British Compressed Air Society

About The Society

The British Compressed Air Society was founded in 1930 at the instigation of the British Government. It is an organisation open to manufacturers, distributors and end users of compressed air products and services.

Society and its members have the following aims:

To promote the use of safe and reliable power
To improve the services they offer industry
To encourage and help members to develop their professional competence.
To bring the experience of members to bear on the conduct of business in industry for the common good.

The Society actively represents the interests of members and the compressed air industry to both United Kingdom Government, European and overseas Institutions.

The Society became a company limited by guarantee on the 1st July 1998. Reg No 3589631.

History Of The Society

The British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) was formed in the 1930 following pressure from Government. The primary purpose of the Society was to provide a forum for British manufacturers to consider imports and to encourage the manufacture of products for import substitution. This coincided with Government activity which led to the passing of The Merchandise Marks (Imported Goods) No 9 Order 1931. The inaugural meeting of BCAS was on Wednesday, January 8, 1930 at the Institution of Civil Engineers. The first meeting was a continuation of the series of conferences of pneumatic drill and air compressor manufacturers held at the Department of Overseas Trade the previous year.

Mr Dunkerton was asked to take the chair. The definitive explanation of BCAS’s raison d’être can be found in the minutes of the first meeting:

“Mr Gaskell asked for more details about the scope and probable expenses of the society. The chairman replied that there was a somewhat similar society in America making such effective propaganda that it was necessary for British manufacturers to combat this, also the need for such a society had been impressed on us all by the Department of Overseas Trade, as well as the Lord Privy Seal”.

Structure Of The Society

The BCAS structure is based on three tiers of activity

Executive Committee
Council
Permanent Committees

The Executive Committee is deemed to be the Board of Directors of the Society. It consists of the President, Vice President, Immediate past President and up to three co-opted members.

The Council consists of the Executive Committee together with the Chairman and Vice Chairman of each permanent committee.

There are currently five permanent committees:-