The Institute of Cast Metals Engineers, ICME, recently received a donation of some tools from a retired patternmaker.  But not any old tools.  No, this was a full set of patternmaking chisels, saws, gauges, routers and more, many of which had been handmade and were supplied complete with the precision handmade tool box, consisting of a set of drawers and lockable lid.

The person generously donating the tools was Colin Steed IEng FICME, National President of ICME in 1998, and former World Foundry Organisation Treasurer, and himself an award-winning patternmaker.  Colin started his career as an apprentice patternmaker with W H Allen in Beford and then worked for Plasmoulds and RKB Precision, before setting up his own aluminium casting foundry, Norse Precision Castings, which remains in family ownership, manufacturing castings for wide range of local and international markets.

Colin explained how when he began his career in the industry apprentices were supplied with the wood to create the toolbox at the start of their apprenticeship.  They were able to learn their craft, making some of their own tools, before making their toolbox (in their own time) once they had successfully completed their training.

The delighted recipient of the tools is Archie Lewis MICME, who is a patternmaker with Furniss & White (Foundries) Ltd, which supplies precision engineered pumps and valve castings in steel for a range of sectors including petrochemical, chemical, mining, oil exploration, marine, defence, power generation and general engineering.  Archie was selected because he has recently completed his own Apprenticeship in Metal Casting, Foundry and Patternmaking with flying colours: he is the first patternmaker to achieve a Distinction in his End-point Assessment through ICME on this new apprentice standard.

After leaving school, Archie studied for an Extended Diploma in Engineering, with Nottingham College, before joining Furniss & White on the recommendation of a friend.  After spending time in various departments in the foundry during his early on-the-job training, including moulding and casting as well as design and methoding, Archie came into the patternshop under the careful supervision of Adam Oliver, Patternshop Manager and enrolled on the level 3 apprentice programme.

Keen to do something hands-on and that leads to tangible results, Archie has not looked back.  “I like to make something from nothing, from a CAD drawing on a screen, and then see the finished pattern painted up and ready to make a casting”, he said. “As a jobbing foundry there is always a new technical challenge, which I really enjoy – it’s like playing a game of snooker and you have to be three shots ahead.”

His mentor Adam agrees. Adam started his own apprenticeship some 15 years ago with Metskill in Sheffield, studying for patternmaking NVQs at levels 3 and 4, before undertaking an Advanced Diploma in Casting.  “Archie reminds me of myself”, he says, “he has a great feel and a passion for the job, and I am really pleased that his success has been recognised by ICME”.

Pam Murrell, CEO of the Cast Metals Federation, who was able to present Archie with the tools said, “Colin Steed was himself the winner of a national foundry patternmaking award in 1965 so it seems only fitting that the tools go on to another successful apprentice.  It’s clear that Archie has great support from the team around him at the company, who continue to invest in his development.  This is great for him, for the company and for the industry in the UK – I am sure that he will have a long and successful career.”