AUMA Wins Two Year Service & Actuator Repair Framework with United Utilities

Published: 26th May 2023 | Issue 84

A two year framework for actuator service and repair has been won by AUMA Actuators Limited (AUMA UK), a world leader in electric valve actuation technology, following a competitive tendering process issued by water and wastewater services provider United Utilities.

United Utilities delivers 1.8 billion litres of water a day to more than three million homes and businesses across the North West. AUMA UK’s new framework covers provision for the maintenance and repair of a wide range of actuators - both on and off site - as well as technical and telephone support, and training.

Paul Hopkins, Managing Director, AUMA UK, says: “AUMA is well placed to deliver this prestigious framework. As part of the AUMA Group, we are able to leverage our strong European manufacturing and logistics capabilities, combined with our comprehensive local component stockholding, to provide fast turnaround on all repairs.

“United Utilities is committed to reliability-centred maintenance, increasing the availability of critical assets, whilst at the same time reducing the costs associated with reactive maintenance. This aligns perfectly with AUMA’s approach to condition-based monitoring and maintenance. As the framework progresses we will work closely with United Utilities to achieve these goals.”

United Utilities’ Maintenance Sourcing team is dedicated to providing the best end-to-end service for engineers to enable them to return assets to service as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. AUMA’s extensive range of high performance actuators is designed using a modular approach to actuator components. Actuators can be quickly combined to provide a bespoke actuator assembly constructed to the exact requirements of applications.

Colin Borrows, Operations Manager, AUMA UK, says: “This two year framework has a facility to extend by up to a further two years. It’s all about delivering an efficient Maintenance Sourcing service that supports United Utilities’ engineers in returning critical assets back to service.

“AUMA has demonstrated its considerable technical capability and competence, in terms of disconnecting and removing actuators from valves and penstocks. This, combined with our expertise in both on and off-site repair, and reinstallation, testing and commissioning makes the company an aligned partner in this important service framework.”

AUMA is also providing training to United Utilities’ maintenance staff through its AUMA Certified Engineering (ACE) training. Delivered on-site, on-line or in AUMA’s dedicated training suite at its head office in Clevedon, Somerset, ACE is a structured programme that trains technicians to install, operate, maintain and troubleshoot AUMA actuators, meeting asset management obligations to maintain equipment in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Accredited ACE Technicians are provided with ID cards to prove their level of competency.