At the recent UK Metals Expo, Bridgnorth Aluminium (BAL), the UK's leading flat-rolled aluminium coil manufacturer, showcased the impressive talents of its apprentice engineers. Oliver Greenhalgh and Sam Foster, first-year apprentices at BAL, captivated visitors at the industry's largest exhibition with their innovative steam train model, crafted entirely from scrap metal.
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The two trainee mechanical engineers dedicated 20 hours to designing and manufacturing the aluminium model. It was proudly displayed at the BAL stand and the Café De Arts area, next to the London 2012 Olympic Torch.
"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. 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," said Adam Hunter, Deputy General Manager at Bridgnorth Aluminium.
With over 90 years of expertise, Bridgnorth Aluminium is the UK's sole fully integrated producer of flat-rolled aluminium coils, serving a global customer base across more than six key sectors. Operating from its expansive 66-acre site in Bridgnorth, the company boasts a dedicated Research & Development department and comprehensive production capabilities, including casting, hot and cold rolling, heat treatment, slitting, levelling, and degreasing.
Bridgnorth Aluminium's expertise lies in manufacturing aluminium coils for a wide range of applications. These include lithographic printing plates, pharmaceutical and household packaging foils, durable anodised panels, and building facades. The company is also adapting to the changing market, increasingly producing battery foil stock to support electrification.
Adam added, “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.”
Sam Foster stated, “I’m really enjoying my apprenticeship and being able to apply what I’m 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.”
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