WSP Global Training and Factory Visit

Elizabeth Gray, Senior Engineer (Design) from WSP Global, had a task and a half co-ordinating a recent factory visit to the AVK’s Corby manufacturing plant writes Stuart Montgomery, Project Manager AVK UK.

Fifteen colleagues from three separate company office locations across the UK, add to the mix; a minibus, 2 x train trips and a campervan, all ingredients for a great educational day at AGMC Corby.

Elizabeth and colleagues at WSP Global work for many of the UK Water Utilities and frequently specify valves as part of their daily routine of designing pipelines, treatment plants and pumping stations.

During a recent visit to their offices by Stuart, it was suggested a factory visit with a technical seminar may be beneficial and so the plan was hatched. Little did Stuart realise that a sizable group would soon to be on their way to Corby. The day was carefully planned to cover topics that would be of interest to the team and started with an introduction to AVK UK and AVK’s worldwide manufacturing capabilities, including valve choice versus application. The day continued with a presentation by David Hurley, AVK UK Non-revenue Water Business Development Manager, on air valve choice, sizing and options as well as a session on the Chesterfield manufactured pressure control valve range. A tour of the factory ended the day and gave the visitors an insight in to the AVK manufacturing processes, lean manufacturing programme, our onsite paint systems as well as machining, assembly and testing facilities.

Elizabeth commented on the day “Many thanks for organising the WSP training day at AVK Corby and for being such a wonderful host. All our design engineers from Apprentice to Principal Engineer level gained a great deal from seeing your valve selection first hand and from the in depth technical insight and case studies relating to the valves application. For me it was the first time I’d seen the eccentric plug valve and full bore hydrants that I have been specifying on various jobs. The tour around your assembly plant was everyone’s highlight and we all enjoyed seeing the manufacturing process. The day as a whole gave our Design Team a chance to bond outside of our office and we look forward to seeing you again soon to discuss our clients valve requirements”.