From left to right: Ian Hill, John Hawkins and John Rutherford

Srong business growth at Bromsgrove-based Walter GB has resulted in the cutting tool manufacturer recruiting three new field sales engineers to strengthen the existing sales structure and deliver enhanced customer service and support.

John Rutherford has been appointed to support customers in the North West, an area that is witnessing an unprecedented surge in sales for Walter. With more than 20 years in the industry, he started out as a telecoms specialist in the military before forging a career in the cutting tool market. With extensive industry experience and intimate knowledge of the North West region, Mr Rutherford will be tasked with supporting existing Walter customers and also targeting new business opportunities.

Meanwhile, Ian Hill, who is based in Nuneaton, will cover the The M1 corridor and motorsport valley around Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire. He will work with existing customers that are increasing their demand for Walter products while also targeting new business opportunities in the area.

Leaving school at 16 to undertake a toolmaking apprenticeship, his career has progressed through manual to five-axis CNC machining, CAM programming and product design with a string of leading sub-contract manufacturers in the F1, automotive, offshore and power generation sectors. Mr Hill has spent the most recent part of his 25-year engineering career in cutting tool sales. Appointed in June, his proximity and motorsport experience will strengthen Walter’s footprint in this area.

Completing the trio of new recruits, John Hawkins has been appointed to bolster growth in the South East, Midlands and East Anglia. He started his engineering career more than 25 years ago as an apprentice machinist and has since worked as an applications engineer, sales and application engineer, regional business manager and UK sales manager with several well-known cutting tool, machine tool and sub-contract manufacturing companies.

Walter Tools managing director Ashley Battison said: “The technology and innovation offered by Walter Tools has long been the benchmark of the industry. However, the transition from a pandemic depressed market to relentless growth in many industry sectors, including aerospace, electric vehicles and automotive, has seen more companies than ever looking for innovative new solutions.

“As Walter increasingly demonstrates its industry-leading innovations, we have needed to restructure our business model to support customers as they grow and explore innovative new methods of manufacturing. With three vastly experienced engineers joining our team, we are demonstrating both our service, support and commitment to existing customers as well as our ambitions for continued business growth.”