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Women with Metal
It’s been 7 weeks since the first Women with Metal event and the 2nd edition of this sell out conference has already been booked top take place on 29 October 2024. Kirsty is increasing the size and scale of the event and has booked a hall at the ICC Birmingham for year 2 with the…
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Should you consider B2B ecommerce payments?
In the past, many believed that B2B products were too complicated to be sold online and buyers would not trust making high-value purchases through the internet. Physical sales relationships were seen as the only way to establish the trust required for B2B transactions. However, the digital age has significantly influenced the B2B research and buying…
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Organized Crime Drives Metal Theft Epidemic: UK Economy Loses Half a Billion Annually.
A newly released report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Metal, Stone, and Heritage reveals that metal theft orchestrated by organized crime groups is costing the UK economy a staggering half a billion pounds each year. The comprehensive study, titled “Tackling Metal Theft,” exposes a rising trend in metal-related crimes since 2019, amounting to a…
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Van Leeuwen: The Energy Project
In December 2021 Jill Clements told me about the Energy Project that had been signed off by Van Leeuwen UK. Jill was animated when talking about the news, and excitedly explained the potential that this opened up to her and the team. “I am very excited about it. I am really happy that finally we…
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Drywall Steel Sections Secures £9.5 Million WMCA Investment
£13 million was all it took for a family run manufacturing business to make a monumental transformation in the historic heart of the steel industry! Drywall Steel Sections Ltd are on the move after securing loan funding of £9.5 million from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). Their Cradley Heath site was no longer fit…
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The NASS Golf day & Summer Gathering 2023
On the 29th of June, Matt Tipper, Stewart Andrews and I had a swing of the clubs at Priory Breadsall in Derby. A week later, on the 6th of July, I attended the Summer Gathering in central Birmingham. Two entirely different events, seven days apart, both hosted by The National Association of Steel Service Centres…
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The Stainless Steel Industry Meets at the BSSA Annual Conference & Dinner
The British Stainless Steel Association (BSSA) met at The Grand Hotel in Birmingham in May 2023 for their annual conference and dinner. Having attended the last four BSSA annual conferences and this year’s Food and Beverage Industry event (link to article), it was great to catch up with familiar faces from the industry and new…
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Q2 Review: Analysing The Recruitment Landscape
Large corporate companies are facing challenges attracting new talent and retaining skilled staff especially when their salary structures, work flexibility and staff benefits are outdated compared to smaller, more agile SMEs. Smaller companies can have the advantage of being able to offer more flexibility and quicker decision-making, meaning they’re a more appealing option for certain…
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How to use LinkedIn for YOUR Metal Business.
The below presentation was given at the National Association of Steel Service Centres (NASS) 2023 Summer Gathering. In 12 days I’ll have been using LinkedIn for 12 years! On the day I joined I thought: “Wow! This business Facebook thingy is incredible! Everyone I want to do business with is right here, this will be…
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Leading the Charge: Steel Dynamics in the Nuclear Industry
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently unveiled the Great British Nuclear initiative, marking a significant milestone in the UK’s pursuit of a sustainable energy future. With nuclear power playing a crucialrole in achieving net-zero emissions and reducing greenhouse gases, this announcement signals a remarkable leap forward in the nation’s commitment to clean and reliable energy sources.…
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Steel Dynamics Group Ltd. Acquires Ferrari Stainless & Alloys.
Steel Dynamics Group Ltd. Acquires Ferrari Stainless & Alloys Ltd. Launching P&P Non Ferrous: A Gateway to Enhanced Customer Services and Expansion Down South In a strategic move to bolster its position in the industry, Steel Dynamics Group Ltd. proudly announces the successful acquisition of Ferrari Stainless & Alloys Ltd. in Wimborne. This transformative development…
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Sustainability is key to modern manufacturing
During my time supplying specialist metals into the manufacturing sector, I have noticed several things regarding the supply chain local to me in South Yorkshire. 1 Large Manufacturing companies often have difficult onboarding processes. This makes it difficult for smaller SMES or new market entrants to be able to supply them. 2 Manufacturing companies are…
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Lasers: The Tesla of Tooling
Welcome back, I’m LaserEd, and I work with lasers. I’ll be laser-educating for The Metal Magazine and I hope it results in more metal parts being lasered! First of all, I haven’t had an accident after writing my last article about Laser Safety. I have been busy researching. Although it is time consuming, I love…
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Implementing QMS Certifications for Small Businesses and Start-Up Companies
Welcome to the fourth and final instalment of this short series on Quality Management System certification for small businesses and start-up companies. In this 4 part series I have been explaining exactly what third-party certification involves, and how you can level up your business through this process. The standard we are focussing on is ISO9001:2015, as…
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Net zero carbon does not mean zero!
Task 2 of the SUSTAIN project focuses on recycling the non-recyclable waste from the steelmaking process.
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Beyond Steel: The Value of Carbon Capture and Utilisation in Steelmaking
Task 1 of the SUSTAIN project focuses on carbon capture and how to utilise the by-products of steelmaking to create commercially valuable products.
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Energy Contracts: You’re either ‘OK’ or ‘Up a creek without a paddle’
CEC’s Liam Conway sheds light on why businesses are paying over the odds for their energy contracts, and what they can do about it.
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The Cost of Labour in 2023
Michael Bolton from Comton Group discusses the cost of labour in 2023 as businesses battle rising costs and a competitive labour market.
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A guide to implementing QMS certifications for small businesses and start-ups – Part 3
Quality expert Andrew Milner describes the factors to look for when choosing a certification body and explains the certification process.
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Stainless Steel in the Food & Beverage Industry – Report
Eric Partington, representing the Nickel Institute and EHEDG, offers his report on the Stainless Steel in the Food & Beverage Industry event.
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Hydroscand UK: A Certified Great Place to Work
Peter revisits Hydroscand UK, who now have the paperwork to back up what we already knew!
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A Productive Start to 2023: Empowering Businesses in the Stainless Steel Industry
Rob Cooper, Managing Director of the British Stainless Steel Association, shares highlights for the year so far and their plans for the summer.
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Lab-quality analysis in the palm of your hand
Peter visits ARUN Technology to check out the first and only handheld CMOS-based LIBS analyser in the market to measure carbon in ferrous.
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EU steel mills’ price aspirations unsupported by the market
European steel mills push for further price increases despite uncertainty from buyers about the future market direction.
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Pulsed Electrochemical Machining: A Potential Solution to Advanced Material Challenges
Kirk Gino Abolafia from Voxel Innovations explains the concept of pulsed electrochemical machining and its benefits in manufacturing.
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Expansion and then more expansion: A successful formula for Selmach Machinery
Machinery experts expand their premises and range to stay ahead of the competition.
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EU mills aim for price rises despite slow start to 2023
Demand for stainless steel, in Europe, was slow to emerge in the first few weeks of the new year, but market activity has improved month-on-month.
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Why are we still talking about e-commerce being the next big thing in the steel industry?
Peter Comerford wants to know why more businesses aren’t embracing the opportunities available to sell online.
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Steel producers’ pricing policy squeezes distributors
By the middle of January, several major European steel producers had signalled significant price rises to the market, citing increased input costs.
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300-series austenitic stainless steel: Ticking all the boxes
BSSA Managing Director Rob Cooper dives deep into the benefits of 300-series austenitic stainless steel alloys.
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Green Steelmaking: The critical global resource and practical technical challenge
Dr Richard Curry believes the UK could fulfil its current manufacturing requirements without solely relying on new green steelmaking technology.
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A guide to implementing QMS certifications for small businesses and start-ups – Part 2
Quality expert Andrew Milner describes some of the mistakes that people make when implementing QMS standards, and gives advice on how to overcome them.
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Stainless Steel in the Food and Beverage Industry
A new conference is launched to bring together steelmakers, equipment manufacturers, processors, handlers and producers of food & beverages.
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Raising the standard: Hydroscand UK’s commitment to safety and the environment
Hydroscand UK demonstrate their commitment to environmental and health & safety management with new accreditations.
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Leading the way for skills development
NMITE’s Springboard Programme provides unique early career leadership development for engineers.
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The £16 billion takeover
Marubeni-Itochu acquire BM Steel group of companies in landmark deal.
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Global stainless output forecast to rise 1% this year
Substantial rises in energy costs are increasing manufacturing costs and deterring investment in steel-intensive infrastructure projects.
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Thoughts and impressions from Farnborough International Airshow & Exhibition 2022
Peter Comerford tells us about the new aircraft, robotics, and logistics drones that he saw at the 2022 Farnborough International Airshow.
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Corrosion Resistant Materials awarded prestigious Queen’s Award
Adam Bradley explains the application process and tells us why he believes winning the award will be so beneficial for the business.
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Big investments in stock are just the beginning of Van Leeuwen’s plans for the UK
Kris Bowling is enthusiastic about the expanded stock range and Van Leeuwen UK’s plans for the year ahead.
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Investigating a catastrophic failure
Sarah Bagnall from R-TECH Materials invites you along on an investigation into a catastrophic failure in a system designed to prevent undersea pollution.
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Twenty years and STILL dedicated to the flow
Hydroscand UK mark their 20th anniversary with a weekend of celebrations and a documentary video about the business.
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A guide to implementing QMS certifications for small businesses and start-ups
Quality expert Andrew Milner explains why and how small businesses should seek to implement QMS standards and achieve certification.
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Lasers 101 with LaserEd: Laser safety and laser uses
Laser expert Edwin Kroon explains the basics of laser safety and gives a case study for using lasers in industry.
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Iracroft: Prize-winning tube specialists
Our competition winners invite us in for a look at their facility and tell us why video is at the top of their marketing agenda.
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Should you consider Additive Manufacturing?
Chris van Dam guides us through the factors to consider when deciding whether AM is the best option for production.
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Is social media the answer to the ageing workforce crisis?
How do you encourage the next generation to consider working in the metal industry?
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The importance of stainless steel in the UK economy
BSSA Managing Director Rob Cooper discusses the importance of stainless steel to the UK economy.
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Can the UK achieve energy sustainability with Wind and Photovoltaic energy?
The UK is entering a serious energy crisis. Are renewable energy sources the answer?
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Van Leeuwen invite us in for a sneak peek at their new HQ
Van Leeuwen UK reflect on their achievements, and ensure they have the right elements in place to future-proof their business.
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Inventory surge triggers rapid EU stainless price fall
Stainless steel buying activity, in Europe, has remained considerably weaker than anyone anticipated following the decline in April.
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Hydroscand’s mobile team goes fully digital
Pen and paper job notes will soon be a thing of the past at Hydroscand UK, after a successful trial period of a fully digital system.
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Why BM Steel invested in plasma
BM Steel explain why they’ve invested in plasma cutting machinery, and why processing services are so important.
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Lasers 101 with LaserEd: What are lasers and are they worth the expense?
Laser expert Edwin Kroon discusses the basics of lasers, and industrial use cases where lasers exceed the performance of alternative methods.
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Precisely engineering their own future at Helmrick Engineers
With a change of ownership and a new General Manager in Mark Webster, Helmrick Engineers have made a bold claim to grow considerably over the next 5 years.
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How AI software can help you streamline production and maximise efficiency
Harness the power of AI to monitor and analyse your processes, reduce waste, optimise workflows, and respond in real-time to changes in your situation.
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Expansion, pipes and service: A big year ahead for Anglo Stainless
New ranges of pipes in stock, same quality service and expertise. The service offering at Anglo Stainless has never been larger.
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Welding and why architectural designers should care
Welding information that’s essential for architects and designers to know when choosing finishes for products.
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Setting the bar higher for quality – is ISO9001 still relevant in manufacturing today?
Quality Assurance expert Andrew Milner asks whether ISO9001 is still relevant in the manufacturing industry.
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Thoughts and impressions from wire&Tube 2022
Peter Comerford shares his thoughts after attending the 2022 wire&Tube fair in Düsseldorf.
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Learning about engineering, or learning to be an engineer?
Not all students benefit from learning in a lecture hall, and not all employers need graduates without hands-on experience.
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European steel prices slide to pre-war levels
European steel coil prices continued their downward slide, in May and early June.
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The role of steel in a decarbonised society
The UK stands on the verge of a green industrial revolution, in which the steel supply chain will play a vital role.
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2022 BSSA event at new £50million venue
This year the BSSA will host their annual Conference and Dinner at the beautiful Grand Hotel in Birmingham City Centre on Thursday 16th June 2022.
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Van Leeuwen invest heavily in pipes, fittings and flanges
Van Leeuwen significantly increase their UK stocks of carbon steel pipes, fittings and flanges to expand their market share in the UK.
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The future of workspace design
Amron Architectural comment on the material and experience trends they saw at the Workspace Design Show, and explain how mesh can be used for more than car radiator grilles.
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Hydroscand: Expansion during a pandemic
The Nottingham team explain to Peter Comerford why clever investments have, despite the pandemic, resulted in business booming at Hydroscand UK.
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3D printing will revolutionise titanium manufacturing
Discussing the potential benefits for the aerospace industry of 3D printing with titanium.
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The role of steel in creating a net-zero carbon, circular materials economy
How the UK’s leading academics are working with trade bodies to determine the best method of achieving a net-zero carbon, circular materials economy.
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Circular saw or band saw?
Joe Johnson explains how a circular saw can out-perform a band saw, save you time and money, and lower your carbon footprint.
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The rise and rise of Flocon
How three men are building on the legacy of their fathers to continue expanding their business in the post-CoVID era.
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Blockchain: The Auditor’s Report
Counterfeit Parts: Knowing what they are, managing the risks, and how blockchain could change the game.
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Engineering Graduates for Industry
Professor Gary C Wood explains how NMITE is working with industry to prepare engineering graduates for life in the real world.
