Dean Group International (DGI) held a series of events in September to mark its 40^th year in the casting industry. Three events hosted over three days at the company's investment casting foundry in Irlam, Manchester comprised: a supplier and customer day, an education day for local schools and a staff party held in a marquee erected at the foundry premises.

Founded in 1972 as a small family business, the company has gone through many changes including a major strategy decision in 2000 to develop supply partnerships with the Far East. DGI continues to grow and invest in its plant in Irlam, Manchester, increasing staff levels on both the shop floor and in the office to cope with the growing levels of business. The company recently expanded its Logistics team implementing additional Project Management capabilities and also employing a Marketing Coordinator to facilitate continuous expansion.

Dean Group International sales director Mike Fielding said: “The demand for high quality castings is extremely strong, we have seen an increase in both our UK manufacturing and our sourced work from our supply partners in China. One of our major strengths is the diversity of our customer base, if one sector is slow, another is usually buoyant; new work and new market sectors are constantly adding to the growth.”

Having reached this significant milestone in its history, the 40^th Anniversary celebration events aimed to express Dean Group International’s sincere thanks to all who contributed to the long lasting success. A large number of suppliers and customers attended and took part in the tours of the newly refurbished foundry.

During his formal speech, managing director Chris Dean expressed his thanks emphasising everyone’s important contribution to the company’s success. “It was a great day and a big landmark for any company, long may the Dean Group International continue. My thanks and congratulations to everyone and especially those involved with the organization of the event."

Education Day was designed to give local students a taste of British manufacturing and engineering industry and filled with engineering games and guided tours around Dean Group International investment casting foundry with a detailed explanation of the investment casting process. A group of year 10 students from St George’s R.C. High School in Worsley, Manchester were invited as the winners of the competition to design a school plaque. The creator of the winning design, Jade Smith, was presented with a prize by the Managing Director Chris Dean and local MP Barbara Keeley, who attended to congratulate the company on this special occasion. The final presentation of the cast plaque will take place at St George’s R.C. High School in a few months.

“The company may be 40 years old but we have no intentions of slowing down,” continued Chris Dean. “To stand still in the current global climate is to go backwards so we continually strive to be the best at what we do and to go the extra mile.”

Dean Group International Ltd, formerly Manchester Investment Castings, is a family-owned company based in Irlam, Manchester, providing low/medium volume investment (lost wax) castings from its automated manufacturing UK facilities and higher volume sourced work from its supply partners in the Far East. DGI business encompasses investment castings as well as sand castings, die castings, commercial grade investment castings, forging, and additional processes including machining, heat treatment, plating and polishing, assembly and fabrications.