On this blog we are featuring Tom Thomas, Production Team Leader at Elmac Technologies Ltd.

How long have you worked at Elmac Technologies?

I’ve been in the same role at Elmac for almost 5 years and I’m still enjoying every minute of it.

What is your background?

I spent 5 years in the Army, where I was able to complete a HNC in Mechanical Engineering.

After leaving the Army, I worked in a variety of engineering companies honing my skills, as well as becoming an Engineering Manager and setting up a complete CNC workshop in a previous role.

What do you enjoy the most about the job and what challenges have you faced in the past 18 months?

The pandemic forced us to change our working practices so it’s fair to say that the past 18 months have not been easy! However, we’ve remained motivated as a team despite having to adapt and now work shifts that run for 18 hours a day in order to keep up with the demand for our exciting new product range.

In 2020, we launched the FAB Valve™ Series, a combined end-of-line Pressure & Vacuum Relief Valve and a Deflagration Flame Arrester that has quickly become our best-selling product. We also launched the Elmac AVC Series range – the world’s first End-of-Line Flame Arresters that is ATEX certified for gas explosion groups IIB & IIC. Sales of this range are expected to grow quickly as it’s aimed at the rapidly expanding Hydrogen Generation industry sector.

What does a typical day at the Elmac Production team look like?

I often start my day by having a walk through the production area to ensure that all projects and delivery times are on schedule. After a brief morning meeting with the production team, I organise all the shifts and workload and allocate any downtime for training. As well as completing final inspections and documentation checks, I am highly involved with the packaging aspects of our larger projects and of course constantly looking for production improvements.

And finally, what are your hobbies and interests outside work?

Outside of work (and after recovering from a broken leg!) I try to get out on my mountain bike as often as I can. I have three children and these keep me active and on my toes. I really enjoy reading, mainly war and history books.