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New Chemical Industry Brochure

HMD Kontro, part of Sundyne, are proud to be innovators when it comes to the safe and efficient handling of toxic and dangerous fluids within the chemical industry.

Our sealless magnetic drive pumps can handle high temperatures, high pressures and volatile, corrosive, carcinogenic and aggressive substances found within chemical pump applications such as chlor-alkali, solvents, inorganic chemicals, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fertilisers, and many others. Providing total fluid containment with no seals or seal support systems, HMD Kontro pumps deliver the highest levels of safety and environmental protection.

Chemical Industry Brochure

Our new chemical brochure showcases the wide range of chemical service sealless pumps available from HMD Kontro and ANSIMAG and is also available to view and download.

The brochure includes details of our recently expanded HMD Kontro CSI ISO metallic sealless chemical service pump range, alongside the recently launched ANSIMAG ALI ISO ETFE-lined sealless pump.  Together, HMD Kontro and ANSIMAG offer an extensive range of ISO compliant sealless magnetic drive pumps for a wide variety of challenging chemical processing applications.

To view and download the new brochure, please see the Brochures section in our Resources hub.

ACHEMA in August

See us on the Sundyne stand

If you can drag yourself away from the beach or that vacation in the countryside, then please join us at the ACHEMA exhibition, which is being held in Frankfurt Germany between the 22nd and 26th of August. You can find us on the Sundyne stand, Number D7 in Hall 8.

ACHEMA Sundyne

We will be showcasing the CSA / CSI range, which is the latest addition to the HMD Kontro portfolio. The modular design of these pumps not only ensures secure and safe operation, as with all of our sealless magnetic drive pumps, but they also provide the benefit of simple servicing, minimal maintenance, easy upgrades and maximum part interchangeability for low-cost operation, along with full compliance to the applicable ASME / ISO standards.

The CSI ISO pump range has recently been expanded with additional models to extend the operational envelope. The range is now available in 13 x Frame 1 sizes, providing hydraulic coverage to flows of 120 m3/hr and heads up to 62 m, with a further 16 x Frame 2 sizes being released later this year.

Alongside the CSA / CSI, the recently introduced ANSIMAG ALI range will also be on show. Also conforming to ISO requirements, the ALI offers similar benefits to the CSI, but with an ETFE-lined construction, making it particularly suitable for use with corrosive chemicals.

You will be able to discuss the complete Sundyne portfolio for chemical and petrochemical applications with our team at ACHEMA. To register to attend the event please see the ACHEMA website. We hope to see you there.

WeCare – A New Addition To The HMDBe Programme

The future and success of HMD Kontro is reliant on the efforts of our talented team. We therefore place a lot of emphasis on the health and wellbeing of our workforce. Consequently, in 2018, we incorporated wellness into our company structure with the HMDBe programme. This is a comprehensive support programme to ensure employees stay fit, healthy and happy that is available to all staff.

WeCare Programme

 

WeCare is an exciting new initiative

We are continually looking to improve and enhance the scheme and to this end have just added an exciting new employee benefit, namely WeCare. This is a brand new initiative designed to support the workforce.

 

A support service that is available 24/7/365

WeCare is available around the clock 24/7, which gives access to an online GP, as well as a mental health support service, a get fit programme and more. It provides direct access to a UK-based doctor by way of a video call, avoiding the need to visit a doctor’s surgery. Private prescriptions are also available via this service. Also up to ten counselling sessions are available to help manage any mental health challenges.

 

Experts can be contacted via phone, tablet or desktop

WeCare is really accessible and experts in wellbeing, physical and mental health can be contacted using a phone, tablet or desktop. Advice is available on giving up smoking, losing weight, drinking issues as well as counselling. And that’s not all! The service is also open to family members residing at the same address.

 

WeCare is available for the HMD Kontro team. Check out the careers section for more information.

CSI chemical service pump range expands to meet demands of global ISO market

With the introduction of additional models to our CSI chemical service pump range, we are expanding our ISO sealless magnetic drive pump offering and meeting the needs of an even wider range of chemical pump applications.

The CSI chemical service sealless magnetic drive pump range has been expanded to include additional models, providing comprehensive hydraulic coverage with a total of 13 Frame 1 and 16 Frame 2 sizes.   Meeting ISO dimensional and construction standards 2858 and 15783, the expansion of the CSI range has focused primarily on additional hydraulics and a feature set which allows greater variation in the inlet and outlet sizes, allowing a wider range of flow rates of up to 120 m3/h and heads up to 62m, all optimised for high performance.

CSI Chemical Service Pump Range Expansion

HMD Kontro’s CSI sealless pumps set the standard for metallic magnetic drive ISO pumps.   With space-saving close-coupled or separately mounted/long coupled configurations, the CSI range is specifically designed to handle aggressive, corrosive, or acidic liquids in chemical applications.  With zero leaks or product emissions, the CSI magnetic drive pump is well suited to many of the pumping services found within these chemical facilities including the processing of chlor-alkali, agricultural chemicals, fine and inorganic chemicals, isocyanates, plastics, and polymers. Also, within other manufacturing industries such as battery manufacturing, water and wastewater, and petro-chemicals.

“The expansion of the CSI range ensures that we can continue to offer a world class chemical pumping solution for the ISO markets with not only the highest levels of robustness in the field but with an enhanced customer driven feature set. We can also maintain maximum pump configurability with rapid availability regardless of the specification needed” explains Hannah Verrall, Product Line Manager, HMD Kontro.

The CSI range is engineered specifically to deliver high performance and superior safety when pumping hazardous fluids.  Key benefits of the CSI and other HMD Kontro sealless magnetic drive pumps include:

  • Total fluid containment providing better environmental protection and operator safety
  • No seals or support systems eliminating possible leakage and resulting pump downtime
  • Dimensionally interchangeable options for existing installations for a more simplified procurement and commissioning process
  • Global availability and full online selection and configuration capabilities

In addition, the CSI range comes with a wide range of additional features that can be selected especially for applications requiring an additional layer of protection including Secondary Control/Containment, and the ZeroLoss containment shell, which significantly improves efficiency.

Complimenting the HMD Kontro CSI line is the new Ansimag ALI line of non-metallic lined sealless magnetic drive pumps.   All Ansimag wetted parts are moulded ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoro Ethylene) components that can safely handle a wide range of corrosives and solvents without corrosion.

For more information, please visit our CSI Frame 1 sealless pump page.

The Life And Times Of A Racing Driver

HMD Kontro is delighted to be sponsoring our team member Neil Jessop again this year in the Modified Ford Series. Motor racing is an expensive sport and Neil says the financial support he gets from the company is a huge help. The series is growing every year and the provisional calendar, consisting of nine races has already been published with the first race at Silverstone scheduled for 20 March. The racing is starting much earlier than last year, so it must be a good sign that we are moving on from Covid.

The Life And Times Of A Racing Driver

 

Changing the suspension geometry for faster lap times

During the racing season Neil admits that there are always mechanical issues with the car, some more major than others, with some jobs being able to be put off until winter. These include issues that are either not that critical or an improvement is required that will be a big job and cannot be fitted in between meetings. This means Neil has been working through the small jobs over the winter period. He has also had his hands full changing the suspension geometry of his Ford Escort, to quite a large degree, involving new suspension components and altering the car itself to make it all fit. This is aimed at giving the car more grip on the track for even faster lap times.

 

Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Donington and Snetterton

Neil is hopeful he will be racing at the first meeting although he is currently on the reserve list for the event at Silverstone, as the grid is oversubscribed. His plans include racing at six of the meetings, namely:

  • Silverstone – 20 March
  • Brands Hatch – 9-10 April
  • Donington – 28 May
  • Snetterton – 23-24 July
  • Brands Hatch – Ford Power Live – 18 Sept
  • Brands Hatch – Formula Ford Festival – 22-23 October

This means he will only be missing out on Knockhill, Cadwell Park and Oulton Park, which are the races that are furthest away from Neil’s base in East Sussex.

 

Staying fit and eating healthily are all part of the job

Neil puts a lot of effort into staying in shape, as he believes this gives him an advantage over his fellow competitors. That hundredth of a second can make the difference between winning and losing! He also believes if you get tired during a race, you can lose concentration and make mistakes. The secret to staying fit is actually enjoying it and Neil has been participating in CrossFit for many years. This is a combination of strength and conditioning which involves Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, gymnastics, running, rowing and more. CrossFit advocates sound nutrition and Neil incorporates a good diet into his healthy lifestyle.

 

The mechanics of the Ford Escort

Although Neil’s Ford Escort is a classic, everything on it is built to modern specifications. The engine is a modern all aluminium 2 litre machine that you would typically find in a new Ford Focus or Mondeo. However, it has been rebuilt to include lots of racing parts to produce around 280bhp. The car has a 5 speed racing gearbox with the shock absorbers having been custom built by an American company.

 

Wheels and tyres designed for speeds of 140mph

The wheels are custom alloys specially designed for the car. Tyres are Avon racing slicks, which take up a big part of the budget, but are worth the expense as they make a massive difference to the performance of the car. They are the only bit touching the track so all the other modifications would be wasted if inferior tyres were used and with speeds reaching up to 140mph, depending on the circuit, good tyres are a must. The tyres actually cost £360 each and last for about three to four meetings depending on the circuit surface with some race tracks being more abrasive than others. Another salient factor on wear and tear is the weather with hot conditions causing tyres to lose their edge more quickly.

 

Before and after a race

The pre race procedure usually involves travelling the day before the race and staying in a hotel close to the circuit. As you might expect, a lot of Neil’s friends are keen on racing so he has help when going to an event. However, even when things go well at the race, there is still a lot to do including some fine-tuning before the next race, but hopefully no major mechanical work.

 

HMD Kontro wishes Neil every success in the Modified Ford Series

We would like to wish Neil every success this year and we look forward to hearing all his racing news. We aim to keep you informed throughout the season and of course if you are near to any of the circuits, we hope you might go along to support Neil racing his shiny black 1978 Ford Escort Mark 2 classic car. It really stands out with its new livery including red and yellow stripes and white HMD Kontro branding.

Time to Vote

For HMD Kontro in the Pump Industry Awards 2022

A couple of weeks ago we announced that we had been shortlisted as a finalist in the prestigious 2022 Pump Industry Awards – one of the pump industry’s leading annual events. The voting has now opened, and you are now able to cast your vote.

Time to Vote

The voting is only open for a short time and will close on Friday 25th February 2022. Your votes will be coupled with the overall ranking as established by the Judging Panel for each entry to determine the eventual winners.

HMD Kontro was selected as a finalist following a review by a panel of experienced industry experts and is competing in the ‘Environmental Contribution of the Year’ category with our CSA/CSI range of pumps. The range that is designed to protect people and the environment from hazardous liquids whilst maintaining product integrity.

The 2022 Awards will conclude with the Gala Award Dinner which will take place on 31st March at the Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth, UK.

Demonstrate your support for HMD Kontro’s sealless pumps by voting for us online. You can read our supporting entry and register your vote on the Pump Industry Awards website.

Environmental Award Finalist

HMD Kontro’s CSA/CSI range of pumps has been shortlisted as a finalist in the prestigious 2022 Pump Industry Awards, one of the pump industry’s leading annual events.

The CSA/CSI range has been nominated under the ENVIRONMENTAL CONTRIBUTION OF THE YEAR Category. This award is given to pump products, systems or services which have made a significant contribution to environmental issues, such as energy savings, emissions control, noise reduction or life cycle costs.

HMD Kontro was selected from among the many entries received for this year’s Awards following a review by a panel of experienced industry experts.

HMD Kontro - PIA Finalists

Voting opens on 21st February and will run until 25th of February. The overall winner will be determined by a combination of the Judging Panel’s score, coupled with the number of online votes received. The 2022 Awards will conclude with the Gala Award Dinner which will take place on 31st March at the Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth, UK.

Developed to meet the specific challenges of the chemical and industrial process sectors, the CSA/CSI pump range is designed to protect people and the environment from hazardous, corrosive or toxic liquids, where product integrity cannot be compromised.

Among the many features incorporated into the CSA/CSI range, and increasingly important in product choice, is the ZeroLoss containment shell, which is available as an alternative to the traditional metallic design. Improved hydraulic efficiency and power savings of up to 25% are delivered by reduced induction losses.

Also important to the range’s environmental credentials is the availability of secondary sealing control measures, both for compliance purposes and to provide enhanced safety measures as a further backup in very hazardous processes. HMD Kontro offers a choice of either secondary control or secondary containment options, available across the entire CSA/CSI range, for both close coupled and separately mounted design configurations.

Demonstrate your support for HMD Kontro’s sealless pumps by voting for us online. You can read our supporting entry and register your vote from the 21st February on the Pump Industry Awards website.

Industry Insight – Channel Partner Advisory Board

Across the past couple of days, we have been hosting a Channel Partner Advisory Board here in Eastbourne. The meeting has been primarily focused on our activities in the chemical and industrial market across Europe and covered the complete Sundyne product portfolio including HMD Kontro, Ansimag, Sunflo and PPI.

Industry Insight

 

The meeting took place at a venue on the seafront and included a visit to and tour of the HMD Kontro head office and manufacturing facilities. We welcomed representatives from five different channel partners as well as also broadcasting to two more who attended remotely. Senior personnel from Sundyne including the CEO, Mary Zappone, also flew over from the US to join us.

Meeting with multiple channel partners in one space provided the perfect opportunity to discuss new market activities and developments including an insight into a new product we are releasing in the first quarter of the new year. It also allowed for our channel partners to provide feedback on how Sundyne is performing and to suggest recommendations as to how we can continuously improve our operations.

The information received gives us an invaluable insight into the actions to implement in support of our partners and customers going forward.  It has been a productive couple of days and has been a joy to welcome representatives and fellow personnel to Eastbourne.

Fasten your seatbelts! The view from inside Car 63

With lockdown restrictions easing, our race driver team member, Neil Jessop, has at last now been out racing once again, although at the moment without spectators. In his heavily modified 1978 Mark 2 Ford Escort, sponsored by HMD Kontro, Neil has achieved some great results, despite a few mechanical issues.

 

9 May Donington – Winner of Class B in both Race 1 and Race 2

With thirty-seven cars on the grid, Neil won his class in both races and also finished ninth and tenth overall respectively, beating many cars from higher classes. He also set the lap record in his class of 1:17:486.

 

13 June Mallory Park – Third in Class B in Race 2

This was an amazing result, as Neil had to start Race 2 from the back of the grid after an electrical issue earlier meant no result in Race 1. With skilful driving, he made his way through to eleventh at the finishing flag, giving him third in Class B. He also recorded the second-fastest lap of 51.773 seconds.

See the full video from Race 2 at Donington over on YouTube (it is not for the faint-hearted).

 

The series continues with races in July at Anglesey and Cadwell Park and then it’s on to Oulton Park and Brands Hatch with the last race at Snetterton in October. We will keep you updated with Neil’s progress!

HMD Kontro Appoints New Health & Safety Reps

The importance of health & safety at HMD Kontro is never underestimated and it is something that is taken extremely seriously. Employees, sub-contractors, customers, visitors and any members of the public are all taken into consideration when ensuring the company’s premises are as safe as possible and so revitalising the team was considered very important and vital. Consequently, a company election was held to appoint new Health & Safety representatives. The outcome was that HMD Kontro now has a team made up predominantly of new employee safety reps who will work alongside the two existing and experienced representatives.

Promoting free-flowing and candid conversations

Bi-monthly committee meetings are planned with the most recent one attended by the newly appointed representatives. All in all, it was very successful as everyone came well prepared and all brought something to the table allowing for a free-flowing and candid discussion and if there are any issues or concerns that arise between meetings, these can be raised with the EHS manager. It is hoped that the new reps will be as proactive as possible and already they are being utilised for incident investigation. This will not only give them an insight into a range of situations, but also enable them to give their viewpoint on activities and solutions. Further training will be provided to help the reps settle into and be confident in their new roles.

 

Health and Safety Team

Above (from left to right): Andy Mann, Liane Emery, Andy Schlotter, Claire Penfold, Brian Cordingley.

 

What do the Health & Safety Reps say?

Brian Cordingley – Storeman – “My aim is to help the team make HMD Kontro a safe and enjoyable place to work.”

Claire Penfold – Factory, Shop Floor – “I want to understand more about the health and safety side of the business. It will enable me to help my colleagues and to also assist the company in recognising where workplace related problems could occur. I’ll be a small part of the team to help overcome and solve problems that may arise.”

Liane Emery – Service Co-ordinator – “Having been with HMD Kontro for twelve years, I jumped at the opportunity to be a Health & Safety Rep. My aim is to help David and the team bring awareness and make the work areas safer places to be, which will ensure better safety for everyone.”

Andy Schlotter – Paint Sprayer – “I became a rep four years ago with my main reason being that I felt quite strongly about safety in the work place and wanted to try to improve people’s awareness of it and help in some small way. Everyone should be aware of how dangerous it can be working in a manufacturing and engineering environment. As I have spent all my working life in this industry, I feel I do know about the types of dangers it can bring. By educating others, I feel I’ve helped in my own way. The paint shop also brings with it some unpleasant and dangerous substances and so this has made me very aware about being vigilant in my every day job and hopefully I can make others aware of good practices.”

Andrew Mann IEng MIMechE – Senior Product Engineer – “I became a Health & Safety Rep about five years ago and have now been re-elected for a second five year term. I took on the role to help maintain, support and improve the health and safety of our workplace in order to ensure a safe working environment for all HMD employees. I bring to the role previous experience, which I hope will help the new members of the ‘safety team’. I want to continue and encourage staff to raise safety concerns, whilst broadly assisting in the general overview of the company safety systems ensuring we all go home safely at the end of each working day. I would like to specialise my Health & Safety representative role in the Display Screen Equipment (DSE) regulations and assessment.”

 

Looking after the mental health of employees

Mental health is a big issue in the workplace today and consequently, HMD Kontro also has two mental health first aiders onsite. These roles are currently completely separate from the safety representative roles although there is nothing to prevent a member of staff having both positions should they wish to put themselves forward when there is a vacancy.

HMD Kontro – safe pumps and a safe place to work

With the new appointments, HMD Kontro now has two office reps and two factory reps. Despite an imminent retirement, one of the HMD Kontro Health & Safety reps is staying on as part of the team in the role of mentor for the new appointees and will be working alongside them to pass on valuable information and lessons that have been learned over the years. HMD Kontro sealless pumps are inherently safe thanks to them being completely leak free and this fits perfectly with the company’s focus on site safety.

Perfected Sealless Pumps Article – Pump Engineer

In chemical processing, with increasing environmental concerns and a strengthening of international safety standards, choosing the right pumps is essential when it comes to protecting plants and people against potentially dangerous leaks and avoiding processing downtime.

In a new article, published in Pump Engineer, Darren Martin, our Global Product Line Manager, looks at the latest developments in magnetic drive sealless pumps and how they protect the environment and ensure operator safety.

Perfected Sealless Pumps - Pump Engineer

The article charts the recent evolution of sealless pumps, illustrating how the latest new technologies and materials have been applied to further advance and perfect modern magnetic drive sealless pumps, such as HMD Kontro’s CSA/CSI range.  Not only maintaining their highly safe operation, but also making them an attractive proposition in terms of product life cycle time and costs savings, offering greater flexibility and ease of maintenance.

Please read the full article on the Pump Engineer website: www.pumpengineer.net/webarticles/2021/06/17/perfected-sealless-pumps.html

Women in Engineering

In the week that celebrated Women In Engineering day with the theme of Engineering Heroes, we are pleased to see two of our own heroes featured in a Women In Engineering special feature in PII (Process Industry Informer) magazine. Please click the following link to go directly to the featured pages:

magazine.processindustryinformer.com/books/eltt/#p=17

Women in Engineering

 

Written by our HR Manager, Jennifer Woolett, the article is headed ‘Taking Action on Gender Diversity’ and includes how HMD Kontro is fully committed to encouraging women to embrace engineering as a career choice with short profiles of Hannah Verrall and Jo Whitling from our company.

Eastbourne & Bred

A Tale of Two Brothers – Both Pump Pioneers

Did you know that the home of HMD Kontro in Eastbourne is not just the sunniest place in the UK, but it is also a thriving pump cluster?

Home to not only HMD Kontro, over the years a good number of other pump manufacturers have chosen Eastbourne as the place to set-up shop. There is a reason for this, so let us travel back in time by 75 years to 1946, the year that brothers Geoffrey and Charles Howard founded Hydraulic & Mechanical Developments Ltd, with the first sealless magnetic drive pumps being pioneered the following year in 1947. This of course became HMD Kontro Sealless Pumps, a division of Sundyne, that we are today.

Howard Brothers

The Howard brothers, as brothers often do, had a falling out and the two went their separate ways. This other company, which became known as ‘APV Howard’ and then onto ‘APV Industrial Pumps’ began operations and that too was started in Eastbourne. Both of the brothers were pioneers of their time and this led to the supply chain around the town building up, which in time put Eastbourne on the pump manufacturing map.

Additional pump companies then chose to relocate or begin operations in Eastbourne as that is where the expertise, experience and supply chains were based. This includes ‘Johnson Pumps’ who are also still operating in Eastbourne today and just a mere stone’s throw away from the HMD Kontro units.

It is because of the Howard brothers and the founding of HMD Kontro back in 1946 that has led to Eastbourne being what is often referred to as a ‘pump cluster’. The decision 75 years ago has left a lasting mark on the town and its rewards are still being reaped today. HMD Kontro has continued to evolve and leads the way in the pump industry. Particularly in magnetic drive pumps.

For more information about HMD Kontro, where it all began and where we are heading, please look at the company Timeline and History of HMD pages. For more information or to discuss utilising our pumps, please complete the enquiry form on the contact page

HMD Kontro Encourages Women In Engineering

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, HMD Kontro has been at the forefront of encouraging women to take on engineering roles. We were therefore delighted to feature in the Business Edge magazine published by the Sussex Chamber of Commerce. Jenny Woollett, our HR Manager talks candidly about how HMD Kontro actively pushes for women to take up positions in engineering roles

Women in Engineering

 

That was not all! We also made it to the front cover of the magazine with Jo Whitling, one of our Technical Support Engineers, featuring with a picture taken in the reception area of our Eastbourne headquarters. It’s no secret that historically engineering has been a male-dominated industry, but HMD Kontro is helping to change this by encouraging more women to take up engineering, with the career opportunities it opens up.

 

HMD Kontro is a member of Women in Engineering Society (WES)

The Sussex Chamber of Commerce produces the Business Edge magazine six times a year. The April/May issue centres on the topic of Employment and Skills. As a company we actively push for women to take up engineering positions. Jenny discusses this in detail and also talks about how HMD Kontro became a member of the Women in Engineering Society (WES) in 2019.

This is a professional network of women engineers, scientists and technologists, which offers inspiration, support and professional development. Several employees from the company have been given annual individual WES membership so that they can reap as much as possible from this prestigious society, which boasts the largest network of women engineers in the UK. It highlights that HMD Kontro is fully committed to supporting WES in its campaign for gender diversity in engineering.

 

Women in engineering bring a diversity of skills and approaches

The article features two of those who perfectly highlight the increasing role that women are playing in engineering at HMD Kontro, namely Hannah Verrall, our Aftermarket Manager and Jo Whitling. They have been working for the company for nine and thirteen years respectively and are testament to HMD Kontro’s supportive culture. Both outline how they are able to have a well-balanced work and home life having young families. They come from contrasting backgrounds bringing a diversity of skills, approaches and opinions.

 

Hannah Verrall training to be a Chartered Engineer (CEng)

Hannah chose to study engineering at Cardiff University and is now training to be a Chartered Engineer (CEng). She joined HMD Kontro as a postgraduate with two years experience and now manages a team of six. CEng is an internationally recognised qualification, which will emphasise her professional competence and commitment as an engineer. Attaining this status will put her into a very select group. Current statistics suggest that less than 13% of all engineers are women with only 5% of registered engineers and technicians being female, which includes those having achieved Chartered (CEng) status.

 

Jo Whitling becomes an Engineering Technician (EngTech)

The article also features Jo Whitling, who always knew her career would involve doing something technical. Five years ago, an opportunity arose at HMD Kontro to train as an EngTech and Jo jumped at this. This qualification is a formal recognition of engineering skills and competence and a vital stepping stone towards becoming an Incorporated Chartered Engineer. In September 2020, Jo started an Electrical Installation course, which she hopes to complete soon.

 

Talks and workshops about ‘Women in Engineering’

Jo also went into Hastings College to talk about ‘Women in Engineering’ to the students before the pandemic. This is something that Jo and Hannah plan to continue and are looking forward to hearing from local schools and colleges who would be interested in talks and workshops once the restrictions are lifted.

 

Opportunities for female engineers with HMD Kontro

HMD Kontro is always looking towards recruiting more women in the roles of apprentices and engineers. For more details and a current list of vacancies at HMD Kontro and to register your interest if an opportunity becomes available, please visit: hmdkontro.com/recruitment. The Business Edge magazine article can be seen by going to pages 20 and 21 here: https://issuu.com/distinctivepublishing/docs/be60

Successful EHS Audit

HMD Kontro has recently had a successful Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) audit at its Eastbourne headquarters. The audit proves that the company is operating responsibly, safeguarding its employees and protecting the environment.

EHS Laptop Image

 

Surveillance 2 Audit carried out by Lloyds Register

The Surveillance 2 audit was conducted remotely (via Microsoft Teams) by Lloyds Register for ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management) and ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems) standards. The aim was to assess the continued compliance of the Environmental, Health and Safety Management System of HMD Kontro against the above standards as defined in the audit planning documentation.

 

Continual improvement at HMD Kontro

The Lead Assessor acknowledged improvements that had been introduced recently, managed by David Watson who took up the post as EHS and Facilities Manager in January 2020. It was also noted that the introduction and utilisation of the Health & Safety representatives to conduct the monthly inspections along with the safety stand-down, proved immensely effective and worked very well for the business. The auditor went on to add that these new and innovative ideas will create a better environment and will improve the business performance going forward.

 

 The report concluded that:

  • The business has continued to operate during the Covid pandemic and has revised its manufacturing processes and office risk assessments (RAs) and working practices (working from home) to manage and navigate the business through this very challenging and difficult period.
  • The business has implemented, and continued to maintain and provide adequate resources to support and update their Environmental, Health and Safety Management System and management processes.
  • The management system was demonstrated to be effectively implemented and compliant with the requirements of the standards assessed.
  • Sufficient evidence was seen during the assessment to recommend the continued certification for HMD Kontro, being subject to Lloyds Register (LR) Technical Review.

 

ISO 14001 – incorporating environmental issues into business management

ISO 14001 is an internationally agreed standard that sets out the requirements for an environmental management system. HMD Kontro is delighted to have been successful in this recent audit, which demonstrates that our EMS is fully operational and effective and that continual improvement is being achieved.

It also demonstrates our compliance with future statutory and regulatory requirements and our commitment to increased leadership involvement and engagement of employees. This assists in helping us to achieve our strategic business aims by incorporating environmental issues into business management.

For more information about the EHS audit, please contact us and David will be pleased to respond.

IMechE Accreditation Via a Virtual Visit

IMechE Accreditation Via a Virtual Visit

HMD Kontro recently had a virtual visit from IMechE to reaccredit our Monitored Professional Development Scheme (MPDS). The successful outcome was a reaccreditation for three years without any conditions attached. It was recognised by the assessors that the scheme requires a lot of time, effort and resources and is clearly enthusiastically supported by HMD Kontro’s Management. Also of note was HMD Kontro’s understanding in all departments of the Engineering Council’s UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC) relating to Developing Engineers (DEs) as well as a desire to encourage and develop new talent. The level of technology that a graduate is exposed to at HMD Kontro goes far beyond what most graduates would normally experience. DEs are regularly assessed with the training moulded to fit both the graduate and company requirements.

 

 

An association with IMechE going back to 2013

Our association with IMechE started in August 2013 when we contacted Claire Maycock, the IMechE Business Development Manager for Greater London & South Eastern Regions. We wanted to investigate the benefits of the Monitored Professional Development Scheme (MPDS) as a route for graduates to become professionally registered as either Incorporated Engineers (IEng) or Chartered Engineers (CEng). Normally it takes a minimum of seven years’ engineering experience for a graduate to achieve chartered engineer status but being registered on an accredited scheme, such as the IMechE MPDS Scheme, can significantly reduce the time to just three years for IEng registration and four years for CEng registration. Our application was successful with our scheme being registered under PDS 898 on 31 July 2015. HMD Kontro hosted its first successful IMechE MPDS Scheme Accreditation Panel visit on 16 March 2017.

 

HMD Kontro staff appointments for the scheme

  • HR Manager appointed MPDS Scheme Owner
  • IMechE Industrial Liaison Officer (ILO) appointed MPDS Scheme Administrator
  • Senior Engineering Manager appointed MPDS Scheme Champion

 

Scheme Champion ensures the graduates meet the registration requirements

The role of the Scheme Champion is to ensure that the DEs have sufficient departmental rotations to enable them to meet the registration requirements set out in the UK-SPEC. These cover 5 generic areas of competence and commitment.

  1. Knowledge and understanding
  2. Design and development of processes, systems, services and products
  3. Responsibility, management or leadership
  4. Communication and inter-personal skills
  5. Professional commitment

 

History of HMD Kontro with IMechE

  • 8 Developing Engineers (DEs) have been registered on HMD’s scheme (4 being one-year Industrial Placement students
  • 1 DE is currently working towards CEng registration outside of the scheme via the normal route to membership
  • 5 have registered as IEng
  • 23 employees have been registered as Engineering Technicians (EngTech)

 

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) is an independent professional association, which has been at the heart of the mechanical engineering profession since 1847. It has 120,000 members in 140 countries throughout the world. IMechE aims to improve the world by developing engineers, promoting engineering and encouraging innovation. At the heart of their philosophy is the belief that engineering excellence requires excellent engineers.

HMD Kontro as a company is able to benchmark employee progress through our professional registration with IMechE. This we believe allows us to attract and retain the best engineers confident in the knowledge that they have been independently assessed and reviewed by their peers.

 

Monitored Professional Development Scheme (MPDS)

IMechE assesses and accredits company graduate schemes to ensure the right opportunities are available, and that mentoring and feedback opportunities are in place for engineers to apply to become a Chartered Engineer (CEng) or an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) after their initial professional development. Regular reporting with feedback is aligned to the five Engineering Council UK-SPEC competence areas.

 

EngTech Apprenticeship Scheme (ETAS)

Additionally, HMD Kontro has an IMechE accredited EngTech Apprenticeship Scheme (ETAS) first approved by the IMechE on 28 October 2015 for three years under IMechE Scheme Number ET212, and backdated two years and reapproved on 28 October 2018 for a further three years. Any apprentice that joins HMD is eligible to join the scheme and upon successful completion of their IMechE approved modern/advanced apprenticeship can apply for registration through the EngTech approved route scheme.

There is a short write-up about HMD’s EngTech community in the IMechE’s APPRENTICE NEWS: February 2018 Newsletter published online that may be viewed at: https://imecheemails.org/3X32-CT0U-682Z8XY659/cr.aspx

Click the links to find out more about HMD Kontro and IMechE.

Sundyne Sealless Technology Online Event

Sundyne Sealless Technology Online Event

November 11th 2-3pm

Mat Gilman, our Area Sales Manager for the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia is organising an online event featuring Sundyne Sealless Technology.  Key topics to be covered will include:

  • The basic operation of a magnetic drive pump
  • HMD Kontro and Ansimag pump design basics
  • Applications for sealless pumps in chemical and industrial

You can request to attend the event by visiting this link.

New Website Launched

 

 

This is the first website dedicated to HMD Kontro, where you will find not only full product information on our magnetic drive pumps but also the following range of resources, information sources and the latest innovations in sealless pump technology.

This new website not only includes full details of all the pumps in the HMD Kontro range, but also many other facilities and resources that we think you will find useful when specifying our sealless pumps.  Example sections include:

 

Think Sealless

A full explanation of the benefits of magnetic drive sealless pumps and the savings they provide.

 

About HMD Kontro

All you need to know about the company that invented the sealless pump over 70 years ago including our history, timeline, who’s who etc.

 

Product Range Details

Full specifications of each and every pump in the range plus links to literature, options etc.

 

Advice & Aftermarket Support

All of the technical, training and other support available from Eastbourne including details of upgrade and parts kits.

 

Comprehensive Resources

The full suite of HMD Kontro literature including brochures, technical profiles, case studies, technical papers, videos and much more.

 

Latest News Blog

Regularly updated news about our pumps, the business, upgrade paths, marketing initiatives and what is happening with the HMD Kontro team.

 

Please click on any of the above links to take you directly to relevant information.

50 & 30 Year Very Long Service Awards at HMD Kontro

We are extremely proud of our team and we are always keen to recognise and congratulate any of our staff who reach long service milestones. This month Richard Baxter and Mick McVay received their very impressive Long Service Recognition certificates for having worked 50 and 30 years respectively at HMD Kontro.

Richard joined us 50 years ago on 20th March 1970 as a Trainee Apprentice and, at the time earned the princely sum of 3 shillings and 10 pennies (19 pence) per hour and 15 days annual holiday. The UK was very different back then with minimal technology, children playing in the streets and the fashion was flared trousers and platform shoes.

At the age of 17, Richard was keen to go to college part time and there he completed his C&G in Mechanical Engineering. Richard still enjoys his job at HMD Kontro, but has reduced to 4 days per week, so that he can spend more time with his wife, Lynne.

Mick joined on 26th March 1990 as a Centre Lathe Turner with a starting salary of £9,500 and has steadily progressed his career with HMD Kontro. Born a US citizen, Mick came to the UK in 1968 in his teenage years and attended school in Wiltshire. Mick lives in Eastbourne and is married to Jane and has 2 daughters. He passed the stringent, “Life in the UK” test and became a Brit in 2017 with HMD honoured to support him.

Both Richard and Mick received their Long Service Recognition certificates as well as bubbly, cake and a beautiful bouquet for their wives.  We thank them for their dedicated service to HMD Kontro.

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