Maybrey Precision Castings, a Kent foundry that specialises in aluminium gravity die castings, has jointly won the ‘Component of the Year’ prize at the recent UK Cast Metals Industry Awards.
Maybrey Precision Castings, which works with customers across refineries, utilities, aerospace, agriculture and building conservation, impressed judges with the way it produced a series of 52 unique castings in silicon bronze that was used to create a series of statuesque heads now on display in the memorial sculpture park in Alabama.
The Aylesford-based company carried out significant design work to divide the concept into castable sections, taking into account the dimpled fishing required and the numerous undercuts around the eyes, ears and noses.
This was specified by digital sculptor Rayven Shaleigha D’Clark in her pioneering commission by the Equal Justice Initiative ‘Black Renaissance’ project.
With both investment and sand casting unviable, printed sand moulds were employed with the team creating a double pour running system to ensure minimum turbulence and quiescent filling.
Organised by the Cast Metals Federation (CMF), there were also major accolades for Magna Cosma Casting UK (Company of the Year) and Goodwin Steel Castings (Innovation).
Dr Pam Murrell, chief executive of the Cast Metals Federation, said: “The UK cast metals sector continues to push boundaries, to innovate and to embrace technologies like 3D printing, simulation and digital twins. This is clearly evident with the depth of quality we saw across our 20 finalists and our eventual four winners.
“We can be proud of what we make and the way that we make our castings, largely using recycled metal. There is no doubt in my mind that our industry can be part of the government’s solution and Industrial Strategy to grow UK manufacturing, our supply chains and the wider economy.”
“Maybrey Precision Castings was a rightful joint winner of our ‘Component of the Year’ title, with a new double pour system delivering the durability and aesthetically pleasing finish required. It’s fantastic that a process developed in the UK is leaving a lasting cultural mark on Alabama.”
The UK Cast Metals Industry Awards, which attracted 180 guests at the Drayton Manor Resort in Tamworth, focused on the great castings being manufactured in metal by UK foundries, and their huge achievements in innovation, growth and component performance.
Co-presented by Dr Pam Murrell and comedian Ian Stone, the evening clearly showcased the successes of the sector, the major strides it is making in supporting a more sustainable manufacturing world and its increasingly global reach.
Sharing the podium with Maybrey Precision Castings was Newby Foundries, who created a motor housing in aluminium for the next generation of electric vehicles.
