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President’s Column and Obituary


their doors for the last time. With the slight recovery in the oil price there seems to be a slight improvement. I’ve previously mentioned the resilience of the refractories industry and its ability to adapt. We are seeing that challenged again as end users are seeing a more demanding market with shorter lead times that we must also be able to respond to.


The organisation of the training day associated with conference is also forging ahead and I’m sure will be another great success as it has been for some years now thanks to the efforts of Sam Franklin.


The Australian branch have outlined their plans for training and growing the branch regionally within Australia which is very positive. The Australian branch have also suggested that we look more closely at the Asia / Pacific region, consider how we should be represented and how to raise the profile of the IRE in that region. From this and together with the Australian branch, we have started to look at how and where we can support efforts in the region more positively and pro-actively.


The Sheffield branch AGM is being currently being organised by Chris Windle and he will have contacted local members by the time this journal hits your desk. It is likely that a new committee will be formed so if you would like to get involved now is the time.


www.ireng.org


With the difficulties that the refractories industry and associated industries are experiencing it is no surprise that one of the Institutes main sources of funding has reduced as companies tighten their belts and reduce advertising spend. This makes it all the more important that local and national events are supported by our members and other interested parties as much as possible. We are here for you and we need your support. Get involved, go to technical meetings, go to social events, pass the journal around and please book your place at the conference and / or the training day.


Of course, if you would like to place an advert or technical paper in the journal we can still organise that for you too. Everyone at the Institute thanks you in advance for your continued support during these difficult times.


As we go to print, it was with a great deal of sadness I learned of the passing of Geoff Evans. Geoff was a well-known and well liked member of our community who will be sadly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.


Callum Arthur President


Institute of Refractories Engineers Obituary Geoff Evans 1948 - 2016


After graduating from the University of Manchester with an Honours degree in Geology, Geoff joined Pilkington’s R&D Centre at Lathom, Ormskirk in 1969, initially working in the Refractories Department. This was followed by periods in Raw Materials and Combustion Engineering before returning as Refractories Department Manager in 1978 and latterly as the Group Head of the Glass Technology Group.


During this time huge progress was made in refractories, furnace design, construction and maintenance, raw materials, combustion and furnace operation. This resulted in a two-threefold increase in furnace campaign lives, a halving of energy consumption and big improvements in glass quality, increasing yields and furnace pulls. Electric melting and pollution control were also increasingly important factors through the late 1980’s and into the 1990’s.


Geoff made an immense contribution to many aspects of these activities and not least in the area of Float Bath bottom blocks. He played a major role in resolving the problems which developed from the early to late 70’s. Surface glazing and the horizontal splitting of blocks and their subsequent lifting during operation and surface flaking which developed in the 80’s. The resolution of all of which was vital to the successful operation of the Float process. Latterly, as Group Head he was chairman of the Pilkington Group Furnace Design Panel, responsible for the designs of 30 plus flat glass furnaces (and many smaller furnaces) around the Group, and its Licensees. Geoff was the holder of several patents in flat glass manufacturing.


Throughout his Pilkington career, he won many friends with his hard work, approachability, great knowledge, ready smile and good humour. He also travelled extensively to many overseas plants, forming close relationships with everyone he worked with - as witnessed by the many messages of condolence that have been received.


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Colleagues had a profound respect for Geoff - he was able to cut through all the chaff and distractions and seize upon the salient, significant facts. His memory was indeed prodigious, and behind his (sometimes creatively drawn) graphs was an enormous wealth of experience and insight gained over many years. He had the gift of scientific intuition - that ability to synthesise understanding out of a combination of sound technical knowledge and a thousand nuggets of observation and experience of how plants responded in the real world.


Geoff drove himself hard, and could lead others - but it is remembered that he did not suffer fools gladly!


He retired from Pilkington in 1998, but continued to work very actively in the glass industry as a consultant, primarily in the refractories area, but his wide knowledge of the whole glass melting process enabled him to contribute in many areas. The SGT owes Geoff a debt of gratitude - he was the inspiration behind the highly successful Furnace Solutions series of seminars. He understood what people in the glass industry needed, he perceived that the melting operation was one hugely significant area in which collaboration was possible without the taint of anticompetitive collusion, and had the strength of personality to persuade others to follow the vision he articulated.


Outside Pilkington, he had many interests, from gardening to flying model aircraft, and he enjoyed holidays in the warmer climes of southern Europe. He also devoted considerable time to charitable work with the Lions in Preston, and Rotary in Ellesmere. More recently, he was lecturing with the "U3A", the University of the Third Age, giving talks and leading field excursions.


Geoff leaves his wife, Cath, their children Elizabeth and David, and David's family, plus Geoff's twin sister Jennifer and their mother. The thoughts of many colleagues and friends are with them and the wider family at this time of sudden and tragic loss.


Compiled by Gordon Cochrane, David Martlew, Richard Quirk, John Hartley 16th May 2016.


ENGINEER THE REFRACTORIES


May 2016 Issue


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