ALFED names Simon MacVicker as their new president

Standing at the helm of a leading manufacturing business, Simon MacVicker is a man undaunted by big challenges. Whilst many of us unwind in front of the television, he can be found pounding the county’s lanes training for his next long-distance triathlon.

But attributing to Simon a “steely resolve” would perhaps be inappropriate, given that he’s the managing director of Bridgnorth Aluminium in Shropshire, England. Over the next two years, in addition to running a thriving business and pushing himself to the limit physically, he will be helping to further the interests of the aluminium sector as the new president of the Aluminium Federation (ALFED).

“It’s a real privilege to represent the industry in this way and I’m very excited about tackling some of the challenges our members face over the course of the next two years,” Simon said.

Simon added: “What we’re doing for our members goes beyond cutting costs for the sake of the sector’s prosperity. We’ve all heard over the past year how the automotive industry is embracing aluminium to make cars more fuel efficient and cut carbon emissions; that’s just one way the metal is providing a solution. But it’s also used in most solar panels, so is vital to the generation of clean energy.

“The other big attraction from a sustainability point of view is that aluminium is 100 per cent recyclable, and 80 per cent of all the metal ever produced remains in use today. I struggle to think of another material that is so versatile – what else can be rolled so thin that it can be used in pharmaceutical packaging for pills and yet is so strong that it can hold an Airbus A380 in the air?

“As an industry we really need to communicate these environmental benefits to our policymakers who, whilst having the best intentions, have created legislation that has stood in the way of aluminium providing technological solutions to reduce mankind’s impact on the planet.”

Since 2010, Britain’s primary aluminium output has dropped by 87 per cent from 361,000 tonnes per year to just 47,000 tonnes. That said, 20,000 people remain employed in aluminium manufacturing and supply in the UK, generating an annual turnover of £3.2 billion.

Born and bred in neighbouring Staffordshire, Simon has now settled in Shropshire near the Wrekin. “With Bridgnorth Aluminium, I have been able to have a very international career. With 85 per cent of what we produce being exported and the company being owned by Greek and Japanese shareholders, there’s a fair bit of travelling to do each year, which I love” he said.

“Briefing policymakers is a crucial part of ALFED’s work and it’s an area that really adds value for our members. We’ll be making sure their message is heard by politicians so that they understand the challenges we face and hopefully, working together, we can ensure the sustainability of the sector, so it in turn can be a significant contributor to the national wealth and part of the solution to some of society’s sustainability problems.”