SSDA 2021 – submit your entries before 26 February 2021

The Structural Steel Design Awards Scheme (SSDA) is an annual event which celebrates the excellence of the UK and the Republic of Ireland in the field of steel construction. The scheme demonstrates the potential of steel with regards to cost-effectiveness, sustainability, innovation and aesthetics.

The Awards will take place again this year in October (further details to be announced) and if you’d like to try your hand at winning, there’s still time to submit an entry. But we recommend getting started now as the deadline is Friday 26 February 2021.

Click here to see a list of last year’s winners.

Find out more information on the entry form here.

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Every two years the RIDBA Building Awards takes place at a dedicated Awards Ceremony to celebrate the best in rural and industrial building design and fabrication, recognising innovation and excellence amongst members.

This year the Awards will be handed out in September (further details to be announced).

The Awards recognise achievements in the following categories:

• Rural – Cattle, Equestrian, Captive (zoo) and Domestic
• Industrial – Light, Medium or Large
• Other – Retail, Manufacturing, Leisure, Education and MOD
• Training Award – Schemes, Projects or Managers and Apprentices

The RIDBA Building Awards are free to enter and all entries must be received by Wednesday 31 March at 5.00pm. Visit the RIDBA website for further information.

See the 2019 winners here.

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In December 2020 (including throughout the Christmas period), the Joseph Ash Chesterfield plant underwent a series of major improvements that has helped the plant to get off to a flying start in 2021. The following works took place which will provide huge improvements to Joseph Ash employees and customers alike:

• The 40 year old concrete in the road at the main gate was replaced, making the surface smoother for visitors
• A new entrance and exit gate was installed to improve traffic flow around the site
• We also installed two new overhead cranes
• We carried out a series of total preventative maintenance projects to keep the site running smoothly and efficiently
• Finally, the whole of the inside of the plant was repainted, making it clean and fresh for the New Year!

If you’re a regular customer of our Chesterfield plant, we hope you find these improvements beneficial to the services we provide to you. Do let us know if you have any feedback, or you think there are any other improvements we could make that could make your lives easier when you visit the plant.

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We’re pleased to announce FORS renewal for Joseph Ash Medway, having once again met the bronze level requirements of the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS).

The Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) is a voluntary scheme that covers all aspects of vehicle emissions, fuel efficiency, economical operations and safety.

FORS enables vehicle operators to know they are helping to increase efficiency, win work, and reduce costs. It also provides peace of mind to vehicle operators that legislative requirements are being met. Finally, it enables operators to know they are becoming safer and greener.

Joseph Ash Galvanizing Medway was first awarded the bronze certificate for FORS in 2016.

Thank you to FORS for assessing us. Thank you also to the team at Medway who worked hard to receive the award.

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End of year message from Steven Hopkins, MD, Joseph Ash Group

Dear Customers,

It’s the end of the year… Where did 2020 go to? It seems to have been non-stop, with a huge amount more to think about and manage than normal.

As you might know, in the Joseph Ash Group we made the decision early in the Pandemic not to allow the situation to impact our customers, but nor could we allow our employees to be put at risk. So we worked hard as one big team across all eight plants to quickly develop our protection systems and order extra sanitising gels and PPE as quickly as possible. The Furlough Scheme allowed us to reduce concentrations of staff (although we’re pleased to say we are able to repay it in line with the decision of our parent group, Hill & Smith Holdings PLC). Alterations to shift start and finish times helped as well.

What pleased us the most, however, were the messages of support from several customers who also stayed open and who said they would have been in difficulty without their “last production process partner”. We were also delighted to have the opportunity to showcase our abilities to many new customers who knocked on our door for the first time during the Spring lock-down, and have elected to keep us as their production partners ever since.

It also pleased us to be able to help the national pandemic effort by processing steel for much-needed facilities such as the NHS Nightingale Hospitals, an extension to an oxygen tank facility at St. Thomas’s Hospital in London, and equipment such as clinical waste bins and trucks, and crash trolleys.

I guess it should be no surprise to anyone if I say that April and May were tough months. However, we seemed to regain some equilibrium by the last week of May and volumes thereafter increased each week by several percentage points, until today we find ourselves extremely busy. This is in no small part due to our excellent Sales teams who were not furloughed and spent their time working very hard and effectively from their kitchen tables – with no office conversations about football or TV to distract them!

We have had two significant challenges to deal with in 2020 – I guess no different to many of you:

• As we “employ” around 70 agency workers in our group, mostly on a temp-to-perm basis, they were inevitably furloughed by their agency employers and many became lost to us;
• Whilst the incidence of Covid diagnoses in the Joseph Ash Group has been well below the national average (I have probably driven our people mad with constant nagging about hand-washing!), we have still temporarily lost the services of dozens, isolating due to family members testing positive. I have also been surprised how many partners of our employees are facing danger every day in the NHS and Care sectors – God Bless them all.

So, maintaining capacity has been a challenge at times, but we have been saved by the reasonable distances between our plants and a very cooperative desire by them to help their sisters. Now, we are well on the way to rebuilding our teams, with the last tranche (or recruits) set to join us in the New Year.

In all, whilst 2020 has been grim in many respects, it has given the people of the Joseph Ash Group the chance to really show their mettle and I am inordinately proud of every one of them. I believe that, whilst our profits might be down, in more ways than one this has been the finest year of our 150-year history.

But none of the above would have been possible without you, our excellent customers. You too have faced adversity, come through it and supported us in our endeavours to keep going and maintain our standards of service. What a great partnership! I thank you most sincerely for your efforts and our relationship.

On behalf of everybody at Joseph Ash, I wish you and your loved ones a happy, peaceful and healthy Christmas, and a far better New Year!

Kindest regards,

Steven Hopkins
Managing Director
Joseph Ash Group

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Celebrating our team members across our plants

As we approach the end of the year – and what a year it’s been! – we’re celebrating some amazing long-term anniversaries, promotion achievements, and team members who have been doing a great job at Joseph Ash Galvanizing.

Meet some of our team members below and find out why we/they are celebrating!

Joseph Ash Telford

Tim Ball – congratulations on being one of the longest serving employees (30 years!)

Tim is one of the longest serving employees at Joseph Ash Telford, having worked at the plant for 30 years. He is highly experienced in all areas of the hot dip galvanizing process. In recent years, Tim has assumed the position of Quality Supervisor and is often called upon to train new starters due to his vast experience and friendly nature.

Stephen Hayward – congratulations on reaching your 15 year anniversary

Since joining Joseph Ash Telford in 2005, Stephen has spent the vast majority of the time working in jigging. He is respected by his colleagues as being one of the most experienced and reliable in this area.

Steve White – congratulations on a decade of service

Steve began working with Joseph Ash Galvanizing as a fettler in 2010, and due to his flexible and positive attitude towards work, has since been employed in a number of areas of the hot dip galvanizing process. Steve, who is regularly now found loading lorries during the night, is a trustworthy, dependable member of the team.

Joseph Ash Chesterfield

Shaun Hirst – celebrated for stepping up and achieving great results
Shaun’s varied skills makes him very versatile. During the challenges we’ve faced due to COVID in 2020, we have witnessed him step into the role of the Shift Assistant Supervisor, achieving amazing results in the process. Shaun has been with Joseph Ash for 15 years.

Mark Churm – celebrating 30 years and instrumental in generating great results
Mark has been with Joseph Ash for 30 years – an amazing amount of time! In recent years, Mark’s knowledge, experience and man management ability have been instrumental in helping the MRS cell (milk rounds) achieve great results.

Nigel Cooper – celebrated for being a reliable figurehead
Nigel has been with Joseph Ash for 25 years. During his time at the Chesterfield plant Nigel started on loading and progressed to the bath where he has become a reliable figurehead.

Myles Durward – celebrated for reaching 10 years and being a trusted member of the team
The knowledge, commitment and reliability that Mark brings to his role, make him a trusted and valuable member of the team. Mark is also about to become a father for the first time, so we wish him and his partner well! What a great gift for the end of the year/beginning of 2021!

Joseph Ash Walsall

Buta Uppal – celebrating 35 years in galvanizing!
Buta began his career with Frost and Sons Galvanizers back in 1985. He started as a general labourer before being transferred to Arkinstalls Galvanizing. During this time, he worked his way through most of the positions in the factory, eventually landing a foreman’s role. From there, he became the Transport Supervisor. In 2014 Buta joined Joseph Ash Walsall as part of the Arkinstalls acquisition. He has been working within the division, as a Transport Supervisor ever since and has become an integral part of the Walsall team.

Simon Davies – celebrating 25 years at Joseph Ash Galvanizing
Simon joined the Walsall team in August 1995. Throughout his time at the Company, he has worked in many different roles, including goods-in-and-out, amongst others. Simon has great knowledge of all aspects of the hot dip galvanizing process and has become multi-skilled in various roles. He is currently our Night Shift Team Leader on our White End (steel after galvanizing), overseeing all operations in the area, and ensuring our fleet of vehicles are loaded every night, ready for transportation to our customers the next day.

Mark Bonham – celebrating his 15^th year at Joseph Ash Galvanizing
Mark Joined the Joseph Ash team as an HGV driver in July 2005. During his time with Joseph Ash Walsall, he has become one of the leading Class 1 Drivers within the division, generating a wealth of experience through carrying various types of steelwork all over the country. Mark has a great attitude towards his work and is very popular with his colleagues within the division.  

Joseph Ash Bilston

Terry Henson – celebrating 20 years with Joseph Ash Galvanizing

Terry is a Black Line Leader at Joseph Ash Bilston and he is arguably our most experienced galvanizer. This year he celebrated 20 years at the plant.

Ian Frost – celebrating 20 years with Joseph Ash Galvanizing

Ian is a Material Handler at Joseph Ash Bilston and he is also celebrating 20 years with the Compay. Ian is an experienced galvanizer with extensive knowledge on finished goods and pot working.

Billy Davies – celebrating 15 years with Joseph Ash Galvanizing

Billy is a White Line Leader at the Bilston plant and he’s clocked up an impressive 15 years’ service. Billy is a highly skilled galvanizer, with extensive experience monitoring quality control.

Head Office

Wilma de Fonseca – celebrating 20 years with Joseph Ash Galvanizing

Finally, we’re celebrating a member of our Head Office team: Wilma de Fonseca who is a Purchase Ledger with 20 years Company experience under her belt.

Wilma previously joined Enviro Tanks (storage tanks manufacturer previously owned by Joseph Ash) as Purchase Ledger in 2000. In 2003 she was transferred to the Joseph Ash Head Office in the same role.

Wilma is a valuable member of the team. She is very friendly and always looking after other colleagues.

Wilma’s passion is baking and (pre-COVID) she indulged other team members at Head Office with her freshly made biscuits, cakes and famous rusks!

Congratulations all!

Well done to all of the above team members! And well done to all the amazing Joseph Ash Group team – from the shop floor to the offices – for what has been a challenging year for the whole country. We’ve been lucky to weather the COVID storm, but it wouldn’t have been possible without such an amazing group of people!

Happy December everyone and best wishes for 2021!

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Read our November 2020 newsletter from Joseph Ash Galvanizing – hot off the press today!

To read a copy click here.

To receive a copy of the newsletter in your inbox each month, please
subscribe. Simply scroll to the bottom of the page and look for the
‘Newsletter Sign-Up’ button.

We’re always looking for interesting articles in the steel industry too!

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Joseph Ash Bilston
Will close on Tuesday 22 December 2020.
Deliveries to be received by midday. 
Will re-open on Monday 4 January 2021.

Joseph Ash Bridgend
Will close on Thursday 18 December 2020.
Deliveries to be received by Wednesday 17 December. 
Will re-open on Monday 4 January 2021.

Joseph Ash Chesterfield
Will close on Tuesday 22 December 2020.
(Last production day is 21 December 2020.)
Will re-open on Saturday 2 January 2021.

Premier Galvanizing Corby
Will close on Wednesday 23 December 2020, 3.00pm.
Will re-open on Monday 4 January 2021, 7.30am.

Premier Galvanizing Hull
Will close on Tuesday 22 December 2020, 6.00pm.
Will re-open on Monday 4 January 2021, 6.00am.

Joseph Ash Medway
Will close for deliveries and collections at 2pm on Wednesday 23 December. (We will be available to make deliveries and collections up to and including Wednesday 23 December.)
Will re-open on Monday 4 January 2021, 6.00am.

Joseph Ash Telford
Will finish galvanizing at 6.00am on Wednesday 23 December 2020. Deliveries to be received by 11.00am. 
Will re-open on Monday 4 January 2021, 6.00am. Deliveries can be received from 8.00am.

Joseph Ash Walsall
Will finish galvanizing at 6.00am on Monday 21 December 2020.
Deliveries to be received by 2.00pm. 
Will re-open on Monday 4 January 2021, 7.00am.

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The annual Galvanizer’s Association Galvanizing Awards (affectionately known as the GAGAs) took place on Tuesday. This year’s event had to be virtual, but the celebrations were in full swing!

The GAGAs celebrate the use of galvanizing in architecture and art. The GA also celebrated the added use of galvanizing in conservation, innovation and sustainability.

Find out who the winners of the 2020 GAGAs are:

Architecture Award

The Architecture Award celebrates the most innovative and effective use of galvanized steelwork in architectural projects. This year’s Architecture Award went to two joint winners:

Fordham Abbey Dojima Sake Brewery, near Ely in Cambridgeshire by SCABAL & KPTA, and The Hill House Box in Helensburgh by Carmody Groarke.

Engineering Award

The Engineering Award celebrates the most innovative and effective use of galvanized steelwork, but with special attention paid to structural functionality and industrial use of galvanized steel.

The Centre for Dairy Science Innovation at the University of Nottingham, by Haston Reynolds, is this year’s Engineering Award winner.

Sustainable Award

The Sustainable Award celebrates projects where galvanized steel is used mainly for its ecological benefits, which are clearly reflected within the project’s description and the philosophy behind it.

The Listening Station by Beech Architects won this year’s Sustainable Award.

Duplex Award

The Duplex Award takes into consideration projects that use galvanized steel coated with any of the organic coatings i.e. wet paints, powder coating etc. As with the architecture and engineering awards, it includes all sizes of project and the functionality as well as the aesthetics of the structure will be of interest. 

This year’s Duplex Award has been won by Surman Weston, for Ditton Hill House in Surbiton.

Detail Award

The Detail Award is granted to projects that display interesting and innovative uses of galvanized steel in elements that are not the main part of a structure. But form a detail, which supports the overall functionality and aesthetics of the architectural or engineering project.

This year’s winner of the Detail Award is MELOY Architects, for Hill House Passivhaus.

Special Mention

Finally, this year’s Special Mention Award went to metal sculptors Bill and Peach Shaw, for their work Peacock.

The judging panel for the 2020 GAGAs consisted of Matthew Wells (Techniker), Isabelle Priest (RIBA Journal), Robin Dryer (chadwick dryer clarke studio) and Iqbal Johal (Galvanizers Association).

Congratulations to all the 2020 winners, and shortlisted entries!

See some of the award winners in a GAGA YouTube film.

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And hot dip galvanized garden sculptures

Two years ago, a client of our Corby (Premier Galvanizing) plant – Kurt Lightfoot – received an unusual birthday present from his wife: an artist’s metalwork course. Kurt completed the course and became hooked, and two years on now runs his own steel metalcraft business called Orna-Metal UK.

Orna-Metal UK – based in Peterborough – specialises in quality handmade garden features, household decorative ornaments and bespoke sculptures for independent retailers and private customers. Every item is unique using traditional methods and skills.

Drawing on inspiration from the ‘Arts and Craft’ movement of the late 19^th century, which rebelled against poor quality mass production, Kurt creates works of arts which reflect the organic beauty of nature.

One such work of art is Dennis the Dragonfly!

To grow his business, Kurt spent time exhibiting at craft shows and wanted a statement piece to attract attention. He decided to sculpt a magnificent dragonfly, and Dennis was born!

After taking Dennis to two shows, a customer approached Kurt with an offer to buy. However, the customer wasn’t keen on the weathered look, and wanted the dragonfly to be shiny and silver so that it would stand out on the island on a lake, where it’s now installed.

Hot dip galvanizing was the answer and Kurt booked our Corby plant to manage the finish.

Premier Galvanizing Corby was the perfect option as the galvanizing baths could accommodate the large size of Dennis.

The team at Corby rose to the challenge and treated the dragonfly with a protective galvanized finish that will last for many years to come.

Kurt was very pleased with the finish and has since sent some additional sculptures to Corby. Below are some cala lillies, which were hot dip galvanized in late Summer/early Autumn.

It’s a pleasure to work on such impressive works of art and we look forward to a growing relationship with Kurt and Orna-Metal UK.

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