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Can maintenance training help you to bridge the skills gap?

January 2024

Sir Richard Branson once said, “Train people well enough so they can leave.  Treat them well enough so they don’t want to”.

The pressure is increasing on chemical and mineral processors to train their young apprentices, retain and internally promote existing mechanical technicians and replace the older generation of expert engineers to extend the life of their existing equipment, increase machine availability and meet with exacting production targets.

Our customers in asset maintenance, equipment reliability and maintenance management talk to British Rema’s rotary engineering team about how to look after and motivate their preventive maintenance teams.

One of our most long-standing customers in the cement sector told us:

Many of the staff in our maintenance team are approaching retirement age, and we have also recently restructured our business. We will be using engineers from other disciplines from existing operations who have static equipment and therefore zero experience of rotating kilns and coolers.  We need these guys to understand the basics of rotary equipment fast, as well as helping our newest technicians to learn more so that they can progress within the company”.

Due to the emerging gap between experienced mechanical engineers, technicians and fitters about to retire and those just joining as apprentices or replacing staff from existing teams. British Rema Rotary Engineering is being increasingly asked to run in-house and public training seminars for many of the world’s most well-known chemical and mineral material processing companies.

Our senior qualified mechanical engineers specialise in maintenance, repair and overhaul of multi-station kilns, dryers, coolers, drums and reaction vessels.

The team has first-hand experience of the many issues that can arise from a lack of understanding of rotary vessel operation gained by working in a huge number of sectors on a variety of processes and are qualified to instruct on the basic theory of inspection and trouble-shooting and best practice preventive maintenance planning.

“Inspection of vessel condition is the key”, commented British Rema Rotary Engineering Ltd’s Sales Manager, Robert Fellows, who boasts many years of experience in the processing industries. Robert also has significant equipment installation and repair projects experience as well as process equipment commissioning, and the supervision of ongoing maintenance contracts for key account customers.

“Maintenance staff need to understand the basic theory as well as the practice behind what to look out for under normal machine operating conditions. A planned, informed  and methodical approach to regular maintenance is a must and our engineers can teach basic principles, routines and methodologies to optimise preventive maintenance on a daily, weekly, monthly, semi-annual and annual basis,” he added.

If you are interested in training your maintenance team, please visit our webpage at https://britishrema.co.uk/what-we-do/rotary-engineering/training/

Contact us by phone +44 (0)1246 269 955 or email: rotaryknowhow@britishrema.com

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British Rema welcomes Tony Goodwin as Group Managing Director

June 2023

British Rema is delighted to welcome Tony Goodwin to the new position of Group Managing Director. Tony will lead the group through its next phase of development following its recent transfer to employee ownership. The organisation is now primed for significant growth both in domestic and international markets.

Tony brings with him more than 30 years of industrial powder processing and handling business experience, fifteen of these in senior leadership roles.  He comments, “It is extremely exciting to have the opportunity to lead British Rema during this next phase of its development and growth.  It’s also a great privilege to join such a fantastic team.  This prestigious company has built a reputation on mechanical and processing expertise, knowhow and excellent customer service, values that must remain at the forefront of everything we do.”

 

Three independent businesses constitute the British Rema group. These are British Rema Process Equipment Ltd, British Rema Processing Ltd and British Rema Rotary Engineering Ltd. All three companies have grown substantially over many years, establishing the business as one of the UK’s leading providers of powder processing equipment, contract processing and rotary engineering services to the mineral, chemical and recycling industries.

First established in 1927, British Rema has a long and proud legacy of process equipment innovation from early ball mills first used in the mining industry right up to the latest micronizing, jet milling and classification systems employed in producing fine minerals and chemicals. Its testing and toll processing facility based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire boasts proprietary plant and equipment that has enabled the business to successfully trial and validate a wide range of materials, develop optimal processes and improve its own equipment, whilst creating a huge bank of knowledge and becoming a trusted partner to a global customer base.

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A solution for Genesys International

March 2022

Leading innovator in reverse osmosis (RO) membrane chemicals for the water treatment industry, Genesys, turned to us to help bring an outsourced powder manufacturing process in-house. With a view to generating new business, increasing operational efficiency and sustainability and to create new jobs at the company’s facility in Middlewich, Cheshire, the company opted for bespoke Ribbon Blenders to optimise production in-house.

The brief was to provide a solution for blending batches of the company’s existing range of anti-scalants, cleaners, flocculants and biocides to the required powder specification at optimum output.

We worked in partnership to conduct mixing trials on a scaled version of the proposed Ribbon Blender design at our test facility in Chesterfield. Our technical team then designed a system comprising two 1,250 litre capacity ribbon blenders and proposed a further access platform option to offer additional blending capacity. This offered Genesys the ability to run the blenders autonomously and enable each unit to produce a different (discrete) formulation if required.

The benefits include the possibility of developing new, specialty products in-house with less reliance on external manufacturing providers and the ability to target larger markets with a more comprehensive range of concentrated powder products by bringing production and distribution back to the UK. It will also cut the plant’s operating and manufacturing costs and reduce the carbon footprint for its Middlewich operation, whilst bringing down the overall price of transporting product to the global water treatment market.

“The support from British Rema has been exceptional throughout and they went above and beyond our original brief to develop a tailor-made solution that will enable us to create new products. The project has already created three extra local jobs and will allow Genesys to supply our water treatment products to over 100 countries around the world. This is a great example of two British companies working hand in hand to provide world class solutions.”

Steve Chesters
Group Vice-President & Managing Director, Genesys International

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British Rema becomes employee owned

March 2022

In a move that demonstrates genuine belief in rewarding loyal staff, manufacturing and engineering business, British Rema has transferred ownership of its group of companies into the newly-formed British Rema Employee Ownership Trust. Sole beneficiaries of this trust are current and future employees of the company.

The business relies heavily on the commitment and specialist skills and knowhow of its staff. In 2019 financial advisors Grant Thornton introduced the idea of forming an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) as the best way to build on the company’s success and enable a succession plan for the owners, whilst maintaining continuity in the management team. The directors agreed, recognising the additional benefits in terms of staff engagement, recruitment and retention. While the implementation of the plan was delayed by the Covid pandemic, the directors are now extremely pleased to have completed the deal and are looking forward to a new era for this long-standing business.

John Cameron has been a director of the business since 2005 and believes that the change from a privately owned company to an EOT demonstrates the company’s commitment to the region and the associated long-term employment opportunities:

“British Rema intends to stay put and grow from its current base. The new ownership structure makes it an attractive option for new staff and highly motivational for existing staff. We have also announced the introduction of a profit-related bonus scheme which will see staff immediately share in the company’s financial success.”

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Seminar season in Sheffield

October 2021

Our rotary engineering team will once again be hosting our Maintenance of multi-pier rotary kilns & vessels training seminar at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel in Sheffield on 9-11 November.

Our training seminars have a reputation for being amongst the best in the industry calendar, and this popular and informative event covers all aspects of regular and preventative maintenance for rotary vessels to ensure they are operating safely and efficiently.

Experienced engineers present and offer their experience on a wide range of relevant and interesting topics of rotary vessel maintenance, aiming to keep you up-to-date with the latest vessel maintenance techniques and demonstrating how carrying out regular checks and analysis can reduce costs for your business.

Having had to cancel last year due to Covid restrictions we are expecting a very good attendance and places are limited.

If you would like to register your interest and receive more details please click here

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Back in the saddle at ChemUK

September 2021

We were thrilled to finally exhibit at ChemUK last month after a challenging couple of years for the industry and two exhibition postponements. This year saw a total of 2,438 visitors through the doors to see 350 exhibitors over the two day period – an increase of 14% from its launch.

“ChemUK was a very welcome change from the past 18 months of restrictions. It was great to actually meet and welcome existing and new customers onto our stand and to actually speak to people face-to-face rather than on a screen.”

“Our team took a number of interesting enquiries at the show and look forward to following these up over the next few weeks.”

Rik Kiddle – General Manager, BRPE/BRRE

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Take a look at our brand new brochure

February 2021

A digital version of our company brochure is now available to view and download. In it you’ll find lots of information about us, our services and products.

Looking forward to ChemUK 2021

October 2020

The details for ChemUK 2021 have been delayed, so we are now looking forward to meeting our existing and potential new customers on 15–16 September at the NEC, Birmingham.

We’re busy making plans to ensure you a warm welcome on stand C20 where we will be showcasing our range of powder processing, process equipment and rotary engineering products and services.

Maintaining our know how in challenging times

March 2020

We all are working in challenging and unprecedented circumstances. At British Rema, the health, safety and wellbeing of all our employees and delivering on our commitments to our customers remain of paramount importance.

We are following the UK government’s advice on Covid-19 closely and are maintaining our high production and hygiene standards throughout our manufacturing facilities and offices.

Where possible, our teams are working from home and travelling where safe to do so. We will be answering calls and emails as usual so please contact us as normal regarding our services and equipment.

We look forward to continuing to work with you during these difficult times.

Call
British Rema Processing and Process Equipment
+44 (0)1246 269955

British Rema Rotary Engineering
+44 (0)1246 292700

Email
knowhow@britishrema.com

Or get in touch via our contact us page.

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Creating chemistry at ChemUK 2020

February 2020

We are looking forward to meeting both existing and potential new customers at ChemUK 2020, 13–14 May in Manchester, where we will be showcasing our range of powder processing, process equipment and rotary engineering products and services.

Come and say hello to us on stand K21 and we’ll promise you a warm welcome.