International keynote speakers 

Andy Pickering, Omega Sinto Foundry Machinery 

Andy Pickering is a highly respected foundry professional with more than 40 years’ experience across technical, commercial and leadership roles in the global foundry industry. Currently serving as Sales Director at Omega Sinto Foundry Machinery Ltd, Andy leads commercial activities across the Middle East, Indian Sub-Continent and Southeast Asia.

Andy began his career in the UK as a foundry technologist, working across iron, steel and aluminium foundries including Charlestown Engineering, Cronite Castings and Cosworth Castings. In 1987, he joined Hepworth Minerals and Chemicals as a Technical Service Representative, providing nationwide support across silica sands, binder systems, refractory coatings and moulding ancillaries.

In 1990, Andy joined Borden Chemical, where he spent 23 years in senior technical and commercial roles, supporting key customers across Europe, the Middle East and India. His expertise includes chemical bonded sand systems, alkaline phenolic binder development, mould handling and sand reclamation practices.

Andrew Turner, World Foundry Organization 

Andrew has a Metallurgy Degree from the University of Birmingham and a Post Graduate qualification in Production Management at the University of Cambridge.

Andrew joined Parkfield Group in 1982 in the melting department, becoming Technical Sales Director at the foundry in Stockton and, then in 1996 following great success with the securing of Channel Tunnel segment contracts worth over £40 Million, he was given the challenge of running the new Parkfield acquisition, Horwich Castings.

Following the collapse of the Parkfield empire in 1990, Andrew lead a management buy-out of the foundry from the administrators and stayed there until 1996 when he left to join Precision Disc Castings in Poole as Managing Director and oversaw the installation of the new DISA moulding line as part of a major expansion programme.

In 1999 Andrew Joined the then Institute of British Foundrymen as Secretary, having been a Member for many years, and worked to commercialise the organisation and stabilise the financial situation.

In 2003 he left to set up his own business, Apostles Castings Technology, a business which carries out technical and commercial consultancy around the world.

Andrew is now the Executive Secretary of the World Foundry Organization, having been the General Secretary for 20 years he is also the Clerk of the Foundry Training Trust, a charity that supports professional development for those in the casting and foundry industry.

Andrew has recently set up a new company specializing in the recycling of plastic waste which has huge synergistic benefits for the foundry sector as a user of waste sand and extraction dust.