Brian Dodd retires

At the end of 2016, Trend Industrial Ceramics, manufacturer of cordierite kiln furniture, bid farewell to its employee Brian Dodd, who has retired after 42 years in the ceramics industry.

Brian joined Norton Advanced Ceramics in Stoke-on-Trent back in 1974 as a project engineer. Brian’s brief was to rationalize labour-intensive production steps by introducing automation. In all, Brian spent 24 years at Norton’s facility in Fenton, becoming factory manager in 1985.

A tumultuous period in the late 1990s eventually saw all four Stoke-based kiln furniture companies – Norton, Diamond Refractories, Hewitt Refractories and Acme Marls – coming together as part of Sheffield-based Dyson Ceramic Systems by mid-2000. Brian spent a short time out of the industry but rejoined Dyson to help with the transition of the Acme business to the Diamond site in Hartshill.

After a period of unemployment, he took up Trend’s offer to assist with the promotion of its products on the worldwide market. Brian Dodd did this for several years through a company called Cornerstone Ceramics and then, when Dyson struck up its partnership with Trend, he was asked to move to China in the role of Production Director. Jumping at the opportunity, Brian moved to Beijing with his wife, Annette, and in time was appointed to a technical sales position – a role that he has undertaken for the past 10 years. Through his global travels, he built up an extensive network.

Steve Tingay, Trend’s International Sales Director, bid farewell to Brian Dodd with the words: “Across a long and varied career, Brian has made a major contribution in production, quality, management and sales roles throughout the industry. We wish him and his family all the very best for the future.”

x

Related articles:

15.01.2010 News: MBO Sees IPS Ceramics In Kiln Furniture

IPS Ceramics Ltd is pleased to announce its Management Buyout (MBO) of the former Dyson Group business, Dyson Thermal Technologies Kiln Furniture. This MBO, concluded on 23 December 2009, includes...

more
Issue 6/2018

Hans Marks has retired

On 21 September, TKCI together with many invited guests bid farewell to Hans Marks as he took his retirement. For nearly 41 years, Hans Marks worked for TCKI, the ceramic research institute and...

more
Issue 01/2024

An anniversary and a farewell - the 60th Würzburg brick-making course

Last December, a special brick-making course was held in Würzburg for two reasons. Not only was it the 60th anniversary of perhaps the most important industry event in 2023. In addition to this...

more
Issue 04/2021

General Manager Anton Wiedemann retired

The Staudacher brickworks bid Anton Wiedemann farewell on his retirement at the end of April 2021. The owner Otto Staudacher thanked him for his many years of successful work. Since May 2021,...

more
Issue 2/2014

Refratechnik Ceramics – Refractory Systems for the Ceramic Industry

For over 60 years, the heavy clay and whitewares industries have trusted in the systems from Refratechnik Ceramics, one of the world’s leading suppliers of complete refractory linings for tunnel...

more