TPT November 2012

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Industry News
40 November 2012
Steel man brings gold back
THE chief executive of Sheffield
Forgemasters International has been
awarded a gold medal for his outstanding
services to the steel industry.
Graham Honeyman was named
winner of the Bessemer Gold Medal by
The Institute of Materials, Minerals and
Mining (IOM3) after judges decided his
work has promoted the manufacture of
engineering components of national and
international importance.
The award makes a return to Sheffield,
as previous city-based winner Harry
Brearley was given the award in 1920
following the discovery of stainless
steel. Mr Honeyman commented, “I am
absolutely delighted with being honoured
with such a prestigious award and I am
so proud to be able to bring it back to
the steel city. The award is not just about
my work, but rewards the dedicated and
skilled team at Forgemasters that has
worked hard to turn the company around
and become aworld leader. This accolade
adds to the company’s creditability and is
recognition of innovation and success.”
Mr Honeyman studied engineering
materials technology at the University
of Aston and complemented this degree
with a PhD for his study of armour plate
welding from Teesside University. He
has previously been presented with a
silver medal from the Royal Academy of
Engineering, a CBE for his services to the
steel industry, and was named Overall
Director of the Year at the Institute of
Directors in 2010.
According to the award citation,
Mr Honeyman has promoted the
development and application of
metallurgical processes to enable the
manufacture of engineering components
of national and international importance.
His understanding of metallurgical
aspects of the business has led Sheffield
Forgemasters International to profitability,
with an export market of over 75 per cent.
The Bessemer Gold Medal was
established by Sir Henry Bessemer
in 1874 and is now included in the
Institute’s annual award ceremony, which
recognises members of the steel industry
who have contributed significantly to
innovation in the use of steel. Bessemer
was an English engineer and inventor
who is renowned for inventing the
Bessemer process, which was the first
method of manufacturing steel on a level
of mass production.
The accolade was presented to Mr
Honeyman in July, and he delivered the
Sir Henry Bessemer lecture in October.
Sheffield Forgemasters International is
a supplier of total engineering packages,
and specialises in a broad range of
heavy forged and cast steel products
as well as supplying ingot and bar.
The company can design, establish
material requirements, produce material
specifications and manufacture products,
including some of the largest bespoke
engineered products in the world, with
capacity for castings of up to 350 tons
and forgings of up to 275 tons.
Sheffield Forgemasters International
Ltd – UK
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