Finishing - March-April 2022

4 NEWS www.finishingmagazine.co.uk
New opportunities on the horizon
One of Shropshire’s oldest
manufacturers is targeting more
than £2.5m of new
opportunities in 2022, as more
companies tap into the firm’s
unprecedented lead times and
quality.
Corbetts the Galvanizers,
which celebrated its 160th
birthday in 2020, has seen
significant growth from the
transport, street furniture,
agriculture and construction
sectors during the last twelve
months, with orders expected to
jump a further 20% going
forward.
Despite taking on 30 new
staff, the Telford-based firm is
still looking to bolster its
workforce with a further 39
employees and is embarking on
another strong recruitment
campaign that will include
flexible working, retention
bonuses and organised
transport.
The company has also
launched the Iron Duke
Academy, a new training school
that will help all individuals
develop new skills and a clear
progression route within the
business.
This could include offering to
pay for Class 1 licences for
potential HGV drivers and
specialist training to integrate
new lean manufacturing
techniques and management
qualifications/skills.
Sophie Williams, finance
director and general manager,
commented: “2021 started with
a £multi-million manufacturing
agreement with Fastline to
galvanise 15,000 tonnes of
perimeter steel fencing every
year.
“This was the sign of things
to come with our top accounts
all growing by 20% during the
following twelve months and
we’ve had to respond to this by
investing in new processes, new
manufacturing technology and
staff - the latter has been a
constant challenge, but one we
feel we are now getting on top
of.”
She continued: “We’re now
hitting industry-leading delivery
times alongside the quality
standards Corbetts is renowned
for…that is helping us to boost
revenue with existing accounts
and 2022 will focus on how we
convert some of our pipeline
activity. If plans go as expected,
we’ll need to introduce 3
rotating shifts in both plants!”
Galvanizing Awards 2022 open for entry
Galvanizers Association Galvanizing Awards 2022 are open for entry. After having been held virtually at the
start of the pandemic and after a brief hiatus in 2021, the awards are back and Galvanizers Association are
excited to hold the lunchtime event at the traditional London venue, the Royal Aeronautical Society in July
this year.
Judges will award the innovative use of hot dip galvanizing across six categories:
Galvanizing in Architecture, Galvanizing in Engineering, Galvanizing in Detail, Sustainable Galvanizing
and the Duplex Award, plus the Galvanizing in Art award.
Marketing Manager Iqbal Johal believes the 2022 awards will be a chance to showcase the sector’s
creativity and resilience but is also an opportunity to reflect a growing understanding of sustainability: “Apart
from ongoing challenges with supply chains, UK and Irish Construction have bounced back fairly well from
the pandemic. However, the sector now finds itself operating in very different conditions. Whilst the balance
sheet appears healthy, promises around public spending are not iron clad and in addition, the sector finds
itself being asked to find solutions to the demands of green growth and climate change. So, much has
changed and there is a very different context to this year’s awards.”
“At Galvanizers Association, we believe that the current environment, whilst being hugely challenging, will
bring about largescale innovation. We anticipate projects offering up new ways to use our buildings and
public spaces, with designs that embrace the circular economy, keep precious resources in use and which
prize longevity. For a number of years now, we have promoted the sustainable use of galvanized steel, we
look forward to seeing how the construction community is harnessing the manifold benefits of galvanized
steel to meet the challenging needs of our time.”
The GAGAs are open to all within the construction supply chain within the UK and Ireland, from clients,
architects, engineers, to contractors and fabricators. Artists and craftspeople at all stages of their career are
also invited to enter. Entries must be submitted by 29th April and require just a short project description and
photographs. Any new building, refurbishment or art project completed after 1st January 2020 is eligible.
Further details can be found at https://www.galvanizing.org.uk/construction-awards. For
more information, please contact Iqbal Johal at: i.johal@hdg.org.uk
New key
moves
One of the UK’s leading paint
and powder coating companies
has strengthened its leadership
team with two key
appointments.
Thomas Howse Ltd has
recruited long-standing industry
figures Andrew Adkins and
Garry Plant.
They bring more than 75
years’ sector expertise to the
historic company, which was
acquired by the Sheibani Group
two years ago.
Andrew, whose track record
in the sector spans more than
40 years, takes up the role of
head of operations. He will
spearhead the company’s inhouse
production and process
improvements programme
across both powder coatings
and liquid paints.
Meanwhile, Garry has been
appointed the company’s new
general manager. He has been
involved in paint production and
sales since 1986, both in the UK
as well as overseas, and has
worked for the group for many
years. He will be working closely
with its sales team as well as its
customer services and after-sales
technical support departments.
Group chairman, Abubaker
Sheibani, said: “Andrew and
Garry join us at an exciting time,
and we look forward to drawing
upon their expertise to propel us
into a new era.
“Our research and
development lab has been
upgraded to enable it to support
all of the group's coatings
business both in the UK and
overseas, ensuring our in-house
teams stay at the very forefront
of innovation. We have
ambitious plans to expand this
internal asset throughout 2022
and beyond.
“We have also started a
rolling programme of
investment in our plants and in
the latest technology. This will
equip us with the internal
capacity and capability to extend
and diversify our in-company
product range to meet customer
needs.”
Finishing – March/April 2022