We’re hiring at Joseph Ash Galvanizing
We’re looking for additional hot dip galvanizing operatives for our Bilston, Bridgend, Chesterfield, Corby, Hull, Medway, Telford and Walsall plants. Are you interested?
We’re searching for reliable, flexible, self-motivated and hardworking individuals, to be employed on a full-time basis (after successful completion of a probationary period).
The plants operate 24 hours with team members working on a rotating shift system (including some weekends) to meet customer demand.
The role ensures the safe and efficient processing of work, from receipt through to the galvanizing process to finished product ready for despatch.
We offer a structured training programme for all team members.
Applicants must be physically fit and work well in a team within a fast moving production environment, where excellent customer service and high product quality is the key to our continued success. An excellent attitude towards health and safety is a pre-requisite of the role.
For further information please email:
Rob Nelson (Divisional Manager at Joseph Ash Bilston)
Kevin Williams (Divisional Manager at Joseph Ash Bridgend)
Mark Payne (Divisional Manager at Joseph Ash Chesterfield)
David Prattis (Divisional Manager at Premier Galvanizing Corby)
Alex Camp (General Manager at Premier Galvanizing Hull)
Tim Palmer (General Manager at Joseph Ash Medway) or Joel Fletcher
Stuart Cobourne (Divisional Manager Joseph Ash Telford)
Charlie Singh (Divisional Manager at Joseph Ash Walsall)
Discretion assured. No agencies please.
Read our latest newsletter – 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.
Galvanized steel is an integral part of everyday life and is all around us. But how does its prevalence today affect the environment of the future? How sustainable is it? What role does it play in the circular economy? And is the galvanizing process itself environmentally friendly?
Steel is essential for housing, infrastructure, transport, manufacturing, and agriculture. Used as frames for our buildings, safety on our roads, and support for the bridges we cross, we must never waste the resources used to produce it by throwing it away when the original function is no longer valid. Instead, we must repurpose steel, especially if the world wants to move away from traditional business models of use-throw-away-remake to a more environmentally friendly, sustainable circular economy that aims to eliminate waste and repurpose resources.
What is a circular economy, and how can galvanizing play a part?
A circular economy encourages materials to be made, used, reused, remade, and recycled.
Hot dip galvanizing fits perfectly into a circular economy because it optimises the durability of steel (enabling it to be used again) and facilitates the ease of reuse. It can be recycled if there’s no immediate need to repurpose it. Here’s how:
Optimising durability
When steel is galvanized, it is immersed in a bath of molten zinc, where it alloys with the iron in the steel to form zinc/iron alloy layers. These layers form the basis of the coating, which is covered with free zinc as the steel lifts from the galvanizing bath. The result is a robust, durable, corrosion-protective finish that will last many years.
Without a galvanized coating, steel corrodes rapidly, leading to a short lifespan. However, with a galvanized coating, steel can last for decades before the base steel is exposed, giving long term protection. This means that steel can be used for the original purpose for which it was fabricated, and – once the project is dismantled – the steel is still good enough to be used elsewhere.
Facilitating ease of reuse
Once a structure – such as a house or fencing – reaches its end of life, the steel can easily be repurposed if it has been hot dip galvanized. The galvanized coating protects the steel from impact and abrasion when disassembled and reassembled.
Recycling
Finally, hot dip galvanized steel fits nicely into a circular economy because it can be melted and used repeatedly without losing quality if there is no immediate need for repurposing.
The zinc coating can also be reused. Zinc and steel are recycled in well-established steel recycling processes. The zinc particulates are returned, without loss of properties, to zinc production plants, where they are incorporated into zinc ingots and reused in the galvanizing process.
How else does the galvanizing process enhance sustainability?
A hot dip galvanized finish gives steel a long life and durability. In addition, it creates a maintenance-free finish, which lessens the carbon emissions usually associated with the upkeep of non-galvanized steel.
Mick Jackson from Joseph Ash Galvanizing says: “Imagine a bridge made from non-galvanized steel. It would need maintenance every year to protect it from rust and corrosion. It would also need repainting at regular intervals. This requires paint, a workforce, transport for the workers and a means to protect the land or water below from paint contamination. This maintenance is not required if the same bridge is made from galvanized steel, therefore carbon emissions are greatly lessened.”
Is the galvanizing process environmentally friendly?
Galvanizing plants are self-contained, with steel going in at one end and the final product coming out at the other.
Modern galvanizing plants also use zinc very efficiently throughout the galvanizing process. For example, excess metal from the dipping process deposits back into the galvanizing bath. Zinc that oxidises on the surface is removed as ash and recycled, and dross from the bottom of the bath is routinely removed and has a high recycling value.
Other process consumables, such as hydrochloric acid and flux solutions, have important recycling or regeneration routes. Spent hydrochloric acid solutions are used to produce iron chloride for treating municipal wastewater, for example. Closed-loop flux recycling is also used in many plants, and improved monitoring and maintenance of flux tanks reduce the volume of solids for disposal. Compared to other coating technologies galvanizing uses low volumes of water, with plants rarely discharging wastewater. Any wastewater generated can be treated and reused, with only small volumes of stable solids requiring external disposal.
While not considered a particularly energy-intensive sector, the galvanizing industry also has set targets for energy efficiency and improved energy management. New technology has seen improvements in burner efficiency, bath lid efficiency, and reuse of waste heat to warm pre-treatment tanks. Plant emissions are also carefully controlled to ensure neighbouring communities are not adversely affected.
A strong commitment to the circular economy
The Managing Director at Joseph Ash Galvanizing, said: “We count ourselves fortunate to be involved with such a sustainable product, playing, as it does, a critical role in extending the life of steel structures by decades. In addition, reducing our environmental impact has been close to our hearts for many years, hence our heavy investment in fume capture and recycling by-products.”
We firmly believe in a circular economy, where the needs of present-day society are met, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.”
Get in touch to find out more about hot dip galvanized steel or the sustainability processes at Joseph Ash.
You can view the new EGGA guide – ‘Galvanized Steel and Sustainable Construction: Solutions for a Circular Economy’ here.
We’re pleased to announce some long-time service achievements at Joseph Ash Galvanizing over the last quarter.
Please join us in celebrating Edwin Smith, Kate Webster, Wayne Smith and Joanne Winfield as they have all reached 15 year’s at the Company.
Edwin Smith (15 years at Joseph Ash Walsall)
Eddie joined Joseph Ash as a yard worker, working in the fettling area. He has worked his way up to be a key team member in our loading/unloading team in the busy yard at Walsall. As an experienced loader/unloader, Eddie understands the importance of safe, secure loading for our customers, colleagues, and visitors. Eddie adds a significant knowledge to our yard team, and is a loyal, hardworking employee. We are all the better for having him on our team.
We hope Eddie continues with us for many more years!
Kate Webster (15 years at Joseph Ash Walsall)
Kate joined Joseph Ash Walsall as an administrator on a part time basis in 2006. Kate has excelled in her role at all times, consequently being promoted to office manager in April 2014. Since her promotion Kate has built a fantastic team and has put systems in place to ensure the department runs smoothly and efficiently.
Kate is a loyal, hard-working employee who is well respected and liked throughout the Company, and who is seen as a model employee. We hope Kate continues to flourish within her department and with the business for many years to come.
Wayne Smith (15 years at Joseph Ash Chesterfield)
Wayne is a production operative at our Chesterfield plant. He has been a key member of the shift and is an experienced acid man. Wayne is a Manchester Utd supporter and a reliable member of the team. Congratulations on reaching 15 years Wayne!
Joanne Winfield (15 years at Joseph Ash Chesterfield)
Joanne has been a key member of the sales team working at our Chesterfield plant, supporting both Martin Hall (Commercial Manager) and Matthew Phillips (Customer Service Manager). Joanne is very well-liked by our MRS customers and is able to support the business in numerous roles if and when needed. Congratulations on reaching 15 years Joanne!
(Photo by Jess Bailey on Unsplash.com)
Take a look at these amazing dragon sculptures! They were recently hot dip galvanized at our Joseph Ash Bridgend plant, for Phoenix Forge.
The dragon in the top photo is made from over 4000 individual scales each painstakingly welded to an armature, giving the dragon a life of its own. It took a little over five weeks to construct.
We’ve proudly galvanized a number of Phoenix Forge dragons over the years and it’s always a pleasure to help protect these wonderful works of art.
It’s fun to see these cheeky creatures around our plant too!
Thanks for sending them our way Phoenix Forge. We can’t wait to do some more.
About Phoenix Forge:
Phoenix Forge specialises in making beautiful handcrafted ironwork to enhance people’s homes or gardens. All of their work is designed by award winning artist blacksmith William Holland.
The Company opened in June 2010. They aim to breathe new life into iron through the ancient art and craft of traditional blacksmithing.
For those interested in learning the craft, the Company also runs creative courses such as the Blacksmith Taster Day.
As Spring has sprung and it feels like a newly invigorated year, we’re pleased to announce the delivery of some new trucks at Joseph Ash Medway.
The new trucks arrived recently, and they have been part of a transport overhaul initiative by Rob Haynes, the Transport Manager at our Kent plant.
Since Rob joined Joseph Ash Medway three years ago, he has streamlined the fleet of lorries from 16 11 x 18ton Rigid’s, 1 x 7.5ton and four Artics) down to 12, (8 x 18 tonne Rigid and four x Artics). The purpose of the streamlining was to utilise all available space on each vehicle rather than running ‘half empty’ vehicles, maximising the number of deliveries and collections each vehicle can achieve, without compromising service.
Safety has also been a key goal for Rob. In November 2019 the plant received four new Mercedes Benz Actros tractor units, with the latest mirror cam technology and additional safety features, including intelligent breaking systems and lane control. The dash and driver controls are all touch screen for ease of use and hi-spec CCTV was fitted. Left turn and reverse audible warning systems were also added, and Rob is currently looking to add live cameras to view the rear of the vehicles.
In February 2021 Medway received the first of their new Mercedes Benz Antos rigid vehicles, to replace the 2016 fleet. These have the same specification, including the same safety features fitted, as the new tractor units.
Between now and April the plant will also be replacing two more of the Rigids. A further three will be replaced in November.
Finally, not only is health and safety important for our drivers, but ease of use. To this end Rob re-designed the rear of the trucks with lighter side doors, more durable hinges and catches, stronger posts and access doors either side, with drop down steps and grab rails.
He is currently in talks with Herrings Trailers, to replace Medway’s existing trailers, due for renewal in November 2021. These will be built to the same specification as the rear of the rigid vehicles.
For more information about the transport initiatives at Medway, please get in touch with Rob Haynes on Mob: 07734 875249 or Email: robh@josephash.co.uk. You can also email: transport@medgalv.co.uk.
Whitby is a seaside town on the North Yorkshire coast. Full of maritime, mineral and tourist heritage, it is a popular destination for visitors all year round. To celebrate the town’s fishing and cultural heritage, and to encourage visitors to explore its streets, a group of local people and partner organisations recently commissioned a new art project: the Whitby Walk with Heritage Trail. Emma Stothard was the appointed artist, and our Hull plant (Premier Galvanizing) protected the steel.
The Whitby Walk with Heritage Trail – funded by the Government’s Coastal Revival Fund and Scarborough Council – is a series of stunning sculptures dotted around the town telling the story of Whitby’s fishing and cultural history. The sculptures start at the Whitby Swing Bridge and end at the Band Stand leading people through some of the lesser frequented areas of Whitby to try to support local businesses in those areas.
The sculptures include a fisherman mending a net, a fisher wife, a knitter at work on a gansey, a herring lass and a crow’s nest.
There are also sculptures which pay homage to two of Whitby’s famous residents: photographer Frank Meadow Sutcliffe, and Dora Walker, a North Sea skipper during WW2.
Emma Stothard, a renowned North Yorkshire sculptor, created the sculptures from wire steel. Because the sculptures need to stand the test of time and withstand the harsh environmental conditions of a coastal town, Emma sent the sculptures to Premier Galvanizing Hull so that they could be hot dip galvanized.
You can see photos of some of the sculptures at the Premier Galvanizing plant here:
Hot dip galvanizing is important for steel because it provides a long-life, low-maintenance corrosion protection which safeguards steel from atmospheric attack which causes rust.
Even though we regularly protect the steel used for sculptural works of art and we’re experienced in handling unusual pieces of steel, Emma’s project was a challenge at first because of its size and shape. It was a test our Hull plant overcame however, as Emma worked alongside Karl – Hull’s Works Manager – to ensure the sculptures were suitable for the hot dip galvanizing process.
Proud Yorkshire people
As a Yorkshire based galvanizing plant the team at Premier Galvanizing were pleased to be chosen as the galvanizer for this project. It was a privilege to work with Emma, and to play our part in celebrating the culture and history of Whitby.
To find out more about Emma Stothard, visit her website or follow her on Instagram.
Emma has spent most of her adult life living and working in Whitby, and her works can be found across towns and stately homes worldwide. Emma also frequently exhibits at the Chelsea Flower Show.
If you’re planning on a visit to Whitby and you’d like to know more about the heritage trail, follow the Facebook page Walk with Heritage. The page shows photos of Emma’s progress as she built the sculptures. It also shows the sculptures in their final place in Whitby.
Work is also being carried out to create an app to support the trail. When people follow the walk, they will be able to see information about their location and each statue’s/character’s story.
(Photo by Phil Hearing on Unsplash)
Read our latest newsletter – 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 pleased to announce that Daniel Lyons has recently joined our Joseph Ash Medway plant.
With 15 years experience in Sales, Business Development and Customer Service, Dan brings a huge amount of customer service experience to the team.
We asked Dan what drew him to Joseph Ash Galvanizing. He said: “The chance to work for a market leading steel galvanizing company and manage and develop an already successful sales team was too good an opportunity to miss. I am a highly motivated and experienced Senior Manager who believes in providing a quality service environment, and I’m confident my inter-transferable skills from working in different sales environments puts me in good stead for this role.”
Dan is a keen football and rugby player and enjoys spending time with his family.
Welcome to the team Dan!
Stunning animal sculptures fabricated from horseshoes by Tom Hill, and hot dip galvanized by our sister plant, Premier Galvanizing Corby
In February 2021, Premier Galvanizing Corby was asked to treat a range of unique and stunning animal sculptures fabricated by artist Tom Hill. Everything from a stag, a doe, a horse and a hare. Most of the animals were commissioned by the owners of a soon-to-be-launched wedding venue in Devon, set on farmland.
Based in Hertfordshire, Tom is an unusual artist as he sculpts with recycled horseshoes to create life size animal works of art.
Tom specialises in equine sculpture but also sells hedgehogs, squirrels, ducks, herons, swans, pigs, badgers, different breeds of dogs, lions, cheetahs, stags, camels and elephants, all of which are life size. You can see more of these on his website.
As a self-taught sculptor, Tom utilises a gas forge and hammer as well as various welding techniques to heat and shape the horseshoes to craft his projects.
Once he has built his sculptures, he needs to ensure their longevity by having the steel treated with a galvanised finish – a service provided by Premier Galvanizing.
Hot dip galvanizing is important for steel because it provides a long-life, low-maintenance corrosion protection which safeguards steel from atmospheric attack.
Premier Galvanizing Corby has treated many projects for Tom over the last few years. Another notable project was a sculpture of a horse and jockey for the Injured Jockey’s Centre which opened in Newmarket in October 2019. Tom books Premier Galvanizing Corby due to our location, excellent reputation and bath size. We are also able to collect the projects, galvanize them, and deliver them back to Tom, taking away all the transportation logistics.
We enjoy working on Tom’s fabrications. It’s especially great to see them arrive at our Corby plant as untreated steel, watch as they are carefully dipped into the baths of zinc, and then be amazed as they emerge with a new silver zinc coating.
Bryony Crowden from Premier Galvanizing Corby said, “We have really enjoyed working alongside Tom, and we can’t wait to see what future works come into the plant from him’.
We look forward to receiving your next projects Tom!