Sulzer Launches Energy Efficient Scaba STA Vertical Agitator

Ecovado, a South African agro-processing company founded by entrepreneur Hulisani Mudau, has launched a new avocado oil processing plant in Limpopo in partnership with Alfa Laval Middle East, South and East Africa. Located in the Vhembe District, the plant will process locally grown avocados into oil, creating new opportunities for economic development and value creation in the surrounding community.

One of the most effective ways to improve the energy efficiency of a vacuum system is to ensure that the operating capacity of the vacuum pump is aligned with the actual needs of the process. A vacuum pump that runs at full speed when the process demand is low wastes energy and can cause unnecessary wear on equipment, reducing service life. By implementing intelligent control systems and variable speed drives (VSD), energy consumption can be significantly cut, leading to lower operating costs and a reduced carbon footprint.

Data is transforming how pumps are made, run and maintained. BPMA CEO Wayne Rose looks at how Digital Product Passports, real-time monitoring and AI are pushing the UK pump industry toward a connected, data-driven future — and why skills and culture matter as much as the technology itself.

Every vacuum pump converts electrical energy into mechanical work. Inevitably, much of that energy becomes heat, resulting from heating in motor windings, friction between moving parts, and gas compression. While heat generation is unavoidable, how it is managed influences not only the efficiency of the vacuum pump, but can also affect the efficiency of other associated systems and equipment located nearby.

The UK water sector’s AMP8 programme will invest more than £100 billion in infrastructure over five years. In this guest comment, BPMA Technical Officer Gary Wilde argues that success will depend on more than capital alone — whole-life procurement, resilient supply chains and investment in skills and technology.

DESMI Group delivered strong sales growth in 2025 and further strengthened its market position across several key business areas, despite continued global uncertainty and challenging market conditions.