Inside EICF


European Heritage Worldwide Projected – Ron Williams, Managing Director of the Blayson Group Inducted into Investment Casting Institute Hall of Honor


Ronald Williams (Managing Director of the Blayson Group) was inducted into the Investment Casting Institute Hall of Honor, together with some other inductees. The ICI Hall of Honor was created


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to recognize persons who have made significant contributions in the investment casting industry and to the Investment Casting Institute. Ron Williams has run Blayson for


over 40 years, building the company from its foundations to the key global player that it is today in the supply of wax and technical solutions in the investment casting industry. With the occasion of this award, the EICF has spoken with Ron Williams,


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Q: A:


How do you feel in receiving this important award?


I consider it to be a privilege and honour to be recognised


by peers within the industry.


You have been in the Investment Casting Industry


for more than 4 decades. What are the main changes that you have seen and experienced during this time?


The growth of automation and digitisation have been most


notable in changing the way in which the industry has developed. Whilst the industry is not as open as it once was, with the introduction of greater regulations, relationships are still very close within the industry.


What are the challenges the Industry is facing today?


Consolidation has increased within the industry which


poses its own challenges. Increasing legislation is inevitably a challenge


12 ❘ January 2019 ®


ast October at the ICI’s 65th Annual Technical Conference & Exposition in Kansas City, Mr.


together with remaining competitive with other technologies.


Q: A:


What is your understanding of Additive Manufacturing


vs Investment Casting and what is the impact, this technology could bring into the overall investment casting supply chain?


There is an increasing focus and discussion on additive


manufacturing within the industry. At present it is considered complimentary to investment casting and any significant effect on the investment casting industry seems some way off. However, it is important for the industry to be fully aware of developments.


Q: A:


The Blayson Group is a global supplier today of solutions for


the Investment Casting industry but can you tell us, how this position was achieved? and what was the vision you had to inspire that global projection?


In the early days, the business focus was mainly within Europe


and North America as this was where the main investment casting foundries were based. As time moved on and investment casting production grew in numerous other areas of the world, Blayson developed a vision to support these growing markets. The vision was to contribute to the growth of the global industry and in turn ensure that Blayson grew into a global supplier.


Q: A:


Although the industry worldwide might be facing


similar technical problems, are there any differences among the markets in Asia, Europe or America?


The majority of high added value investment casting


production it still predominantly located in Europe and America. Asia is


still heavily focused on commercial and automotive investment casting although we are seeing growth in high added value in this region. However, across all regions the technical challenges remain consistent.


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What are the principles that inspire your policy in customer


relationship?


From the early stages of the company the ethos has always


been to support the customer in the best possible way and listen to their requirements and respond accordingly. This principle continues today and is at the forefront of how the company maintains customer relationships.


Blayson was a pioneer in introduction wax reclamation services and reconstitution for their customers. Can you tell us the background story to it ? How are these services appreciated by customers?


Reclamation of investment casting wax is a process that


has been carried out for numerous years to varying degrees of success. Blayson recognised the importance of the process from both an economical and environmental viewpoint and pioneered the process of reclamation and reconstitution of used investment casting wax. This enabled used filled and unfilled wax to be processed and quality controlled to a premium specification and then returned to the customer for use not only as runner


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