Sector Focus


Long-serving Dave hangs up palette


Key production worker Dave Hammond is retiring after 21 years at Birmingham’s Indestructible Paints. Mr Hammond (pictured) is


retiring from his role as a paintmaker and colour matcher at the firm, which makes specialised products for the aviation industry, among others. Indestructible Paint’s managing


director, Brian Norton, said: “We are hugely grateful to Dave for his input over this time and wish him a long and happy retirement. “He leaves as


one of several long-term employees – all of whom have been with us for more than 20 years. This, itself, pays testimony to our belief in building long-term relationships with people without whom we could not have enjoyed so much success over the years.” Mr Hammond said: “It will be nice


to put my feet up – and I certainly won’t miss the commute around Birmingham – but I am sure I will miss everyone I have worked with. “There is a real sense of belonging


to a team that is expert at what it does and, I am sure, Indestructible Paint will continue to grow and thrive long into the future.”


Manufacturing


JLR uses aerospace tech to develop new vehicles


Car giant Jaguar Land Rover is making use of aerospace technology to help develop the vehicles of the future. As part of a two-year project, the car manufacturer


will use technology developed for the aerospace industry to understand how materials respond to corrosive environments, in global markets and over rigorous terrains. Samples of new metals and composites planned for


use in future Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles will be built into aerospace-grade sensors and put through their paces in some of the world’s most extreme physical conditions, tested over thousands of miles of terrain in North America. The sensors will continuously measure the


performance of the materials and share data with the Jaguar Land Rover’s product development team. With the data, engineers can accurately forecast


the material’s behaviour in the development of future vehicle programmes to ensure that next-generation lightweight metals meet the company’s stringent standards. Matt Walters, lead engineer, metals and process


materials for Jaguar Land Rover, said: “This research project is a prime example of our commitment to developing lightweight, durable and robust materials for our future vehicles. “Using advanced aerospace-grade technology, such


as these sensors, is testament to the quality and standards we are achieving.”


Future proof: Jaguar Land Rover cars of the future may be made of new lightweight materials


Duo named manufacturing heroes


Two leading figures behind a Black Country training specialist have been named as heroes of UK manufacturing. In-Comm Training managing director Bekki Phillips


and academies manager Stuart Dallaway have been featured in ‘The Manufacturer’s’ Top 100 list, which recognises some of the most dynamic leaders and innovators in the sector. Nominated by a 265,000-strong community of


industrialists, the duo are on the list for the way they have helped apprentices and employers overcome the challenges of Covid-19.


‘A fitting endorsement of what our teams in Aldridge, Bridgnorth and Shrewsbury have achieved’


This included introducing online training when the


business was forced to close and ensuring the firm’s three academies reopened safely to avoid disruption to the learning process. In-Comm Training also introduced a ‘skills pledge’


to work with more than 50 companies to protect and increase apprenticeships during these difficult times, and this has already resulted in the protection of over 100 positions. Bekki Phillips said: “This is such an honour and a fitting endorsement of what our teams in Aldridge,


72 CHAMBERLINK December 2020/January 2021


Bridgnorth and Shrewsbury have achieved in the face of unprecedented challenges “It is so important that we don’t lose a generation


of engineers to the pandemic and we are doing everything we can to support employers to continue to invest in apprentices, providing tailored support and more intensive online learning experiences.” Stuart Dallaway runs three of In-Comm’s training


facilities, at Aldridge, Bridgnorth and Shrewsbury, supporting more than 750 apprentices every year. He said: “I never thought I’d be in the UK’s Top 100


manufacturing professionals, so it just goes to show what you can achieve with hard work and commitment. I’ve got so much out of being an apprenticeship that it’s great I can now put something back by creating and running world class academies.”


Training star: Bekki Phillips


Mondelez in vow to ditch plastic


Mondelez International, American owner of world famous Cadbury, is scrapping plastic from its Christmas selection boxes. More than 33 tonnes of plastic


are used in these boxes, and this is being removed as part of the company’s move towards zero net waste packaging. The company’s global target to


eliminate 65,000 tonnes of packaging by the end of this year. Mondelez UK managing director


Louise Stigant said: “Reducing the amount of packaging we put into the world is vitally important to us. The steps we are taking on our


adult selection boxes, which follow the recent packaging reduction on our Cadbury large share bags, is an example of the varied approaches we are taking to tackle the shared problem of packaging waste.“ Mondelez says it has already


eliminated more than 64,000 tonnes of packaging globally since 2013, and all of its paper-based packaging is now sustainably sourced.


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