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Laser Operator: Meet Josh Boothroyd

How long did it take you to learn the skills of a laser operator?

It takes a couple of weeks to learn the basic process of using the laser machine, and over time you pick up more advanced and effective ways of being a laser operator.

Is there any progression in this area?

Yes, there’s lots of progression. You can start off as a machine operator and then learn maintenance on the machine. And then finally, learning to programme the machines with all different settings. My personal experience of progressing is working on the machines, then into the bend cell working on the Salvagnini panel bender, then to the laser and training new people or apprentices.

What fascinates you about the laser?

The range of parts that the machine can cut. Also, the range of materials it works really well with. Just the whole general function of the machine is really fascinating.

What’s the thickest material you have worked with on this machine?

I have worked with materials up to 20ml thickness; the thinnest material it can accurately work with is 0.5ml.

What did you want to do as a job when you left school/college?

My first job leaving school was in a factory; I have always wanted to work in something to do with engineering as there’s so much choice.

What other experience do you have?

I did my work experience in a machine shop on various things. But generally, I have a machining background, and I’m happy to stay in it and progress as much as possible.

What is one fact about your job?

The laser I work with, Bystronic Bysprint fibre 4020, produces up to 4000 watts, making cutting through the most challenging materials easy.

How long have you worked here, and how did you start?

I started off at Alpha Manufacturing as an apprentice nearly 7 years ago now. I had to work in each area to gain my on-the-job knowledge and experience, and I was happy to accept a job in the machine operative area as that’s my background.

What are your daily responsibilities?

To make sure the machine is running as it should be. Operate and maintain the machine to prolong its life span, it’s used 24 hours a day, so it needs regular checking and maintenance to ensure it’s working at 100% efficiency.

Alpha Integrated Solutions – Expert Sheet Metal Assembly Service

With a dedicated assembly facility called Alpha Integrated Solutions in Hixon, Staffordshire, we have an experienced and knowledgeable team that can complete your fully assembled finished products.

Alpha Integrated Solutions works closely with new and existing customers to develop complete products that combine components manufactured by Alpha Manufacturing and other suppliers.

Complex assembly is an increasingly popular service across many industries today, and we’ve certainly seen an increase in demand for fully assembled products to fine tolerances and finishes. This approach to fabricating products brings the customer high cost and efficiency savings.

Paul Clews, Alpha Manufacturing MD, comments, “Since the business was launched in the late 80s, we’ve always had a robust assembly offering. The Covid-19 pandemic has forced customers to consider supply chain efficiencies and product handling, resulting in many more customers choosing Alpha Manufacturing to fabricate the entire product, eliminating the need for multiple suppliers to ‘touch’ the product. With our metal design skills, customers increasingly turn to us to design and fabricate the entire product utilizing components from other suppliers to achieve a complete solution.”

With a wealth of experience across a broad range of product types, from simple assemblies to large-scale, complex builds, our assembly team is confident working with various components and products, working to technical drawings, SOP’s and stringent quality standards.

Some product assemblies we’ve worked on include commercial server cabinets, modular off-site packaged units for the construction industry, heating systems, medical equipment, gaming units, retail fixtures and industrial load banks.

Spotlight on Atlas Coating – Powder Coating Loading

The Atlas Coating facility uses the most advanced powder coating technology available in the world and as a result works with customers to deliver finished products that can withstand the rigours of every environment including heavy engineering and construction.

As a Track Loader at Atlas Coating, Cherelle Woodward plays a pivitol role in setting up products on the track for spraying. Failure to hang parts correctly could result in products not being sprayed as required, and resulting in parts that may be unprotected. From small, intricate parts, up to large parts used for machinery, the number of items she hangs varies from day to day.

It’s also critical that Cherelle and the team load the paint plant as efficiently as possible. With energy prices at a record high its more important than ever to maximise the number of parts we put through the plant every hour in order to give our customers a competitive price.

Cherelle says “I really enjoy working at Atlas Coatings, part of The HEX Group. The team I work in are great. I find it really interesting seeing the variety of different parts that we paint every day for our customers, we never know what we will be doing next!”

Cherelle joined Atlas Coating as a temp doing night shifts, becoming a permanent member of staff in March 2022. Before joining the business, Cherelle worked in goods in and as a quality inspector. Living in the local Hixon village, Staffordshire, she’s right on the doorstep of The HEX Group, and is proud to work for the ever-expanding company.

In her spare time Cherelle enjoys walking, watching films – The Lord of the Rings is a favourite of hers, and reading crime novels.

To find out more about our Atlas Coating and our powder coating technology, click here.

Meet the Alpha Manufacturing Planning Team

Meet the Alpha Manufacturing Planning team, which plays a crucial part in the smooth running of the business, and working closely with other divisions within The HEX Group to make sure customer orders are processed accurately and on time.

Promoted to Planning Manager in September 2022, Joanna Sitek leads the team, and they’re a force to be reckoned with. Initially joining the business in 2007 as a CNC Machinist, she has tackled many roles, from operating machines on the shop floor to working in the planning department.

Now responsible for planning all of the Alpha Manufacturing order book, including external sub-contract work and inter-company orders for the Bri-Stor Systems division, Joanna has to work closely with several other teams internally to ensure required deadlines are met. Alongside estimating and planning orders, she sets up bill of materials and routings as per technical drawings and releases works orders ready for production. She’s also working on few projects at the moment, which should automate some of the current manual processes and hopefully significantly improve on time efficiency.

Joanna says, “I am really enjoying my role as Planning Manager, but it can sometimes be challenging. Now responsible for a team, I have to ensure I’m supporting them while completing my work.”

In her spare time, Joanna loves to travel. Born in Poland, Joanna returns home five or six times per year to visit family. She looks forward to holidays in Italy and Cyprus later this year. Also big into her fitness, Joanna loves to train when she has the time.

Ancuta Bosioc is Planning Production Assistant. Initially joining the business in 2019, Anca worked in product assembly on the shop floor before moving into the Alpha Manufacturing office and working in Planning. Her role includes placing orders on the system, creating part numbers, scheduling jobs and releasing paperwork for production.

Born in Romania, Anca came to the UK in 2015 to work as a strawberry picker. She fell in love with the country and has never looked back. She loves hiking with friends and is currently studying for a Business Management degree, attending Bedfordshire University every week.

Also, part of the team is Lizzy Graham, Data Entry Clerk/Planning Admin. She came into the business via an agency in January 2021 before taking a permanent contract in April 2021. Responsible for entering purchase orders, setting up parts and updating the order book, she ensures that admin duties are conducted accurately and efficiently.

Lizzie says, “I really enjoy my job, especially setting up multi-component assemblies which I find very interesting.”

With a love for creative writing, Lizzie has written three adult fiction books and currently working on number four. Published herself on Kindle Direct, you can check out Lizzie’s books called Survival. In her spare time, she also loves to listen to music and designing houses and clothes.

And finally, we have Charlotte Allen, a Level 3 Support Technician Apprentice who is supporting the team with a special project to improve processes and automation within the function. Primarily helping with administration, Charlotte is working closely with the rest of the team and learning a lot about the planning operation along the way.

Charlotte joined The HEX Group in 2021 after spending one year at JCB Academy doing an apprenticeship. She says, “Being at The HEX Group feels like a family. There is always someone to help and support me.”

Charlotte has a keen interest in moving into sales or marketing upon completion of her Level 3 apprenticeship and would love to study for a degree in one of these disciplines.

In her spare time, Charlotte enjoys spending time with her friends, listening to Indie music and travelling. She has a few holidays planned already but is excited about a Christmas trip to New York with her family.

Meet the Team – Micheal Howells

From Quality to Costing, we recently caught up with Micheal Howells to understand his career journey so far and how his new role as Costing Engineer in Alpha Manufacturing is going.

Leaving college, Micheal had a passion for Quality and secured his first job as Quality Inspector at Alpha Manufacturing in 2016. Enjoying the role but finding working shifts a challenge, Micheal left and spent the following number of years working within Construction, volunteering as a Special Constable, and gaining a degree in Professional Policing. Micheal comments, “Quality was my first employment, and although I didn’t want to leave, it allowed me to experience a number of different avenues.”

Luckily for us, Micheal returned to his roots and re-joined the Quality Team at Alpha Manufacturing, and in June last year, he accepted the new challenge of Costing Engineer. Micheal adds, “the experience of working within Quality has given me the understanding of processes and customer requirements, which I can implement within this new role. I think it is important to learn the groundwork of any job to enable career progression, which is what I aim for now.”

During his spare time, Micheal likes to keep fit by playing squash and hiking, socialising with friends and music, with a particular interest in the guitar.

New Operations Manager appointed at Alpha Chemical Technologies site in Stafford

Alpha Manufacturing has recently appointed Will Johnson as the new Operations Manager for the Chemical Technologies site in Stafford.

With over 25 years of experience in manufacturing, Will has a vast amount of knowledge and understanding of production, shop floor layouts and getting as much as possible out of the plant. His time as a quality engineer in a previous role also stands him in good stead, as manufacturing high-quality products is at the heart of the Alpha Manufacturing strategy.

Coming from a bespoke giftware company in Stoke-on-Trent, Will is used to a fast-paced operation and ensuring that orders are out of the door quickly and efficiently. At peak times, from October to December, up to 10,000 products would go through the facility every day.

Will joins the Group at an exciting time, when the Chemical Technologies facility is growing, allowing him to put his own stamp on things and implement processes and systems to ensure the plant runs efficiently and meets its daily targets.

Will says, “It’s exciting coming into an established environment, with support around me to help me develop and progress. There are challenges, but I’m really looking forward to growing a skilled team and learning alongside them to improve and grow this fantastic facility.”

In his spare time, Will enjoys socialising with friends, eating out and weekends away.

We’re delighted to have Will on board as our new Operations Manager and look forward to seeing him grow personally and professionally with the Group.

We’re currently recruiting for TIG Welders to join the team at the Stafford facility. If you have the experience and are looking for a new challenge, check out the job description and how to apply here TIG Welder – The Hex Group

The heat pump revolution is underway and we’re here to help you make the most of it

We are a UK-based company dedicated to helping businesses across various industries thrive. One area where we excel is in providing support to companies that manufacture heat pumps.

Heat pumps are an essential technology in the journey towards more sustainable and efficient heating systems. These systems use electricity to transfer heat from the air or ground to provide efficient heating and cooling for buildings. In doing this, they can be used as an alternative to traditional fossil fuel-based heating systems, which can help to reduce carbon emissions and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Our advanced sheet metal fabrication facility is well-equipped to tackle the unique demands of heat pump manufacturing. With the latest technology and talented professionals, we can deliver high-quality parts and components that meet the precise needs of our clients.

In addition to our fabrication capabilities, we offer various services to support heat pump manufacturers. These include prototyping, design support, and project management. We know that the heat pump market is constantly evolving, and we are passionate about staying up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies.

At Alpha Manufacturing, we are thrilled to be a trusted partner for companies in the heat pump industry. Whether you are a small start-up or a large corporation, we have the resources and experience to support your manufacturing goals. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business thrive.

Meet the team – Rafal

Joining Alpha Manufacturing over nine years ago, Rafal Laczkowski has become crucial in ensuring our products get to our customers in pristine condition as quickly as possible.

Rafal joined the business in the dispatch department. After just one year of working within the team, Rafal’s hard work and commitment were recognised – earning him a promotion to supervisor level.

Despite his love for his team and drive to ensure his job was done to a high standard, Rafal had always dreamed of a different career path.

After eight years within Alpha Manufacturing, seeing the opportunities through training and growth available, Rafal decided it was time to talk to Paul Clews, Managing Director of Alpha Manufacturing, about his childhood dream.

Rafal said, “To be a driver, it was my dream. A proper dream. After eight years working for Alpha Manufacturing, I approached Paul Clews and asked him if there were any opportunities to become a HGV driver.”

Alpha Manufacturing is dedicated to supporting apprentices and staff to achieve their best. This case was no different. The Alpha management team agreed to cover all costs of Raf’s training and guarantee him a role as a delivery driver upon completion.

Paul Clews, Managing Director of Alpha Manufacturing, said, “I’m so proud that we were able to help Raf get to where he wanted to be. It’s important to us as a business to know our staff are happy and fulfilled.”

“A major focus of The HEX Group is to ensure our team has the training opportunities to reach their goals.”

Reflecting on the transition to his new dream role, Rafal said, “I’ve been driving for just over a year now. This job is perfect – from start to finish.”

“My typical day begins with vehicle inspections, ensuring the vehicle is safe on the road. Then, it’s time to supervise the product loads ensuring that everything is secured properly to avoid damage.”

“I can be doing a couple of deliveries a day or doing one longer delivery to places such as Southampton. When I’m driving, you can find me listening to the likes of Michael Jackson, the Pet Shop Boys, and other pop classics to pass the time.”

Rafal’s commitment to ensuring that Alpha Manufacturing’s products get to our customers is second to none. We look forward to sharing more about his role here soon.

Keeping emergency blood supplies safe on blood bikes

Shropshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire Blood Bikes deliver urgent supplies to medical settings across the three counties and beyond.

Often relied on in times of emergency, they can provide anything from breast milk for neonatal units to urgent supplies of blood or platelets when hospitals are running low. The service is entirely manned by volunteers, and the team’s 16 motorbikes are a lifeline for its users, covering 350,000 miles a year to support people in need.

Unique solution

When the charity updated their fleet, they needed help to configure a specialist tray which could be fitted to the back of each bike to transport the much-needed blood boxes and containers needed for deliveries.

Alpha Manufacturing designed a specialist modular tray with various fixing kits to fit multiple styles of bike, including the charity’s new BMW and Moto Guzzi models.

“It really has made a difference”, says Fleet Manager Nigel Howells. “We now have a system that can work with any bike we choose. It can be adapted and remodelled as needed to provide a simple solution which can even transport two different products at the same time.”

Collaborative approach

The HEX Group’s expertise in graphics meant they were also able to source and apply specialist motorbike livery that perfectly fit the charity’s new BMW and Moto Guzzi models.

Having clear signage on their fleet of motorbikes is essential in making sure riders are visible on the road and can be safely identified.

“Our 160 volunteer riders rely on clear signage on the Blood Bikes to keep them safe and make them visible on the road,” adds Nigel.

“When we had to change bike models, it was difficult to find a supplier who could provide the livery required. Working with HEX Graphics has made the whole process simpler, and we can now quickly and easily brand up new bikes so our riders can continue to get out on the roads providing the much-needed support to the NHS.”

Updating eight new bikes and with another three in the pipeline, the Group is hoping the idea will become best practice in helping other Blood Bike teams across the country providing a simple solution to keep volunteer riders safe on the road.

Meet the Team – Libby Mellor, Trainee Quality Engineer

Twelve months after joining Alpha Manufacturing, after attending the Company’s first recruitment open day, Libby Mellor, a former Mechanical Engineering apprentice, has implemented the iAuditor quality control processes at the new 35,000sq ft Alpha Manufacturing Chemical Technologies site in Stafford.

Libby joined the business as a Trainee Quality Engineer and explains how she established an interest in Quality Control from her Engineering Apprenticeship Programme: “Spending time in various departments gave me a real insight into Engineering. Quality was the one area that particularly captured my interest, realising the importance of inspecting and monitoring operations to ensure they meet production standards.”

Not long into her role, Libby embarked on the challenge of implementing the iAuditor quality inspection system at our new Stafford site in conjunction with INEOS Electrochemical Solutions. Working in a brand-new factory, Libby explains how she tackled the challenge head-on:

“It was great that Alpha saw my potential and gave me this opportunity. In the beginning, the integration of the INEOS control plan into iAuditor was a priority, continually highlighting potential changes and addressing them along the way. Manufacturing of the product had not yet begun, which meant working closely with INEOS was crucial, and ISIRs (Initial Sample Inspection Reports) were key to ensuring quality standards were met. Before production commenced, the quality control process of regular inspections was imperative to achieving such high-precision engineering.

“We have come a long way, and my day-to-day routine focuses primarily on operator training and ensuring all the quality controls we have put in place are adhered to. The iAuditor software is tablet-based and keeps inspections accurate and up-to-date, and the process is simple and quick.”

Once the new site is fully commissioned and handed over, Libby will return to the Quality Department at Alpha, where she has recently been accepted onto the Group’s new Leadership Programme, alongside a Quality Management and Auditing course. Libby’s commitment and enthusiasm for her role and the business are unquestionable, and her future at Alpha is exciting.

Back UK Manufacturing and Boost Britain’s Economy

UK businesses continue to face many struggles and unprecedented challenges during 2022, with the UK’s rising cost of living pressures and inflation jumping to a staggering 13.2%.

Fuel and energy costs remain a huge concern, with prices cripplingly high and transportation costs of exporting goods for both road and sea freight at levels never seen before. The war in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia still cause uncertainty around rising fuel prices, and interruptions in the supply of machinery parts and raw materials continue to cause problems.

With interest rates rising to a base rate of 2.25% recently, there is added pressure on businesses exposed to debt burdens and rising mortgage costs.

Our Commercial Director Robin Eley shares his thoughts six months after his first interview to discuss why choosing British sheet metal suppliers can help alleviate supply chain and export concerns.

“Without doubt, UK manufacturing is feeling the same pressures of the global energy price hikes that are being felt through the entire supply chain, but keeping manufacturing in Britain has several benefits.

“The most significant is transportation. High shipping and logistic prices, along with delivery delays, have resulted in many supply chain issues.

“Many years ago, sourcing production outside of the UK was a viable way to sub-contract sheet metal fabrication, but as time has moved on, the cost-benefit, logistics and infrastructure that supported this kind of trade has now disappeared. British manufacturing has an annual output of £183 billion, and remains the ninth largest manufacturing nation in the world, providing 2.5m jobs across the country. By reshoring to the UK, companies benefit from a more localised control of production, ensuring that everything from communication to quality standards is to the highest standard possible.

“With world-class engineering here in the UK, and strong partnerships with leading suppliers, we have the capacity and ability to prototype and progress production opportunities without the high costs associated with logistics.

“As a company, we are taking further measures to be self-sufficient. We recently completed the installation of 1770 solar panels covering 3,570.5m² of roof space on the Alpha Manufacturing facility roof. These solar panels will allow the business to generate enough power to run our machinery. Over a 12-month period, the business will save 150 tCO₂ carbon emissions, the equivalent of a two-litre diesel car travelling one million miles, and taking us a step closer to achieving our carbon neutral commitment by 2037.

“We are increasingly supporting our customers, from a wide variety of sectors, to take on their production and alleviate some of the pressures facing UK businesses today.”

To find out more about how we can support reshoring your sheet metal production to the UK with our complete in-house fabrication service, get in touch.

Manufacturing EV Charging Components to support Going Green

Demand for electric cars in the UK is growing fast. Today there are an estimated 477,000 electric cars on the road and more than 790,000 plug-in hybrids. And, with the need for all new cars and vans sold in the UK to be fully electric by 2035, the charging infrastructure must be in place to accommodate driver’s needs.

According to the latest charging station stats, there are 33,996 EV chargers in the UK, as at the end of August 2022. These devices provide 56,237 electric car charging connectors.

That’s where we can help. As an award-winning sheet metal fabricator, Alpha manufacturing has a wealth of experience in manufacturing for the automotive and electric vehicle industry, for over 35 years. With cutting-edge machinery and processes, we have the capacity to produce components for Electric Vehicle Charging Points.

With our state-of-the-art production facilities, and a wealth of experience supplying various components in large volumes to our sister company Bri-Stor Systems for the conversion of electric vehicles, we have the capabilities and know how to assist with everything from prototyping to fabrication and assembly of your Electric Vehicle Charge Unit.

Our Processes

Our state-of-the-art machinery includes our robotic fold and weld facilities, CNC laser cutting, CNC punch, automated panel bending and a machining centre, enabling us to easily manufacture various components such as stands, metal plates, box units and more for the manufacture of Electric Vehicle Charge Points. Our 85,000 sq. ft factory also features the longest integrated STOPA Storage System in the UK, allowing us to hold a wide variety of material thicknesses and components for manufacture of custom Electric Vehicle Charge Points products.

Weatherproofing & Corrosion Resistance

Occupying a shared site with our sister company Atlas Coating, we are able to offer industry leading power coating services for your EV charge unit, salt spray tested for over 1,000 hours making sure that your EV charge unit is weatherproofed and exceptionally durable. Our innovative five-stage pre-treatment process utilises Oxsilan, which is a Saline based solution, as opposed to more harmful Zinc or Phosphate alternatives used by many powder coaters. This allows us to significantly reduce our environmental impact, whilst still offering unbeatable corrosion protection and durability.

Assembly & Integration

Not only are we able to offer the fabrication of components, but we are also able to provide assembly and integration services. Alpha’s dedicated in-house assembly department have vast experience in assembling various components and products, working to technical drawings, SOP’s and stringent quality standards. Recently, we opened up our new division, Alpha Manufacturing Integrated Solutions, which operates from a facility near our Hixon HQ.

EV Charge Unit Components

With our extensive capabilities for high volume repeatable small parts to large scale laser and punch sheets, we are able to facilitate the entire fabrication of EV charge point units, for example:

Box section
Charger post stands
Bracketry for charger fitting
Ground mounts
Pre-assembly, packaging and delivery to customer requirements

We currently produce many components for Electrical Vehicle Charge Units, and we’re proud to be currently supplying one of the fastest growing EV charge manufacturing companies with their charge point fabrications.

Get in touch to find out how we can help your business with Electrical Vehicle Charging Units.

Stafford manufacturer celebrates as new state of the art facility unveiled bringing new jobs and increased production to the area

Alpha Manufacturing has officially unveiled its new state-of-the-art production facility at Beacon Park, Stafford.

The completion of the 35,000sq ft Alpha Manufacturing Chemical Technologies site, on Wednesday 7^th September, significantly increases the precision engineering capabilities for leading sheet metal manufacturer Alpha Manufacturing.

Creating 50 new jobs for the area, the new facility, part of The HEX Group, accommodates high-precision engineering and manufacturing processes supporting the manufacture of components for INEOS Electrochemical Solutions.

Operating 24/7 shift-patterns, the team based at Beacon Park will join over 500 other members of The HEX Group team based at Hixon. Representatives from both Alpha Manufacturing and INEOS Electrochemical Solutions marked the unveiling which will provide a boost to jobs and manufacturing in the area.

Paul Clews, Managing Director at Alpha Manufacturing, said the new site was part of the group’s continued investment in creating world class manufacturing here in Stafford.

He said: “Our new state-of-the-art facility is the result of months of hard work and testament to our continued commitment to investing in the local area.

“The site will continue to develop and invest in the engineers of the future creating new opportunities and growing Alpha Manufacturing’s world-class engineering facilities in the region.

“Alpha Manufacturing Chemical Technologies is part of our commitment to collaborations which create innovative solutions for products of the future and is a welcome addition to the HEX family.”

Commenting on the opening, Terry Healy, Business Unit Manager, INEOS Electrochemical Solutions says: “It is a momentous day for Alpha Manufacturing Chemical Technologies. We are delighted to be bringing new skills and expertise to Stafford thanks to the world-class engineering standards of Alpha Manufacturing. Our collaboration is helping to support the future growth of the industry and we are pleased to mark this new partnership here in Stafford.”

Alpha Manufacturing is a family-owned business established in 1989 which specialises in fabricating sheet metal in the UK.

The company now employs over 150 people from designers and engineers to production staff, welders, and machine operators to provide integrated solutions for businesses across the globe.

Why Atlas Coating?

When it comes to powder coating Atlas Coating is the market leader driven by a strong investment programme, supported by parent company Bri-Stor Group. In this feature, Coatings Manager Ian Buckley explains how the culture of the business results in the achievement of world class standards.

“Our highly skilled and motivated workforce is at the heart of our success,” explains Ian. “We invest heavily in training to ensure that our team are at the forefront of the industry and we recognise that you can have the best machinery in the world but it’s our team of expert people that really deliver the consistent, high-quality output our customers have come to expect from us.”

Accredited to the quality management standard ISO:9001, the environmental standard ISO:14001 and the health and safety standard OHAS:18001, Atlas is entirely committed to minimising the firm’s impact on the environment, while simultaneously delivering a safe and healthy place to work, Ian continues: “As we all look towards a net zero future, we have a real duty to minimise our impact on the environment and as a business we have made many small changes to our overall operation, from the baling and recycling of all cardboard to the reclaim and filtration system on our ITW powder facilities to help us reclaim powder that would normally be wasted. All these measures add up and get us closer to achieving both local and global targets.”

Amongst its customers, Atlas is known for its ability to flex its operations to meet customer’s often, demanding needs. With a 24-hour shift pattern, employing the vast majority of its long serving and loyal workforce from the local area, Atlas works closely with leading machinery manufacturer ITW to continuously advance its production capability, as Ian explains: “Since Atlas was established in 1989, we have consistently invested heavily in the latest equipment to deliver maximum production efficiency and output quality. Our semi-automated powder coating system enables us to work on multiple parts and multiple quantities at any one time and with a short seven minute cleaning process between batches, we can switch colours really efficiently.

“The real Atlas difference is in the pre-treatment phase of production. We use the most advanced system available in the market called Oxsilan 9810. With zero harm to the environment compared to other Zinc or Phosphate alternatives used by many powder coating plants, the use of this particular material enables us to achieve results that far surpass the 1000 hours salt test. With a rigid adherence to ISO:9001, our quality standards are audited weekly by an external agent supported by our own internal quality team.”

Collaborating with the world’s leading machinery manufacturers gives Atlas a significant advantage and ultimately, gives the customer maximum powder coating flexibility, Ian expands on that point: “From a design perspective we work closely with our colleagues in Alpha Manufacturing to ensure products are designed to maximise efficiencies throughout production which includes the finishing process. Equally, for those customers bringing their finished product to us for finishing, we have the flexibility and variability within our machinery set-up to maximise batch loads, an important consideration in evaluating the overall cost of a product.”

Based in the heart of the Midlands and with the ability to deliver products across the UK, Atlas Coating goes from strength to strength, as Ian concludes: “We are proud of the ‘gold standard’ we bring to the industry and this is achieved by the continual investment in our people and our plant. This is an industry constantly evolving. Quality, environmental and health & safety standards are constantly under review and we need to lead the industry to meet these ever-more stringent regulations. Like everything we do at the Bri-Stor Group, we do it with maximum commitment and maximum effort – it’s the way we do business and it will underpin our continued success.”

Why being an apprentice has changed my career aspirations

Making the decision to apply for an apprenticeship with Alpha, has to be the best career move I could have possibly made.

Going into the Apprenticeship Scheme with just the basic idea that would be able to gain experience alongside gaining qualifications sounded like an ideal choice. But little did I know there is SO much more to it than simply learning on the job, there’s a whole new world with a thousand levels to unlock and I’ve only just opened the first door.

Let me take you back to the start of my journey. I had never been in an engineering environment before, I was unsure if I would fit in or if I would be good at it but I’ve had many mentors along the way who have guided me and made me realise that it doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to do something as long as you put enough effort in to learn, there are no limits to what you can achieve. I always wanted to be at the top of everything I took part in, but the path wasn’t always clear on how to get there and I always questioned if I could make it to where I want to be, but now as I’m learning and becoming more confident in my abilities through guidance from my peers at Alpha Manufacturing, I can see that it’s actually possible to make it to the top and I now have much bigger career aspirations – I’m certain I can achieve them.

I’ve witnessed first hand the greater opportunities that Alpha give to those who are willing to put in the effort. I’ve been given the opportunity to progress into the commercial world whilst applying the technical knowledge I have gathered from my initial two years of experience at college and working as part of a team on the shop floor. Each and every one of us is more than capable, but sometimes the challenge is finding a way to unlock that potential. Being fortunate enough to work with a close knitted team at Alpha, I can express my feelings freely and I’m not afraid to ask questions or say the wrong thing as I know that I won’t be knocked down, I will be educated and pushed into the right direction so that I can continue to learn and bank more knowledge.

Ultimately, Alpha Manufacturing does Apprenticeships, and they do them incredibly well. For the past three years I’ve seen each new wave of Apprentices arrive, settle in and set off on their own personal career path. Now, Alpha has launched a Higher Apprenticeship Scheme for those who are already able to take the next step and I’m very excited to meet and work alongside the future engineers of Alpha Manufacturing.

Dare to be great?