Putting training and quality at the heart of hydraulics
18 November 2025 
PWE’s Aaron Blutstein speaks to Stefan Gunter, Business Development Manager at Evofluid Hydraulics UK, and Alberto Gogazzi, Area Sales Manager at Oleodinamica & Pneumatica (O&P), about their new partnership. They discuss how the collaboration aims to tackle long-standing challenges in the hydraulics sector, from mismatched assemblies, re-ending, and inconsistent training to the need for locally supported, high-quality solutions that improve safety, reliability, and efficiency across the industry.
From farms and factories to complex industrial plants, hydraulic systems are the quiet workhorses of the UK economy. They keep production lines moving, power essential machinery, and
underpin countless critical operations. But as the sector evolves, businesses are recognising the need for greater consistency in quality, testing, and training to keep pace with rising demands
on performance and safety.
Too often, hoses and fittings are mismatched. Too often, parts are bought on price alone, with little attention paid to certification. And too often, the people assembling and maintaining these systems have learned through trial and error, without formal guidance.
It is a combination that can work, until it doesn’t. Failures bring downtime, costly repairs, and in the worst cases, life-changing injuries.
That is the backdrop against which Evofluid Hydraulics UK and Oleodinamica & Pneumatica (O&P) have launched a partnership aimed not just at supplying products, but at helping the industry rethink its approach to safety, efficiency, and competence.
“It’s about more than supplying parts or machines,” says Stefan Gunter, Business Development Manager at Evofluid Hydraulics UK. “Our industry needs to think in terms of systems, where every component is matched, tested, and supported, and where the people using those systems have the knowledge to do their jobs safely and effectively.”
Catastrophic consequences
The case for change is stark. Stefan describes a past visit where the fittings being used “looked fine on the bench” but had no testing records, no certification, and no way to prove compatibility. “I’ve seen situations where an operator asks their supplier for documentation and gets nothing,” he says. “That lack of traceability is a real risk. You don’t know what you’re fitting, or what it’s been tested for.”
The consequences of that uncertainty are all too real. “If you’ve ever stood next to a hose when it fails under pressure, you’ll know how serious it can be,” says Stefan. “A few years ago, I witnessed the aftermath of a case where the wrong pressure rated adaptor had been used to test a hose. When it failed under full pressure, the bang shook the building – it was like an explosion. The Perspex on the test rig shattered, with shards narrowly missing the operator.
“The operator was frozen in shock. He was barely able to speak with the shock for a day or two afterwards. Thankfully, nobody was hurt, but many people haven’t been so lucky. There have been countless serious injuries and even fatalities in the industry from hydraulic failures.
“And it’s not just the immediate danger. Think about the indirect consequences. If a hose fails in a lift, on agricultural machinery, or even on a plane, the risk to people and equipment
multiplies. It’s simply not worth cutting corners when the stakes are that high.”
A system, not a shopping list
The partnership between Evofluid and O&P is designed to tackle those issues head-on. Evofluid serves as the UK commercial branch of Hydro Holdings S.p.A., a European manufacturer of carbon steel and stainless-steel hydraulic components. This strategic position gives Evofluid the ability to maintain strict quality control and deliver quickly from extensive UK-based stock.
By combining that local manufacturing strength with O&P’s 44 years of expertise in hose and tube processing equipment, the two companies offer something many operators say they need but rarely find: a complete, end-to-end system.
O&P’s machines – crimpers, cutters, skivers, flushing rigs, and test rigs – are engineered for reliability and ease of use. The grease-free crimping heads and fixed six o’clock die positions make operations faster and more consistent, while Siemens touchscreens, fully supported in the UK, allow quick backups and cost-effective repairs, reducing downtime.
“It’s about giving customers confidence,” Stefan explains. “Confidence that the components they’re using are certified, that the assemblies are matched and tested, and that the equipment they’re working with is dependable and supported locally.”
Training as a foundation, not an add-on
Evofluid and O&P see training not as an optional extra but as the foundation for safer, more efficient operations. They have committed to a programme to offer subsidised, BFPA-accredited courses designed to embed knowledge and best practice across the sector. Flexibility is key: courses can be delivered onsite, online, or at a training centre, making them accessible whether you are a one-person workshop or a major industrial operator.
The training courses includes:
Hose assembly skills – Core techniques for building safe, consistent assemblies.
Hose integrity, inspection, and asset management – Identifying wear, preventing failures, and extending service life.
Hydrostatic proof pressure testing – Proper testing procedures for certification and quality assurance.
Level 2 hydraulics and Level 1 pneumatics – Building deeper technical understanding for technicians and engineers.
Leadership and management academy – Equipping supervisors to drive a culture of quality and safety in their teams.
“Training isn’t optional,” Stefan says. “When a technician understands not just what to do but why it matters, you get better assemblies, fewer failures, and safer workplaces. That knowledge
pays for itself many times over.”
Beyond the classroom
Structured courses are only part of the offer. Evofluid and O&P are building what Stefan calls “continuous support”, with tools and services that help businesses maintain high standards long after the training day ends.
This includes:
Hose health checks to identify risks early.
Cost-effective machine calibrations in line with BFPA recommendations.
Technical guidance for hose production and asset management.
Safety literature, including standards cards, quick-reference posters, and fluid injection guidance.
Support for hose restraint systems such as Stopflex+
“Training has to be ongoing,” Stefan explains. “You don’t create a safety culture with a single session; you do it by making learning part of the job, by keeping people informed and confident every day.”
Alberto Gogazzi, Area Sales Manager at O&P Srl, agrees: “Selling quality products is important,” he says, “but supporting customers with knowledge is what builds trust. That’s what drives long-term change.”
The partnership also tackles a technical problem that has plagued the industry for years: mismatched assemblies. By integrating Evofluid’s certified fittings, including the OneGC stainless-steel ferrule, compatible with up to ten different hose types, with O&P’s precision machinery, operators can build assemblies that are consistent, compliant, and easier to maintain.
Lean production and efficiency
Safety is only part of the story. The partnership is also about efficiency. Evofluid’s Lean Production Guarantee, which focuses on eliminating waste, improving processes, and maintaining quality, has helped customers cut downtime and reduce errors, with some seeing cost savings of up to 30%.
Inventory simplification is a key part of this.
“When you can reduce the number of SKUs without compromising compatibility, you make the process leaner and less prone to mistakes,” Stefan explains.
O&P’s machines play their part too. Grease-free crimping heads and fixed six o’clock die positions make operations faster and more consistent, while Siemens touchscreens, fully supported in the UK, mean data can be backed up quickly and parts replaced without the delays that often come with overseas support.
Local support, faster response
For many UK operators, the weakest link has been service and support. When machines fail, waiting weeks for overseas parts or technicians can turn a minor fault into a major disruption.
Evofluid has invested in UK-based stock and trained service technicians to close that gap.
“When a machine goes down, you can’t afford to wait weeks for help,” Stefan says. “By having parts and expertise here in the UK, we can get customers back up and running quickly and cost-effectively.”
For both Evofluid and O&P, this partnership is about more than commercial growth. It is about raising standards across the industry. “This isn’t just about our customers,” Alberto
says. “If we can help raise standards for everyone, operators, suppliers, and end-users, that benefits the entire sector. Quality, compatibility, and training shouldn’t be optional. They should be the baseline.”
Stefan agrees: “This is about investing in the future. Safer systems, leaner processes, and better-trained teams don’t just make sense for today, they build resilience for tomorrow.”
Investing in a safer, smarter future
In an industry where cost pressures are ever-present, the temptation to cut corners is ever-present unfortunately. But as Stefan points out, the long-term risks far outweigh the short-term
savings. A mismatched fitting or an untested assembly doesn’t just threaten equipment, it puts people, productivity, and reputations on the line.
By embedding training and continuous support alongside matched systems and locally backed equipment, Evofluid and O&P are reframing what good practice looks like. They are making quality and safety accessible, scalable, and sustainable for businesses of every size, from independent workshops to major industrial operators.
Stefan puts it simply: “Training isn’t about selling. It’s about building trust and giving people the tools to do their jobs safely and effectively. If we can help raise standards, not just for our customers but across the industry, that’s a win for everyone.”
For operators, the message is clear: investing in quality, compatibility, and competence isn’t a luxury. It is the foundation of safer, leaner, and more resilient operations. And for an industry
where failure can carry such high costs, that investment has never mattered more.
For further information please visit: www.evofluid-hydraulics.com or www.op-srl.it
https://www.linkedin.com/company/evofluid-hydraulics-uk-ltd/