36 | PERSONALITY PROFILE www . newbusinessmedia . co
Global supplier of foundry products
Dominic Oates , European Sales Executive at Asmet , discusses his activities for the global supplier of high quality materials for modern castings production . Established over 20 years ago , Asmet has more than 500 customers in over 30 countries , delivering over 50 quality assured products , from pig iron and ferro alloys to specialist products .
CM & DT : You have been with Asmet for a couple of years now , can you give us a quick overview of your experience at the company so far ? I joined Asmet
Dominic Oates . initially to develop sales to the French foundry market . I had the language and industrial business experience but not the metallurgical knowledge , so the first few months involved a lot of training . There is still a lot to learn but I find my colleagues , customers and suppliers are very willing to help . We are a close-knit team at Asmet , so everyone works closely together and communication is easy . My highlight so far was being part of Asmet ’ s stand at GIFA in 2015 , which was a great experience to meet so many new people . The biggest downside is that as news spread of my entry into the industry , metal prices were spooked into one of the worst bear markets in history !
CM & DT : What are your goals for the next year ? To expand our sales in France and continue to play a key role in new products like foundry coke and market development of our refractory and abrasive business .
CM & DT : You speak a selection of languages , what are they and do you have a favourite ? In order of fluency I speak English , French , Swedish , Mandarin Chinese , Italian and Spanish , I don ’ t really have a favourite , as I would like to improve them all . My wife has told me I swear best in Yorkshire !
CM & DT : Can you describe your role and comment on the support you give internally in the company to other areas of the business ? Aside from France , my role has evolved to cover some UK foundries , Saveway furnace monitoring equipment and sales of new products to the refractory , abrasive and ceramic industries . In terms of internal support , I have been heavily involved with marketing activities , especially around GIFA in 2015 and secured a grant for marketing and exhibition costs . I am also involved in writing feature articles for trade journals and translations for the website and brochures .
CM & DT : Last year , Asmet announced a partnership with Saveway for advanced furnace monitoring equipment . Can you update us on how the first year of your relationship has gone ? We have spent a lot of time understanding Saveway ’ s technology , including a week of intensive technical training in Germany and followed this up with joint visits to customers to present Saveway ’ s patented technology and understand the company ’ s requirements . We find there is a lot of interest in furnace lining technology , as most experienced foundrymen know the perils of metal run outs but we know that it is a challenging economic climate . It ’ s important that we build long-term trust and relationships if we are to be considered when budget is available to invest in improved safety and longer furnace lining life .
CM & DT : Can you describe your career to date for our readers ? How did you find working abroad and what would be your top tips for anyone considering taking the step ? After completing a degree in French and business , I started my career on a UK graduate training scheme that promised to send me abroad but this never materialised , so I found another company and there began the journey . I initially worked in Sweden as a project manager and progressed to China to help establish a new subsidiary . We experienced rapid growth in China as a major supplier to Nokia ( remember that name ?) and my career grew quickly from Logistics Manager to Ops Manager and eventually to General Manager . Working overseas was a fantastic experience and I would encourage anyone with the desire and opportunity to do so . My top tip for business in China would be to prioritise relationships over contracts . Contracts can continuously evolve and be renegotiated … and you should do the same … if you run into problems , a good relationship will offer more help than a tightly worded contract . Finally , expect to be expected to do things that you wouldn ’ t normally do ; Karaoke sober , choosing food while it ’ s still alive and making impromptu speeches because you are the only foreigner present ! Upon returning to the UK , I still wanted a job using my language skills and looked towards international sales , where I found Asmet .
CM & DT : How does Asmet keep up-todate with the latest technologies and product improvements ? First and foremost , we have a lot of very experienced people , with long service in the foundry industry . Our people are in foundries every day of the week and we visit producer and technology partners all over the world every year to keep abreast of the latest developments .
This has enabled us to develop very close relationships with customers to improve their metallurgical process and select the best products required to meet the demands of modern casting production . Aside from Saveway , we also act as UK agent for Novacast Systems , who provide thermal analysis and flow simulation software and can recommend tried and tested systems for magnesium treatment , wire treatment and inoculant feeders .
CM & DT : Can you tell us a little more about the export scene and Asmet ’ s international sales operations ? Our main markets are the major European foundry markets , where we have established logistic hubs in Germany , Belgium , Spain and Italy to supply direct from stock . Due to the global nature of our business , we do not anticipate problems from Brexit and we want producers and customers to know that Asmet is a forward thinking company , able to supply the European market through a single integrated network .
CM & DT : Thank you for answering these questions . Can I ask one more please ? What one thing ( for the better ) would you like to see the foundry industry adopt ? To maximise investment in a range of new foundry technologies and associated training for measuring and monitoring of the casting process . We are already helping many of our customers make significant progress in this area but more investment can only help them to improve efficiency , produce higher grade castings and reduce scrap rates . www . asmet . com
These are a few of my favourite things …
Favourite drink - Real ales ( always have done , didn ’ t just jump on the bandwagon !).
Favourite food - Anything except peas and celery .
Favourite gadget - Golf trolley .
The book I am reading is - Set in Darkness by Ian Rankin .
The last film I saw - Jason Bourne . My favourite TV programme is - Seinfeld .
My favourite singer / group - The Rolling Stones / The Black Crowes .
My proudest achievement is - Together with my wife , having a beautiful daughter .
The car I drive is - BMW 3 Series MSport . My last holiday was to - Scandinavia .
The person I would most like to meet - Keith Richards .
Cast Metal & Diecasting Times July / August 2016