With over 50 years’ experience in sheet metal fabrication, Salamander is always looking out for new opportunities and greater expertise. As a result, we’re extremely excited to announce the appointment of expert-rail-consultant Phil Brown, who is working to bolster our stance within the transport sector and secure large-scale projects. Here, we introduce Phil and discuss his thoughts on joining the Salamander family.
Who is our latest appointment?
Our new consultant, Phil Brown is a highly qualified sales director with more than 30 years’ experience in the UK rail and automotive industries. Having worked with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), Tier 1 companies, SMEs and trade associations, Phil has held senior positions and helped various businesses achieve their targets.
With his extensive knowledge and expertise, Phil is poised to create new client relationships and secure business opportunities for Salamander within the rail industry.
What are our plans for the future?
After being awarded EN15085-2 rail certification, we are now able to bid for bigger and better contracts within the rail industry, providing new parts for vehicles throughout the UK and Europe. We have brought Phil onboard to open doors to these high-profile projects, and steer us in the right direction.
Phil is passionate about SME and joined us on a consultancy basis because he believed we had “an ambitious workforce that has embraced innovative ways in how to provide an even better customer experience – you only have to look at its range of automated technology to understand that fact. Rail will be a huge growth area for the firm and I’m looking forward to educating the team further so employees can build on their skillset and knowledge.”
Having already collaborated on a tender for an exciting contract that we’ll hopefully hear about in early 2021, we have no doubt that Phil will continue to help us achieve our goals within the transport industry.
If you have a sheet metal project, or would like to learn more about our capabilities for the rail industry and other sectors, get in touch and speak to an expert.
Salamander has always prided itself on being adaptable and flexible, frequently working with new clients in an array of sectors. Naturally, this has made our 50 years’ experience in sheet metal fabrication all the more valuable as we have constantly challenged ourselves.
Recently, we’ve worked behind the scenes to produce a brand-new brochure, fully highlighting our services, sectors and plans for the future. It’s been a long-time in the making, but as all business-leaders will know, sometimes you have to put yourself second to continue producing high-quality results for your clients.
Now, we’re delighted to offer our new brochure as an accessible download for everyone.
Expanding our services
Over the last 12 months, we’ve invested over £1.3 million in automated technologies to increase our efficiency and enhance our services. While our brochure contains more detailed information around our wider capabilities, many of our services have directly and quickly benefitted from these new, state-of-the-art technologies.
Our two Bystronic laser cutters are able to run 24/7 and connect to our automated warehouse in order to work around the clock to meet tight deadlines and meet high demand for projects requiring laser cutting. Our advanced software and technology allows us to rapidly produce designs which can be manufactured efficiently and accurately.
Project management
We can offer a truly end-to-end service for our customers with direct contact from the design stage all the way to after sales. Our investment in our internal processes and upskilling staff allows us to continuously improve our customer communications and project management operations.
Getting on track for the rail sector
We’re proud to work with a wide selection of industries, including science and medical, transport, and security and construction, and more. Now, having achieved EN 15085-2 certification, Salamander is working hard to become a leading manufacturer for the rail sector, recently joining Rail Forum Midlands and appointing industry-expert Phil Brown as a dedicated consultant.
The rail sector is an integral part of British history and demands the very best from its manufacturers. We work closely with contractors and frequently discuss projects with the biggest buyers in the industry to fully understand the critical requirements of the parts we produce.
We’re excited to continue building our portfolio in a range of sectors and diversifying our offering to meet ever-changing demands. With our new brochure, we hope to better demonstrate our versatility, innovative culture and drive new and exciting opportunities. Download our brochure and learn more about how Salamander Fabrications could help your business and project.
We know our manufacturing is just as important as our people. That’s why we want you to get to know them a little better.
So, next up is design engineer, Anthony Hunter…
Summarise your role at Salamander in just one paragraph
I design and process our customers’ information so they eventually receive a product that meets all their requirements. I also provide all the necessary detail to the shopfloor to allow them to manufacture in a quick and efficient way.
What’s your absolute favourite part of the job?
Not knowing which job is going to land on my desk next.
Share an interesting fact about you that we might not know
In my younger days, I used to race Karts with the likes of Jenson Button (F1) and Dan Wheldon (Indy Car).
Which one word would your Salamander colleagues use to describe you?
Efficient.
And the word you think best describes Salamander?
Ambitious.
Why do you personally think Salamander stands out from its competitors?
Its investment in people, machinery and systems.
The phone rings and it’s your dream client… who would it be?
I would say something motorsport-related — the Mercedes F1 Racing Team.
What’s the most personally satisfying moment in your Salamander career so far?
Building long-term relationships with new and existing customers.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
An architect.
What is the biggest challenge facing the sheet metal manufacturing industry over the next 12 months?
Overcoming the various obstacles presented by Covid-19 and Brexit.
We have become one of 21 manufacturers in the UK to be listed on the European Committee for Welding of Railway Vehicles following EN15085 certification. We are extremely proud and excited by this achievement and the opportunities it presents. Here, we discuss our latest certification, and what it means for Salamander moving forward.
What does this new certification do for Salamander and our clients?
By achieving CL2 standard, we have joined leading firms to further bolster our rail product offering. With this standard, and a new recruit in the form of responsible welding coordinator Mohammed Zubair, Salamander can now provide new parts for railway vehicles throughout the UK and Europe and can also be considered for high-profile projects, such as OEM’s Rosco’s, TOC’s and Network Rail, which only use certified companies.
The certification means that any new or existing clients can appoint us with confidence – knowing that we meet all of the relevant industry standards needed to manufacture safe and secure components for rail.
How we gained certification
The certification audit was 18 months in the making. Originally, it was set to take place in April 2020, but the unforeseen COVID-19 outbreak meant that it had to be postponed. Eventually, TUV Germany, with the assistance of Zoe Gallagher, a respected and experienced independent consultant, conducted an audit to see if we were up to the standard and concluded that “Salamander has significantly adapted and adopted the intense requirements to be certified. The team should be very proud of everything it has achieved.”
We were delighted by Zoe’s comments given the work we’d put into preparing for the audit, especially when she added: “I found the organisation’s systems to be some of the best I’ve ever worked with. It was refreshing to see everything linked up – from the client’s initial enquiry to the final project.”
What we think
While we have already supplied a significant number of component parts to one of the UK’s leading railway engineering companies, achieving the CL2 standard now opens up new opportunities for Salamander Fabrications. Having recently invested significantly in the latest automated technology which increases capacity and efficiencies, Michael Haskell, our managing director, says: “This should further evidence that we’re not afraid to make large investments in how we vastly expand our high-quality offering for customers. We’re incredibly proud to have achieved EN15085 status and be part of a select European database that allows access to some of the most globally recognised rail projects. This certification plays a pivotal role in our company growth plans and commitment to developing our workforce’s expertise.” Salamander Fabrications has more than 50 years’ experience in the sheet metal industry with an existing portfolio in the rail sector. To find out more, or to see the work we have done, get in touch.
It’s Liam’s turn in the spotlight this month – here, our apprentice sheet metal fabricator discusses his favourite part of the job, his dream client and what he wanted to be when he grew up…
Summarise your role at Salamander in just one paragraph
My role centres around developing my skills as a sheet metal fabricator. Day-to-day activities include welding, fabricating, collaborating with colleagues to gain experience and knowledge, as well as working safely and systematically in producing high-quality products for our customers.
What’s your absolute favourite part of the job?
I am really enjoying furthering my skillset, ensuring our customers receive a premium service, and presenting work to my teammates that I am proud of.
Share an interesting fact about you that we might not know
I spend a lot of time my free-time working on motorbikes with my dad — learning how to fix engines and making a bike look like it has come straight from a showroom!
Which one word would your Salamander colleagues use to describe you?
Determined.
And the word you think best describes Salamander?
Magnificent.
Why do you personally think Salamander stands out from its competitors?
The drive and determination of its workforce to complete each task to a high standard and the communication between colleagues to allow us to do so. Also, the advanced technology — including lasers and robot welders — which helps us to produce near-perfect results for our customers.
The phone rings and it’s your dream client… who would it be?
Triumph Motorcycles — I would love to help build and weld such an iconic motorbike.
What’s the most personally satisfying moment in your Salamander career so far?
Seeing my TIG welding skills improve to the point where my work is even and consistent.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I always wanted to be a person who made things.
What is the biggest challenge facing the sheet metal manufacturing industry over the next 12 months?
Fighting the demands of Covid-19 while continuing to work safely and retain happy customers.
We’re pleased to announce we’re now members of the representative body of one of the largest group of rail companies in the world.
Rail Forum Midlands (RFM) was established in 1993 to support and grow the rail sector. It represents more than 200 rail supply businesses across the UK that contribute billions to the economy.
Salamander is excited to be able to take advantage of the benefits of joining, which include unrivalled networking opportunities, the chance to exhibit collaboratively at trade events and attendance at various conferencing and new business commitments throughout the year. But we’re particularly thrilled to benefit from closer links with groups including the Railway Industry Association (RIA), the Rail Freight Group (RFG) and the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA).
We’re no stranger to the rail sector, having collaborated on numerous projects that have seen us fabricate, assemble and integrate products and components to ensure travelling passengers’ needs are met and their safety prioritised. However, we’re looking forward to working more closely within the Rail Sector supply chain.
Salamander is taking part in this year’s RVE Meet the Buyer event (now to be held online) in November. This industry-leading event gives suppliers the chance to pitch products and services to organisations from across the industry.
It’s no longer news that there’s a shortage of young people entering the engineering sector – but we shouldn’t let the push to recruit to meet the shortfall go quiet. With such a shift in the way the sector works, there’s arguably no better time for young people to plug the skills gap.
Here, we consider why the sector is crying out for skilled young people and look at what businesses can do to help encourage them in the direction of engineering.
Raising awareness about engineering
A report by Engineering UK 2017 revealed that the demand for engineering and manufacturing skills far outweighed the supply. What’s more, calculations at the time realised that if we were to plug that gap, we’d need to have recruited around 1.8 million engineers by 2025. And given that the UK’s engineering sector contributes more than a quarter of the GDP, these aren’t wishy washy figures to be taken with a pinch of salt – it’s crucial we meet that deficit to ensure the future of engineering.
Finding skilled talent for the sector is becoming an extremely difficult task. It’s now more important than ever to raise awareness of what engineers do, career paths in the sector and generally dispel common misconceptions and change attitudes.
STEM in primary schools
The government and the education system have predominantly focused before now on work experience for pupils aged between 16 and 18 – but at this point, it’s likely too late. Children develop notions of job roles and careers from an early age (role play from as young as two years old helps instill in them an understanding of skills needed for certain roles). From secondary school age, there’s a big push on science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM)-focused subjects but that could be too late and many believe we should be encouraging children from even earlier on.
By the time they start secondary school, children have often made up their mind about careers and it’s much harder to get their attention. However, introducing even simple elements of STEM at primary school provides a better chance of children becoming interested and then choosing to further develop that interest at secondary school before enrolling on engineering further education. Most teachers don’t have an engineering background and that is also hindering young people’s would-be interest. They cannot actively promote the sector to pupils as they don’t have the right knowledge. Primary schools could do a lot more to raise awareness of engineering and promote what it’s like to work in the sector – to equip younger children with an idea of an engineering career before they start secondary school.
Employers can help
The Apprenticeship Levy, introduced in May 2017, is an attempt to support government and businesses to develop skills, and diversify recruitment. Many engineering firms have taken on apprentices as a result of the levy – it’s a chance for them to take control and get strategic in their training investment and really consider what will benefit the long-term health of the business. The levy can be used to train existing employees or find new staff. Promoting apprenticeships allows talented young people from any background to develop their skillset and focus on a career without building university debt.
Employers can also play their part by visiting schools – primary and secondary – to increase awareness of the engineering sector and show them the vast range of possibilities and rewards of a career in engineering. Young people need to be made aware from an early age of the career opportunities available to them and this is a key opportunity to promote the importance of engineers and detail their fantastic work.
Overturning media (mis)representation
There’s also much work to be done to tackle the male to female ratio in engineering. Women’s Engineering Society found that 2017 surveys indicated only 11% of the engineering workforce was female – and the UK had the lowest percentage of female engineering professionals in Europe[1]. Gender (stereotypes and assumptions) plays a crucial role in the engineering shortage – and society and the media has the power to change perceptions for the better.
It’s almost unwritten but assumed that as children, boys have more exposure to industries like construction and automotive and girls perhaps nursing or similar. This has to stop and perceptions have to change. From a young age, girls must be made aware of engineering and, more than that, encouraged if they express interest. We need to raise awareness and opportunity to be able to tap into this seriously under-represented talent pool of female engineers. The media can play a huge role in this but it also comes back to schooling too – if we can reverse this thinking so it never gets a platform to play out in children’s minds, that’s half the battle won.
Complex sheet metal bending is a process in which sheet metal is modified when force is applied. The metal is stressed beyond its yield strength to bend at an angle and form the anticipated complex shape – usually a ‘V’ or ‘U’ shape.
Here, we take a look at exactly how this is done and consider the different types of machinery used to achieve it.
How is complex sheet metal bending done?
A press brake is a tool used in order to bend sheet metal and uses a punch and die to do it. Although press braking may seem straightforward, it can be quite difficult to remain accurate throughout the process. There are several types of press brake – including mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic – and each one delivers a different level of force. Press brake operators handle the machines and require a detailed knowledge to bend metals.
Mechanical
This press brake’s design is steeped in the 1930s. It’s powered by a flywheel with an electric motor. The two major benefits of a mechanical press brake are speed and accuracy, but other press brakes are considered safer and easier to use (CNC press brakes, for example).
Pneumatic
Here, a compressor is used to supply air power for bending the metal sheets. This type of press brake is often used when less pressure is needed. A pneumatic press brake is also best used for bending small parts of metal.
Hydraulic
This press brake often has the latest technology incorporated within it. Best used for precise bending of metal sheet, the hydraulic press brake is usually a common choice. It operates via two or more synchronised hydraulic cylinders on the C-frames.
Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC)
This machine produces a very accurate result. CNCs are capable of bend sheet metal work from just a few millimetres across to sections that are metres long on some of the larger machines.
What are the main types of complex sheet metal bending?
This is a widely used bending method. During this process, the workpiece comes into contact with the outside edges of the die, as well as the punch tip. The punch is then forced past the top of the die into the V-shaped opening without touching the ‘V’. Air bending requires the least amount of contact. The equipment only touches the material at three points: the punch, tip and the die shoulders. Because the tonnage doesn’t produce the bend, you don’t need as much as you would do when using the coining method.What’s more, because the punch tip doesn’t need to be pushed past the surface of the metal, much less weight is required to bend in comparison to bottom bending and coining.
Bottom bending
A key difference between air bending and bottom bending is the radius. Bottom bending has many advantages, including greater accuracy and less spring back when using the tooling. This makes it a safer option when considering metal bending techniques. It differs from coining, as the punch and the tie don’t make full contact with the material, and there isn’t enough tonnage to make an imprint into the metal.
Coining
Coining is a bending process in which the punch and the workpiece bottom on the die. This produces a controlled angle, which leads to little spring back. There is more tonnage required on this type of bending than in air bending and bottom bending. There are advantages to coining – its accuracy to produce outstanding results for one. Repeating the results is also an easy task when it comes to using this technique. Spring back is less common when using coining, meaning that the metal is less likely to return to its original state.
Complex sheet metal bending involves many processes and requires skill and a detailed knowledge to operate. Find out more about Salamander’s bending and folding service or get in touch to discuss the intricacies of your project.
Despite turbulence across the sector in the first half of 2020 as businesses attempted to navigate the initial impact of COVID-19, manufacturing is arguably stronger than ever – and the UK public agrees. In the last few months, manufacturing has had to step up to play an integral role in providing for the NHS to help its keyworkers meet the pressures of the pandemic – and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Research commissioned by Cadence Innovation Marketing in early May 2020 found that three in four UK adults believe more strongly in the importance of UK manufacturing as a result of its response to the global crisis. In the latest of the consultancy’s Attitudes to UK Industry polls, it found that more than seven in 10 adults believe that UK manufacturing has risen to the challenge of COVID-19.
This is great news for the sector, as it prepares to head into a ‘new normal’, but what does it mean for its long-term future? We expect manufacturing will emerge from 2020 stronger than ever, and here we explain why.
The Importance of UK Manufacturing
As lockdown measures in the UK continue to ease and there’s an attempt to move towards business as usual, it comes with a stark reminder that many elements of our society might never return to what we once knew as normal. Manufacturing isn’t exempt. In the last few months, the sector has battled against and worked with every challenge thrown at it. The global supply chain has seen disruption of an unprecedented scale, assembly lines were halted or cut, many industries closed and workforces were temporarily laid off. Yet what this has shown, if we didn’t already know it, is that we’re working in a sector crucial to the survival of the UK economy. It’s now about how we use our learnings and apply them to the long-term future of manufacturing.
The pandemic impacted modern manufacturing in a way never felt before. While some have faced an uphill struggle to meet unprecedented demand, for others demand dramatically dropped and it brought pressures in other ways. In fact, manufacturing is instrumental for our prosperity and the fact it stepped up when the prime minister requested the urgent production of vital medical equipment is only testament to this. UK manufacturers have risen to challenges never seen before now.
Automation to Reduce Infection Risk
However much the sector relies on its machinery and technology, there’s a huge need to protect the people who operate them and make the decisions. Manufacturers will have to bear in mind how rules around social distancing and safety measures, alongside the nervousness and apprehension now felt by employees, will affect duties and output. As is the case across any sector, employers will have to ensure staff health and productivity, which will inevitably lead to increased use of automation.
Vital in manufacturing, automation has long-helped businesses meet huge demand – but it could now be key to the sector’s comeback. Automation and robotic technologies can limit human handling of goods – alleviating workforce fears – and may even be critical to productivity and growth as it creates opportunities for the digitally capable and could enable remote engineering support.
We recently announced we’ve joined forces with Biofresh to supply products to eradicate harmful bacteria – and we couldn’t be more excited about the partnership.
Biofresh, a market leader in room sanitation and odour removal, has had to increase its product offering. The company has led the way in chemical-free treatments for the fresh produce industry since it was established in 2003 – modifying the atmosphere in food storage facilities, preventing mould and bacteria via a safe substance called Ozone.
But the COVID-19 outbreak has seen the firm receive a real increase in requests – from all sectors – for the immediate supply of its sanitation products to help stop the virus’ spread. Biofresh reached out to us in need of immediate supply of metal boxes suitable for a range of facilities. The units would store and release high levels of Ozone safely.
We’ve helped the firm meet demand – Biofresh previously received up to 300 enquiries a year for the boxes. However, it’s now taking orders for around 250 a month and supplying to the UK, Italy and France.
Jeremy Barraclough, director of operations at Biofresh, explained: “Our focus had always been on fresh produce storage – it’s what our business was built on. But we were getting so many requests for our sanitisation products that demand for our supplies were going through the roof,” said Jeremy Barraclough, director of operations at Biofresh.
“Being based in Huddersfield, we needed a local supplier that could meet this vast interest. We required help to turn these boxes around swiftly and to a professional, high-quality standard – and that’s when we were introduced to Salamander.”
And our services for Biofresh haven’t stopped there. After the initial provision of the boxes, we also began to produce cabinets that sanitise clothes – they were distributed to 38 UK go-karting facilities to allow for frequent cleaning of helmets and overalls.
What’s next for the partnership?
It’s great news for Salamander and Biofresh’s collaboration. We’re about to supply cabinets to schools and libraries for book returns. Currently, books must be quarantined for 72 hours before they can be read again. But Biofresh’s product allows them to be safely back on the shelf within 15-30 minutes of their being returned.
Our managing director Michael Haskell said: “This is such an exciting project to be a part of and just goes to show how swift evolution – and the ability to diversify product offerings even during the toughest climates – can really help to meet current customer demand.
It’s been a whirlwind since we first started only a few months ago, but Biofresh’s forward-thinking ambitions match ours, so there is so much more to come. We’re keen to help even more premises to stop the spread of harmful bacteria.”
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