AMP8 Smart Electric Actuators for the Water Industry

RIFT Actuators

Intelligent Valve Automation Built for AMP8

The UK water industry is entering a new era of infrastructure investment, operational efficiency and environmental responsibility through AMP8. Water companies are under increasing pressure to modernise ageing assets, reduce energy consumption, improve operational resilience and deliver smarter, more sustainable water management systems.

At the centre of this transformation is intelligent automation.

RIFT SMART Electric Actuators are designed specifically to help water utilities, contractors and process engineers meet the evolving demands of AMP8. Combining advanced diagnostics, predictive maintenance, low power consumption and seamless remote integration, our actuator solutions provide the reliability and performance required for critical water infrastructure applications.

From water treatment plants and pumping stations to remote distribution networks and wastewater facilities, RIFT SMART Actuators deliver precise valve control, improved system visibility and long-term operational savings.

RIFT Actuators

What is AMP8 and Why Does it Matter?

AMP8, also known as Asset Management Period 8, is the latest regulatory investment cycle for the UK water industry. Running from 2025 to 2030, AMP8 focuses heavily on sustainability, operational efficiency, carbon reduction, leakage prevention and digital transformation.

Water companies across the UK are expected to invest billions into modernising infrastructure while simultaneously reducing environmental impact and improving service reliability.

What is Modbus

Key AMP8 priorities include:

  • Reducing operational carbon emissions
  • Improving energy efficiency
  • Enhancing remote monitoring capabilities
  • Minimising water loss and leakage
  • Increasing resilience across networks
  • Supporting predictive maintenance strategies
  • Improving automation and smart asset management

 

To meet these objectives, water utilities require advanced automation technologies that deliver measurable operational improvements while remaining reliable in harsh environments.

This is where RIFT SMART Electric Actuators excel.

RIFT Actuators

Advanced Electric Actuation for Modern Water Utilities

RIFT Actuators has been at the forefront of electric valve automation since 2011. Designed in the UK and trusted across global industries, our SMART Electric Actuator range has been developed to support demanding applications where precision, efficiency and reliability are essential.

Unlike conventional actuators, RIFT SMART Actuators combine intelligent diagnostics, energy-saving technology and advanced control capabilities into a compact, highly adaptable solution.

Our actuators are suitable for:

  • Water treatment plants
  • Wastewater processing facilities
  • Water distribution systems
  • Pressure management systems
  • Remote pumping stations
  • Reservoir control systems
  • Irrigation infrastructure
  • Industrial process applications

By integrating intelligent electric actuation into water infrastructure, operators gain greater control over system performance while significantly reducing maintenance and operational costs.

RIFT Actuators

Why Water Utilities are Moving Towards Smart Electric Actuation

Traditional valve operation methods can create significant inefficiencies across water infrastructure. Manual operation often requires costly site visits, while older pneumatic or hydraulic systems may consume large amounts of energy and require extensive maintenance.

Smart electric actuators provide a more efficient and future-ready alternative.

RIFT SMART Actuators allow operators to remotely monitor, control and optimise valve performance in real time. This not only improves system responsiveness but also enables predictive maintenance and data-driven asset management strategies.

The result is a smarter, more resilient network capable of meeting AMP8 performance targets.

Up to 85% Energy Savings

Energy efficiency is one of the most important goals within AMP8, particularly as water companies work towards Net Zero targets.

RIFT Actuators utilise patented Reduced Induction Field Technology, also known as RIFT Technology, to dramatically reduce power consumption compared to conventional actuator systems.

Our advanced E-Motor Technology can achieve up to 85% energy savings, helping utilities lower operational costs while reducing overall carbon emissions.

This makes RIFT SMART Actuators ideal for:

  • Sustainable infrastructure projects
  • Low energy process systems
  • Carbon reduction initiatives
  • Remote off-grid applications
  • Solar and battery-powered installations

For many water utilities, reducing energy usage across thousands of assets can create significant long-term financial and environmental benefits.

RIFT Actuators

Low Voltage Operation for Remote Water Infrastructure

Many remote water assets operate in locations where installing mains power infrastructure is expensive, difficult or impractical.

RIFT SMART Actuators support low voltage operation between 12V and 30VDC, making them perfectly suited for remote and off-grid environments powered by solar panels and battery systems.

This provides major advantages for:

  • Remote valve chambers
  • Rural pumping stations
  • Irrigation systems
  • Temporary infrastructure
  • Environmental monitoring sites

By eliminating the need for costly ground power cabling, utilities can significantly reduce installation costs while improving deployment flexibility.

The high efficiency design also extends battery life and improves reliability in remote locations.

Predictive Maintenance with Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)

One of the most innovative features of the RIFT SMART Actuator range is its ability to support Total Productive Maintenance strategies.

Traditional maintenance approaches often rely on fixed service intervals or reactive repairs after a failure has already occurred. This can lead to unnecessary maintenance costs, unexpected downtime and asset failures.

RIFT SMART Actuators continuously monitor valve condition and operational performance over a user-defined period. This allows operators to track deterioration trends and predict when components such as:

  • Valve seats
  • O-rings
  • Seals
  • Internal valve components

may require maintenance or replacement.

This predictive maintenance capability enables water utilities to:

  • Reduce unplanned downtime
  • Extend valve lifespan
  • Improve maintenance scheduling
  • Lower operational costs
  • Improve asset reliability
  • Prevent catastrophic failures

Rather than reacting to failures, utilities can proactively manage infrastructure based on real performance data.

This is a major advantage for AMP8 asset management strategies.

SMART Diagnostics and Real-Time Monitoring

RIFT SMART Electric Actuators provide advanced diagnostics and real-time operational visibility across water networks.

Using integrated SMART Technology, operators can remotely access actuator data through:

  • Android smartphones
  • Tablets
  • PCs

This enables engineers to quickly diagnose issues, monitor performance and adjust settings without requiring physical attendance on site.

Built-in diagnostics provide valuable information including:

  • Valve condition monitoring
  • Torque feedback
  • Position accuracy
  • Operational history
  • Performance trends
  • System alerts

By improving visibility across infrastructure assets, water utilities can make faster, more informed operational decisions.

RIFT Actuators

Precision Valve Control for Critical Water Applications

Accurate flow control is essential across water treatment and distribution systems.

RIFT SMART Actuators provide highly precise movement control with advanced positioning accuracy, helping operators optimise system efficiency and reduce water waste.

Applications include:

  • Flow balancing
  • Pressure regulation
  • Chemical dosing systems
  • Filtration systems
  • Water treatment processes
  • Leakage reduction systems

Advanced modulation capabilities allow the actuator to provide smooth and responsive control for changing operational demands.

What is Modbus

4-20mA Modulation and Modbus Integration

Modern water infrastructure increasingly depends on intelligent communication between equipment, control systems and remote monitoring platforms.

RIFT SMART Actuators support:

  • 4-20mA Modulation
  • Modbus communication
  • Remote automation systems
  • SCADA integration

This allows seamless integration into existing water utility infrastructure while enabling advanced automation and remote control functionality.

Operators can monitor and adjust system performance centrally, improving operational efficiency across multiple sites.




Failsafe Protection for Critical Infrastructure

Reliability and resilience are critical within water and wastewater systems.

RIFT SMART Actuators offer configurable failsafe functionality, allowing valves to move to a predefined safe position during power loss or system failure.

Failsafe options include:

  • Fail open
  • Fail closed
  • Fail to position

This capability helps protect infrastructure, minimise disruption and improve safety during emergency situations.




Wiggle Function Technology

Valve reliability can be significantly affected by debris build-up, scale accumulation and sticking valve seats over time.

RIFT SMART Actuators feature an advanced Wiggle Function which periodically moves the valve to help clean the valve seat and maintain smooth operation.

This feature can:

  • Reduce valve seizure
  • Improve sealing performance
  • Extend valve lifespan
  • Reduce maintenance requirements
  • Improve operational reliability

For water utilities managing large infrastructure networks, this functionality helps reduce costly maintenance interventions and improve long-term performance.




Adjustable Speed Control

Different applications require different operational characteristics.

RIFT SMART Actuators allow adjustable speed control, enabling operators to optimise valve movement based on system requirements.

Benefits include:

  • Reduced water hammer risk
  • Improved process stability
  • Enhanced system protection
  • Greater operational flexibility

This level of control is particularly valuable within sensitive water treatment and pressure management applications.




Designed for Harsh Water Industry Environments

Water and wastewater facilities often operate in harsh conditions where reliability is essential.

RIFT SMART Actuators are built with IP67 rated protection, ensuring dependable operation in challenging environments exposed to:

  • Moisture
  • Dust
  • Flooding
  • Outdoor weather conditions
  • Industrial contaminants

The robust construction ensures long-term durability and reduced maintenance requirements across demanding applications.




Flexible Installation and Valve Compatibility

RIFT SMART Actuators are designed for simple integration into both new and existing infrastructure.

Compatible with:

  • Ball valves
  • Butterfly valves
  • Gate valves
  • Globe valves
  • Multi-turn systems
  • Part-turn systems

The actuator range also supports standard ISO flanges, drive adaptors and custom mounting configurations.

This flexibility makes RIFT SMART Actuators suitable for both standardised and bespoke automation projects.




Supporting Sustainable Water Infrastructure

Sustainability is no longer optional within the water industry.

AMP8 places strong emphasis on reducing environmental impact while improving infrastructure resilience and efficiency.

RIFT SMART Actuators help utilities achieve these goals by delivering:

  • Lower energy consumption
  • Reduced maintenance travel
  • Extended asset lifespan
  • Reduced operational waste
  • Improved water conservation
  • Enhanced remote asset management

By supporting smarter infrastructure management, RIFT Actuators contribute towards more sustainable and future-ready water networks.




Why Choose RIFT Actuators?


Founded in Malvern, UK, RIFT Actuators has built a reputation for innovation, reliability and technical expertise within electric valve automation.

Our commitment to engineering excellence has helped water utilities and industrial operators worldwide improve efficiency, reduce costs and modernise infrastructure.

When choosing RIFT Actuators, customers benefit from:

  • Proven UK engineering
  • Patented energy-saving technology
  • Advanced SMART diagnostics
  • Customisable actuator solutions
  • Predictive maintenance functionality
  • Comprehensive technical support
  • Global industry experience

We work closely with water companies, contractors and system integrators to deliver tailored automation solutions for critical infrastructure applications.




Future-Proof Your AMP8 Projects with RIFT SMART Actuators


As AMP8 drives major investment across the UK water industry, intelligent automation will play a central role in achieving operational, environmental and financial targets.

RIFT SMART Electric Actuators provide the advanced control, energy efficiency and predictive maintenance capabilities required for modern water infrastructure.

Whether you are upgrading ageing assets, designing new treatment systems or improving remote network control, RIFT Actuators deliver the performance and reliability needed to support the future of water management.

For smarter automation, lower operational costs and advanced infrastructure control, choose RIFT SMART Actuators.

RIFT Actuators

Get in Touch
Ready to enhance your fresh water systems with RIFT Actuators? Contact our team to explore how our electric actuators can transform your operations.
Email: sales@riftactuators.com
Phone: +44 (0)1684 123456
Offices: Malvern, UK | USA

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