Allan Binstead is the Managing Director of Derby based Thermit Welding (GB) Limited.
Allan’s company
was involved in the huge task of repairing and rebuilding the main railway line
that the winter storms destroyed at Dawlish. He regaled the audience with tales of triumphant against all the odds; including large machinery and equipment, narrow, steep roads and a serious lack of parking. He even included the story of a rather incautious surveyor who was determined to take his readings while stood on drying glue and, not surprisingly, needed to be unstuck by some engineers while amused journalists looked on.
He also handed around the audience a component that easily fits in your hand and had been manufactured by Rolls-Royce for their aircraft engines. This part had been cunningly engineered to withstand temperatures greater than its melting point which is an impressive feat. At a cost of £50,000 per part, the audience were keen to view it for themselves. Thankfully, due to the Club rule of no mobile phones at the table, the part did not get listed on e-bay and was safely returned to Allan.
Allan firmly believes that we have the best advanced manufacturing and engineering sector in the world and, by the end of his excellent talk, he had the whole audience thinking about just what the UK can achieve in the future.
Here are a few photos of well-known club members with Allan:
