www.auma.co.uk

About AUMA Actuators Limited

Based in Clevedon, near Bristol, AUMA Actuators Limited is the UK subsidiary of the global AUMA Reister GmbH and Co., the world’s largest manufacturer of electric valve actuators, operating on every continent, with 2,300 employees in 30 locations.

AUMA Actuators Limited supplies, services and maintains actuators and gearboxes throughout the process world – water/waste, energy, petrochemical, chemical, marine, and more.

The pair of installed actuators for replacement were undersized for the application, causing them to torque out and overheat, as the existing gearbox shaft arrangements were not specified for the increased torque of larger actuators.

Colin Borrows, Operations Manager, AUMA Actuators Limited, says:

“It was clear from our inspection that the installed devices were clearly not up to the job and were in danger of failing due to being under-specified for the task in hand.

“The valves controlled by the actuators form part of the Thames Water Ring Main (formerly the London Water Ring Main). On occasion, the valves are opened to discharge excess capacity into the River Thames. Our experienced engineers installed two AUMA SA14.6 actuators, which provide higher torque output and umbilical capability, with remote mounted AC control heads on adaptor brackets, plus two umbilical looms. This direct drive capability with umbilical looms delivers the ideal solution for Thames Water.”

Thames Water’s project specification required the replacement of two actuators with gearbox and shaft arrangements. AUMA’s innovative solution comprised units directly mounted with umbilical cable systems from actuator gearcases through to remote mounted AC control heads, and heads mounted onto redundant pedestals with adaptor brackets.

AUMA's range of SA actuators is used for open-close duty and positioning duty, and can be combined with various controls from simple OPEN-CLOSE control to the micro-controlled version with logging of operating data or fieldbus interface. Design features include torque range from 10 Nm to 32,000 Nm; output speeds from 4 to 180 rpm; limit and torque sensing; available with 3-ph AC, 1-ph AC and DC motors. Handwheel for manual operation.

For further information visit www.auma.co.uk

About AUMA Actuators Limited

Based in Clevedon, near Bristol, AUMA Actuators Limited is the UK subsidiary of the global AUMA Reister GmbH and Co., the world’s largest manufacturer of electric valve actuators, operating on every continent, with 2,300 employees in 30 locations.

AUMA Actuators Limited supplies, services and maintains actuators and gearboxes throughout the process world – water/waste, energy, petrochemical, chemical, marine, and more.

AUMA UK and Anglian Water worked in partnership to develop and deploy a new and unique process to service, maintain and replace a range of actuators throughout the Anglian Water region. This extended SLA continues to provide Anglian Water with access to AUMA’s unique ‘rapid response’ service to replace both AUMA and other manufacturers’ equipment, as well as a ‘replacement in advance’ for critical actuators.

Cliff Marriner, Head of Integrated Maintenance Engineering, Anglian Water Services, says:

“Speed of response is essential to our operations. Given current global supply issues, AUMA’s ability to source and supply locally is a major benefit to us. They have been proactive in their approach which has helped us deliver our service to our customers. They have also introduced a number of added value innovations that demonstrate a willingness to go the extra mile for our benefit.”

Anglian Water’s key objective is to maximise availability of actuated valve operations throughout its region. The size and operating parameters of each installation varies, with a wide range of  combinations of actuator, controls and drive coupling required to be available at short notice. AUMA’s extensive range of high performance actuators is designed using a modular approach to actuator components. Actuators can be quickly combined to provide a bespoke actuator assembly constructed to the exact requirements of applications.

Paul Hopkins is AUMA UK’s Managing Director. He says:

“We have worked closely with Anglian Water over a number of years now to refine and shape the service we are able to offer, creating the SLA that we have been able to put in place as part of our supply contract with them.

“This collaborative approach has enabled us to shape our service to closely match the needs of Anglian Water. We have also introduced a number of innovations - from reducing our environmental impact through the use of sustainable packaging, to improving health and safety by reducing time on site undertaking repairs. In addition, we have created a unique online Anglian Water Knowledge Base, which is accessible to all registered Anglian Water engineers and technicians. This provides 24/7/365 access to essential information, video tutorials and technical information.”

Under Anglian Water’s SLA, AUMA undertakes to receive a faulty unit along with its drive coupling and replace it either from new or from service exchange stock, along with a newly machined drive coupling, within the agreed parameters of the SLA. AUMA offers a ‘Replacement in Advance’ service for critical installations, where AUMA provides a complete replacement unit in advance of the return of the faulty one. Paul Hopkins continues:

“Reactive maintenance can lead to all sorts of issues, such as repairs that require ongoing attention. That’s why a scheduled service programme offers a range of benefits - from preventing issues before they happen to better time management.”

AUMA is also providing full training to Anglian Water maintenance staff through its AUMA Certified Engineering (ACE) training. Delivered on-site, on-line or in AUMA’s dedicated training suite at its head office in Clevedon, Somerset, ACE is a structured programme that trains Anglian Water technicians to install, operate, maintain and troubleshoot AUMA actuators, meeting asset management obligations to maintain equipment in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Accredited ACE Technicians are provided with ID cards to prove their level of competency.

For further information visit www.auma.co.uk

About AUMA Actuators Limited

Based in Clevedon, near Bristol, AUMA Actuators Limited is the UK subsidiary of the global AUMA Reister GmbH and Co., the world’s largest manufacturer of electric valve actuators, operating on every continent, with 2,300 employees in 30 locations.

AUMA is the world leader in modular electric valve actuators and gearboxes, supplying a full range of actuators right across the process, water, petrochemical and energy sectors. AUMA manufactures robust, reliable equipment with sophisticated control and connectivity options, backed up with exceptional service support.

AUMA benefits include:

• Rugged and reliable products.
• Double-sealed actuator housing to protect the electronics.
• Tough and resilient finish.
• Powerful, with multi-turn actuators from 7 to 59,000 ft lb (10 to 80,000 Nm) and thrust acceptance up to 900,000 lbs (4,000 kN) and part-turn actuators from 18 to 498,000 ft lb (25 to 675,000 Nm).
• Worldwide availability and support.
• Modular, user-friendly design.

AUMA Actuators Limited - part of the global AUMA Group - based in Clevedon, south of Bristol, holds a comprehensive range of electric actuators and component parts for various applications for call-off from stock - from variable speed to underwater and remote mounted solutions.

Colin Borrows, Operations Manager, AUMA Actuators Limited, says:

“Global supply chain pressures, caused in part by the disruption of the Covid pandemic, continue to negatively impact project delivery schedules in the UK water industry.

“At AUMA, we offer an exceptional fast track delivery, available from UK stock, for many common actuator specifications. This can mean that replacement actuators, where required, can be on site within five working days and often quicker. In emergency cases, we can deliver actuators to site within 24 hours. This is made possible because our our close links with a same day carrier service; we have even quoted, built, tested and delivered to site on the same day when required.

“AUMA continues to supply actuators weekly on a fast-track basis, often for urgent replacements for other manufacturer’s actuators that have failed in service. A replacement from AUMA is often quicker than a repair or refurbishment from others due to instant access to UK stock for the builds.

“This unique service is now commonplace in the numerous service level agreements that we have with the UK’s leading water utility companies. It has created a real point of difference for us during the last couple of years, where supply lines have been severely disrupted as a result of the pandemic.”

Industrial Valves Limited are specialists in the supply of complete valve and actuation package solutions and ancillary equipment. The West Midlands based company has been a customer of AUMA Actuators Limited since 2015 and regularly uses its fast-track service.

James O’Toole, General Manager, Industrial Valves Limited, says:

“Long lead times have always been attributed to electric actuators. However, by utilising AUMA’s exceptional fast track delivery service we are able to satisfy the demands from key framework customers for actuated valves and penstocks packages in a matter of days rather than months. Thank you, AUMA!”

For further information visit www.auma.co.uk

About AUMA Actuators Limited

Based in Clevedon, near Bristol, AUMA Actuators Limited is the UK subsidiary of the global AUMA Reister GmbH and Co., the world’s largest manufacturer of electric valve actuators, operating on every continent, with 2,300 employees in 30 locations.

AUMA is the world leader in modular electric valve actuators and gearboxes, supplying a full range of actuators right across the process, water, petrochemical and energy sectors. AUMA manufactures robust, reliable equipment with sophisticated control and connectivity options, backed up with exceptional service support.

AUMA benefits include:

• Rugged and reliable products.
• Double-sealed actuator housing to protect the electronics.
• Tough and resilient finish.
• Powerful, with multi-turn actuators from 7 to 59,000 ft lb (10 to 80,000 Nm) and thrust acceptance up to 900,000 lbs (4,000 kN) and part-turn actuators from 18 to 498,000 ft lb (25 to 675,000 Nm).
• Worldwide availability and support.
• Modular, user-friendly design.

Thames Water’s Old Windsor Sewage Treatment Works is located on a low gravel peninsula known as Ham Island on the Berkshire bank of the Thames at Old Windsor. AUMA Actuators Limited was contracted to install a remote controlled AUMA SA10.2 actuator to automate the opening and closure of a hand wheel operated penstock. The installation also features an indicator light system, which is fitted to the actuator’s cover tube and enables operators to view the actuator status at distance on site.

Colin Borrows, Operations Manager, AUMA Actuators Limited, says:

“Thames Water wanted to automate the penstock operation on the bund at the Old Windsor Sewage Treatment Works using an actuator. The AUMA SA10.2 is perfect for this. With the addition of our unique indicator light system Thames Water’s onsite team can now see the operational status of the penstock from a distance, saving time and the need to check the valve position in-person.

“The Old Windsor site is steeped in history so it’s great to think that our solutions are providing peace of mind in a place that was once the seat of Saxon royalty.”

Old Windsor STW drains Windsor, parts of villages south-west, Datchet and Eton which for the most part have separate surface and foul drainage being outside of Victorian densely urban areas. The plant makes good use of its isolation and generally historic (and still occasional) flood meadow land to allow for water-quality oriented sludge sedimentation beds rather than some of the more expensive but compact separation technologies and beds used in other plants.

For further information visit www.auma.co.uk

About AUMA Actuators Limited

Based in Clevedon, near Bristol, AUMA Actuators Limited is the UK subsidiary of the global AUMA Reister GmbH and Co., the world’s largest manufacturer of electric valve actuators, operating on every continent, with 2,300 employees in 30 locations.

AUMA Actuators Limited supplies, services and maintains actuators and gearboxes throughout the process world – water/waste, energy, petrochemical, chemical, marine, and more.

A major sewage treatment works near Oxford serving over 214,000 people is benefiting from the installation of a number of new actuators that enable valves at the site’s Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant to be opened and closed from a centralised control panel, as well as by remote control. Previously the system was controlled by an air operated system that was prone to failure in icy conditions.

AUMA Actuators Limited installed eight new SQ10 open/close actuators with AC01.2 microprocessor-based controls, featuring a wide range of operating functions at Thames Water’s Oxford sewage treatment works. Thames Water site technicians now have a system that they can operate from the locally mounted AC01.2 control heads, with the ability to control valves remotely if required. 

Colin Borrows, Operations Manager, AUMA Actuators Limited, says:

“AUMA’s innovative AC controls are your perfect solution if the application requires self-adapting control functions, data logging, a configurable interface or if a valve and actuator are to be integrated into a Plant Asset Management System. On this install the AC01.2 units were mounted on a framework  separately from the SQ10 actuators, via Auma standard wall mount brackets due to high level locations of the actuators on each of the CHP engines.

“AUMA’s AC01.2 has been designed placing particular emphasis on user-friendliness and ease of integration of actuators into the DCS. The large graphic display simplifies the menu-controlled programming of the actuator, with the option to use AUMA CDT via wireless Bluetooth connection. For fieldbus connections, AC programming can be performed from the control room.”

As part of the project AUMA manufactured and installed two power and control distribution boards and terminal marshalling boxes mounted to unistrut frames. AUMA Service Technicians attended site to assist with the commissioning and installation of these units.

AUMA’s SQ range of actuators provide reliable open-close duty and positioning duty rated for class A and B or types of duty S2 - 15 min. Actuators can be combined with various controls, from simple open-close control to the micro-controlled version with logging of operating data or fieldbus interface. SQ actuators feature high enclosure protection, high quality corrosion protection and wide ambient temperature ranges.

For further information visit www.auma.co.uk

About AUMA Actuators Limited

Based in Clevedon, near Bristol, AUMA Actuators Limited is the UK subsidiary of the global AUMA Reister GmbH and Co., the world’s largest manufacturer of electric valve actuators, operating on every continent, with 2,300 employees in 30 locations.

AUMA Actuators Limited supplies, services and maintains actuators and gearboxes throughout the process world – water/waste, energy, petrochemical, chemical, marine, and more.

United Utilities delivers 1.8 billion litres of water a day to more than three million homes and businesses across the North West. A two year framework for actuator service and repair has been won by AUMA Actuators Limited (AUMA UK), a world leader in electric valve actuation technology, following a competitive tendering process issued by water and wastewater services provider United Utilities.

Paul Hopkins, Managing Director, AUMA UK, says:

“AUMA is well placed to deliver this prestigious framework. As part of the AUMA Group, we are able to leverage our strong European manufacturing and logistics capabilities, combined with our comprehensive local component stockholding, to provide fast turnaround on all repairs. 

“United Utilities is committed to reliability-centred maintenance, increasing the availability of critical assets, whilst at the same time reducing the costs associated with reactive maintenance. This aligns perfectly with AUMA’s approach to condition-based monitoring and maintenance. As the framework progresses we will work closely with United Utilities to achieve these goals.”

United Utilities’ Maintenance Sourcing team is dedicated to providing the best end-to-end service for engineers to enable them to return assets to service as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. AUMA’s extensive range of high performance actuators is designed using a modular approach to actuator components. Actuators can be quickly combined to provide a bespoke actuator assembly constructed to the exact requirements of applications.

Colin Borrows, Operations Manager, AUMA UK, says:

“This two year framework has a facility to extend by up to a further two years. It’s all about delivering an efficient Maintenance Sourcing service that supports United Utilities’ engineers in returning critical assets back to service.

“AUMA has demonstrated its considerable technical capability and competence, in terms of disconnecting and removing actuators from valves and penstocks. This, combined with our expertise in both on and off-site repair, and reinstallation, testing and commissioning makes the company an aligned partner in this important service framework.”

AUMA is also providing training to United Utilities’ maintenance staff through its AUMA Certified Engineering (ACE) training. Delivered on-site, on-line or in AUMA’s dedicated training suite at its head office in Clevedon, Somerset, ACE is a structured programme that trains technicians to install, operate, maintain and troubleshoot AUMA actuators, meeting asset management obligations to maintain equipment in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Accredited ACE Technicians are provided with ID cards to prove their level of competency.

For further information visit www.auma.co.uk

About AUMA Actuators Limited

Based in Clevedon, near Bristol, AUMA Actuators Limited is the UK subsidiary of the global AUMA Reister GmbH and Co., the world’s largest manufacturer of electric valve actuators, operating on every continent, with 2,300 employees in 30 locations.

AUMA is the world leader in modular electric valve actuators and gearboxes, supplying a full range of actuators right across the process, water, petrochemical and energy sectors. AUMA manufactures robust, reliable equipment with sophisticated control and connectivity options, backed up with exceptional service support.

AUMA benefits include:

• Rugged and reliable products.
• Double-sealed actuator housing to protect the electronics.
• Tough and resilient finish.
• Powerful, with multi-turn actuators from 7 to 59,000 ft lb (10 to 80,000 Nm) and thrust acceptance up to 900,000 lbs (4,000 kN) and part-turn actuators from 18 to 498,000 ft lb (25 to 675,000 Nm).
• Worldwide availability and support.
• Modular, user-friendly design.