Christmas Closures 2024

Christmas is fast approaching, which means our sites will soon be shutting for the holidays.

To help you stay prepared, we’ve listed below the dates and times that our sites will be shutting, as well as the dates and times that our sites will be reopening in the new year.

Site	Schedule
Bilston	Close: Thursday 19th December, 12:00am Open: Thursday 2nd January, 6:00am
Bridgend	Close: Friday 20th December Open: Monday 6th January
Chesterfield	Close: Monday 23rd December Open: Monday 6th January
Corby	Close: Friday 20th December Open: Thursday 2nd January
Hull	Close: Friday 20th December for production, Monday 23rd December for deliveries Open: Thursday 2nd January, 6:00am
Medway	Close: Tuesday 24th December, 2:00pm Open: Thursday 2nd January, 6:00am
Telford	Close: Wednesday 18th December (spin galvanizing); Friday 20th December (hot dip galvanizing); Monday 23rd December, 11:00am (deliveries) Open: Thursday 2nd January, 6:00am
Walsall	Close: Thursday 19th December, 2:00pm Open: Thursday 2nd January, 7:00am
Widnes	Close: Monday 23rd December (no production, deliveries until 12:00pm) Open: Thursday 2nd January

If you have any steel that needs coating before the new year, book a collection or get a quote from us today to avoid disappointment.

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The 56th Structural Steel Design Awards (SSDA) took place in late September at Christchurch, Spitalfields, marking another year of excellence in structural steelwork. As a proud Silver Sponsor of Steel for Life (which sponsors the event), Joseph Ash Galvanizing is thrilled to celebrate the winners, commended projects, and everyone who contributed to making the event a success.

The SSDA is an annual celebration highlighting steel’s versatility and value in construction, emphasising its cost-effectiveness, sustainability, innovation, and aesthetic appeal. This year’s entries again showcased remarkable diversity and complexity, demonstrating the very best in structural steel design.

The winning projects were:

8 Bishopsgate, London
Aviva Studios, Manchester
Beaulieu Parkway Bridge, Chelmsford
Co-op Live Arena, Manchester
n2 Nova Evolved, London
Sky Innovation Centre, London

Commendations also went to:

4 Angle Square, NOMA, Manchester
Bishops Square, London
Clarice Pears Building, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Glasgow
Haymarket, Edinburgh
Lucent, London
One Great Cumberland Place, London
Paddington Square, London

A Merit went to:

Holbein Gardens, London

National Finalists included:

Allerdene Bridge, Gateshead
Battersea Power Station Phase 3B, London
Devon Place Footbridge, Newport
Maggie’s Royal Free Hospital, London
Plot 7B New Bailey, Salford
Sky Studios Elstree, Borehamwood
Tommy Taylor Memorial Bridge, Barnsley

Professor Roger Plank, Chairman of the Judges Panel said:

“The Awards scheme provides an opportunity for the sector to showcase excellence in the use of structural steel across a wide range of projects varying in nature, scale, regional location and budget. We were pleased to see the inclusion of so many large prestige commercial buildings this year, but we are just as interested in small projects of any type and would like to encourage a greater number of submissions across the widest range of structures.

“In conclusion I can say, on behalf of all the judges, that the awards, commendations, the single merit, and national finalists recognised in the Structural Steel Design Awards this year, reflect the impressive quality of the current steel construction industry, and everyone involved should be proud of what has been achieved.”

To read about each winner in detail, view the SSDA Winners Brochure.

A huge congratulations to our Joseph Ash Chesterfield site, who has recently achieved the FORS Gold Accreditation for their transport fleet. The accreditation makes the site the first galvanizer in the UK to achieve the Gold level of the accreditation.

The Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) is a voluntary scheme that businesses can undertake to demonstrate their commitment to safe road transport. The accreditation is no easy achievement, being the highest level the scheme achieves. Gold accreditation confirms that the business employs good practice, including dedication to driver and vehicle safety, combined with improving operating practices through effective monitoring of fuel and tyre usage.

A row of lorries at Joseph Ash Chesterfield

Martin Hall, Divisional Manager at Joseph Ash Chesterfield, commented:

“This is a major achievement considering a significant number of dedicated transport companies are yet to achieve this esteemed level of certification.

“FORS Gold is becoming the new standard for a number of our contracts that require deliveries into our major cities. Major improvements have been made to our fleet including trailers and articulated vehicles which utilise some of the latest technology available.

“Chesterfield boast a bath size of 16.5m long by 1.7m wide and 2.65m deep, and can undertake all your collection and delivery needs anywhere in the UK.”

Well done to all involved!

Sokari Douglas Camp’s ‘The Three Graces – The Dialogue’: galvanized and powder coated by Joseph Ash Medway

On Sunday 30th June, in the Kleurenbuurt neighbourhood of Zaandam, Netherlands, a powerful sculpture by artist Sokari Douglas Camp, was unveiled. Named The Three Graces – The Dialogue, the artwork was created in commemoration of Keti Koti.

Keti Koti, meaning “broken chains,” is an annual event held across the Netherlands to mark Emancipation Day in Surinam, a former Dutch colony. The celebration, held on 1st July, commemorates the abolition of slavery in 1863 and serves as a moment to honour those who lived in bondage while reflecting on the significance of living in freedom. In this context, The Three Graces takes its place as a focal point for healing the wounds of the past and encouraging dialogue about a shared and often painful history.

The sculpture and its meaning

Sokari's Keti Koti sculpture before it was galvanized and powder coated — *The statues, prior to galvanizing and powder coating*

Sokari Douglas Camp, renowned for her artistic work with steel, designed The Three Graces – The Dialogue as a symbol of resilience, healing, and unity. The sculpture draws direct inspiration from an 18th-century piece by abolitionist William Blake titled Europe Supported by Africa and America. (A print of this can be seen in the library at the Victoria and Albert Museum.) Blake’s piece depicts three women – an African woman and American Indian woman shown unclothed, and a European woman, partially clothed. The difference in clothing signifies the imbalanced power dynamics of that era. Sokari, however, sought to reclaim and reframe this narrative.

In her vision, the three figures are African women, fully clothed, sitting as equals. Their elaborate and voluminous skirts, a nod to the fashion of Surinamese women, are rich with cultural meaning. Surinamese women, known for wearing multiple layers of clothing at once, developed this style partly due to the lack of storage space but also as a protective measure against the risk of assault.

The Three Graces – The Dialogue shows the women engaged in an imagined conversation about their shared history of slavery and the continuing struggle for reparations and justice. This dialogue is a visual and symbolic centrepiece for Keti Koti’s annual remembrance and reflection.

Craftsmanship and preservation

The sculpture was welded from 3ml sheet steel, blending the industrial toughness of metal with the fluidity and grace of human forms. Joseph Ash Galvanizing was commissioned to galvanize and powder coat the work to ensure its durability and protect it from the elements. The galvanizing process involved coating the steel with a layer of zinc, providing a robust and reliable defence against corrosion. This ensures that the statue, much like the history it represents, will endure for generations.

The unveiling and community reception

The unveiling ceremony in Kleurenbuurt attracted around 200 people, including Sokari Douglas Camp herself. The community gathered in a spirit of remembrance, reflection, and celebration, marking The Three Graces as a focal point of collective healing.

In the tradition of Keti Koti, the piece serves as a catalyst for conversation – an essential dialogue about history, memory, and the need for reparations.

A lasting legacy

Sokari Douglas Camp’s The Three Graces – The Dialogue stands as a testament to the enduring impact of slavery, the strength of those who survived, and the continued efforts toward healing and reconciliation. Its ongoing and permanent presence in Zaandam’s Kleurenbuurt ensures that the story of Keti Koti and the voices it represents will continue to resonate with all who see it.

This piece, galvanized and protected, will remain a lasting symbol of the power of art to inspire reflection, conversation, and healing.

To see more of Sokari Douglas Camp’s work, visit her website.

You can also visit galleries such as the V&A, The Smithsonian Institute and The October Gallery where she has permanent pieces of art on display.

To see more of Sokari’s work galvanized by Joseph Ash, read Celebrating the Heritage of Carnival and Jonkonnu.

Special mentions

When Sokari fabricated The Three Graces – The Dialogue she had help in her studio from her assistant, who deserves a mention. His name is Luke Chin-Joseph.

A company called MDM Props also deserves a mention as they transported the finished sculpture from Joseph Ash Medway to The Netherlands. MDM Props deals in art manufacture, scenic construction, and prop making, and regularly works with both Sokari Douglas Camp and Joseph Ash Galvanizing.

Finally, a special mention goes to the municipality of Zaandam who made this commission possible.

Joseph Ash Galvanizing recently collaborated with GBT Steelwork, a family-run steel fabrication company based in South Ockendon, Essex. Under the leadership of Andy Thompson, GBT Steelwork took on an ambitious project to fabricate 26 balconies for a high-end apartment block in Knightsbridge, London.

The project scope

Commissioned by Collins Construction, the project demanded exceptional quality and precision, reflecting the upscale nature of Knightsbridge. The balconies, weighing approximately 13 tonnes in total, needed a robust and durable finish to ensure their longevity and resilience against the elements. To achieve this, GBT Steelwork relied upon Joseph Ash Galvanizing’s Medway plant to hot dip galvanize some of the steel balconies.

Galvanizing process

Hot dip galvanizing was the coating method of choice thanks to its ability to provide a long-lasting, corrosion-resistant finish. The galvanizing process involves immersing the steel in a bath of molten zinc, creating a tough, protective layer that bonds with the steel at a molecular level. This scientifically-backed coating method ensures its reliability at protecting steel against atmospheric attack.

Knightsbridge apartment balconies that have been hot dip galvanized

Our team at Joseph Ash Medway undertook the galvanizing process with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that each balcony met the highest quality and durability standards. The hot dip galvanizing not only enhances the steel’s resistance to rust and corrosion but also provided an aesthetically pleasing finish, aligning perfectly with the high-end requirements of the Knightsbridge development. Galvanized steel is reliably used for construction and infrastructure projects thanks to its corrosion-resistant properties.

Transportation and installation

Once galvanized, the balconies were carefully loaded and transported to the Knightsbridge site, ensuring they arrived pristine and ready for installation.

Andy and his skilled team at GBT Steelwork then undertook the installation process. The whole project spanned nine weeks. Each balcony was meticulously fitted, contributing to the apartment block’s design and functionality. The galvanized finish not only provided the necessary durability but also complemented the building’s architectural design.

Working collaboratively

Galvanizing expertise, combined with intricate steel fabrication and installation, ensured balconies were delivered that are both beautiful and built to last.

Andy Thompson’s leadership and his team’s dedication were crucial in bringing this project to fruition. Their commitment to excellence ensured that the balconies not only met but exceeded the expectations of Collins Construction and the residents of the Knightsbridge apartments. We were proud to contribute to this project, and help protect these well-crafted balconies for many decades to come.

Your trusted galvanizing partner

Joseph Ash Galvanizing is trusted by many companies to deliver exceptional hot dip galvanizing, powder coating, and spin galvanizing services.

If you have a steel coating requirement, get in touch with one of our nine UK sites today.

Our General Manager at Joseph Ash Bilston

We had the opportunity to chat with Adrian Fitzpatrick, our new General Manager at Joseph Ash Bilston, to find out a bit about him and his plans for the site.

Meet Adrian Fitzpatrick:

Role: General Manager

Branch: Joseph Ash Bilston

Started: 7th May 2024

Can you give us a brief overview of your role?

In my role as General Manager, I have overall responsibility in leading our Bilston site, setting the direction and laying out our future approach to meet our customer needs and aspirations.

I get involved in every aspect of the company, from looking at operational performance and improvements, administration operations, processes, Health & Safety, customer negotiations and price setting – the job has a huge breadth, so is very interesting.

Can you give us some history on your career?

I started my career at Land Rover/Rover Group, transitioning from a technical apprenticeship to a full-time sponsored graduate. I then became a Project Manager at an aluminium foundry group and led a greenfield joint venture foundry development in Mexico.

I then went on to become Senior Sales Manager at the world’s largest privately-owned iron foundry, managing key accounts with major automotive companies, driving sales growth and aligning product strategies with market trends.

Returning back to the automotive industry, I became Vehicle Programme Manager at Jaguar Land Rover, leading various whole vehicle programmes including the ground-breaking Jaguar C-X75 Hybrid Supercar, the Land Rover Discovery 5, Range Rover, and others. It was my role to oversee direction and business control to meet stringent cost, quality, and timing goals. I then became General Manager for a small vehicle brakes manufacturer, leading a cross-functional team to improve operational processes and drive performance.

Why did you want to join Joseph Ash?

I wanted a role which would allow me to share my experiences and build a high performing team again, and Joseph Ash looked like a great place to do that.

What are you looking forward to in the coming year?

I’m really excited to be working with the team at Bilston to improve our site’s performance, and working alongside my colleagues across other Joseph Ash sites.

What are your goals for the plant that you can talk about?

Improving output efficiencies, growing our customer base, and professionalising our offering to enable high quality hot dip galvanizing.

At Joseph Ash, we talk a lot about the circular economy and sustainability. What else is important to you?

The increasing use of visual and aesthetic applications of galvanized products requires us to continue to develop a high level of stable control in our operations.

Tell us something people might find surprising about you.

I have a great interest in classic cars – driving them and restoring them. When I’m not spending time with my family or doing something with old cars, I’m often found listening to lots of music, everything from the latest tunes to some old classics.

The end of the month sees the Joseph Ash Group bid farewell to two long-serving colleagues today.

Bob Preston has been the General Manager at Widnes Galvanising for the past few months, but has been with the company for many years and has had numerous roles since he first started at Premier Galvanizing. From 1st August, Dan Durn will be taking up the role of General Manager at Widnes.

David Prattis, General Manager at Premier Galvanizing Corby is also retiring and has been with the company for 6 years. From 1st August, his role will be fulfilled by Christoph Boueke who will be the new General Manager at Corby.

We wish both Bob and David all the best in their retirement!

Hill & Smith PLC, Joseph Ash Galvanizing’s parent company, celebrated their incredible 200 year anniversary in June.

Founded in 1824, the group was founded by Edward Hill and was originally known as Hill’s Ironworks. Hill & Smith went on to acquire Joseph Ash Galvanizing in the year 2000, around the same time that Ash & Lacy PLC – a company founded by both Joseph Ash and John Pierce Lacy – underwent a public takeover.

To celebrate this landmark occasion, each site got to decide how they celebrated the occasion, with different events being held throughout the month of June. We’ve highlighted some of the events that took place across Joseph Ash below.

Widnes

Our Widnes Galvanising site had a retro burger van visit them, serving gourmet burgers and pancakes covered in fruit and chocolate. Their day was held on the 6th June.

Hull

Our Premier Galvanizing Hull site opted to host a fish and chip and ice cream van, with their celebrations on the 7th June. A great way to end a week!

Telford

Our Telford site opted to book a fish and chip van to the site and ordered cupcakes with Hill & Smith’s 200 Year Anniversary logo. They also held their own quiz with questions themed around the year 1824, and history about the industry and the company. There were over 30 entries in total, with prizes up for grabs including chocolates, alcohol, and a blender. Their day was held on the 24th June.

Bridgend

There were no food vans at Joseph Ash Bridgend; instead, they held a lucky dip raffle with many exciting prizes, including a 32″ TV, a 40″ oscillating fan, a deep tissue massager, alcohol and chocolate gift sets, vouchers, and even an extra day’s holiday.

They held the raffle at 6am on Monday 24th June to make sure that both day and night shifts could take part and no one missed out. Pizzas were also served throughout both the day and night. The team thoroughly enjoyed it, and it was a great way to start another week.

Congratulations to everyone who won a prize!

Chesterfield

Joseph Ash Chesterfield had an American-style burger van visit the site.

Bilston

Coming towards the end of the month, our Bilston site held a BBQ arranged by a catering company. They also had a visit from their local ice cream van. Their day was held on the 26th June.

Head Office

Finally, Head Office also celebrated on the 26th June, with a buffet breakfast arranged by Jason Anderson, Managing Director.

That’s not all though, as colleagues were also surprised with their own anniversary roses to take home for the occasion.

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is an annual show to see cutting-edge garden design, new plants, and garden ideas, drawing a global crowd year on year. This year it took place from 21st-25th May 2024.

Ian Gill Sculpture, an award-winning metal sculptor based in Lincolnshire, is a regular attendee at these shows, crafting beautiful horticultural stands to be featured and displayed. Premier Galvanizing Hull has been proudly galvanizing Ian’s sculptures for 3 years, and were delighted to assist with Ian’s display at this year’s show.

We had the opportunity to speak to Ian about this year’s show, his inspiration for the stand, and why he can rely on Premier Galvanizing to hot dip galvanize his work.

About the project

Ian has been sculpting for over 25 years, and has been fabricating for the Chelsea Flower Show since 2008, attending every show since.

Ian’s stand featured multiple sculptures of different plants and shrubbery, including gunnera (giant rhubard), giant corten fern, and pond reeds. The stand incorporated a mixture of real and steel foliage, and included some stunning water displays. The real greenery was grown by Ian’s partner.

When asked about his inspiration for the project this year, Ian said:

“I got my inspiration for this year’s display from studying organic plant matter and nature. I had a lot of fun manipulating the steel to make it look soft and more like a real plant.

“Gunneras were going to be banned from the show because they were recently classified as an invasive species. But they didn’t know I was going to be bringing one – just one made out of steel instead.

“It took about 6 months total, working 10-12 hours on the project every day. All of my effort went into the display during those 6 months.

“There was about 25 tonnes of materials in total required to build the stand, including the flooring and surrounding materials.”

About this year’s show

2024 marks the 17th Annual Chelsea Flower Show that Ian has featured at.

There were about 250 stands at the show this year, and only around 40 got a 5 Star Tradestand Award by the Royal Horticultural Society.

Ian earned one of these 5 Star ratings during the show this year – an incredible (and well-deserved) achievement.

Some of Ian’s water features were displayed outside of his stand and were featured around the wider show, including a giant cascading waterfall which was displayed on the Malvern Garden Buildings stand.

Premier Galvanizing delivers a high quality finish

Ian started using Premier Galvanizing Hull 3 years ago, when he moved from the south up to Lincolnshire.

Ian recalls having poor experiences with another galvanizing company in the past. Moving up north provided him with an opportunity to find a new galvanizing company who understood the delicate nature of his sculptures, and could reliably galvanize them to a high quality without damaging his craftmanship.

“It’s devastating when you spend 3 months full-time producing a sculpture, just for a galvanizer to mess it up in 30 minutes. But since switching to Premier Galvanizing, I’ve been very happy. The team there are easy to reach out to and I can rely on them to look after my work.

“Talking to other metal artists at these kinds of shows, one of the first things that gets asked is, “Who does your galvanizing?”. Other metal artists often complain about how much of a nightmare it is to find a good galvanizer, and I used to join in with the complaining in those conversations, too. But I can’t anymore, because the quality I get with Premier Galvanizing is brilliant.”

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the forefront of many people’s priorities in recent years. Ian ensures the elements of his stand don’t go to waste.

“I’ll reuse the flooring on the stand as the slabs can be lifted up. I’ll also go on to sell the sculptures to the public after the show as ex-display. My partner will also take the real plants back and replant them to be used in other projects.”

Hot dip galvanizing is a sustainable practice, fitting into a circular economy. The high-quality galvanized finish provided for Ian’s sculptures means that they are protected from corrosion caused by atmospheric attack. The customers who will go on to buy these sculptures can be sure they will last for many years to come; and, should the sculptures need to be recycled, this can be done without loss of properties.

Another good year at the Chelsea Flower Show

Overall, this year’s show was another success, both for Ian and for the Royal Horticultural Society.

When asked about future projects, Ian concluded:

“I’m going to continue to make bigger, better, and crazier projects in the future.” We can’t wait to see them!

Ian Gill is the founder of Ian Gill Sculpture. More photos from this years show, as well as his stands from previous shows, can be found on his website www.iangillsculpture.com. Pictures supplied by Ian Gill.

Joseph Ash Chesterfield has successfully met the Bronze level requirements of the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS).

FORS is a voluntary scheme that covers all aspects of vehicle emissions, fuel efficiency, economical operations and safety.

Achieving the Bronze level means Joseph Ash Chesterfield‘s HGVs and practices meet the scheme’s requirements and the team are committed to maintaining the scheme’s standards, not just during the audit.

The Bronze audit is also the gateway to future Silver or Gold accreditations.