Robert Bell EngTech FICME was elected as the new National President for the Institute of Cast Metals Engineers, ICME at the recent AGM.  Robert is the Corporate HSEQ Manager at the Harland and Wolff (Methil Ltd Fife & Arnish Ltd Stornaway)) fabrication and painting facility.  Robert began his career as a moulder-coremaker at Cruikshank Ltd in Denny with ‘off the job’ training at the FITB’s training centre at Grangemouth went on to complete the C&G Advanced Foundry Technology/Management Studies, achieving Licentiateship of C&G.   He then trained as a Methods Engineer, moving on to quality, technical and engineering roles and then responsibility for quality assurance and health, safety and environment with companies including Shaw and McInnes Ltd, ABC-NACO, Choices Group, Terex Equipment Ltd, National Oilwell Varco and BiFab.

He originally joined the then IBF in 1985 and was the recipient of both the John Surtees Bronze and Silver Medals, before obtaining Engineering Technician registration with the Engineering Council.   Robert was President of the Scottish Branch of ICME in 2001, 2015, 2016 and 2019 and was awarded both a a Fellowship in 2013 and a Meritorious Services Award in 2019.

As he took on the Presidency Robert said, “It is a great honour to be offered the role of President of the Institute of Cast Metals Engineers, and one which of course I accept wholeheartedly.  I would like to thank all the Office Bearers, including my predecessor Lee Jenkins, as well as Martin Dudley, Trevor Stevenson and so many other volunteers from the industry, too many to name, plus Pam Murrell and the team at the Cast Metals Federation as well as the staff at ICME, who have put in so much effort and hard work on behalf of the Institute in the past few months.  I would also like to send my thanks and appreciation to the Branches across the United Kingdom, whose members continue to organise and hold meetings, technical lectures and other social events.”

“It has taken me a lifetime to gain the privilege of being the President, considering I started my Apprenticeship as a moulder / coremaker in 1974!  But there is a foundry saying ‘once you have sand on your boots you will never get it off’ and after 48 years I never have”.

Martin Dudley FICME, CEO of the Thomas Dudley Group, was elected as the Senior Vice President and the Junior Vice President is Anthony Evans CEng FICME, Managing Director at Sarginsons Industries Ltd.