December 2024 Newsletter

Welcome to our final newsletter of 2024!

This month, we share an end of year from Jason Anderson, Managing Director at Joseph Ash Galvanizing; we bid a fond farewell to Mick Jackson, our IT Manager and Marketing Associate who has been with us for nearly 42 years; and our last Galvanizing Today article for the year explores the A-Z of galvanizing, including key facts and information about steel protection.

To read your copy, click here.

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After an incredible 41 years of service, Mick Jackson, our IT and Marketing Manager, is leaving Joseph Ash Galvanizing at the end of the year to pursue new opportunities.

Mick has had numerous roles across the Company over the years, starting off in Internal Sales, working his way up to National Sales Manager, and then progressing to his current dual role as IT and Marketing Manager.

We had the pleasure of writing about Mick’s journey throughout the Company in his 40 year anniversary news feature last year.

Head Office arranged a buffet and gifts for him ahead of Friday as a farewell celebration.

Mick has been invaluable to the Company since he joined back in 1983, and we wish Mick all the best for the future!

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“As we rapidly approach the end of 2024 and a well-earned break, I wanted to take the opportunity to share a few thoughts.

“My first year as Managing Director for Joseph Ash Galvanizing has flown by in the blink of an eye. I am delighted to be here, and extremely grateful to customers, colleagues, and suppliers for their warm welcome and enthusiasm towards Joseph Ash.

“Some highlights of 2024 were:

• Hill & Smith plc (our excellent parent company) celebrated its 200 year anniversary. Edward Hill established the modestly titled Edward Hill & Co. at the Brierley Hill Ironworks in 1824. Our celebrations ranged from burger vans visiting sites to commemorative roses!
• Not quite as long serving but still celebrating a very respectable 40 years was Gurpal (Charlie) Singh, our Walsall General Manager.
• Chesterfield achieved the Gold award from the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS), demonstrating our commitment to safety.
• Improvements have been made to Health and Safety with encouraging results, as well as sustainability with targets on carbon reduction. We’re also improving our Learning and Development with early stage trials taking place.

“Performance in a challenging marketplace has been solid with plenty of opportunity for growth, and I would like to thank my colleagues for their hard work and dedication throughout 2024.

“As galvanizers, we survive (and thrive) by forming an essential part of our customers’ process, providing long-lasting corrosion protection over a short lead time. Our service and quality are relied upon, and we continue to strive to improve and enhance this partnership.

“Finally, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year – 2025!”

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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.

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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.

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!

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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

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

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

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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.

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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.

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.

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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!

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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!

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