Bridgnorth Aluminium apprentices on track at UK Metals Expo

Sam Foster and Oliver Greenhalgh at the UK Metals Expo

The UK’s leading manufacturer of flat rolled aluminium coils showcased the talents of its young engineers at the recent UK Metals Expo held earlier this month at the NEC, Birmingham. Oliver Greenhalgh and Sam Foster, first-year apprentices at Bridgnorth Aluminium Ltd (BAL), impressed visitors to the sector’s largest exhibition with the way they designed and manufactured a steam train out of scrap metal.

The two trainee mechanical engineers spent 20 hours of their own time developing the aluminium model, which was displayed at both the BAL stand and the Café De Arts area next to the Olympic Torch used at the London Olympics in 2012.

Adam Hunter, deputy general manager at Bridgnorth Aluminium, said: “Growing our own staff is very important to the business and we do this by investing in our apprentices and giving them the responsibility and opportunities to grow. The UK Metals Expo is a massive showcase for our sector, so we set Oliver and Sam the challenge to come up with a showpiece that was made completely out of waste material and utilised several pieces of equipment at our factory on Stourbridge Road.”

He continued: “They did us proud, embracing the project and using their initiative to create an aluminium steam train – a tribute to the Severn Valley Railway which runs from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth. It was a real talking point with visitors to our stand and everyone was very impressed. The apprentices also had the opportunity to look around the show and learn about some of the new technologies the world of metals is developing.”

Rich history
With a rich history spanning over 90 years, Bridgnorth Aluminium is the only fully integrated UK operation producing flat rolled aluminium coils to global customers in more than six core sectors. The 66-acre site in Bridgnorth offers a dedicated R&D department and production capabilities spanning casting, hot/cold rolling, heat treatment, slitting, levelling and degreasing.

From here, it primarily manufactures aluminium coils for use in lithographic printing plates, pharma and household foils for packaging, durable anodised panels and building facades and, increasingly, battery foil stocks for electrification.

Mr Hunter said: “We have just taken another three apprentices on in September and that takes our total to 13, with jobs still available in electrical and mechanical maintenance and other disciplines across the business. A variety of internal and external training options are also offered to support the ongoing training and development of our 300-strong workforce, proving that investment in our people is as important as investment in new technology.”

Apprentice Sam Foster concluded: “I am really enjoying my apprenticeship and being able to apply what I am learning on real world manufacturing projects. The UK Metals Expo was a great opportunity to work with fellow apprentices to produce something that was seen by thousands of people in our industry.”