Austen appointed to the Chamber board

Managing director of Aldridge-based Maloney Metalcraft, Austen Adams, has been elected to the Walsall Board of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce to help support industry and entrepreneurs across the district.

Born and raised in the Black Country, Austen began his career as an apprentice, working for well-known Black Country businesses Wyko and Revolvo before relocating to Yorkshire, where he took up a variety of roles with David Brown Group, most recently as CEO.

He returned to the region in November last year, taking up the role of managing director of Avingtrans PLC’s energy and medical division and, as the head of a global energy solutions company that designs and fabricates equipment for the oil, gas and energy markets, has plenty of experience helping traditional manufacturing companies develop market share in global industries.

“We are incredibly lucky to have such skilled and dedicated engineers and designers in the Black Country who can deliver high quality products at competitive prices,” commented Austen. “But this is a global market and, at Maloney Metalcraft, we are focused on looking at how we can use leverage this to our advantage, expanding our business overseas and providing cost-effective solutions firms across the industry.

“Many firms are now looking for UK innovation and prototyping, and then going elsewhere to manufacture the end product in volume. I’m keen to show how firms like ours can meet both needs highly effectively and consistently; investing in the best combination of UK-based staff and overseas facilities to provide market-leading service to customers around the world.

“I’m looking forward to sharing my knowledge and expertise with other local firms through my involvement with the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and, as a member of the Board, I’ll be looking closely at how we can better understand and actually meet the real needs of companies in the region.”