Trade associations are, without doubt, an asset to the economy. Yet many customers remain unaware of the benefits they can offer and could take greater advantage of the unbiased information they provide to help solve common industry problems. 

Consider how ABTA is a recognised brand in travel – providing assurance that the holiday destination has been checked and verified as ‘fit for purpose.’  In the same way, trade associations provide that go-to resource for impartial advice.  Companies that choose to be members are investing in their business and the ethics of the industry – an active endorsement to those that they supply and trade with.

This last year has been reported as an uncertain time for our industry and its consumers, with the press citing how manufacturers are leaving our shores in the Brexit uncertainty. At BCAS we have chosen not to take a political position, but to take the stance of providing vital information during this period where the UK is reshaping its future relationships with its trading partners. It has been a busy year working with organisations such as EURIS and EAMA to get the voice of British industry heard in the halls of Westminster as our political machine attempts to steer us into our brave new trading world

Uncertainty is not good for business

Interestingly our industry statistics do not reflect this. For our manufacturing members, the market’s thirst for numbers of new compressors and the kilowatts of power that they produce has not seen a down turn. In both number of units sold and the KW capacity of those units, the market for new equipment has continued to grow to the end of the first quarter.

A growing need for energy

Often referred to as the fourth utility, it is estimated that 10 per cent of global industrial energy usage is used to compressed air. It is therefore incumbent on BCAS, and its members, to ensure that we use our planet’s valuable resources wisely.

Much has been done by manufacturers to develop more efficient compressors and a large percentage of the industry’s global turnover is invested in creating the energy-efficient machines of the future. We are working on programs that will allow the consumer to purchase with transparency. For example, the data sheet verification program (mirrored on the CAGI scheme) will put clear and transparent verified data in the hands of the consumer.

Energy efficiency isn’t only about developing new and improved compressor technologies. Our members frequently visit plants to perform air leak audits, yet all too often, site managers don’t undertake the recommended action to fix leaks, believing it to be too difficult or time consuming.

Our industry contributes an estimated 1.6 million tonnes of CO₂ per annum and systems can leak between five and 40 per cent of the air produced. If we focused on a sizable leak reduction program across the UK, we could have a sizable impact on the country’s emissions.

Just a 10 per cent reduction in leaked/generated air usage would have a significant and positive impact on the climate for us and future generations to come. The BCAS board and our members recognise that this has to be a strategic focus in the coming months.

While many users of compressed air believe they have done as much as they can to reduce leaks, our members are very concerned that this is not the case. If a water leak was left unchecked, the consequences could be severe, but as ‘air’ is unseen, many customers hesitate.  Our advice is always to manage and reduce all leaks to help keep our planet in good health for the future. The ISO 11011 standard and our ‘Reducing Energy Consumption from Compressed Air’ guide are there to help.  The guide can be downloaded for free from the BCAS website at www.bcas.org.uk

Getting involved

With increased emphasis on the value of using a strong supplier, the BCAS website is there to provide a wealth of practical, free advice. Once you have downloaded the energy reduction guide, use our ‘find a member’ section to source your partner in this energy challenge.  All members adhere to our code of conduct, so you can be sure that you are receiving trusted advice.