News
Read all the latest information relating to Brown McFarlane and the steel industry.
Simply click on the headline in the left column to read the full story in the right column.
Simply click on the headline in the left column to read the full story in the right column.
We are delighted to inform you that we have launched a new corporate brochure together with a full range of fact sheets covering our product range.
The brochure and product fact sheets are designed to support our operations in the UK, Dubai, South Africa and Singapore, as well as providing useful information for our worldwide customer base.
Copies are available from your normal sales contact or can be downloaded directly from the brochures & videos page.
The new Brown McFarlane warehouse and office facility in Dubai is now fully operational and open for business.
The 2000 m² covered warehouse is able to store around 10,000 tonnes of steel.
The carefully planned layout combined with two wide span 20 tonne overhead cranes allows rapid unloading and loading of trucks and greatly improved efficiency in material handling which allows us to provide the fast turn round of material that our customers want.
A rapid series of price increases for reversing mill plate from Corus and other European steel manufacturers is creating cash management and supply problems for plate users both in distribution and fabrication.
The latest increase from Corus of £80 / tonne (€91, US$122) which is effective for all orders placed after April 23rd means that prices have risen by £200 / tonne (€228, US$306) in just 11 weeks as this link shows.
As distributors sell their products they must ensure that they fully take in to account the higher cost of replacing their stocks so the increases inevitably pass down the supply chain.
The problem of price is compounded by mill lead times extending significantly due to a combination of renewed market demand and the rebuilding of depleted inventories. This heaps more pressure on steel users.
At Brown McFarlane we are carefully monitoring our purchasing programme and stock levels to ensure that we remain in a position to provide a full range of specialist steel plate products at competitive rates. We look forward to working with our customers to make the current market conditions as manageable as possible.
An agreement has been signed with Miilux of Finland which gives Brown McFarlane exclusive distribution rights for the Miilux Protection range of armour plates and components across 13 countries in the Middle East.
A range of armour plates will be available from stock in Brown McFarlane International’s brand new warehouse and distribution facility in Jebel Ali, Dubai.
Metalor International, a company operating out of Sharjah in the U.A.E., will represent Brown McFarlane as the company’s marketing agent..
This addition to our stock product portfolio is a natural extension of our range of highly specified, specialist steel plates. The sales and marketing teams around the Brown McFarlane Group are experienced in advising on products such as armour plate that require technical knowledge and a clear understanding of end user applications.
Brown McFarlane is delighted to have been invited to make a presentation at two seminars recently held by Industeel, the manufacturers of CarElso HIC Premium+, in Abu Dhabi and Jubail in Saudi Arabia.
The day long seminars held for a selected audience of engineers, designers, and procurement professionals focussed on the technical advantages of specifying and fabricating CarElso HIC Premium+ and other specialised products from Industeel.
Brown McFarlane demonstrated its capability as a distributor and processor of highly specified steel plates and its understanding of the technical requirements of its clients in the demanding oil and gas market.
Industeel has exclusively appointed Brown McFarlane as the distributor for all ex-stock sales of CarElso HIC Premium+ in the Middle East in recognition of the superior product range and technical solutions offered by Brown McFarlane.
We are delighted to announce that Ian Johnson (formerly Sales Manager for Scotland and Ireland) will take on the new role of Sales Director: Domestic Markets. This change will also see Colin Lindsay from our Glasgow office being promoted to Sales Manager : Scotland and Ireland and Ian Connolly from our Hanley office being promoted to Sales Manager : England and Wales. As our business continues to evolve to meet the demands of today’s markets, the new team will bring an unparalleled level of experience as we strive to take the business forward by continuing to improve our services and products.
We are pleased to advise you that from March 2010 we will be stocking a substantial range of Western European 460 yield material at our Stoke on Trent distribution site.
This material will be 3.2 certified and meet the following specifications EN10028-3:2009 P460NL1, P460NL2, P460NH / EN10025-3 S460N, S460NL1.
Thicknesses 6mm – 60mm, widths to 3m and lengths to 12m – all plates can be cut to size or profiled to your exact requirements. Available ex-stock, we can ship worldwide from our centrally located stocks within days.
If you would like to discuss our stock range and see how we can be of assistance. Please review the contacts shown below:
Colin Lindsey - Sales Manager (Scotland / Ireland) - 0141 7735042
Ian Connolly - Sales Manager (England / Wales) - 01782 210514
John Armstong - Sales Manager (Export Division) - +44 1922 471815
We are delighted to inform you we have reached an agreement to stock Industeel's CarElso ® HIC premium + at our Dubai and Stoke on Trent distribution locations. With the largest size range available from any manufacturer: thicknesses 8mm to 105mm and widths to 4m and lengths to 14m, you can make substantial savings on your fabrication costs. Guaranteed to meet virtually all HIC specifications worldwide by the manufacturer, fabrication can commence without waiting up to 8 weeks for test results. Available from stock to ASME/ASTM SA/A 516/60/65 & 70 with tests to NACE MR 0175 / MR0103, we can ship worldwide from our centrally located stocks within days.
A catalogue giving detailed product information is available for instant download. If you would like to discuss the technical implications of any specification please contact our product manage Duncan Nicolson on 00441782 210513 or e-mail duncann@brownmac.co.uk
John Brierley, Managing Director – UK & Ireland, will retire from his executive position with Brown McFarlane Limited on 31st March 2010. He will take up the role of Non-executive Director on the Board of A R Brown McFarlane & Co Ltd with effect from 1st April 2010.
As a result of this the executive Board of Brown McFarlane Limited is being restructured as follows and with immediate effect:
Barry Morse is appointed Group Chief Executive Officer. He will have overall responsibility for all business units within the Brown McFarlane Group in the U.K. and overseas. The Managing Directors responsible for the Group’s domestic and international business and the Group Finance Director will report to him.
John Riddell is appointed Managing Director, Domestic Business & Group Operations. He will be responsible for all aspects of Brown McFarlane’s business in the U.K. and Ireland and will also continue to take charge of operational matters across the Group worldwide.
Andrew Webster is appointed Managing Director, International Business. He will be responsible for the Brown McFarlane Group’s international activities.
Susan Eaton continues in her current role of Group Finance Director with responsibility for all financial and finance-related matters across the Group’s domestic and international business.
In another structural change, Mick Burnett, Purchasing Manager, will in future report directly to Barry Morse.
In the period between now and 31st March, John Brierley will continue to play an active executive part in the running of Brown McFarlane although he intends to reduce his working time to three days a week. John will be progressively handing over his current workload to the other executives and will concentrate his efforts on those areas of the business where he will continue to contribute as a Non-executive Director.
We are delighted with the new appointments and feel certain that the new Board will continue to build a strong, profitable, and expanding business. We are also very pleased that John Brierley is ready to continue to play a role in the business after his retirement.
Brown McFarlane was awarded their ISO 9001/2008 in June of this year. Our quality team headed up by Steve Houghton have worked hard to obtain this prestigious certificate. A copy of the certificate can be downloaded here or from the brochures page.
As well as ensuring our business maintains the very high standards demanded by ISO 9001, Steve also acts as the main contact point for the many aspects of ancillary testing that we carry out on behalf of customers e.g.
If you would like any help or advice on any quality or testing issues contact Steve on 00441782210522 or e-mail stephenh@brownmac.co.uk
Brown McFarlane has invested £3m in new processing equipment and dedicated stainless stock facilities.
To ensure that we remain at the forefront on steel processing equipment, we are in the process of commissioning 3 new High Definition Plasma Profiling machines. These will allow us to offer profiles of near laser quality in thicknesses up to 50mm.
In conjunction with this upgrade in our Carbon steel profiling, we are delighted to inform you that from the end of September we will be carrying an extensive range of Stainless Steel and Duplex Plates up to 50mm thick and 3m wide. This will have its own dedicated “clean” area with a new Kejllburg 400amp plasma profiling machine; this will cut plates as thick as 100mm.
We will keep you informed of the full stock range and processing facilities in our next update.
John Harding and George Page are driving a Ford Transit ambulance on the Mongol Rally. The rally started in London, with the objective of driving to Mongolia in a vehicle that would then be donated to the local people. John and George, who were driving Rally cars for Ford many years ago, looked on this as not just a great experience but a way of raising money for Mercy Corps in Mongolia, as well as giving the Mongolian people a useful vehicle when they arrived there.
After a very difficult start which involved rebuilding the engine twice, driving half way back in a taxi to get a new prop shaft from Germany, they have finally crossed the Mongolian border. In the process they have crossed Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Poland and Germany, a fantastic achievement for an old ambulance and 2 old men with a combined age of 137 years!! The trip has been totally financed by them and they have raised nearly £4000 for charities in Mongolia.
We are very pleased to have helped sponsor them.
Cole Tubes who have been manufacturing tubes in the UK since 1809 have been part of the Group for over 3 years. They offer the most comprehensive range of Cold Drawn tubes for the Heat Exchanger market available from any supplier in the UK. The product and size range are detailed below:
From 0.5 mm OD to 80mm OD
Lengths up to 7m
Materials:
They are major suppliers to the defence, power generation, petrochemical & transport industries. Their client base includes such illustrious names as Alstom, Rolls Royce & Nuclear Engineering Services. They are also fully accredited to ISO 9001.
With mill lead times extending to many months Cole can provide precision tubes for many applications on very short lead times. Using the Brown McFarlane worldwide logistics system, they can be shipped to any destination in the world. For a quotation or more information telephone +44 (0)118 989 6000, e-mail info@coleandswallow.com or visit the website.
With the rapid growth of our business over the last 3 years we have now updated our Corporate VCD.
Our latest web page on our business in South Africa, has a video of Mark Mitchley the Managing Director giving you an insight into his business in Richards Bay.
We also have a new case study on one of our main customers in the United Arab Emirates. I.S.
We would be delighted to send you a copy, just forward a request to any of the team to receive one by return.
Brown McFarlane is enjoying a period of sustained growth as it continues to develop in to new market sectors and expand internationally. To ensure the company is in the best possible position to exploit future opportunities, I am very pleased to announce a new senior management structure.
John Brierley is appointed Managing Director, U.K. and Ireland. John will be responsible for all sales and marketing activities in our domestic markets as well as the vitally important procurement function. He will also oversee all stockholding, processing, and distribution activities from our U.K. facilities. John joined the company 13 years ago and during this time has been involved building the business into the dominant position it now has in the UK plate distribution and processing industry.
Barry Morse is appointed Managing Director, International Division, taking responsibility for all Brown McFarlane's commercial activities outside of the U.K. and Ireland. Brown McFarlane's overseas operations in Dubai (Brown McFarlane International FZE) and South Africa (Brown McFarlane Africa Pty Ltd) will report to Barry as will our office in Singapore. Barry joined the company in 2002 and has been responsible for the rapid growth of the international business over this time.
There will be a considerable crossover of activities between the two divisions and John and Barry will work closely together to ensure we provide a fully integrated approach to our customers and suppliers many of whom are also involved in international, multi-site operations.
Susan Eaton as Group Financial Director will be directly involved with all of the companies and sites within Brown McFarlane, both domestic and overseas. Susan's wide ranging role will include overseeing the various management accounting functions, liaising with banks and other financial institutions, and monitoring the financial performance of our customers and suppliers. Susan joined the company in 2003 after working in a number of senior positions in manufacturing industry in the North West of England.
Brown McFarlane is at an exciting point in its vision to become a leading global steel solutions company and the new structure will ensure we are able to make effective rapid decisions for its future growth and success.
Many of you will know the name of John Poulton in connection with your requirements for wear parts and plate. John has just returned from 2 years in our Dubai operation to head up the company's sales and marketing efforts in this market.
Having one of the most comprehensive stocks of AR plate available in Europe in thickness from 4mm - 90mm with lengths up to 12m we can provide plate for any application from stock.
Working with our own steel processing equipment and together with our subcontractors we can offer:
We are the main supplier of Abrazo steel plate manufactured in the UK by Corus and as a result can offer a full technical advisory service supported by the manufacturers.
Give John a call on +44 1782 210 516 or email JohnP@brownmac.co.uk to obtain a competitive quotation.
We are delighted to introduce you our new brochure detailing the companies' global stocks and services. This like all our other brochures is available in PDF form for instant download. The brochure is an illustration of the dynamic advances the Group has made since the last brochure was published 5 years ago. These include the opening of a successful office and stocking facility in Dubai as well as the consolidation of our involvement in the African market with the establishment of Brown McFarlane (Africa).
The group has also become the leading supplier of cut and finished plate to the UK Renewables Industry.
With our truly Global coverage and unrivalled stocks and services we look forward to providing the most cost effective solution to your steel requirements wherever in the world you require it.
After two years of successful trading in South Africa, Brown McFarlane has put down roots in the country by taking a substantial equity share in a steel service centre. The business is based in Richards Bay which has a large deep sea port with a regular service to and from the U.K. and the major north European ports.
It is close to Durban, the main port of entry to South Africa, and the company has a sales and marketing office in Durban. Richards Bay is at the heart of a region that is experiencing rapid industrial growth and development. At the same time there is easy access to South Africa's industrial heartland around Johannesburg.
Trading as Brown McFarlane International, the new company will market the already well established range of high quality Western European pressure vessel steel plates across South Africa and in to the rest of the continent. As well as plate stockholding, Brown McFarlane International supplies cut to size items, and processing such as bending, and drilling. The warehouse also holds a complete range of mild steel products for general engineering and fabrication.
Contact Mark Mitchley in South Africa on +27 35 797 3034 or Barry Morse in the UK on +44 1922 471 810
Brown McFarlane are now stocking a complete range of 700 high yield steel plate ranging from 3mm - 200mm thick.Lengths are available up to 12M and widths to 2500mm. Material is sourced from Northern European mills it includes RQT and Ympress manufactured by Corus and PAS and Naxtra supplied by Thyssen Krupp Stahl.
Material in all sizes is available ex stock and can be either profiled or cut to your exact requirements. Using our export expertise we are able to offer this high yield steel plate, shipped to any part of the world. We have considerable technical expertise in this product area and can offer support for any design or fabrication queries you may have. In addition to 700 yield we are also able to offer a range of 900 yield in thicknesses up to 100mm.
Full details of the product range can be found in our latest brochure (available for download on the brochures section).
Some of you maybe familiar with launch of EN10025 : 2004, this brings together many of the structural steel standards under one new standard.
The new standard supersedes EN 10025: 1993, EN 10113 parts 1-3 1993 , EN 10155 : 1993 and EN10137 parts 1 & 2 : 1996
The new standard was revised to address the provisions of EU Construction Products Directive (89/106/EEC).
A summary of the new standard can be found below:
To assist you in comparisons with previous grades and highlighting differences where applicapable our new Stock List (available for download on the brochures section) incorporates a detailed Grades, properties and nearest equivalents section. If you need any further clarification please do not hesitate to contact our sales team.
Brown McFarlane started in business in Glasgow over 115 Years ago, their small but very experienced Sales Team continue to service the requirements of Engineering in Scotland, Ireland and Northern England from this location.
Ian Johnson who leads the team is well known to customers, for his understanding of their requirements and establishing the most cost effective solutions to them.
Colin Lindsay, Ian's deputy, has been with the business for over 20 years is a time served Engineer from the ship building industry. His expertise in Engineering Design was put to full use in the project to build a bulk storage hopper for a West of Ireland aluminium smelter. (See related article 'Design to Completion').
Millar Turner is also a qualified Engineer. Millar headed up one of our biggest projects the supply of a complete bridge weighing over 600 tonnes, this was profiled, machined, drilled, shot blasted and painted ready for welding and installation.
Stuart Kerr stated as an office junior and has progressed to be the Plate key accounts sales person. Stuart is involved in organising JIT deliveries to many of the major fabricators in the region.
John Straub has recently rejoined the business, after gaining a great deal of experience in the Middle East oil industry. A design engineer who learnt his skills at Motherwell Bridge, John is able to offer his skills to assist in the design of vessels and storage tanks.
Of course with a group of Engineers and Salesmen, administration is not always their strong point, they are fortunate that Isobel Moreland ably manages the coordination of their efforts.
The message from our sales team is we can engineer solutions for any of your plate requirements; we look forward to hearing from you.
This project is an excellent example of how utilising our Engineering skills, processing facilities and project management ability we can provide a complete solution to the most complex fabrications.
When Colin Lindsay of our Glasgow office was first given the drawings for the project, he immediately had to go back to his early training working in the design lofts of the ship building industry.
Engineers of today are used to relying on CAD software to solve problems, however the complex design of the hopper lining meant creating our own drawings.
The lining was manufactured from 400BHN wear plate, meaning that it would have been impossible to rectify error in drawing, cutting or bending on site.
The 250 tonne structure was assembled in a matter of weeks at the Aughinish Alumina plant at Foynes, near Limerick in the West of Ireland. Using our partners to bend, shot blast and paint, the completed structure was then craned in to place for the final welds to be completed.
Managing Director of the fabricator Foynes Engineering, Brendan O' Connor was delighted with the final result stating that without the expertise of BMcF and our subcontractors the project would have been much more difficult.
We are always looking for challenging and complex projects, so please contact us now to take advantage of the skills and knowledge we possess.
©2008 Brown McFarlane Ltd | Company No. SC121113.
P. +44 (0) 1782 289 909
F. +44 (0) 1782 289 804
Brown McFarlane
Ladywell Works
New Century Street
Stoke-On-Trent
ST1 5QH
United Kingdom
P. +44 (0) 845 470 1651
F. +44 (0) 845 409 4531
Brown McFarlane
Unit 7, Lonmay Place
Panorama Business Village
Glasgow
G33 4ER
United Kingdom
P. +44 (0) 1922 471 810
F. +44 (0) 1922 624 778
Brown McFarlane
Suite 3, Holland House
Bath Street
Walsall
WS1 3BZ
United Kingdom
P. +65 6899 1708
F. +65 6899 1710
Brown McFarlane
1 Bukit Batok Crescent
#04-48 WCEGA Plaza
Singapore 658604
P. +27(0) 35 797 3034
F. +27(0) 35 797 3685
Brown McFarlane Africa (Pty)
PO Box 16
Richards Bay 3900
KwaZulu Natal
South Africa
P. +971 4 880 9077
F. +971 4 880 9078
Brown McFarlane International FZE
Oryx Works
Jebel Ali Free Zone South
PO Box 17679
Jebel Ali
Dubai
United Arab Emirates