NFPC: The UK’S No1 Systems engineering training establishment

Providing lubricants for hydraulic based machinery is a huge part of Witham Group’s business and the expertise needed to know all about these lubricants and  the many hydraulic systems out there is vital. One of the UK’s leading training centres for industrial, mobile and offshore hydraulic systems is the National Fluid Power Centre, based at Worksop in Nottinghamshire.

Providing a host of outstanding courses for businesses and industries all over the country, we went to take a closer look…

The National Fluid Power Centre, is the UK’s No.1 training provider for Integrated Systems Engineering, offering services to over 300 major companies both across the UK and Internationally. The NFPC is a BFPA certified CETOP Education Centre and is an approved training provider for many ‘blue chip’, industry leading corporations. The Centre employs Training Engineers who have many years of Industry experience, offering support and advice to all who attend our Training Courses.

CETOP is the abbreviation of Comité Européen des Transmissions Oléohydrauliques et Pneumatiques. CETOP is the European Fluid Power Committee: · The communication platform for fluid power in Europe. · The international umbrella organisation and communication platform for the fluid power associations in Europe.

Through the 18 national associations which are members of CETOP, all well-known companies in Europe belong to the European Committee. Many of these companies are leading fluid power manufacturers and major players in the international markets.

The NFPC facility in Worksop was opened in 2001 by the President of CETOP Signor Amadio Bolzani, Paul Cook the President of The British Fluid Power Association (BFPA) and the Managing Director of Bosch Rexroth (UK). The cost of the initial building was in the region of £2m.

Today NFPC has 3 fully equipped technical centres and the best practical training facilities in Europe. Having gained ISO 9001-2015 approval, the NFPC is at the forefront of approved training facilities, ensuring a close working relationship with a number of Industry Trade Associations. In addition, the Centre offers scope for technical Seminars and corporate events for all organisations.

Probably most popular of its services, NFPC offers a unique range of short courses, based across 25+ sectors of Industry, for those involved in the maintenance and management of fluid power systems. These range from a basic awareness level in hydraulics, pneumatics or electronics, right through to more advanced control.

Training is available on specialist subjects and takes a lead in the UK in the provision of Competence Based Qualifications. The centre also provides specialist bespoke training programmes, either delivered on a customer’s site or at the NFPC, covering specific customer machinery. All Training Courses are designed to meet the needs of industry, ensuring candidates gain the maximum skills and knowledge for the workplace environment.

John Savage, Director of the National Fluid Power Centre based at Worksop in Nottinghamshire, kindly explained the NFPC relationship with Witham Group…

“I personally became involved with the Witham Group over 35 years ago when I first met Geoff Bottom, Geoff became a member of the Industry Advisory Group supporting the Fluid Power Centre and together with the late Alan Smith was able to provide the Centre staff with their expert knowledge relating to oils and lubricants.

For many years we exhibited with Witham Group at the Lincolnshire show and add to this we delivered a number of hydraulic training courses for Witham Customers at the HQ on Outer Circle Road. Since moving into the NFPC in 2000, the Witham Group have continued to support the NFPC and all of the training equipment at the Centre uses Witham Hydraulic Oil and we are proud to be associated with the Witham Team and extremely pleased to see the Company expanding across a wider range of Industry Sectors.

Currently, Mick Kenyon (Witham Group Technical Director) serves on the NFPC Advisory and Strategic Planning Group and provides an outstanding role in supporting the NFPC and its future developments. Finally my thanks on behalf of the team here at the NFPC are to Nigel Bottom, who has outstanding vision and leadership skills and no matter how large the Witham Group grows, they value and care for every Customer ensuring they offer a complete service with equality to all.”