IN FOCUS

Leading valve associations from Europe, the US, and Japan are committed to closer cooperation in order to jointly master future challenges facing the valve industry.

Wilo and BASF have signed a partnership agreement to collaborate on expanding Wilo’s global health management programme. The place where the agreement was signed is also the hub of the collaboration, the Health Cube. This is a new health centre at the Wilo Group’s headquarters, which benefits both the employees at the Wilopark and the other 8,000 Wilo employees worldwide.

EBARA Corporation (hereinafter: EBARA) has signed an equity transfer agreement, effective October 31, 2025, with the equity holders of GEMINI GERMEK HIDROMECÂNICA LTDA. (hereinafter: Germek), a company engaged in the design, manufacturing, sales, and service of pump units for the fire fighting and agriculture sectors, mainly in Brazil. The agreement was concluded through EBARA’s Brazilian subsidiary, EBARA Bombas América do Sul Ltda. EBARA plans to acquire 100% of Germek’s equity interest around the end of January 2026, subject to the necessary procedures under relevant laws and regulations.

The Wilo Group is calling for water resilience measures to be implemented more rapidly. Together with numerous other global market leaders, the water technology group has signed the “Business Leaders’ Open Call to Accelerate Action on Water”. The public appeal was initiated by the Water Resilience Coalition of the CEO Water Mandate, an initiative founded by the UN Secretary-General and the UN Global Compact.

The British Pump Manufacturers Association (BPMA) is encouraging businesses and engineering professionals across all industry sectors to prioritise working with BPMA member companies when specifying or sourcing pumps and pump-related systems. Whether for manufacturing, processing, infrastructure, or utility applications, selecting the right products—and the right partners—is key to achieving safe, efficient, and sustainable operations.

KOOT, founded by an Oxford University alumnus, announced its global launch as a trusted partner and industry-first platform in the pump and motor sector, spanning engineering design, research, development, and precision manufacturing. The company also proudly revealed that it has been honoured with the European PIA Supplier Award, recognizing its outstanding contributions to engineering innovation.

Football not only inspires millions of people worldwide, but also has a unique social power: It connects people, fosters community, and transcends boundaries. The Kick & Fun initiative utilises precisely this strength of sport and has been organising inclusive football camps for children and young people for several years. NETZSCH Pumps & Systems is sponsoring the camp in Waldkraiburg for the third time and will cover the participation fees for ten children from low-income families this year.

Thordon Bearings Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Progreen as its exclusive distributor for Azerbaijan. The formal arrangement strengthens Thordon’s strategic presence across the Caspian region and marks another important step in delivering its high performance bearing and seal solutions to key sectors including marine, hydro power, and industrial markets.

Valmet has signed a nationwide agreement with Petrobras (Petróleo Brasileiro S.A.), the largest energy company in Brazil. The agreement covers the supply of spare parts of Neles valves, actuators, and positioners across all Petrobras operational units, including oil and natural gas exploration, production, refining, commercialization, and power generation.

The Hydraulic Institute (HI) and the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize their collaboration in advancing energy efficiency in commercial and industrial pumping systems. The MOU was officially executed on July 9, 2025, marking a significant step toward accelerating market adoption of high-efficiency pump technologies.