Pictured: Keith Williams and Kevin Smith.
BY RYAN HARPER
A double presentation was held at Excalibur in the old GKN Sankey Vending factory in Bilston last week. The presentation was in recognition of achieving the remarkable milestone of 40 years’ of loyal service by Keith Williams and Kevin Smith.
Both started as apprentices on the same day in September 1974, though Kevin claims to be more senior in service by clocking in two minutes earlier! Joining Keith & Kevin for a presentation ceremony and lunch were workmates, both past and present, customers, suppliers, as well as former Wolverhampton Wanderers star Willie Carr – a great surprise for the Wolves mad duo!
Both Keith and Kevin had memories of other Sankey factories around Bilston including Albert Street, Manor Works in Ettingshall, as well as Sankey Laminations off Bankfield Road. During the presentation it was revealed that Sankey had their first venture in to vending with the milk machine in 1957, about the same time as the two were born!
Richard Gilbert, the Managing Director of Excalibur described the event as a landmark occasion in the company’s history. Excalibur were formed in 2003 as an MBO from Italy based N&W whose roots in the UK go back to GKN Sankey Vending; and now specialise in vending machine refurbishment.
Keith and Kevin who programme and set/operate the Amada CNC punch press at the works were part of a TUPE transfer. ‘They have demonstrated over that time all that is good about the company’ says Richard, ‘Trustworthiness, reliability and Black Country pride.’
They were very much involved in the last vending industry product made by N&W which was the Mariner and stopped production in 2003.They now contribute to the programming and production of sheet metal vending products; including vending cabinets and kickplates. Excalibur are proud of the refurbishment service they provide to the industry and are able to re-cycle over 95% of the weight to provide a machine that is ‘as good as new’. This process will continue to be important even as the economy recovers due to its environmental credentials
*Ryan Harper is Sales & Marketing Manager at Excalibur Manufacturing Solutions Ltd.