IN FOCUS

The Hydraulic Institute (HI) announced the launch of Pump System Certification Level 2 (PSC 2), completing HI’s standardized learning path designed to advance pump system competency across the industry.

SMC has officially begun operations at its new Japan Technical Center (JTC), located in the Kashiwa City of Tokyo’s metropolitan region. The centre becomes SMC’s main global hub for research and development, designed to accelerate innovation and reinforce the company’s technological leadership worldwide.

The Wilo Group has opened the new Health Cube at its headquarters, Wilopark in Dortmund. At around 5,500 square metres, the health centre offers space for Wilo’s Global Health Management, including occupational health and psychotherapeutic services, social and life counselling, the Health Club with sports diagnostics and outdoor sports facilities, a “quiet room”, hydro massage beds, a lounge with an open, experiential kitchen, and holiday care for children.

Armstrong Fluid Technology announced the appointment of Danilo Elez as Chief Executive Officer. In this role, Elez will lead the company’s next phase of growth and innovation.

The TDF Group concluded the 2025 financial year with a turnover of around 73 million euros, thus consolidating its sustainable growth in a very special year: the company’s 50th anniversary.

Pump and valve manufacturer KSB continues its path of growth: In the 2025 financial year, the company passed the € 3 billion mark in both order intake and, for the first time, sales revenue. The SDAX-listed Group also increased its EBIT (earnings before finance income / expense and income tax).

By signing a partnership agreement, water technology group Wilo and AI technology company InstaDeep have sealed the deal to kick off a long-term cooperation. The two pioneering companies are now working on systematically integrating water technology and AI across several defined applications.

Valmet is planning changes to its manufacturing in Sweden and Poland and has initiated change negotiations in its Global Supply unit concerning the planned closure of manufacturing at its Sundsvall site in Sweden. In addition, Valmet starts negotiations about proposed changes to its Global Supply unit’s operations in Gothenburg, Sweden, and Jelenia Góra, Poland.

The company now has a permanent presence at the Budapest office of its mother company Bufab in Hungary. BUMAX will focus on establishing the BUMAX brand and better supporting customers across the Eastern European region – particularly in the Baltic states, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, the Balkans and Turkey.

The Hydraulic Institute (HI) announced the recipients of its prestigious awards, presented during the 2026 Annual Conference Awards Dinner on February 26, 2026, in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. These awards recognize industry professionals whose leadership, technical expertise, and dedication have significantly advanced both the Hydraulic Institute, Pump Systems Matter (PSM), and the broader pump industry.