Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey expressed his pride in AESSEAL as a Rotherham-based “global market leader that flies the flag for British manufacturing”.
Speaking at a two-day Reliability Conference held at the company’s Mill Close headquarters, Mr Healey said: “I have had the huge privilege of visiting AESSEAL on and off for nearly 30 years as a local MP and it is one of those rare companies which sets its own standards, which accepts no limits and knows that it can crush any challenge.
“That is a combination which is unique in my experience to AESSEAL – a combination of investment, innovation and really top-class technical skills.
I cannot tell you how proud I am, as a local MP, of this company. This is a global market leading business that flies the flag for British manufacturing around the world and still more than half of its assets are here in Rotherham.
“We are the most inventive nation in Europe and, just as Britain led the world in the era of railways, just as South Yorkshire helped build the past industrial strength, we are helping to forge the modern industrialisation of Britain, which is down to great entrepreneurs creating new ideas and jobs and wealth.
“A lot of my first few months in the job have been concerned with the huge economic global shocks that have hit us and put pressure on homes. Throughout this Britain has shown a remarkable resistance and this company has shown a remarkable resistance.”
Rawmarsh and Conisbrough MP Mr Healey congratulated the company on the launch of the new EcoGuard™ Sealing Solution — which eliminates harmful process gas emissions to atmosphere or flare — and said: “It is brilliant that we have British engineering tackling this problem, creating jobs and offering solutions that the rest of the world can take-up.”
A long-time friend of the business, Mr Healey toured the Factory for the Future, met apprentices and members of staff, before speaking to television and local media.
The conference brought around 100 customers from a range of industries to Mill Close, as well as experts in engineering and technical innovation from AESSEAL and AVT Reliability.
Demonstrations, product displays, discussions and presentations explored challenges facing the industry and the solutions helping organisations improve safety, efficiency and reliability.
Critical asset monitoring, machinery diagnostics, mechanical sealing and equipment integrity were Thursday’s main topics, while Friday looked at a wider industry perspective, including customer insights, product releases and an opportunity to explore the Factory for the Future.
Attendees were told about Machine Sentry — which allows UK-based reliability engineers to collect and monitor data on the health of factory machinery all over the world — and how EcoGuard is ‘Breaking the Barrier to Zero Emissions, as well as taking part in discussions with an expert panel.
Managing director Chris Rea welcomed Mr Healey and said: “The collection of data and production of reports do not, in themselves, make anything safer or more reliable. It is what we do with that information, and how we support others in acting upon it, that matters.
"Only empowered, competent reliability professionals, such as those who have invested their time in attending this conference, can turn knowledge into action and make businesses safer, more productive and more sustainable.
Reliability is not just about making things better; it is about development to make sure we will be the last man standing. We are the last man standing in the UK in our field.
