Standing ovation at national awards

Sheffield Forgemasters has won a prestigious national industry award and received a standing ovation in the process.

Sheffield Forgemasters won the Cast Component of the Year Award 2006 at the Cast Metals Industry dinner, organised by the Cast Metals Federation, for Europe's largest ever steel casting - made for the vast Bohler Press in Austria.

Footage of the Sheffield Forgemasters' 325 tonnes casting process was played to 200 leading UK foundrymen and guests at the awards.

The Cast Metals Federation Awards are the industry's Oscars and show the ‘Best of British Casting', showcasing the innovations and achievements of the UK foundry industry.

John Parker, Chief Executive of the Cast Metals Federation, said: "This casting was a very worthy winner of the award, produced by a team with great technical expertise, imagination and the commercial confidence to take on and execute such a complex casting.

"The UK cast metals industry will thrive and survive because of the high levels of skill and expertise we have in the sector and it is casting achievements such as this one which show the world just what the UK has to offer."