The Metal Guys Talk Business

S02E02 | Sustain Steel with Richard Curry

In this episode we were joined by Richard Curry who is part of the Sustain Steel Project at the University of Swansea. The SUSTAIN project aims to deliver cutting edge science and the engineering research required to create carbon neutral, resource-efficient UK steel supply chains. Amongst other things we talk about: * The circular steel economy * Scrap, and the competitive position the UK finds itself in * Energy and the issue of a green energy agenda * The key deliverables of the Sustain project This podcast was recorded in October 2021, so there has been much change with since the recording was made, notably with the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and the spike in fuel and energy costs. It is yet to be seen how much of an impact this will have on UK manufacturing, but it was already an issue to discuss at the point of recording this podcast, and is a topic area featured in September 2022's edition of the Metal Magazine. Worrying times indeed. Visit the Sustain Steel website to find out more about the project, or to speak with the team: https://www.sustainsteel.ac.uk/ [https://www.fclaser.co.uk/] ------------------------------------------------------------------ SEASON TWO of The Metal Guys Talk Business is sponsored by: The UK Metals Expo - 14th-15th September 2022, NEC Birmingham - ukmetalsexpo.com [https://ukmetalsexpo.com/] Anglo Stainless - Supplier of stainless steel pipes, fittings and flanges - anglostainless.co.uk [https://anglostainless.co.uk/] Amron Architectural - Specialists in metal meshes and architectural finishes - www.amronarchitectural.co.uk [https://www.amronarchitectural.co.uk/] ------------------------------------------------------------------ The Metal Guys Talk Business is created and produced by Comton Group. Comton Group are a Metal and Engineering Agency supplying Temporary, Permanent and Contract Staff and Media and Marketing services. Comton Group also publish a digital publication 'The Metal Magazine', which features the latest news and information from across the Metal and Engineering sectors. Contact us on our social media channels to discuss the podcast, recruitment and our marketing solutions for your business. https://linktr.ee/comtongroup [https://linktr.ee/comtongroup]

S02E01 | FC Laser with Danny Fantom and Daryl Lowe

In this episode we were joined by CEO Danny Fantom and Managing Director Daryl Lowe to talk about: * All things laser * The meteoric rise of their business since 2011 * The outlook for laser in the UK * And the business becoming an employee-owned business in 2020 This podcast was recorded in May 2021, so the business has moved on apace since we were first on site. Danny and Daryl spoke about growing a start-up business in the UK Manufacturing sector from scratch. Featured in the podcast are subjects including buying the best equipment you can afford, slices of luck along the way, doing every job in the business, COVID, building a strong and reliable team, the future outlook for the laser industry in the UK, and becoming an owner-managed business in 2020. Visit the FC Laser website to find out more about their products and services: www.fclaser.co.uk [https://www.fclaser.co.uk/] Cheers to Danny and Daryl of FC Laser, and to Matt Tipper for jumping in as a guest host. ------------------------------------------------------------------ SEASON TWO of The Metal Guys Talk Business is sponsored by: The UK Metals Expo - 14th-15th September 2022, NEC Birmingham - ukmetalsexpo.com [https://ukmetalsexpo.com/] Anglo Stainless - Supplier of stainless steel pipes, fittings and flanges - anglostainless.co.uk [https://anglostainless.co.uk/] Amron Architectural - Specialists in metal meshes and architectural finishes - www.amronarchitectural.co.uk [https://www.amronarchitectural.co.uk/] ------------------------------------------------------------------ The Metal Guys Talk Business is created and produced by Comton Group. Comton Group are a Metal and Engineering Agency supplying Temporary, Permanent and Contract Staff and Media and Marketing services. Comton Group also publish a digital publication 'The Metal Magazine', which features the latest news and information from across the Metal and Engineering sectors. Contact us on our social media channels to discuss the podcast, recruitment and our marketing solutions for your business. https://linktr.ee/comtongroup [https://linktr.ee/comtongroup]

S01E09 | The future of Laser Technology with Edwin Kroon of Lion Lasers

This podcast has taken a while to release, but it is just as relevant today, as it was when we initially recorded it. If you have any interest in lasers, then this should open your mind to a whole range of possible uses outside of just cutting holes and shapes in tubes and flat metal products. Edwin has a scientific background in biology, and on seeing a laser in action for the first time, became almost addicted to the possibilities of this technology. We talked about the following in this podcast: * Laser applications in the aerospace sector * How we can learn from nature and apply those structures to metals * The potential benefits of laser in commercial applications * Why the medical sector could be a huge market for the laser industry * More typical applications and the benefits to industry * The limitations of etching and engraving due to time constraints * Laser technology, and the fastest speeds that we can possibly achieve If you work in the metal or engineering sector, then join the conversation. Let us know what topics you want to have featured on the show, or maybe YOU could join us as a guest. https://linktr.ee/comtongroup [https://linktr.ee/comtongroup]

S01E08 | Post Brexit Misery for Imports and Exports with Simon Hartley of J Heebink Logistics

J Heebink are an international logistics company servicing the Benelux, the German Ruhr, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Simon has been working in the freight sector for almost 40 years, so he has a wealth of experience, and gave us a candid view of how imports and exports to and from Europe had been affected since January 2021, and what customers need to do going forward to maintain the flow of materials to and from Europe. We recorded this podcast in early February 2021, just 5 weeks after the changes bought about by Brexit had begun. Take a listen to get a better understanding of what it is like being in the middle of the process, and for a variety of suggestions and advice to help you and your business in this first transition period. We talked about the following in this podcast: * Simon's Early Career, and what J Heebink offer to their clients * How prepared Logistics companies were for the changes that occurred in January 2021 * How Brexit impacted services in the first two weeks of January 2021 * How things have changed, now we are five weeks down the line * What the government could have done better * The cost implications and the changes to freight timescales * How companies can work to reduce the impact of the new border controls. * COVID and its impact since March 2020 Visit the J Heebink website to find out more about their logistics services: www.heebink.co.uk [https://www.heebink.co.uk/transport-england-uk/] If you work in the metal or engineering sector, then join the conversation. Let us know what topics you want to have featured on the show, or maybe YOU could join us as a guest. https://linktr.ee/comtongroup [https://linktr.ee/comtongroup]

S01E07 | SteelScout

SteelScout is a digital platform providing purchasing solutions for metal buyers in the UK. The business was set up in 2017 to address what they saw as inefficiencies in the supply chain for metal. In under four years they now have over 8,000 registered buyers and over 130 suppliers nationally, so it was great to talk to them about how they do what they do and what their thoughts were on the market in the metal sector. We were joined for this podcast late in 2020 by Neil Harvey (Head of Marketing) and Karl Evans (Head of Sales and Operations) and this episode covered the following topics: * Who are SteelScout * The impact COVID-19 has had on SteelScout * The development of SteelScout since 2017 * Digitalisation in the metal sector and the changes that we can expect to see. * Transactional Purchases vs Online Purchases. * Bringing a digital platform to market and the challenges this presented. * The goals going forward. Click here to read the SteelScout Benchmarking Report from June 2020 [https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/5069566/SteelScout-white-paper-published.pdf?utm_source=hs&utm_medium=lp&utm_campaign=whitepaper] If you work in the metal or engineering sector, then join the conversation. Let us know what topics you'd like us to feature on the show, or maybe YOU could join us as a guest. https://linktr.ee/comtongroup [https://linktr.ee/comtongroup]