BFPA celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2019

Originally known as the Association of Hydraulic Equipment Manufacturers (AHEM), the first meeting of the fledgling trade association took place at the George Hotel in Solihull on 8 May 1959. In 2019, the organisation celebrates its sixtieth year as a powerful full-service trade association, namely the British Fluid Power Association (BFPA) and the British Fluid Power Distributors Association (BFPDA).

From the very day of its formation as AHEM, the BFPA has built and maintained a sound reputation among its peers for integrity and has created respected links across many other industrial sectors.

Key dates in the Association's history are captured in the infographic above. They include: the expansion to include pneumatic company members in 1986, which paved the way towards the creation of the British Fluid Power Association; the formation of the BFPDA in 1988; the development of the BFPDA Approved Hose Assemblies Scheme; and the introduction of the BFPA Training Academy in 2015.

Always giving identical priority to large multinational companies as well as one-man operations, the BFPA has never permitted the large company members to swamp events and publicity material. The association is proud and defensive of this egalitarian approach.